Independent Army Brigade--The 76th (part three)
POSTED BY: Tristan
UPDATED: Tuesday, December 5, 2006 16:08
VIEWED: 18866
PAGE 10 of 12
Glad you like it, and glad I could help.
Okay, I know I've been the one pushing the rank issue, but I've done nothing to help break the ranks down. So, I give to you the US Army rank structure. For enlisted ranks I say we just use the Army's and just flip it (similar to Canada). Officer rank we can just leave as it is. For ease of rank, I'm skipping Specialist, Master Sergeant and Comand Sergeant Major, and I'm posting the rank symbols right side up. Our imaginations should allow for seeing them fliped.
Enlisted
E1 - Private (PV1) - No rank insignia
E2 - Private (PV2) - 
E3 - Private First Class (PFC) - 
E4 - Corporal (CPL) - 
E5 - Sergeant (SGT) - 
E6 - Staff Sergeant (SSG) - 
E7 - Sergeant First Class (SFC) -
E8 - First Sergeant (1SG) - 
E9 - Sergeant Major (SGM) - 
Officers
O1 - 2nd Lieutenant (2LT) - 
O2 - 1st Lieutenant (1LT) - 
O3 - Captain (CPT) - 
O4 - Major (MAJ) - 
O5 - Lieutenant Colonal (LTC) - 
O6 - Colonal (COL) - 
O7 - Brigadier General (BG) - 
O8 - Major General (MG) - 
O9 - Lieutenant General (LTG) - 
O10 - General (GEN) - 
Since we're a Battalion, the CO would be either a LTC or a COL, the XO a CPT.
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I'll be in my bunk.
http://www.myspace.com/babywiththepower
http://76thbattalion.homestead.com/index.html
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Quote:
Originally posted by BoomerGoodheart:
Ok, if no one has any objections (and if you do, please bring them up! We won't bite), let's go with 76TH INDEPENDENT BATTALION on the one side, and WE WILL HOLD THE LINE on the other. Price will be $10, just like our other lanyards. We need to order a number stamp set from our leather store. As soon as we receive it, we'll work one up and post a pic (as well as send one for the website). First lanyard will go to Tristan for his foresight and hard work. Everyone ok with that?
Now, how should we work out delivery? We have no problem sending it to anyone. However, we would like to keep this exclusively for those that are acutally marching. We will, of course, have a bunch with us at DragonCon, where they can either be picked up, or purchased. (An aside: Thank you WickedWren for inviting us to share your vendor table!! We do so appreciate it.)
No objections at all, I prefer 76th Indepentent Battalion and I think that's a good quote to have. Good on you. Get me the pic as soon as you have it ready and I'll post it on the website along with a link to your page.
I'd kind of like to keep this lanyard for those of us that marched. It makes it more special, you know? Whether we do it by shipping them out or pick up at the Con would work for me.
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I'll be in my bunk.
http://www.myspace.com/babywiththepower
http://76thbattalion.homestead.com/index.html
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I like both the 76th Independent Battalion name and the 'We Will Hold The Line' tagline. I also like the idea of only the people marching having the lanyard.
Ironically, I am doing some computer-based training this morning, and the section I came to while reading this thread has to do with AF military rankings.
~Jimi
jimi dot spettel at gmail dot com
Self-Proclaimed Grand Vizier of Georgia
Medic for the 76th Indepentent Army Battalion
- Animation by DesktopHippie
"Marijuana not only should be legal, it should be mandatory." - Bill Hicks
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Quote:
Originally posted by Tristan:
Browncoat1, there was a debate about the guns, but I have two G36 airsoft guns at my house that I am going to be doing a photo-comparison of in the next few days. That one you posted is bang-on to what they had, but the G36 (rather than the CA36, which is what they used in the series) is a bit more affordable in the $30-$50 range. The one you found is very shiny, and if people want to go with it, that is great! I will be carrying one of the two that I have at the house now, though.
I should go ahead and mention that I am also going to design a cloth coat based as closely on the soldier's coats as I can. It will not be a necessity to purchase one from me (I am going to try to keep them as inexpensive as possible), but if we can keep close to the same look, that would be a good thing. I am also going to try to make a "smock" for those interested in going with just the vest and mail sleeves. It will take me a little while to design those. I have started on the vest and coat already, and plan on posting shots of the coat when I have one I am happy with.
Tristan, I think I will go with the one I posted above. I appreciate all of your efforts on researching the two G36 variants you purchased, but I really like the looks of the one I posted. Just glad I won't be ruffling any feathers in carrying a slightly different weapon.
I am definitely interested in the cloth coat you are making. Just keep us in the loop on the cost and construction. Soon as you are taking orders I will place one.
Do you have pix of the Polish helmet?
Quote:
Originally posted by Sister:
Regarding all the questions about sidearms/etc; in my humble opinion, since much of what I've read on this and other boards indicates a lot of the backstory on the 'verse and particularly the war came from the Civil War/old west era; I think many of the battalions in the Independence Army probably brought with them small, familiar armaments from their home worlds like knives and handguns. They were probably issued weapons as well and as soldiers are wont to do in downtimes between battles or campaigns some of the personal armaments were perhaps wagered in games of chance? Just a thought and could be reason enough for some of us to have sidearms; others not?
I completely agree Sister. I am an avid reader/researcher of the War Between the States and I can say you are dead on about individual weaponry. Those who could afford it, armed themselves or were armed by loved ones and brought all manner of weapons with them when they entered the service. Knives, swords, pistols of all sorts, rifles, muskets, shotguns, whatever they could get to try to insure they made it home safely. Many tintypes exist that show soldiers from both sides proudly displaying knives, pistols, etc.
I find no reason to believe that an Independent army, formed by volunteers from border planets would be all that different. It could be that Mal's pistol was an individual weapon Mal either brought with him, was issued, or found on a dead soldier. I would think it highly likely that other browncoats carried personal weapons as well.
I think we should try to stay unified to a point on uniform and long arms, but that if individuals want to add sidearms, knives, etc, it should be okay. It would give us that frontier, individual feel of the browncoats. Unified for a purpose, but still individuals.
I would also like to ask about flags. Every unit on parade has flags. One for our country and one that is the units personal flag. Can't rightly march in a parade if we don't have flags, now can we?
I figured we might consider an Independent flag as our national flag and then design something with a personal touch for battalion flag. If I may be so bold as to suggest a "personalized" flag for the unit. These types of unit banners normally had the names of battles that the unit fought in. Here are a couple of examples from the WBtS:
[img] http://i6.ebayimg.com/06/i/000/7a/4c/07fb_1.JPG [/img]
[i
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Quote:
Originally posted by BrownCoat1:
Do you have pix of the Polish helmet?
The Polish one can be found here:
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/BJR730-51850-1818.html
It's okay, but the far better choice is the Russian, which is here:
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/LEG140-1717-628.html
Quote:
Originally posted by BrownCoat1:
If I may be so bold as to suggest a "personalized" flag for the unit. These types of unit banners normally had the names of battles that the unit fought in.
It's a good idea. The guidon (pronounced guide-on) bearers would march at the front of the formation at either side of the CO. Battalion flags tend to be simpler in design now than they were back in the day, simply being the color of the specialty (blue for MI, red for maint/supply, ets.) with the unit's crest and number on them. There was a site somewhere that had the Independent Flag as a graphic, it was simply the triangle patch we know extended out into a rectangle. I've got the hookup on a patch guy but I'd have to do some digging to find a flag maker. And with only ordering a few (obviously not as easy to move as patches) costs will be way up.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'll be in my bunk.
http://www.myspace.com/babywiththepower
http://76thbattalion.homestead.com/index.html
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The idea of a flag is a good one, although it means we need to come up with a more in-depth back-story for the unit than we currently have.
Things to consider are what battles would we have fought in (Du Khang amongst others), although this would partly depend on the time period that we're placing our costuming in.
Of course, the real important question is, who gets the honour / responsibility of being the unit flag bearer?
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(Thx to Desktop Hippie for the banner)
If you find yourself getting too worked up about stuff that isn't real (RP Threads etc), then go outside, breathe in some fresh air and try feeding the ducks. (Because ducks don't care about your politics, religion, skin colour, choice of music or even your haircut. They like everyone, provided you bring them food.)
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OOOOoooo, you guys!! Will Dragon*Con EVER get here??!! You've all done SUCH wonderful work!
Tristan I have the M41a from Airsplat; since I'm happy to be just a basic private that's what I'll carry.
Regarding flags; at the end of the battle of Serenity Valley; I believe Zoe asks "what colors are they flying?" when the med-ships finally come. Since they are 'browncoats' I'd guess that the flag would be brown; possibly? How about the triangle design (with the blue star from the Firefly Companion Vol. I) as the main design top left? We could then add small one-square inch patches from each of the border worlds (oops, states? countries?) we're all from? and add to it as we add troops? In keeping with the Chinese feel to the show, that strip of patches could run vertically down either side. Just some suggestions..feel free to rip/bend/fold and mutilate!! Oh, good morning and happy Tuesday to all of you.
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The Polish & Russian helmets look okay, but isn't the American helmet a better match:
[img] http://i19.ebayimg.com/03/i/000/7b/d8/ef84_12.JPG [/img]
[img] http://i18.ebayimg.com/02/i/000/7b/d8/f22f_12.JPG [/img]
I am familiar with the guidon (being former military). As per earlier discussion, I don't think we need to strictly adhere to current military doctrine when creating the 76th, as our unit is based 500 years in the future & on frontier worlds where the acceptable practices of Core worlds may not be observed.
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Holding the line since December '02!
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Quote:
Originally posted by Nicodemus:
The idea of a flag is a good one, although it means we need to come up with a more in-depth back-story for the unit than we currently have.
Things to consider are what battles would we have fought in (Du Khang amongst others), although this would partly depend on the time period that we're placing our costuming in.
Of course, the real important question is, who gets the honour / responsibility of being the unit flag bearer?
I don't think we need to be overly worried about backstory. It might be nice if we want to put something up on our shiny new site (thanks BWTP!) or if we decide to have a table at Dragon Con, hand out fliers, etc. Right now we are doing this for fun, love of the show, and to pimp our 'verse.
I think we can safely say that the 76th would have fought on Hera (Serenity Valley), Du Khang & Stirges. We could always make up names or pull them from what canon info we can find online or in the Companion books.
As far as who carries the flags, we could always hold a random drawing to see who gets the honor.
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Holding the line since December '02!
[img]
[/img]Richmond, VA & surrounding area Firefly Fans:
http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/richmondbrowncoats/
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Morning, all!
BoomerGoodheart, thank you again for the lanyards...we are all looking forward to them! 
I also agree that it would be nice that only the marchers got ahold of these, either through shipping or on-site. Makes it that much more special.
Alright, so long as we mostly look similar, alternate weapons, bags, etc. should be actively pursued. I am happy about that...gives me a chance to come across another sidearm I will be happy with!
Flags...as long as it is a flag and not a banner. We will be marching with the SEBC and I do not want us to be competing with them, if that makes any sense. But, as we are supposed to be a relatively new Battalion...not too bloodied yet...would it make more sense to put one or two battles rather than the major ones? Just my thoughts. As for design and such, I am a fan of the smaller "battle flags". Again, not really up on military terminology; I again defer to the military amongst us. I do like Sister's idea of having a unit flag somewhere that gets added to as time goes by. That would be shiny!
The helmets...BrownCoat1, the Russian design is close, and at $9.97, pretty affordable. If you can find a good rate on the US helmets with a decent stock, please let us know!
Ooh, random drawing to carry the flag...I like that and second the suggestion. A drawing amongst the 76th the morning of the parade. How does that sound? Something simple that we can manage to do early in the AM, though...before all brain cells are firing properly. 
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