Lending stuff to newbies

[jgoodguy]

What rules, forms and procedures are used in lending uniforms, arms and such to potential members?
Trying to figure it out for our group.
Thanks

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

For the most part, a guy with any sense of morals, should give them back at the close of an event.
We have "loaner gear" that is basic: hat, shirt, coat, pants, canteen, blanket and cup. We are artillery, so no need for weapons/leathers.
If he is a friend of a unit member, the unit member usually reminds him that it is loaner gear, thus foster the knowledge that it should be returned.
However, if you are looking for a "rule" for your unit, I would specify that gear needs to be returned at the end of an event, and that gear can be loaned out for future events, until the individual can purchase his own. If a guy is a decent fellow with enthusiasm and the cash means, it won't take long for him to start accumulating the things that he needs.

 

[Poor Private]

What some units do is take his or her drivers license until the stuff borrowed is returned. ( remember cleaning the borrowed weapon is part of the deal). I no longer "loan" out rounds. If it's a newby show them how to roll rounds and set them up with a kit for doing it. A kit can be as simple as a dowel, and a jig for cutting the paper. And you can go to the ever famous youtube for the instructions. They have to provide their own Black powder and caps for each event. Here in Michigan you can buy 1# of BP for about 22 bucks, and a 100 count tin(even tho it's plastic), costs about 10 bucks. you can get a touch over 100 60grain rounds out of a pound. This works out to about an events worth. 2 battles, tactical, night firing, and even some drilling. Now if a person dies, runs. or surrenders it can go further. So it's not gonna break the bank for a newby to begin. Other units take a form of money for deposit I have heard as much as a 50 dollar bill, that gets returned when stuff(equipment) is returned in good order. Remember that word phrase also "in good order". Emphasize it when loaning out the goodies.

 

[jgoodguy]

Thanks for responses.

I am hearing from our people is that stuff goes missing-clothing and returned damaged clothing and arms. Some of it is just that some folks lend out too much and lose track of it in the excitement of leaving camp. IMHO some of it is trying to recruit folks too poor or uninterested to invest their own money in a hobby with high up front costs.

 

[Frederick14Va]

My group retains an assortment of various secondary and old uniforms, gear and accoutrements for loaners... Brought to the event in question, and to be returned at the conclusion. Some items are borrowed from other company individuals if a particular size or type is not available in the loaner closet. Also returned hand to hand in person to the owner at the end.

A prior unit was a bit too trusting and allowed recruits to retain the gear if they were suppose to participate in the next event etc... Became a problem when they didn't go.. and another could have used the gear... In one case the individual never showed up again and had possession of a complete kit... and after six months of attempting to retrieve they had to resort to legal action to get it back, and they finally did... Learned then to establish the rule that everything is returned at the end of the event before they leave....