After the experiences at Detling both in the camp area and in the Arena, I was wondering if it might be a good idea to follow something similar to this when we are put into sections:
As soon as the section commander and section members are released from the parade the section commander gets the section together.

As soon a spracticable after this (especially if there is an arena display later on) the section commander gets the team together in fighting-order and they go of somewhere nearby and walk-through ,talk-through simple line of march ,deploying from the line of march into line abreast, all-round defence and so on.

This would have the effect of making sure all members know who is in the section and who the commander is. It would refresh them on basic procedures and allow them to find out how the section commander wants them spaced out and what orders he will use to deploy and move them.
Generally it would help them gel and feel more like a fighting unit.

If we read Bessanovs "Tank Rider" we can see that it was common Soviet practice and saved lives.

In the battle : orders should come down the chain and be given to the section commanders only, and they should move their men accordingly.

The men (and women) in turn will be keeping an eye and an ear on the section commander to see what they want them to do whilst at the same time covering theior arcs of fire.

If the section is practiced in this way it will move fluidly and naturally ,following the orders of the Section Commander and in turn he will move in tune with the needs of his superiors.

A well drilled section is a living creature that flows across the battlefield. It is a pleasure to be part of and inspires its members to do well in support of the chain of command.

A poorly briefed or badly controlled section just breeds frustration and gets people killed.

_________________
Name: Robert Fillipovich Soodyarov
Rank: Yefreytor
Очын приатна - Эа вас !!
Drink Tea, Be Mellow !

Sounds good to me.

Cheers, Ade.

_________________
http://www.2ndguards.com/index.html

Adrian Borisovitch Stepanov
Guards Starshina
Unit 2 I/C 2nd Guards Rifle Div.

with "fixed" sections though we've come across this before.One event ,set up a couple of sections,works great on the field,next event 8 from one 2 from the other turn up or 4 nco's and 2 privates etc. Not trying to be negative,just pointing out the reality of this as hobby rather than profesion. If we could get into smaller subsections for the duration of an event (which may or may not lead to "stripping" or"adding" rank for the day) I cant see a problem but anything more long term is imho unrealistic. The one major thing that always seems to stand out when watching a "blat" is the amount of bunching and 10 men hiding behind a lamp post that goes on, never felt this to be the case in the GDs though.
k.
ps,having witnessed a "battle" while the rest of you lucky so n so's were in kent I have to say we,on the whole , have nothing to worry about when it comes to "looking" the part,ok,maybe not always like some crack well drilled spetznaz team but a realistic,mid/late war mix of old salts and slightly less experianced greens.

_________________
"There is a war on,how is it you are going west?"
"Well we kinda face to the North and real sudden like turn left."

Hi Kai ,
I quite agree about the inability to field fixed sections and I don`t for a moment suggest we try.
I also agree that we shouldn`t try to be a professional army when we only get together every so often and e=we all know its for fun (and should remain so) .
What I am suggesting is that we get into a mind set that accepts that every time we get together we will (or may) be put into sections and that we follow a kind of natural bonding arrangement where we have time allocated to get to know each other.
Being arranged in sections from the beginning of each sesh would help with things like washing up , "sanitising the camp" (of non GPW kit) and eventually the combat phase if needed.
It would be the simplest way to manage a group of people too because everyone would know what sub-group they were in and could easily be organsed,tasked,moved about etc.
Wherever I have gone I have usually been put into a "syndicate" or a "section" or "group"
It also would help people focus on what we represent.ie people thrust together and fighting for a common cause.
It doesn`t have to be something we get worried and anal about but it could help us to do what we do well even better?

_________________
Name: Robert Fillipovich Soodyarov
Rank: Yefreytor
Очын приатна - Эа вас !!
Drink Tea, Be Mellow !

I agree in principle Bob even though the sections might be made up of different people at different events.

It would help at each event to organise people into different jobs if they knew which of the jobs their section was detailed to do.

We tried at Detling but there was a lot going on and I thought it fell by the wayside a little,particularly after the battle when everyone was winding down.

It is something I think we could work on at the smaller events so that when we are at Detling or kelmarsh then it will be more natural and hence easier to implement.

I therefore bagsy the Suvorov section leader job whenever I am on camp.
Now I've said it first so all the Nevskies and Red Banners can't usurp me.

Urrah

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Name: Valtar Valtarovich Prusins
Rank: Serzhant
Suvarov Section Leader

I thought that the way the sections were organised at Detling worked well. The idea of each section taking its turn at jankers was a good one & the NCOs knew right from the first morning who they had to organise & look after- it got rearranged after parades each day due to people arriving & departing over the week-end, but I still think it is something that we should continue to do & improve.

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“Freedom” is a grand word, but under the banner of freedom for industry the most predatory wars were waged, under the banner of freedom of labour, the working people were robbed.

Kolya (Nikolai) Chuvashkin
Rank: Guards Mladshiy Serzhant

I think one of theproblems is we have never done anything like this before so we are asking our members to do something they are not used to i.e. not wandering whenever you feel like it

_________________
http://2ndguards.com/index.html

"Do what you do best Andrei......stay by my side .....and make your Maxim sing!" BobHR

Andrei Valtarovich Prusins
Guards yehfreytor
Kitchen Bitch
PTRD gunner

Hi Andy, members have never been allowed to just wander off the display whenever they feel like it. They must go throught the chain of command and ask. However, this rule needs to be reinforced as some members seem to not be aware of this? I will place this in the next KZ.

Hi Guys, Detling is really a show apart. It is just so busy. The separate sections getting their own 30 mins of training together will be much easier to impliment at other events.

Cheers, Ade.

_________________
http://www.2ndguards.com/index.html

Adrian Borisovitch Stepanov
Guards Starshina
Unit 2 I/C 2nd Guards Rifle Div.

i dont want to put a spanner in works or upset anyone , but be careful how military you make the unit .
dont forget , some only want to display the uniform and equipment and share what they know about the gpw .

i have seen first hand what happens in a unit when a hobby becomes a job , and the fun vanishes , thats when members get fed up and leave .


it becomes a job when you are told `you will do this ` `you will do that `

i dont want to seem negative , just a little worried , the unit is doing very well at the moment , and is growing ever larger due in part to the laid back atmosphere within the unit .

i know this post will annoy some , that is not my intention , i just dont want members to leave , or not turn up because its not enjoyable anymore .

I agree we shouldn't make the guards to disciplined as long as evrything gets done around the camp and every does something to help we shouldn't have a problem.

_________________
http://2ndguards.com/index.html

"Do what you do best Andrei......stay by my side .....and make your Maxim sing!" BobHR

Andrei Valtarovich Prusins
Guards yehfreytor
Kitchen Bitch
PTRD gunner

Thanks for the response and I must stress that although I take the military bit relatively seriously I really don`t want to force it on anyone and recognise that we are in this to share an interest not become squaddies.

My style of leadership always was and still is to recognise the uniqueness of the people in the team and try to tailor any jobs to their interests and skills.

That is what I find satisfying in the section work : we encourage people to get the best from themselves.

Ijust wanted to get people thinking and talking about it and then when anyone is asked to fill a place in a section they know that it is for their benefit and that of the unit.

We do very well as we are and all i am seeking is to encourage our members to become one of a eam and put that special part that is them into it.

There were times when I hated the military way and was humiliate; but when things worked they way they should I saw people who were happy and fulfilled.

What i am hoping to encourage is something that would bring and hold the unit together and not something that would push it apart.

A litte bit at a time and nothing nasty; to keep people in their comfort zones and to develop them.

_________________
Name: Robert Fillipovich Soodyarov
Rank: Yefreytor
Очын приатна - Эа вас !!
Drink Tea, Be Mellow !

PS:
Sorry about the typos this must be a Fashist keyboard bent on undermining the unit communications!

I just wanted to say that I would love to be in Suvorov too Walter if you can use me.

But i must admit its fun with Nick too; and Colin has a kind of charm !

PPS:
I got my FAC today and am off to Ryton at half-past dark themorrah!
Then back to Ade and Lez to look at Ades toybox (sorry toy-room!!).

See you soon.

_________________
Name: Robert Fillipovich Soodyarov
Rank: Yefreytor
Очын приатна - Эа вас !!
Drink Tea, Be Mellow !

a kind of charm

I think he means your svt bayonet

_________________
http://2ndguards.com/index.html

"Do what you do best Andrei......stay by my side .....and make your Maxim sing!" BobHR

Andrei Valtarovich Prusins
Guards yehfreytor
Kitchen Bitch
PTRD gunner

well......... thats ok then .
i`m just going up stairs to put a better edge on my blade .....mmmm... sharp

As a relitively new 'grunt' to the Unit, I have to say I very much enjoyed being part of a team. I found working for 'Bigbad' a real pleasure and respected his style of leadership.
I'm all for keeping to this 'regime' for any events I am lucky enough to be able to attend.
I personally believe that we should try to emulate those men/women we are, for all intents and purposes, re-living; whilst bearing in mind that we are creatures of a different era.

_________________
Boris Arkadovih Lavrentov
Krasnoarmeyets (kitchen bitch)
2nd Guards Unit
Mine's a vodka (bottle)

Ahh I can feel the warmth from here.

_________________
Name: Valtar Valtarovich Prusins
Rank: Serzhant
Suvarov Section Leader