RomanArmyTalk

Ave,

Are there any legions or hoplite groups in chicagoland? I think it would be interesting to watch, or join when I'm older.

I've found legio v in chicago, but there website won't work.

any other means of contact shown?

Yes, I emailed them and asked about events, and their website.

good luck then, hope you get a quick response!

Good News: I just got a reply, and I'm on their mailing list
Bad News: Most of them are deployed overseas, and the whole legion is inactive.
Even Worse News: The second closest group from me is in peoria (unreasonably far from chicago), is set aroud the fall of rome, and also is inactive.

So I think, hmmm, tajan's dacian wars with roman victory in the augustan age, or getting pummeled by barbarians in late roman time. Easy choice for me. Fortunatly, the first choice, legio v, is the closer one. But I hope they will be active by the time I'm old enough to join. What is the average minimum age to join a legion these days as a legionary? I would guess 16, because that was the minimum age in ancient rome to join the army, right?

Possibly they have younger members with parental guidance..

but I will keep my finger crossed for you that they will not be inactive for too much longer..

Salve

I don't know about in the US but here i'm a member of Comitatus, a late Roman re-enactment group, and i've been allowed to do pretty much everything that other members can, within reason ofcourse. For example i'm learning to ride Roman style with some other members that are part of the cavalry unit, I haven't been a member very long, but it's been a fantastic experiance even in this short time, and i'm sure it'll continue.