FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
“What is campaigning, and what is the purpose of this page?
Simply put, campaigning is authentic living history, where individuals and units all come together under one banner, using all possible avenues for research, the highest standards for uniform and kit items, and living the day-to-day life of the soldier you’re portraying, at events specifically designed around a specific scenario or historical event.
This style of reenacting has become extremely popular in the American Civil War community, where they host “EBUFU” events, (Events By Us, For Us), where organizers will plan their own event, sourcing a location and all necessary facilities, pick a scenario or event to recreate, choose an impression to be portrayed on either side, and then begin researching that event to make it as accurate and immersive as possible.
What we are trying to do in this group is emulate that community and foster the same level of authenticity and great events as exist in the American Civil War community.
This style of reenacting has become extremely popular in the American Civil War community, where they host “EBUFU” events, (Events By Us, For Us), where organizers will plan their own event, sourcing a location and all necessary facilities, pick a scenario or event to recreate, choose an impression to be portrayed on either side, and then begin researching that event to make it as accurate and immersive as possible.
What we are trying to do in this group is emulate that community and foster the same level of authenticity and great events as exist in the American Civil War community.
“What do you mean ‘adjunct’ campaigner groups?”
An adjunct group, is a group of individuals, and units alike, that come together under one banner for one specific event. Everyone works together to portray one thing.
In the campaigning community, as an event is chosen and impressions are selected, companies begin forming on either side for the said impression. There is one chain of command, and all groups and units fall in under that chain of command.
In the campaigning community, as an event is chosen and impressions are selected, companies begin forming on either side for the said impression. There is one chain of command, and all groups and units fall in under that chain of command.
“How does the chain of command work or get chosen?”
A lot of times event organizers will ask individuals to form companies for their event. These usually include people they are familiar with and have worked with successfully in the past.
Typically speaking, the chain of command comes about as individuals begin to form companies for the event. In the civil war community, you may have a dozen companies all being formed at the same time with a requirement to hit 20 men or they’ll be folded into another company. You join the company in which all your friends are joining, and the company commander asks for volunteers or selects his chain of command.
Overall command is typically appointed by the event coordinator.
Since WWII squad structure varies from Civil War, unless massive adjuncts are achieved, typically only one or two companies may be formed on either side, but the formula remains the same. The person who steps up and assumes the responsibility to form a company is also required to make sure his company is prepared and ready. Basically someone isn’t just going to call themselves captain and everyone has to listen. If they can raise a company, then outstanding. If not, they’ll be thrown in with the company that was raised properly.
Typically speaking, the chain of command comes about as individuals begin to form companies for the event. In the civil war community, you may have a dozen companies all being formed at the same time with a requirement to hit 20 men or they’ll be folded into another company. You join the company in which all your friends are joining, and the company commander asks for volunteers or selects his chain of command.
Overall command is typically appointed by the event coordinator.
Since WWII squad structure varies from Civil War, unless massive adjuncts are achieved, typically only one or two companies may be formed on either side, but the formula remains the same. The person who steps up and assumes the responsibility to form a company is also required to make sure his company is prepared and ready. Basically someone isn’t just going to call themselves captain and everyone has to listen. If they can raise a company, then outstanding. If not, they’ll be thrown in with the company that was raised properly.
“Who is in charge?”
Nobody. This is not a society. Nor is it a unit. This is simply a style of reenacting. Technically speaking, whoever is running a specific event is in charge, for that specific event. The next event is likely someone else. For company commanders, I personally have had many different commanders because they tend to change at each event. The captain of your company at one event might be standing on the line with you as a private at the next one.
“But I’m already in a unit... I don’t want to quit or be separated from my group.”
Again, an adjunct company is not an official unit. It’s a group for one specific event.
Since organizers and leadership are getting large numbers of individuals and units to come together, it’s always best to keep groups together. If your unit normally fields a squad, you will keep your structure and just fall in under the chain of command as your own squad. If your unit normally fields a platoon, you will keep your structure and fall in as your own platoon in the company. Provided your rank structure is accurate to your groups numbers, you will likely keep all rank and unit structure as well. If your unit is 10 men with a Captain, the captain should expect to be a Sergeant, unless he’s forming the company. If you’re just a handful of guys, you may be thrown in with another group, but you’ll be kept together.
Since organizers and leadership are getting large numbers of individuals and units to come together, it’s always best to keep groups together. If your unit normally fields a squad, you will keep your structure and just fall in under the chain of command as your own squad. If your unit normally fields a platoon, you will keep your structure and fall in as your own platoon in the company. Provided your rank structure is accurate to your groups numbers, you will likely keep all rank and unit structure as well. If your unit is 10 men with a Captain, the captain should expect to be a Sergeant, unless he’s forming the company. If you’re just a handful of guys, you may be thrown in with another group, but you’ll be kept together.
"What if I'm not in a unit, or I'd like to attend an event and my unit does not?"
If you are not in a unit, signing up for attending an event is the same as if you are affiliated with a unit. The only difference is that you will be assigned to a squad as needed, as opposed to falling in with your own squad as part of a larger adjunct.
If your unit does not want to attend an event but you do, please register and you will be assigned to squad.
If your unit does not want to attend an event but you do, please register and you will be assigned to squad.
“Why do I need to change insignia?”
At campaigner events, the impression is selected by the organizers and chosen due to its historical significance in the battle being portrayed.
(For example, let’s say the event is St. Lo, and the two impression choices are 29th ID for the allied side, and the 352. ID for the axis side.) Anyone portraying a GI, will join an adjunct unit being formed, and portray a member of the 29th ID, and anyone German will do the same for the 352.
The purpose for this is to not only foster groups working with each other, but to accurately portray small unit action. If you have 100 men in a small area, chances are, you wouldn’t have 10 different divisions being represented in that 3 square mile area. More likely, the men all come from the same Company or Battalion, so the goal is to represent one large unit, not a dozen small ones.
(For example, let’s say the event is St. Lo, and the two impression choices are 29th ID for the allied side, and the 352. ID for the axis side.) Anyone portraying a GI, will join an adjunct unit being formed, and portray a member of the 29th ID, and anyone German will do the same for the 352.
The purpose for this is to not only foster groups working with each other, but to accurately portray small unit action. If you have 100 men in a small area, chances are, you wouldn’t have 10 different divisions being represented in that 3 square mile area. More likely, the men all come from the same Company or Battalion, so the goal is to represent one large unit, not a dozen small ones.
“Well, we only portray....”
If the event supports your one impression, then excellent! Come and give it a shot. However, campaigners should be ready to portray various formations at various times, this means owning a few styles of uniform, maybe different field gear items, maybe different footwear, and most certainly, different insignia.
Typically speaking, elite units are not usually selected for campaigner style events due to their needing very specific kit requirements. If you have a generic impression for both sides, typically speaking, you can make some adjustments for each event without having to spend a fortune. If you are unwilling to adapt to the requirements and standards of a campaigner event, this simply isn’t the place for you.
Typically speaking, elite units are not usually selected for campaigner style events due to their needing very specific kit requirements. If you have a generic impression for both sides, typically speaking, you can make some adjustments for each event without having to spend a fortune. If you are unwilling to adapt to the requirements and standards of a campaigner event, this simply isn’t the place for you.
How do I get more involved in this side of the hobby?
Stay tuned for updates on this website, in addition to our Facebook page and groups for updates on any future events.
If you'd like to find a unit to join that participates in these types of events, please contact us and we will try to point you in the right direction!
If you'd like to find a unit to join that participates in these types of events, please contact us and we will try to point you in the right direction!
