Duties of Adjutant

[cprljohnivey]

Folks,

I have been asked to be Adjutant at an event comming up in a couple weeks. Since I am short on time and have never done this before, I have a few questions hopefully someone can answer after not finding much on a search:

1. Any recommended reading material that spells out the duties, paperwork, etc... of the Adjutant?

2. What duties that I will read about from reccomendations in number one above translate to the actual duties of the Adjutant at a reenactment? What can I expect?

3. Any advice from those with experience in this position? What works well? What to avoid?

Thanks in advance for any help. "I'm movin on up, to the commissioned side, to a delux shebang under the sky ey ey ey! "

[Silas]

I'll let others chime in on the paperwork side of the job, but you ought to bring a haversack for your paperwork plus a pen and a securely sealed ink well.

You get to run parade. Here are some items you ought to review and/or download :

http://www.zipcon.net/~silas/Drill/mcdbooklet.htm - this contains the full procedures for parade. Just download and print this pdf if you don't already have it. You'll be glad you've got it in your haversack, but it won't do you any good unless you review it before the event.

http://draytons.tripod.com/drill/parade.pdf - This is an article I wrote about opening and closing ranks in parade. It lays out parade step by step and includes many illustrations plus the original text.

http://www.zipcon.net/~silas/links.htm#N_4_ - This link will get you to a series of single page pdf's related to assembly. They are mostly illustrations to cement the ideas into your head. I'd forward the links to the companies of your battalion so that the sergeants know what is expected of them. The faster the companies assemble, the faster parade can commence.

[J. Donaldson]

Make sure your sergeants get their paperwork in as quickly as possible, and filled out correctly. I'm not sure what type or level of event that you'll be acting as adjutant at, but if there is a need to consolidate companies, your paperwork guides the business. If you'll be doing this at an event with quality participants, this shouldn't be an issue.

Make sure your timepiece works, as well as the timepiece of your sergeant major, and keep 'em synchronized. Battalion time runs off of both watches.

Have a good working relationship with your principle musician, and make sure he's around when you need him.

[GrumpyDave]

You can pretty much forget about sleeping for the weekend.

[Wild Rover]

Yep, welcome to servitude leadership...

Pards,

[Bushrod Carter]

Sleep? What is that?

[Indianabugles]

"Have a good working relationship with your principle musician, and make sure he's around when you need him. "

I am one of said said Principal Musician.
We are like alarm calls, It is our duty to arrive on station 5 mins before a timeslot and stare expectantly at you.
When your PM and SM get on really good life gets a lot easier.
Exactly as above, f we are informed ahead of we will be blessed alarm calls and silent reminders. If others see us Preping they will too.
Call of the buglers is good 5 min ahead warnings.

[Pvt Schnapps]

There's something in here: http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/...l-of-the-Clerk

[Erik]

Well you have bitten of a chunk.
The duties of the adjutant are clearly described in the Regulations for the Army and don't change no matter what edition that you use.
Further details of the paperwork and duties can be found in Kautz Customs of the service.
As advised keep several pens, ink in a pocket inkwell with lots of ink powders unless you own a Hathway's writing kit.
I always went to Sullivan and preffered to use his Consolidated Morning report book and printouts of the daily form not the mainstream abomination commonly seen.
I also insisted that Companies use ink up and pencil down.
I don't know your penmanship skills but you should realise, and hopefully your Col. will too, that orders and instructions in ink take longer to write than modern implements.
Therefore lots of blank forms, foolscap paper, pens, ink, blotter, a surface to write on and as already said a good watch set to the time used, apparent or local time.
Develop the good relations already spoken of.
If given a detailed order to deliver, use the Orderly Sergeants or Company clerks to transcribe them. Don't stay up to 3 in the morning. If you do so you will be of no service to your unit.
Your uniform and deportment should be above reproach and your path cleared of any obstructions as John Masters said in his biography as adjutant of a Gurkha Battalion in "Bugles and a Tiger".
Be a gentleman.

Erik Simundson
Former adjutant and staff officer.

[cprljohnivey]

This is great stuff. Thanks Fellas. Luckly, the Batt. I am assigned to most likely will run only 2-3 companies... so should be an easy first time run for me. I don't believe we have a musician in our Batt. attending the event (other than me) so maybe I need to bring my fife too. Well... maybe not.