The Battalion Major has many duties to perform, but one of the chief duties is that of the Battalion Safety Officer.
While historically the Brigade Assistant Inspector General (AIG) is responsible for all inspections, most of the responsibilities of insuring that safety issues are addressed at the battalion level fall upon the Major of the battalion. It is ultimately the Battalion Major, with the Colonel’s approval, who must establish and enforce the safety guidelines of the battalion. It is for this reason that I am issuing these regulations which should be enforced throughout the Tennessee Valley Battalion. It is only through a concerted effort of all of the officers of the Tennessee Valley Battalion that we can attempt to assure the greatest level of safety for all of our men.
Safety Regulations:
1. General Order No. 1- No loaded revolvers whatsoever will be carried by any infantry officer or infantry NCO on the field. Also no revolvers are permitted to be carried at any time by the rank and file at the company level in the infantry branch.
By Order of Maj. General W.P. Smart- dated Aug. 14, 2002
2. Only NCOs are ever allowed to draw a rammer on the field and only to repair a fouled weapon.
3. No mini balls or any form of projectile is to be found on the person or in the accoutrements of any man in the Tenn. Valley Battalion during any reenactment event. One is to make certain that any of these items, which maybe used for demonstration purposes during living histories, are promptly removed from one’s gear before taking to the field.
4. POSITIVELY NO LATE ARRIVALS will be permitted to fall in the ranks after a specific time at events. At battalion events the deadline is thirty minutes prior to the scheduled battle. The deadline for division events will be two hours prior to the scheduled battle. If and when there are exceptions made to these time deadlines the Battalion Officers will notify Co. Commanders prior to the event, otherwise these time restrictions should be strictly adhered to. These deadlines will be the responsibility of the Co. Commanders to enforce. Once the battalion inspection is complete, WITHOUT EXCEPTION, all latecomers are to be assigned to the Battalion Provost for camp patrol and guard during the battle.
5. A battalion weapon inspection shall be performed immediately following every battalion formation. This weapon inspection will be done for each company by its Commander. At this time the Co. Commander will fill out a WI-1 Inspection Form which will require that all the weapons in the ranks or on officers be thoroughly inspected for safety and cleanliness. This will be verified and signed off by the Co.’s Commanding Officer and the Co.’s Orderly Sergeant or 1st Sergeant, dated and timed. No man should exclusively inspect his own weapon, but should have another also verify the safety of his weapon. Although, the official weapon inspection will be conducted when the battalion forms, the Co. Commanders are strongly encouraged to conduct their own inspections well in advance of that of the battalion in order to insure the safety of the weapons in their ranks and to have time to correct any problems that may arise within their company.
6. Although weapon inspection forms can be obtained from the Major at anytime, The Major will distribute these forms to each Co.’s Commanding Officer prior to battalion formation. These forms are to completed and returned immediately after the battalion inspection and only to the Major.
Items, which Co. Commanders need to address and pay close attention to during inspections, are:
A. That the rifle is clean and in proper working condition, i.e., inspector should hear a “ping” when the rammer is dropped in the barrel, should make certain that the hammer will function at half cock, that the trigger is working properly, that the nipple is clean, etc.
B. All bayonet scabbards should have metal tips
C. All cartridge boxes should be lined with tin containers
D. All cartridges should be rolled properly with no staples or wadding and a max. of 65 grains of black powder.
E. All canteens are full to help prevent heat related health problems
F. That all officer’s pistols are inspected and unloaded
G. That there are no two banded rifles in the ranks
H. Lastly, that all the men in the ranks meet the minimum age requirements for that event.
7. At the end of any scenario, ALL troops will be reformed by the Battalion Commander for the purpose of safely discharging any loaded weapons. No straggling back to camp until this battalion weapons check is concluded.
8. All weapons are to be cleaned thoroughly before the next official weapons inspection. This is to be supervised by an NCO appointed by the Co. Commander.
9. The Command of the Tennessee Valley Battalion reserves the right to ask any individual or group of individuals under its command to leave any event if and when that individual or group is found to be in violation of the Safety Regulations established by this battalion.
Gentlemen,
It is only through our continued efforts and our diligence to safety that we can best provide an enjoyable and safe environment for the men in the ranks. Please let me express my gratitude to you all for your continued support to make the Tennessee Valley Battalion the safest battalion in the 1st Confederate Division.
Your Most Obedient Servant.
Maj. Brent Dukes
Tenn. Valley Battalion