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Bylaws of the 5^th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force

(Re-created)

1.  The name of this organization shall be: The Fifth Battalion, Australian Imperial Force (Re-Created), and hereafter called the 5^th AIF.

2.  The object of the 5^th AIF is to foster and perpetuate the memory of all those who served in the 1^st AIF (1914-1919), educating both members and the general population through living history re-creations and encouraging research into the daily lives and material culture of the Australian Imperial Force of the Great War, and specifically the 5^th Infantry Battalion, AIF.

3.  The historical impression conducted by this organization shall primarily be that of the 5^th Infantry Battalion, 2^nd Brigade, 1^st Australian Division 1914-1918.  Other impressions must be approved by simple majority of the unit present at the event, i.e. medical, pioneer, nurse, etc.

4.  Membership in the 5^th AIF shall be open to everyone age 16 or over provided the following rules are observed:

          a.  Must be a member in good standing of the Great War Association (GWA), except for junior members.

            b. Unit dues paid in full.

            c.  The individual's impression should be visibly authentic to the 5^th AIF or another 1^st AIF unit, or an Australian comfort organization of the Great War (i.e. Red Cross) as approved by the unit, and backed up with the appropriate research.

            d.  The individual shall not be a member of, nor associated with, any organization, which promotes the violent overthrow of the United States Government or Constitution.

            e.  The individual shall agree to abide by these bylaws, the unit authenticity standards, the GWA bylaws and Safety regulations.  These safety regulations shall be in force at all unit events, whether GWA sponsored or not.

            f.  The individual shall agree to hold the elected officers of the 5^th AIF and the 5^th AIF harmless for any damage to person or property, which may occur during unit events.

            g.  Members aged 16-18 will be considered junior members.  Junior members may not participate at GWA National Events, per the GWA bylaws.  Junior members must have a permission letter signed by a parent or guardian to participate in a unit event.  This permission letter must name a temporary guardian for the event and include a medical power of Attorney and emergency contact information.

5.  All members of the 5^th AIF on 1 April 1989 are considered charter members.  All members who participated with the 5^th AIF between 1 April 1989 and 1 April 1990 are considered founding members and are entitled to wear the ANZAC “A” on the unit shoulder patches.  Members so entitled and leave the 5^th in good standing and return at a later date will be authorized to wear the ANZAC “A”.

6.  New members must be sponsored by an existing member (Unit CO can assign a sponsor if need be).  Sponsor will be responsible for instructing the new member on the unit/ GWA norms and procedures.  Sponsor will also ensure the new recruit complies with all safety and authenticity standards.  New recruits will be in a probationary (non-voting) status for one year or two GWA National Events.  Recruits will be voted on at the end of the probationary period.  A simple majority is required to gain full membership.  New recruits must attend both GWA National Events during this period (Junior Members excepted, Junior Members must make two unit functions i.e. living histories (GWA or GWF sponsored or any other as designated by the UNIT), MTA, work weekends, etc. per year during the probationary period.).  New recruits will be aided with uniforms and equipment for two years (when ever possible).  New recruits are expected to meet minimum authenticity levels, on their own, within two years or be put back on probation until the situation is fixed.

7.  Failure to comply with these bylaws may result in probation or expulsion at the discretion of the unit commander and voted on by a quorum of the unit.  A quorum shall consist of 2/3 of the member present at a unit event.  Probation offenses include, but not limited to: Non-Attendence (3 GWA National Events in a row), failure to pay dues, authenticity problems, dangerous conduct.  Use of illegal substances is grounds for immediate expulsion from the unit.  Offenses should be reported to the Unit Commander.  Unit Commander will give no more than three verbal warnings.  1^st offense will result in 6 months probation, 2^nd Offense- 1 year probation, and 3rd offense- expulsion.  The unit member must be re-voted on to end the probation.  Expulsion requires a 2/3-majority vote by the unit members present.

8.  The elected officers of the 5^th AIF are Commander and Corporal (Deputy Commander).  Officers are elected every two years.  Nominations will be held at the Spring GWA national event and elections held at the Fall GWA national event.  Officers serve a two-year term and may serve one additional two-year term.

9.  Elections shall be decided by a simple majority of the unit members present at the GWA fall event.  Members that will not be present for a unit election may request absentee ballots from the unit commander at least two weeks before the election.  Nominations and election will be limited to full (non-probationary) unit members.  Nominations will be made by written secret ballot during the spring GWA event of the last year of an officer’s term.  Elections will be conducted during the fall GWA event of the last year of an officer’s term and will be conducted by secret ballot.  Elections will be officiated by member(s) of the GWA BEF staff arranged by the current unit commander.

10.  The 5^th AIF will hold at least two unit meetings per year at GWA National Events (Spring and Fall).  Other unit meetings may be called by the unit commander as needed.  Unit meetings must consist of a quorum.

11.  Officers may be recalled by a 2/3 majority of the unit members.  A recall petition signed by 5 unit members must be presented to the Commander at a unit event.  Recall elections will be held at the next GWA national event following the recall petition.

12.  In the field, the 5^th AIF will be structured as an authentic AIF Infantry Section (15 members or less present) or platoon (16 or more members present).   All unit members will rank as private except for the Commander and Deputy.  The unit commander will rank as Sergeant and the Deputy will rank as Corporal.  If less than 8 members are present, the Commander will rank as Corporal and the Deputy as Lance Corporal.  Unit Commander may appoint one Lance Corporal for every five privates or specialty section (machine guns, mortars, etc) as he sees fit to maintain an authentic unit appearance.  If the unit should grow to larger than platoon strength (32), the unit shall decide its organization by simple majority, based on historical evidence.  The GWA Allied Combat Commander retains the right to appoint commissioned officers.  Therefor, the highest rank the unit shall elect is CSM based on the unit size obtained.

13.  The unit commander may appoint unit administrative offices (i.e. authenticity inspector, quartermaster, treasurer, etc.) as he sees fit.  Appointees will be confirmed by a simple majority present at the next unit event held after the appointment.  Specialty insignia will be worn appropriate to assigned duties.

14.  Unit dues are set at $20.00 per annum.  Unit dues may be changed by the vote of 2/3 of the unit membership present at the event when the change is proposed.

15.  The unit will make no awards for valor and no such awards may be worn on a uniform at a unit event.  Great War Campaign ribbons, Victory Medals, 1914-15 Star, overseas service chevrons, Etc. are authorized.  Pre-1914 campaign ribbons may be worn by unit members aged 40 and higher with the approval of the unit commander.  Wound stripes may be authorized by the unit commander for a wound incurred at a unit event that requires attention by trained medical personnel (i.e. EMT, Dr., etc.).  Specialty badges (Scout/ Sniper, Bomber, MG, LG) are authorized by the unit commander for a specialized impression or, in the case of Scout/Sniper, awarded by the GWA Allied Combat Commander.  Former unit commanders are authorized to wear one good conduct chevron (Inverted LCPL stripe) on the lower left sleeve of the tunic.  Victory and War medals and ribbons are not authorized unless portraying a 1919 or later impression.  All members may wear the blue overseas chevrons.  One blue chevron for every five years unit membership.  Only founding and charter members may wear the red (1914) overseas chevron.  Founding and charter members may wear red and all blue chevrons correct for the year being portrayed at an event.

16.  These bylaws may be changed by a 2/3 majority of the current dues paying members.  If 2/3 of the dues paying members are not present to vote on the change, the change may be voted on by mail.

Modified in Spring 2004 to allow the Anzac A to be awarded to unit members with 10 years service or 20 unit sanctioned events while portraying an Australian.

Also, allows a unit CO to more than 2 terms as long as there is a 2 year break between terms.