UNIT PHILOSOPHY
After nearly 25 years of re-enacting (as a group), we have come away with an idea on the type of person we want in our unit, our requirements and how we conduct ourself in the field. Our objective is not so much re-enacting but professional recreation of our wartime namesake.
To pursue our dual obligation with elan and maintain a well developed and sincere interest in our goals we decided early on that we would publish our "unit philosophy" a clearly, well defnied look at our unit for those who were interested in joining. By doing so, we feel it is necessary to separate our unit from the majority, in order to maintain a high standard of dress, drill and deportment - professionalism - whether it be within an imagined unit ( such as this ) or the real military. In doing so, we decided upon three (3) requirements: uniformity, weight standards and jump requirements.
The Soldier, not the re-enactor. As one re-enactor has stated, "most re-enactors are civilians who have never served in the military." The type of recruit we want is someone who already has military experience - prior service U.S. Armed forces personnel and even more diligently, airborrne qualified. However, we are open to anyone and like the SAS requirement, anyone can challenge our requirements - easy though they may be - to join. But not every one will make it. Besides the 47/51's and the MAS36, we also require two (2) static-line parachute jumps to complete membership. And we cannot budge on this requirement. We feel that any person, who is teachable and motivated can fulfill this requirement. We want someone who has already served so that training them is not necessary.
Uniformity. Unlike most units that require a dress uniform, ceremonial uniform or field uniform to play "dress up", 1er BEP (recreated) requires only one uniform - the field uniform, which also sub as the dress uniform (with the addition of a web belt and kepi). We are a field unit and not a group with an image to 'dress to impress' within the reenactment community.
We require weight standards for two reasons: the physical well being of the person who attends our events (which includes jumping out of airplanes) and the image that we are trying to portray. Excessively obese or over-weight re-enactors destroy the image of a well-porportioned, physically fit, soldier.
Properly turned out, motivated professionals will never need to be told that they are 'out of uniform' or involved in horseplay with real firearms and live (albeit, blank) ammo. The type of person we want is a soldier, not a re-enactor.
alcoholl. We allow alcohol at our events - but only once weapons and ammunition are stored away. We do not put up with alcoholics or the beer-guzzling type. One (1) warning is all we give to someone who goes overboard.