Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): How do I join? Contact the unit of your choice, and they will give you details. You must also join the WWII Research and Preservation Society (WWII RPS). The WWII RPS dues for the year 2008 are $30 per year for an individual, or $20 per year for the first family member and $5 each for each additional family member. Some units also have unit dues. The 3rd Armored Division does not currently have any unit dues. Who can join? Is there an age limit? Can my wife/girlfriend come along? We do have some restrictions on membership. You must be 18 years of age or older to join. You may join and participate if you are under 18 only under the following conditions: You must be at least 16, and your father or legal guardian must join the unit AND accompany you. This is for insurance and liability reasons, and to ensure that you are legally allowed to be in possession of a firearm. Convicted felons are not allowed because they are legally prevented from being in possession of any firearm. Females are not allowed because there were no females in the 3d Armored Division in World War II. This is an authenticity issue. We also cannot guarantee that we will have a separate place for them to stay. This is a safety issue. Can I come and watch? No, but... Our normal events are private events (no public allowed). This is for authenticity and safety reasons. The tactics and terrain also preclude a spectator from having a whole lot to see anyway. Occasionally, the club will participate in a public display and/or battle or parade You and your family and friends are of course welcome to attend these events. If you have prior permission from the unit commander, you might be able to come to an event in the evening and talk to us. How do I decide which unit to join? That is entirely up to you. Different units provide a different "fit" for each individual. You should talk to representatives from each unit and see which unit best fits your ideas about reenacting, your budget, and your personal tastes. Speaking of budget, how much does all of this cost? There is no set answer to this question, but this is not necessarily a cheap hobby. How much it costs will be determined, in part, by how much equipment you want, and which unit you join. As stated above, you must join the WWII RPS at $30 per year. Event fees are usually $30 per weekend. Blank ammunition for a .30-06 M-1 Garand is about $35.00 per 100 rounds. M-1 Carbine blanks are currently about $45.00 per 100 rounds. Reproduction K-rations are typically about $10.00 per meal. Your basic, U.S. infantry equipment and weapon will probably cost in excess of $1,000.00 total. Most of this cost will be your rifle. M-1 Garands, in serviceable condition are currently selling for at least $500.00. Your uniform and equipment will cost at least another $500 depending on your sizes, and to an extent, how lucky you are. WWII GI uniforms and equipment can still be found at gun shows, thrift stores, garage sales, and antique shops. Smaller sized clothing is usually available at reasonable prices. If your clothing sizes are larger, you may have no choice but to buy reproductions, and they aren't cheap. Where can I get all the stuff I need? As mentioned above, sometimes you can find it at gun shows, militaria shows, antique shops, estate sales, etc. Virtually everything you need is also available, either original or reproduction, from various vendors. Check the Catalogs and Vendors page and the Links page on the website for a list of vendors. Also check with your First Sergeant, squad leader or unit commander for further information. Be aware that not everything that everyone sells is correct for your needs. Check with your First Sergeant, squad leader or unit authenticity officer for further guidance BEFORE you waste your money. My grandfather was a Captain in WWII. Can I be a Captain like him? No. At least, not yet. Each member will start out as a private. You will wear the rank of a private, be addressed as a private, and performs the functions and duties of a private. It is possible that eventually we will have enough members and you will be promoted to that rank, but you start at the bottom. Promotions are based on several criteria: Need, authenticity, participation, and responsibility. Need: Rank in the unit will be based on a strict "rank ratio." This means that, like the real army, only so many positions of rank are available per so many men. For example: An infantry squad usually consisted of twelve men, which included one Corporal (Assistant Squad Leader), and one Sergeant or Staff Sergeant (Squad Leader). Three squads made up a platoon which was commanded by a Lieutenant, who also had a Platoon Sergeant in the rank of Tech Sergeant or Staff Sergeant, a runner, and a radioman. There may be other positions that allow rank such as vehicle drivers, clerks, etc., but they also fall under certain rules and regulations regarding rank. In short, if the army Table of Organization (T.O.) of WWII says we don't need more rank, then we won't have it. Authenticity: This is a big part of determining who will get rank, and who will not. Our unit has high expectations regarding authenticity, and those standards are even higher for those desiring rank. Don't expect a promotion if your authenticity is not top-notch. Participation: You will not be promoted unless your participation in the club and ALL of it's events is at or near 100%. Many members have conflicts with work or school and cannot make every event. This is unfortunate, but it is unfair to give a position of rank to someone who has uneven attendance, and therefore is not there doing his job, while someone equally deserving with perfect attendance is unable to be promoted because the "part-timer" already has the position. Responsibility: All the above being said, even if a member has a slot open for him, his authenticity is excellent, and his attendance is perfect, he still might not be promoted if he is not willing and able to perform the job. EVERYONE in the unit will have certain responsibilities and tasks to perform, above and beyond "just showing up." Your willingness and ability in performing these tasks will have a direct bearing on future promotions. "Sad Sacks" will not be promoted in this unit. Will I get to ride in a jeep, half-track, truck, tank or armored car? Yes, but not all the time. Each vehicle has a crew that is more-or-less permanently assigned. The remainder of the unit will travel in a vehicle (if space is available), then dismount and go into battle as infantry. This is in accordance with WWII doctrine for Armored Infantry. Also be aware that vehicles may not be present at every event. WWII armored infantry travelled on foot as often as they travelled in vehicles, and you can expect the same as a reenactor. Where do you get your vehicles? How easy are they to find? How much do they cost? Our vehicles have been found all over, from seeing them alongside the freeway, tucked behind an old barn, advertised in a newspaper, or word of mouth. If you want one bad enough and are willing to pay the asking price, just about anything is available. The prices vary depending on type of vehicle, it's rarity, and condition. Jeeps needing a LOT of work can be had for as low as $2,000. Show-quality, fully restored jeeps can go as high as $20,000. Usually, the bigger the vehicle, the more expensive it is. Half-tracks generally run $8,000 and up, tanks are $45,000 and up. Transportation is also an issue. A jeep can be towed behind most pick-up trucks. Half-tracks, armored cars and tanks require specialized transport - semi-trucks with flat-bed or low-boy trailers, and the transportation costs can be quite high. Recovering a broken-down tank or half-track can also be very expensive. These factors and others must be considered when purchasing a military vehicle. We recommend joining the Military Vehicle Preservation Association which can help you with resources to find, restore and maintain a military vehicle. They can be found at: www.mvpa.org, or use this link: MVPA |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): How do I join? Contact the unit of your choice, and they will give you details. You must also join the WWII Research and Preservation Society (WWII RPS). The WWII RPS dues for the year 2008 are $30 per year for an individual, or $20 per year for the first family member and $5 each for each additional family member. Some units also have unit dues. The 3rd Armored Division does not currently have any unit dues. Who can join? Is there an age limit? Can my wife/girlfriend come along? We do have some restrictions on membership. You must be 18 years of age or older to join. You may join and participate if you are under 18 only under the following conditions: You must be at least 16, and your father or legal guardian must join the unit AND accompany you. This is for insurance and liability reasons, and to ensure that you are legally allowed to be in possession of a firearm. Convicted felons are not allowed because they are legally prevented from being in possession of any firearm. Females are not allowed because there were no females in the 3d Armored Division in World War II. This is an authenticity issue. We also cannot guarantee that we will have a separate place for them to stay. This is a safety issue. Can I come and watch? No, but... Our normal events are private events (no public allowed). This is for authenticity and safety reasons. The tactics and terrain also preclude a spectator from having a whole lot to see anyway. Occasionally, the club will participate in a public display and/or battle or parade You and your family and friends are of course welcome to attend these events. If you have prior permission from the unit commander, you might be able to come to an event in the evening and talk to us. How do I decide which unit to join? That is entirely up to you. Different units provide a different "fit" for each individual. You should talk to representatives from each unit and see which unit best fits your ideas about reenacting, your budget, and your personal tastes. Speaking of budget, how much does all of this cost? There is no set answer to this question, but this is not necessarily a cheap hobby. How much it costs will be determined, in part, by how much equipment you want, and which unit you join. As stated above, you must join the WWII RPS at $30 per year. Event fees are usually $30 per weekend. Blank ammunition for a .30-06 M-1 Garand is about $35.00 per 100 rounds. M-1 Carbine blanks are currently about $45.00 per 100 rounds. Reproduction K-rations are typically about $10.00 per meal. Your basic, U.S. infantry equipment and weapon will probably cost in excess of $1,000.00 total. Most of this cost will be your rifle. M-1 Garands, in serviceable condition are currently selling for at least $500.00. Your uniform and equipment will cost at least another $500 depending on your sizes, and to an extent, how lucky you are. WWII GI uniforms and equipment can still be found at gun shows, thrift stores, garage sales, and antique shops. Smaller sized clothing is usually available at reasonable prices. If your clothing sizes are larger, you may have no choice but to buy reproductions, and they aren't cheap. Where can I get all the stuff I need? As mentioned above, sometimes you can find it at gun shows, militaria shows, antique shops, estate sales, etc. Virtually everything you need is also available, either original or reproduction, from various vendors. Check the Catalogs and Vendors page and the Links page on the website for a list of vendors. Also check with your First Sergeant, squad leader or unit commander for further information. Be aware that not everything that everyone sells is correct for your needs. Check with your First Sergeant, squad leader or unit authenticity officer for further guidance BEFORE you waste your money. My grandfather was a Captain in WWII. Can I be a Captain like him? No. At least, not yet. Each member will start out as a private. You will wear the rank of a private, be addressed as a private, and performs the functions and duties of a private. It is possible that eventually we will have enough members and you will be promoted to that rank, but you start at the bottom. Promotions are based on several criteria: Need, authenticity, participation, and responsibility. Need: Rank in the unit will be based on a strict "rank ratio." This means that, like the real army, only so many positions of rank are available per so many men. For example: An infantry squad usually consisted of twelve men, which included one Corporal (Assistant Squad Leader), and one Sergeant or Staff Sergeant (Squad Leader). Three squads made up a platoon which was commanded by a Lieutenant, who also had a Platoon Sergeant in the rank of Tech Sergeant or Staff Sergeant, a runner, and a radioman. There may be other positions that allow rank such as vehicle drivers, clerks, etc., but they also fall under certain rules and regulations regarding rank. In short, if the army Table of Organization (T.O.) of WWII says we don't need more rank, then we won't have it. Authenticity: This is a big part of determining who will get rank, and who will not. Our unit has high expectations regarding authenticity, and those standards are even higher for those desiring rank. Don't expect a promotion if your authenticity is not top-notch. Participation: You will not be promoted unless your participation in the club and ALL of it's events is at or near 100%. Many members have conflicts with work or school and cannot make every event. This is unfortunate, but it is unfair to give a position of rank to someone who has uneven attendance, and therefore is not there doing his job, while someone equally deserving with perfect attendance is unable to be promoted because the "part-timer" already has the position. Responsibility: All the above being said, even if a member has a slot open for him, his authenticity is excellent, and his attendance is perfect, he still might not be promoted if he is not willing and able to perform the job. EVERYONE in the unit will have certain responsibilities and tasks to perform, above and beyond "just showing up." Your willingness and ability in performing these tasks will have a direct bearing on future promotions. "Sad Sacks" will not be promoted in this unit. Will I get to ride in a jeep, half-track, truck, tank or armored car? Yes, but not all the time. Each vehicle has a crew that is more-or-less permanently assigned. The remainder of the unit will travel in a vehicle (if space is available), then dismount and go into battle as infantry. This is in accordance with WWII doctrine for Armored Infantry. Also be aware that vehicles may not be present at every event. WWII armored infantry travelled on foot as often as they travelled in vehicles, and you can expect the same as a reenactor. Where do you get your vehicles? How easy are they to find? How much do they cost? Our vehicles have been found all over, from seeing them alongside the freeway, tucked behind an old barn, advertised in a newspaper, or word of mouth. If you want one bad enough and are willing to pay the asking price, just about anything is available. The prices vary depending on type of vehicle, it's rarity, and condition. Jeeps needing a LOT of work can be had for as low as $2,000. Show-quality, fully restored jeeps can go as high as $20,000. Usually, the bigger the vehicle, the more expensive it is. Half-tracks generally run $8,000 and up, tanks are $45,000 and up. Transportation is also an issue. A jeep can be towed behind most pick-up trucks. Half-tracks, armored cars and tanks require specialized transport - semi-trucks with flat-bed or low-boy trailers, and the transportation costs can be quite high. Recovering a broken-down tank or half-track can also be very expensive. These factors and others must be considered when purchasing a military vehicle. We recommend joining the Military Vehicle Preservation Association which can help you with resources to find, restore and maintain a military vehicle. They can be found at: www.mvpa.org, or use this link: MVPA |
