The 6th KOSB Historical Reenactment Unit has established standard fitness guidelines for membership in our recre- ated group. The objective of these standards is to reduce medical liability while maintaining proper wartime, period authenticity on the simulated tactical battlefield. To protect unit member's investment and that of the prospective participant, there will be no changes to this policy. Medical Liability & Authenticity No matter how we try to justify it, a 350lb 'infantryman' is historically incorrect. Over the past decade we have noticed a severe lack of fitness among historical reenactors of all time periods as well as a disproportionate rise in preventable injuries during weekend tactical 'battle' reenactments. Tactical marches have been abandoned and weekends that once featured all-night patrolling or 72- hour full-immersion tacticals have been replaced with nighttime BBQ's, catered meals, porto-cans, campfires, movie nights, etc., due to the physical short- comings of most WWII reenactors. Even the basics of digging a fighting posi- tion or completing a short patrol are outside the grasp of those who are both overweight and out of shape. As stated above, our fitness standards were established for two reasons: (a). to reduce medical liability on the simulated tactical battlefield during weekend reenactments and (b.) to maintain period authenticity.
6th KOSB Historical Reenactment Unit beleives that fitness is related to authenticity and that a proper, physical presentation is just as important as wearing a correct uniform, having a period haircut or using a correct, period weapon. Based upon the staggering array of photographic evidence from the Second World War (1939-45) we are unable to allow a morbidly obese reenactors to badge up as members of our unit. More important, we feel that to allow medically unfit, extremely overweight reenactors onto the simulated tactical battlefield would render our unit medically liable and place the overweight reenactor in a life-threatening position. The medical propriety of such a decision renders a person's participation moot, if they are out of shape. Safety is paramount in all events we undertake, therefore we will not allow anyone who is 50-75lbs overweight to participate. Overweight candidates may join, and if they are serious about starting a fitness program, we will maintain them on roster until they reach proper, lean body mass. Start a Fitness Program If you are overweight or obese and interested in joining our group, we urge you to undertake a fitness regimen (with the consent of your primary care physician) of fast walking and weight-lifting to increase your cardivascular output, quadracep and upper and lower back strength. If you need help with your physical fitness program, contact us and we will help you establish, at no charge, a basic, easy, simple way in which to burn bodyfat, build muscle and look proper in WWII uniform. |
| THE KOSB AT WAR 1939-45 A Second World War Historical Reenactment Unit in Texas, commemorating the service and sacrifice of the 6th King's Own Scottish Borderers in Northwest Europe 1944-45 |
| FITNESS REQUIREMENTS |
| Historically correct? PHOTO COURTESY WWW.1914-1918FORUM.COM. As one poster put it, "is this gentleman doing a service or a dis-service to the WWII veteran by appearing at a reenactment with a beard, long hair and overweight?" Reenactors must be willing to be politically incorrect regarding weight in order to be historically correct to maintain wartime standards. |
| This page updated 11 November 2011. (c) Copyright. 2008. The King's Own Scottish Borderers (KOSB) at War (1939-45) A Second World War Historical Reenactment Unit. All Rights Reserved. Read our Disclaimer. Questions or Comments? Contact the webmaster. |
