From the Desk of Major J. Trent
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is with great pride I report on the success of the Ft. Larned Living History and Muster. Your service over the weekend was greatly appreciated by the National Parks Service and myself. We provided a glimpse of Frontier Post life to the public and a weekend of the highest caliber of training. The addition of Artillery drill was a extra feature we all enjoyed and the near perfect condition of the post made for a great garrison weekend. I look forward to considering this event in the future as it’s abundance of gear and training are real quality assets combined with top level instruction from NPS personnel.
In reflection on this weekend’s performance I would encourage both companies to participate in drill whenever possible either as stand alone get together or at area events where there will be a chance at School of the Company. Even if it’s only 5 or 6 men get together and do the Manual of Arms and practice stepping up for 1’s and 2’s. I hope to be drilling the recruits in North Texas personally at least once a month. An additional muster and drill weekend is in the works for mid October to early November but this alone will not be enough drill!
Practice, practice, practice. Watch the drill videos online and read the texts if possible. Discuss drill with each other and look stuff up. No one living person in the area is a dead correct drill reference; there are too many variables and texts. Absorbing as much drill knowledge as you can simply gives you more ground to stand on in a constantly evolving battalion structure that is constantly bringing on new men (students). Everyone knowing their part in the big dance makes moving a large body of dangerously armed men around the field much easier. Beyond being pretty or correct we want to be safe. Drill makes men safe because you are where you are suppose to be with sergeants doing their jobs monitoring you and officers tracking the other elements on the battlefield. In drill we all have a position that when maintained and properly executed maximizes our efficiency while minimizing our risk through body positioning and proper distancing from one’s comrades.
I was very proud of everyone’s performance this muster and I look forward to what promises to be a great season.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is with great pride I report on the success of the Ft. Larned Living History and Muster. Your service over the weekend was greatly appreciated by the National Parks Service and myself. We provided a glimpse of Frontier Post life to the public and a weekend of the highest caliber of training. The addition of Artillery drill was a extra feature we all enjoyed and the near perfect condition of the post made for a great garrison weekend. I look forward to considering this event in the future as it’s abundance of gear and training are real quality assets combined with top level instruction from NPS personnel.
In reflection on this weekend’s performance I would encourage both companies to participate in drill whenever possible either as stand alone get together or at area events where there will be a chance at School of the Company. Even if it’s only 5 or 6 men get together and do the Manual of Arms and practice stepping up for 1’s and 2’s. I hope to be drilling the recruits in North Texas personally at least once a month. An additional muster and drill weekend is in the works for mid October to early November but this alone will not be enough drill!
Practice, practice, practice. Watch the drill videos online and read the texts if possible. Discuss drill with each other and look stuff up. No one living person in the area is a dead correct drill reference; there are too many variables and texts. Absorbing as much drill knowledge as you can simply gives you more ground to stand on in a constantly evolving battalion structure that is constantly bringing on new men (students). Everyone knowing their part in the big dance makes moving a large body of dangerously armed men around the field much easier. Beyond being pretty or correct we want to be safe. Drill makes men safe because you are where you are suppose to be with sergeants doing their jobs monitoring you and officers tracking the other elements on the battlefield. In drill we all have a position that when maintained and properly executed maximizes our efficiency while minimizing our risk through body positioning and proper distancing from one’s comrades.
I was very proud of everyone’s performance this muster and I look forward to what promises to be a great season.