Minuteman 101

In colonial times throughout the various American colonies, militia laws were in place for all able bodied men. Militia laws varied by colony and sometimes even by county within those colonies.

A best known example of these laws are those in Massachusetts in the years and months leading up to the outbreak of violence in April 1775. Each man from ages 16 to 60 was required to own a firelock in good working order, an edged weapon, a cartridge pouch with shot and powder for 60 rounds of ammunition, a canteen, and a bed roll for up to 30 days campaigning. Formal militias, or training bands as they were often known, were a response early on by settlers to protect themselves from the constant threat of Indian attacks.

In addition to this community defense, militias also served to provide axillary forces to regular troops during any frontier campaigns. European countries usually did not keep large numbers of professional soldiers stationed in North America, relative to the size of their armies in Europe. In this function, a symbiotic relationship formed between regulars and levies. Militias provided bodies for military commanders in times of emergency or war, and the military provided logistical support to enhance the militias’ capabilities. Militias were not seen, initially at least, as some counter force to a standing army but as an enhancement.

As conflict approached in the 1770’s many communities formed their own Committees of Safety to make or purchase arms for those unable to afford their own. Many of these North American made firelocks are known by the somewhat unimaginative name “Committee of Safety muskets”. It was an important step for these townships as they looked to standardize their forces. While it is true that many militiamen continued to carry their hunting fowlers throughout the war, it was understood that civilian firelocks were not ideal for military service. As well as understanding the importance of logistics, both personal equipment and community armament, organizational structure was also seen as crucial. In the late 17 th century, minute companies began forming in the New England colonies. These consisted of approximately 30 of the best men who were prepared to march at a moment’s notice. 300 years ago men understood the importance of preparedness and having a capable vanguard that could be brought to bear quickly.

The goal of our minuteman 101 course is to consider what a modern day minuteman’s gear loadout would look like. What is most useful? And what is not? We will work together to determine how each of us can be an asset to our family and our community if the situation determines we must defend them. We analyze this issue not only in terms of the gear we bring to the fight, but also our training, our doctrine, and our mindset.

This class is easily tailored to both beginner and the more experienced individual. For beginners, we outline which pieces of equipment are important to buy and in priority order. After you have completed this class, you will be able to confidently spend both your time and your money to increase your overall preparedness should adverse events require it. Additionally, we give our students the benefit of hands on time with various pieces of equipment for those unversed to tactical gear. And for more advanced students we offer a deep dive in historical events and the tailored roles militias played under those circumstances. We discuss the lessons learned and their application in the modern day. This type of discussion helps us bridge the philosophical gap between the past and our own era. The goal is give you a way ahead for effective and efficient networking in your own communities, with a greater understanding of the role prepared citizens have in a modern landscape.