Fort Indiantown Gap, PA / Leben in den Kasernen

For this event we are portraying the members of Grenadier Ersatz Btl. 348, stationed in a training facility within Wehrkreis XI during the winter of 1944.

After being called to service, you had reported to the local reporting office, and ordered to report to the STAMMKOMPANIE of GRENADIER ERSATZ BATAILLON 348. Here you have relinquished your Wehrpaß, and received a Soldbuch, ID disc, and basic uniform issue. Immediately after induction, you have been sent to a barracks for a week or two of basic military instruction. Thus begins our event scenario.

Here is some things to expect this year. Some may sound "out there," but please remember, we are trying to do our best to do something at FIG & in the hobby in general:

1.	The ZUG will be operating as if we are a training unit in Germany during 1944. We will be doing the following: morning/afternoon roll calls, assigned duties/guard, training classes, drill, inspections, Christmas mail call, etc...

2.	Our barracks will be set up so the bunks & wall lockers make 4 to 6 man bays. This is to simulate the actual German barracks room set-up & will utilize your stools as well as tables in each. We will also have a large central barracks table in the middle & rifle racks.
3.	Please do not bring extra boxes, crates, etc... If you cannot fit it in a wall locker, please leave it at home. We will have room in our Kantine building for extra storage of some items, but only if needed. Period looking beverages can remain in the barracks, but in the designated areas. Limit what you bring to the gear listed under guidelines & personal hygiene items.
4.	With that full military etiquette should be followed. If you enter a building, remove your cap. Keep your hands out of your pocket, etc.. When walking around outside our barracks, you will be required to be in proper German dress out. Explanation of this can be found under: guidelines All members must be clean shaven at all times, hair combed, & uniforms in good order. *Note:* This year there will be a kettenhunde presence at FIG. The German command has been informed that if any zugger is caught without proper dress out uniform during the event, unshaven, lack of proper identification papers (be it soldbuch or temporary issue), or the such, they can be arrested and detained until one of our kader is informed. So watch out! - LOL
5.	We will be holding a ZUG "Secret Santa" gift exchange. Basically, it should be something that is no more than $10. It must be period correct in such a way that it would have been something sent to a landser from home. Period foodstuffs for Xmas, period toiletries, etc... (stuff one can add to their personal items kit). I will have feldpost stamps and labels to paste on your package at the event. Just wrap it in standard brown packing paper & tie it closed with string. Sometime during the event we will hold the Christmas mail call and pass out "the gifts" to those who wished to participate. Don't be a bad landser and not participate, Ruprecht will punish you with his Rute!!!
6.	We will be taking the field during the FRIDAY "private" tactical.
7.	We will have an etiquette class as to how to react to different ranks, when & what to do to address them, etc... After we do this, it would be good to get into the habit of using this information to all officers & NCOs in other units. Just to gain a more military bearing.
8.	This event's scenario & guidelines sound like alot, but to not be frightened. It will be nothing to actually do and most of us do it already anyway. We will have time to hangout, shop, visit, etc... This is going to be different, educational, & FUN!!! Out of all the guys out there, its you all that I think can actually pull this off & look good doing it.