By W.D. Hutchison, Adjutant, National Regiment
The National Regiment (NR) was born in a basement in the gymnasium at Ft Meyer, VA, during the second Reagan Presidential Inauguration in January 1985. At the meeting the old "Warren’s Brigade" and the "Mudsills" were the prime movers along with other authentic individual units who were there to march in the inaugural parade. The parade, for us, never materialized due to sub-zero weather, but the concept of a national generic infantry regiment, with Eastern and Western contingents, came to life. I was there. I was personally out of the hobby for a few years, but followed the progress of the NR with great interest from outside. Over the past several years, I have had the honor of being either a company officer/commander or the Adjutant of the NR. I, therefore, feel somewhat qualified to discuss the NR and its perspective in the hobby.
The concept, the mission statement if you will, although not called that at the time, was simple and to the point. Basically this: That several authentic units would band together at several events each year, one group in the East and one in the West, to portray a regiment of infantry in camp and field, with historical accuracy. These respective groups would strive to attend one of the other group’s events once each year. Further, that to accomplish this endeavor, the units involved would set aside their individual unit portrayals for these selected events, in favor of forming a generic regiment.
This, of itself, was no easy accomplishment, given that each of these units had and still have differing...
The NR (in the East) began to develop. Individual units within the NR agreed that at NR events they would follow the NR command structure, and abide by the NR authenticity standards, uniform policies and other procedures. Further, they would support the NR training school and make a maximum effort to attend NR events. They would, therefore, be able to perform as a Civil War regiment with historic accuracy...
It is important to note that the individual units agreed that the NR would form for only selected events each year as official max-effort NR events. All individual member units remained and still remain totally free to ...
As the NR (East) progressed, year after year, historical data analysis and statistics indicated the following important points...
Why then is there this significant disparity in turn-outs between mega-events and other type events? An answer to this perplexing question must consider that such events are most often filled with host organizational problems; are held in open fields and, therefore, hot as blazes; and that the units attending often have lesser standards in authenticity, camp life, and tactical competence. My own opinion is that although mega events may leave something to be desired, they provide a forum for the NR to function at its best and within its charter:
In more recent years, as events grew larger and larger (from 2000 participants to as many as 10-12,000) the NR was frustrated and often stifled by inexperienced leadership at brigade level. The NR decided to take on brigade leadership to offset this void. The downside, which was completely understood by the Commander and the Board, was that NR wings would become regiments, increasing the necessary staff to run these regiments by an additional 10-12 officers and senior NCOs (brigade staff, two Regimental Commanders, two Wing Commanders in each regiment, two Adjutants, two Sergeants Major, etc.). These additional officers would be pulled from Company Commanders and 1st Sergeants, in too many cases leaving the companies weaker by the loss. To correct this, the NR made it a policy for officers to be fully qualified as company commanders and NCOs as 1st Sergeants. To accomplish this, the Officer/NCO School was restructured accordingly. We have had varying degrees of success in this initiative.
As the NR has developed over the years, so has the Board of Directors. The Board consists of three elected members, who run for three years each. Thus, one Board member is elected annually to replace an outgoing member.
The Board conducts the organizational and administrative business of the NR (the annual meeting, recruitment, enforcement of standards, etc.), and chooses a Commander each year to lead the NR in the field. The Commander unanimously appointed by the Board, since the birth of the NR, has been Terry Daley. I think that most would agree that Terry has been the underlying spirit of the NR, the glue that has done much to keep this thing of ours together for so long, both as Commander and as a Board member.
Events are chosen by the Board based on input from the member units as to their interest and preferences. The Board then attempts to provide a selection of each type of event (living history, tactical, mega, etc.) and try to spread the events apart to gain maximum attendance. This is also no easy task, due to the number of variables they must consider to reach an equitable selection of events. For each event, the Commander selects subordinate officers and senior NCOs (Wing Commanders, Company Commanders, Regimental Staff, 1st Sergeants). He either commands the NR or designates alternative commanders in his absence, and is responsible with the Board for training the regiment for active service.
It was decided at the 1998 annual meeting that each year the NR will focus on a limited number of authenticity issues or other NR standards, with a goal of gradually improving the NR over time. This coming Year 2000, the focus will target upon "the forage cap/kepi" and the "camp" itself. In addition, Year 2000 will be "the Year of the Gear...How to wear the soldier’s uniform and equipment properly.
Based on input at the annual meetings, and subsequent discussions with the membership, enforcement of the standards within a volunteer organization appears to be the most difficult aspect of maintaining the highest quality regiment. The Year 2000 Board is pursuing several initiatives along these lines.
Another issue which was surfaced was that Board membership should be separate from field command. Due to this concern, the Board is addressing better methods for accomplishing a separation of Board membership and field command, which the Board and the Commander agree would be preferable. This is a difficult problem, however, since there are only a limited number of NR folks who would wish field command, as the Regt Commander or Wing Commanders, or could devote time as a Board member. If field command made one ineligible for the Board, the NR could lose from the Board the valuable talents and degree of time commitment of these highly qualified folks, and vice versa. On the other hand, it might open the Board to other highly talented NR folks who merely want to remain in the ranks, provided they would have the time commitment to tackle a Board post. Perhaps, to give this issue perspective and better demonstrate the membership’s voice on the subject, it should be noted that in the last election at the Annual Meeting in November 1999, after discussing this concept in detail at the meeting, the membership reelected a Board member, who is one of our established Wing Commanders, for another three-year term.
Tackling delicate issues, such as enforcing standards and the separation of Board membership and field command, is indicative that the NR is a healthy organization which is constantly striving for self-improvement through self-assessment.
The National Regiment is always looking for new quality units of like mind to join our ranks, and individuals to join the ranks of NR member units. There is information on this Web site explaining how you can do this...JOIN US AND SHARE THE PRIDE!