Ratpack Team Charter
Team Ratpack Logo
"Pog Ma Hone"

Section I: The Purpose of the Charter

The Purpose of the Charter is to establish a standard of safety and behavior for current and potential members of Team Ratpack. The Charter has been established to firmly set guidelines expected of current members and to gauge the acceptability of potential and new members. Any modifications to this charter require a quorum of 60% of the effective members to hold a vote, with majority rule.

Section II: The Purpose of Team Ratpack

Team Ratpack was formed so that our members would have a place to enjoy the social and recreational aspects of paintball. It is the team's goal to provide an atmosphere where winning is not as important as having a good time, where honor, fair play, and safety are respected above who splatted whom. We wish to be known as a team that is fun to play with or against that NEVER plays unsafely or cheats.

Section III: Team Officers

  1. Team Ratpack Offices
    1. BCC Representative: This person is the team's representative to the PLI. He (or she) is responsible for casting the team's vote in the Battalion Commander's Council and making sure Team Ratpack complies with PLI rules and procedures.
    2. Treasurer: This person is responsible for collecting team donations, paying team expenses, and keeping accurate records.
    3. Quartermaster: The person who keeps track of equipment owned by or loaned to the team. It is their responsibility to keep an updated inventory and to insure that the equipment is safely stored. They must also keep records of who has possession of any particular item.
  2. Selection and Removal of Team Officers
    1. Team officers shall be selected by a vote of all effective members. A simple majority is required, but at least 60% of the effective members must vote in order to have a quorum.
    2. Candidates must be nominated by another effective member (you may not nominate yourself) before the vote is to take place.
    3. The Treasurer and Quartermaster may be removed at any time by the BCC Rep, who will name an acting officer. A vote to replace the officer in question MUST take place within 60 days, and a previously removed member may be nominated, as long as they remain on the effective roster.
    4. The BCC Rep may be removed with a vote of no confidence. A vote of no confidence will take place when at least 30% of the team agrees that the Representative should be removed, either by an open membership vote or signing of a petition. If the majority of the membership votes to remove the Representative, a vote for a new BCC Representative must take place within 60 days, following the same procedure as the yearly vote.

Section IV: Membership

  1. New Members
    1. Invitation/Vote: A current member in good standing must sponsor any prospective member. Prospective members are only invited to join Team Ratpack if they pass a majority vote of the current effective members. A member may choose to abstain, either expressly or by not replying to a call for a vote in a timely manner.
    2. Basic Equipment: Prospective members must own the following equipment in functioning condition. At the discretion of the team, the member may have the equipment on a 'permanent loan'. The idea here is that the equipment must be in the member's possession and available to him at all times.
      1. 1 Functional Paintball Gun and accouterments (hopper, tank, etc.)
      2. 1 set of Goggles in good condition with no cracks or noticeable defects and face mask that covers the nose, mouth, and cheeks of the player (must be certified for paintball)
      3. 1 Barrel Plug
      4. BDUs, hunting gear, or other camouflage clothing
      5. 6 & 1, tube carrier, LBE, or other method of carrying 200 rounds in 100 round batches. This can be as simple as a couple of large soft drink bottles and something to carry them in.
    3. Basic Knowledge: Prospective members must have a basic knowledge of the sport of paintball. This includes:
      1. The ability to strip, reassemble, clean, and maintain his paintball gun and accouterments.
      2. Proper care and cleaning of paintball goggles and other equipment.
      3. Safety rules and procedures (velocity adjustment and chronographing, minimum safe fire distance and surrenders, proper barrel plug and mask procedures, etc.)
      4. Basic game knowledge (paintcheck procedures, eliminations, etc.)
    4. PLI Membership: Within 60 days of joining Team Ratpack, the member must pay the fees and complete the paperwork necessary to join the Paintball Light Infantry.
  2. Membership Requirements
    1. Standards of Behavior: All members are expected to maintain a certain standard of behavior. Members are expected to follow the PLI Mission and Rules of Engagement at all times. Dishonorable behavior, behavior harmful to the reputation of the PLI, the 1st Georgia Detachment, or Team Ratpack, and unsafe behavior will not be tolerated and are grounds for disciplinary action. Members are responsible for any guests they invite to team events, and should make sure the guest understands what is and is not acceptable behavior.
    2. Attendance & Contributions: All members are expected to contribute an equal share of funds and/or labor for team equipment, field preparation, refereeing, etc. Members are expected to attend team functions (meetings, games, 'work days', etc.) unless circumstances prevent it.
    3. Effective Status: To maintain a functioning, effective unit of the PLI, Team Rat Pack has implemented the following minimum standards. Any team member that is considered 'ineffective' is for all intents and purposes considered dropped from the team roster until such time as an effective rating is again obtained.
      1. Minimum Equipment: The team member must own (or have on a permanent basis) the following basic equipment. If any item on this list is disabled or otherwise lost, the equipment must be repaired or replaced within 1 month. After 1 month, the member will be considered ineffective until such time as he again has the entire list of minimum equipment in working order.
        1. 1 Functional Paintball Gun and accouterments (hopper, tank, etc.)
        2. 1 set of Goggles in good condition with no cracks or noticeable defects and face mask that covers the nose, mouth, and cheeks of the player (must be certified for paintball)
        3. 1 Barrel Plug
        4. 1 set of military style BDUs in Tiger Stripe camouflage with matching boonie hat
        5. 1 set of LBE (load bearing equipment) consisting of a 6 & 1 and LBE suspenders OR a military style harness made with tube holders, military web belt, and LBE suspenders.
        6. 1 radio earbud
      2. Bi-Annual Inspection: Every 6 months, the team member must score 70 or greater on a readiness examination. If the examination is failed, the team member will be put on ineffective status and given one month to study and prepare for a re-examination. If the re-examination is also failed, the member's ineffective status will continue until he passes the next bi-annual inspection. The examination shall consist of the following:
        1. PLI Squad Tactics (30%) (FM* 1-1)
        2. Required Ownership of Safety Equipment and knowledge of Safety Rules (20%) (PLI General Orders 12, 16, 17, 18)
        3. PLI Radio codes and procedures (25%) (FM 1-1)
        4. American Sign Language Alphabet and numbers 1-10 (15%) (FM 1-1)
        5. PLI and Team Unit Structure and government (10%) (FM 1-2, Ratpack Team Charter)

Section V: Disciplinary Action

  1. Grievance Procedure: If a member feels another member has violated the Team Ratpack or PLI rules and charter, he may pursue a grievance using the following procedure:
    1. Cool Down' period: Members must take 24 hours to cool down before pursuing a grievance. Often, some time to calm down and re-assess the situation is all that is required. Even if further action is taken, it is best if all the parties enter the process without their emotions overcoming their good sense.
    2. Negotiation: The second step is for the involved parties to sit down and attempt to work out the problem without making an official case. This can be done with the help of a neutral mediator that is agreeable to all parties involved.
    3. Official grievance: If the two parties cannot deal with the situation themselves, they may file an official grievance to the Team BCC Representative. The BCC Rep and two team members he appoints will decide how the grievance should be handled, including any disciplinary actions if necessary.
  2. Disciplinary Actions: Punishments for violations of the Team Charter, Field Rules, or PLI Bylaws will be determined according to the nature of the transgression, and include:
    1. Loss of Team Privileges: For a specified time (usually 1 – 6 months), the member loses ALL benifits of being a part of Team Ratpack. He may not hold a team office or field command, may not vote in team elections, and may not use team equipment.
    2. Banishment from Team Events: The member may not attend any team activities (including meetings, classes, and games) for a specified period of time.
    3. Loss of Position: The team member loses any Team Offices and/or any field command he holds.
    4. Removal from Team: The member is permanently removed from the Team Ratpack roster and may never re-join. PLI headquarters will be informed of this decision and the reason for it.
    5. PLI Court Marshal: As per the PLI Bylaws, certain offenses may be referred to PLI Headquarters for action.