106th Cavalry
121st Squadron
Utcumque Ubique
Anywhere at Anytime
Purpose:          
The purpose of this SOP is to provide a guide to all members of the 121st Cavalry Recon Squadron, 106th Cavalry, a World War Two U.S. re-enactment unit.  It is intended to provide direction for those who wish to study, experience and display what it was "really like" in the cavalry during WWII.  These regulations are so that we may portray the men of the 106th Cavalry as closely as possible, and accurately represent the cavalry trooper of World War Two and his various missions in "tactical" exercises with other units, living history displays at public show battles, parades, educational programs, and school events.  Safety and authenticity are foremost, and political motivations play no part in any aspect of the unit or it's activities.
Goals:
Our chief aim is to educate, whether it is to the public about WWII army life in general, or to other re-enactors about WWII cavalry operations and TO&E.  We will achieve this goal by authentically depicting the troopers of the 106th Cavalry Group as they appeared from July 1944 to April 1945 to the best of our ability.  This period covers the most significant actions of the Group, from landing in France to crossing the Rhine.  Because we strive to be the best in the country at re-enacting a WWII U.S. cavalry recon unit, we are committed to authenticity in all areas.  We will work on our impressions to meet this objective.   Anything less is a waste of time and money.  We have set our standards high, not to scare anyone away, but to let everyone know that we are serious about honoring the members of the 106th and all WWII veterans and the sacrifices they made.  We expect all members of our unit to share this attitude.   
Organization:    
We portray U.S. cavalry troops because we share an interest in the history and traditions of the U.S. Cavalry.  The cavalry"s function has always been to act as the "eyes and ears" of the army.  Their main role in World War II was to perform reconnaissance missions for the division, corps or army to which they were attached.  But in many cases the cavalry also fought dismounted as infantry in both the attack and on defense.  We selected the 106th Cavalry Group because they are typical of the Corps cavalry units, which fought in Europe in 1944-45, and served alongside many different types of units.  They also represent minuteman heritage of the "citizen-soldier" of the U.S., as the unit was originally the 106th Cavalry Regiment of the Illinois National Guard.  The 106th served from November 1940 until October 1945 and compiled an outstanding war record.  The 106th served with distinction in the 1st Army, 3rd Army and 7th Army in Europe, and supported XV Corps for most of that campaign. 
Attitude:
While we are not a real military organization and our principal interest is to enjoy ourselves at re-enactment events, basic military discipline and training is necessary.  We portray a highly trained and disciplined unit, and we need to exhibit these characteristics when we are doing a presentation.  To do less would be a slight to the original men of the unit.  To be as effective as possible, we need to develop teamwork and discipline.  We are all familiar with these concepts, and they are essential to accurately portray the U.S. soldier of WWII.  REMEMBER - We are representing the men of the 106th Cavalry Group and the U.S. Army of WWII.  The public, who will be watching us closely, will judge us on our appearance and conduct as soldiers.  Failure to conform to regulations with respect to wearing the uniform and military tradition will result in a poor view of the men that fought in WWII, the 106th Cavalry, the Army, WWII re-enactors and YOU.
Participation:
We will make decisions as a group on activities and growth of the unit.  The planning committee will try to select events that will allow all members to be able to attend as many as possible.  In the field, the ranking member present will be in charge.  If you have earned the rank, you should be prepared for the responsibility it brings.  Unit members follow their orders because they know that we cannot accurately recreate the structure of a military unit without a realistic chain of command.  Safety at events is everyone's responsibility!
Recruiting:
Recruiting is everyone?s responsibility.  New members are essential if the unit is to grow and improve, but we will not sacrifice quality.  We want only those who can work as part of our troop and share the same goals and ideas we do.  Eventually, we will all experience the pride and satisfaction of being a member of a well-trained and cohesive unit.  We will constantly strive to be the best U.S. cavalry unit in WWII re-enacting and living history.  The "veterans" must help the new men feel welcome, help them with their impressions, and train them for field operations.  REMEMBER - Teamwork is a must always!
Other Requirements:
Unit members will need to know the history of the 106th Cavalry, the U.S. Army in World War II and have a general knowledge of the 1940's in order to appear in the correct manner.  Also, a working knowledge of military organization and military law is needed.  Our unit will be proficient in patrolling, scouting and basic concepts of defensive and offensive tactics.  Don't worry about not being familiar with all these requirements at first.  In order to meet our objectives, we will have training sessions to teach you what you need to know.  Since we want to be the finest U.S. cavalry re-enacting unit, and experience World War II living history at its best, we must be willing to put forth the extra effort of hard work and a positive attitude.  You will find the benefits of this make the time and money invested well worth the effort.
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