U.S. Frontier Brigade Safety Policy
The Policies described here apply to all member and associate units, including Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery and support units that affiliate themselves with the U.S. Frontier Brigade. Any unit or individuals that participate at events with the U.S. Frontier Brigade will be expected to agree to and abide with these policies
1. In the event of an actual emergency at an event, the word MEDIC, when used will cause all action on the filed to cease immediately until such time that the nature of the emergency can be ascertained and dealt with in a proper manner.
2. For participation on the filed or carrying a weapon (in all branches), participants must be at least 16 years of age. The only exception is functioning musicians, who must be at least 14 years of age. Participants serving as active members of artillery crews, i.e. positions 1 through 4 and gunner must be at least 17 years old.
3. All participants under 18 must be under the supervision of a parent, legal guardian, or other responsible adult who will sign a consent form acknowledging said responsibility upon registration. In the absence of said consent form, the affected commander must agree to accept this responsibility.
4. Individual troops or units, who walk on or have not previously worked with the U.S. Frontier Brigade, must drill with their assigned companies or battalions AND be approved by those unit commanders before being allowed to take the filed with the Brigade.
5. There will be NO hand-to-hand combat or night firings of any kind unless specifically scripted and approved by the Brigade Commander!
6. ALL WEAPONS, to include pistols and muskets, will be inspected no later than 1 ½ hours prior to the battle. The inspection shall include as a minimum: spring the rammer hearing a clear ring, running a dowel in the pistol barrels, checking the half cock as well as each cylinder to be carried, and verifying the presence of a hammer screw. Any weapon or ammunition deemed unsafe by the inspecting officer WILL NOT BE ALLOWED ON THE FIELD. Officers, selected Non-Commissioned Officers (any branch) and mounted cavalry (with the approval of the cavalry commander) are the only individuals authorized to carry side arms. It is highly recommended that sheath knives of any kind not be worn. Keep them in camp if you must bring them.
7. All small arms cartridges must be pre-rolled prior to any event and be properly constructed. A properly constructed cartridge is defined as one rolled in soft paper with a maximum of 60 grains of FFg or FFFg black powder. Penny wrappers, heavy bond paper, plastic, staples, or tape may not be used in the construction of the small arms cartridges. Only 4 wing percussion caps are permitted. There are safety concerns over the use of 5 & 6 wing caps, with the wings breaking off when fired causing small projectiles to injure shooters. Percussion caps and cartridges for filed use must be carried in authentic cap boxes and cartridge boxes. Additional ammunition, properly packaged, may be carried in field packs or haversacks. Any ammunition deemed unsafe by the inspecting officer WILL NOT BE CARRIED ON THE FIELD.
8. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL SMALL ARMS OR ARTILLERY PROJECTILES OF ANY KIND BE ALLOWED IN THE CAMPS OR ON THE FIELD!
9. Non-Commissioned Officers and selected file closers needing to clear a fouled or non-functioning weapon will retire to the rear of the formation to clear it. If the weapon cannot be cleared or function properly in an expeditious manner, the individual must take a hit as a casualty, switch weapons with a file closer, or retire from the field.
10. Ramrods and bayonets will not be drawn on the filed unless the intent or purpose is to stack arms.
11. The order to draw rammers of fix bayonets must only come from an officer who is a member of the U.S. Frontier Brigade and preferably from an officer within that battalion or company. Only file closers may draw ramrods when clearing a weapon.
12. Mounted drill for all cavalry troops prior to the first battle is MANDATORY! NO EXECPTIONS! The Cavalry Commander will determine the need for additional drill as needed.
13. In addition to the inspection of pistols, carbines, and ammunition, all sabers will be checked for a dull edge.
14. Under no circumstance will a new or unknown trooper carry a loaded weapon or saber on the field and participate as a combatant until he has shown that he can handle is horse or weapon safely.
15. It is the responsibility of all Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers to enforce safety regulations and to not hesitate to stop a battle or to remove individuals who act in an unsafe manner from the field.
16. Unless scripted or pre-arranged, there will be no ride through of artillery, cavalry, or infantry lines.
17. There will be no open flames, smoking, or firing within a 25-yard radius of any artillery piece or limber box, regardless of how the ammunition is packed.
18. All pistols, muskets, rifles, and carbines will be elevated to some degree when firing. There will be no direct firing at individuals or livestock, especially if they are within 25 yards of the unit that is firing.
19. UNIT COMMANDERS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACTIONS OF ALL TROOPS UNDER THEIR COMMAND.
20. After ALL weapons have been truthfully and properly inspected companies and battalions will complete and forward weapons inspection report to brigade headquarters. Units not submitting a report or refusing to comply will not take the field until all unit weapons have been inspected by a different company or staff officer.
21. Artillery units will observe all North/South Alliance Artillery safety guidelines and firing and inspection procedures. There will be no firing if cavalry or infantry units are within 150 feet of the tube.
22. Any individual, group, or unit that acts in an unsafe manner or refuses to abide by these safety regulations will be removed from the field and not be allowed to participate with the brigade.
