Gentlemen!
Gather 'round the campfire and grab a whuskey. I have 2 short tales to tell Yiz.
A short while into my military career I was called upon to serve as a CC. My rank at the time of this request was the lowly but honourable rank of Major. In my mind I was mortified and extremely embarassed signing mails and posts as Major Carroll CC of II Corps, AoG. (Shortly after assuming the Command - I hit the mark and could just about afford the shoulder boards of Lt. Colonel Rank).
This did NOT assuage my embarassment . . . . I felt that I was an anomoly and that it 'didn't look well' for the CSA to be fielding a Corps commanded by a mere Lt. Col. Why? . . . Well it just 'aint done' in a Real Life Army . . is it? But the anomaly stood and had to stand because . . . I was the only available 'willing' officer and the structure of the AoG counted for more than a silly 'blip' in the appearance of the CSA OOB.
Now this current topic . . . leads me to my second vignette. (I would - with great respect - class the Topic as a 'New Guy Issue'. (NGI)
Not too long after I assumed my CC posting, The AC retired to the Ranks. It appeared as if a crisis was looming on the AoG Command horizon. If such a proud and distinguished Army had ‘slumped’ to such a pitiful condition that a Corps was ‘led’ by a Lt. Col. – what was gonna happen next? The AoG ‘led’ by a Fld. Lt.???
Shock! Horror! !GASP! . . Ooooooh the shame of it all!!!!
A Brig. Gen. volunteered and his enthusiasm was welcomed and hailed as ‘the next great Event’. A new Army website appeared. Medals and Ranks were caught up on, and conferred. The ‘Ship’ was righted and we awaited orders as to which direction we were to advance against the Enemy. And the Direction arrived . . . . with NONE of us liking the prospects.
Our new AC was a ‘New Guy’. He had been a member of the Club for approximately 12 months and had shot from Cadet to B. Gen. in reasonably record time. He had ideas galore and when they were in place – we’d all see that this would improve, morale, participation, communication . . etc, etc, blah, blah, blah!
I believe that His attitude bears a loose resemblance to some of the thinking behind Our Current Topic.
The AoG was AN ARMY! It was now HIS ARMY! And BY DANG! It was gonna run like a ‘proper’ Army, along established military Lines and when running to these strict lines - it would conquer ALL before it!!!!! <SALUTE!!!!>
He introduced the concept of de-merits. Effectively, failing a muster, lack of comms on Club, CSA and AoG forums, slow Battle activity, non-participation in Tourneys, lack of Manoeuvres in conjunction with a current Battle, (an active Battle AND an active Manoeuvre at all times), scratching your Arse on Parade, etc, etc, would lead to de-merits and if enough de-merits were earned a percentage of an Officer’s next Rank would be added to their qualification FOR the next Rank.
(e.g. for a Lt. to reach Capt. 45 OBD points PLUS 10% . . . that Officer would have to hold 50 OBD points (49.5) to reach Captain’s Rank. To reach Major, He would have to earn 65 OBD’s + any de-merit ‘bonus’ he earned as a Captain. De-merits were eternal and continued to count against each accumulated Rank.)
Discipline Boys . . . DISCIPLINE!!!!
There was Pandemonium in the Ranks and Junior Commands! There was Rebellion! There was talk of Seccession! A small few Officers went AWOL and one Officer actually deserted the CSA and the ACWGC. (They all came back later on . . . phew!)
This AC was hoisted over a Mule, taken to a dark and lonely shack, where he had a stick of dynamite ceremoniously planted where Daisies Refuse to Grow, lashed to a chair with 100 feet of fuse and a Lucifer match was then struck. Before the match burnt down to the thumbnail, He understood the Club’s concepts of Fun, Participation, its Social Functions etc. . . And conceded that – on paper – His Plan appeared to be a good ‘un . . . BUT . . . - in practice - it was detrimental and contradictory to the ethos of the Club.
This Club is a Games Club – “With a Military FLAVOUR”, with an “Historical FLAVOUR” – It is NOT a Ladder Club, NOR is it a Group of Armies fighting a WAR.
As a GAME Club . . . . the importance of the Games, the Sociability of the Members AND the PRIZES . . . these are the Primary and Important aspects.
A ‘Montana Militant’ is NOT gonna join the ACWGC to further his political aims – because ‘get this Cleetus . . . this hain’t an Army!’ The vast majority of Gamers won’t join us if We become one.
RANK is in some respects - a NON-event in this Club.
Sitting in on a MP Battle, pitting 5 Four Stars against 4 Three Stars, A Five Star and a Fld. Lt. . . . . matters about as much as 5 Refuse Collectors playing against three Doctors, two Lawyers and a Catholic Priest . . . . . at the end of it all . . . . the winners - in ALL senses intended within the Club's ethos are . . . . .
(Drum-Roll . . . . . . . . Da da Dom Tish BOOOOM!)
The Participants!!!!. (and the Crowd goes WILLLLLLD!!! Haaaaaayyyyyyyhhhhuuuuuuu)
Rank can be a measure of achievement within the Club. It affords those that wish to draw comparisons between different Members a loose weak manner to do so. We are not a ladder club after all.
Rank is a personal target of achievement for the New and continuing Members of the Club. The Lt. aims for Captaincy. The Captain to become Major and so on. A little personal ‘lift’ when the next Rank is achieved.
(I have another anecdote for this - but I'll save it for another time.)
Rank is already ‘capped’ at Brig. Gen.
Any other General Rank involves Admin duties within the Club Structure and those Ranks constitute Recognition and Thanks for that Officer’s contribution to the maintenance of the Club.
To remove an Officer’s Major, Lt., or General’s Rank is akin to throwing sand in his face, implying “Well You were a 2, 3, or 4 star General – while Ye were useful . . . NOW, go back to the Refuse Pile of ‘Has Beens’.
As the Laubster as opined – pinning Rank to Command will generate 'Stick in the Mud Generals', maintaining their exclusivity of egotistical 'Superiority' of Rank - by refusing to stand down and allow another Officer the opportunity to partake of that level of Command . . . if they desire to.
(BTW - What’s the point of assigning Terms of Office, to these commands, if there is the disincentive of losing one’s rank by standing down ???)
When an Army is led by a Lt. Col. (as per Scott’s experience) or a Corps being led by a Major (as per my own experience) . . . it doesn’t look right . . . to the Military or Historical ‘purist’.
BUT – so what? Who Cares? The important and relevant matter is that there’s someone IN the position, performing the FUNCTION and keeping the Club/Army ‘Ticking Over’.
Anyone thinking that it looks strange can/should head for the Forums, jeer at them good naturedly, p’raps needle a little, with a Grudge Match developing and a challenge issued where the ‘strange’ commander defends his Honour on one of Our many Battlefields. . . An ‘inconsistent’ Commander’s Rank . . . benefitting the Club, by generating (a) many Battle(s) . . . .
Enough for now Gents . . . I weary!
More anon – if needed . . .
Pat.
