Post by Insano-Man on Sept 24, 2018 9:29:12 GMT -5
The Common Soldier
Like MIAV divisions are considered the sword of the Commonwealth, the Rangers are regarded as the shield. These professional soldiers, trained and equipped to a higher standard than most, are the men who give the Commonwealth its true military strength. With the powerful Garran economy fueling them, there is almost nothing these determined men cannot accomplish.
Purpose
The Rangers were organized in 1003 A.F. to serve as a unit comprised entirely of men armed with long rifles to support the cavalry of the time. As time passed, they became the standard infantry unit of the Commonwealth, eventually earning their place in history during the 3rd Ice War in 1041, where they alone were able to push back the invading Timosi forces. With the help of the Federal Guard, the Commonwealth eventually forced a Timosi surrender, freeing up troops to support the beleaguered Marroli front. It was during this war that the Commonwealth forged close ties with the Federation, which it had thoroughly impressed with the quality of training for its troops.
Because of these close ties, the Rangers have found themselves time and time again fighting alongside the Federation. Despite how incompatible their governments and military doctrines are, it is immediately apparent that the two fill almost every gap in the other's armed forces. Where the Commonwealth provides fewer, more highly trained soldiers, the Federation provides the numbers necessary to see a war to its end.
Because of this, there are few occasions where one nation has gone to war without the other quickly following.
The Commonwealth Space Navy and the mostly forgotten Naval Forces, which serve aboard seaborne vessels, do not have their own dedicated marine corps and instead draw from specialized Ranger divisions to serve aboard their vessels. Of note are the Novenholdt divisions and almost legendary Juningrad divisions, which specialize in boarding and defensive actions aboard both sea and space ships, among other things.
Organization
The Commonwealth organizes its men quite differently from other nations. This stems from their liberal interpretation of past armed forces and stubbornness in letting go of old traditions.
Firstly, Ranger divisions are organized from (or for) a city or planet, depending on the circumstance. Depending on their assignment, these units may be given a special designation. However, divisions raised without a specific purpose in mind do not include such designations.
Homeguard is the designation for units raised from a specific city or planet to defend that territory. These divisions are often trained to a higher standard than others, as it is rare that they actually see combat.
Outguard is the designation for units formed to defend a city or planet, but do not originate from said territory. These divisions are usually temporary units organized to secure recently claimed territory or to reinforce homeguard units that have suffered heavy losses. Often times, outguard divisions are homeguard divisions temporarily relocated from secure areas to frontline territories.
Inguard units are exceptionally rare divisions raised to guard internal supply routes and work forces from raiding forces or neutral parties, such as pirates and Tsarova incursions. As said before, it is rare that these units are organized, as outguard or homeguard divisions often perform this duty themselves.
In terms of overall force organizations, the Rangers make use of very fluid units and command structures, often leaving the use of organizational terms and structures almost entirely up to the officers leading the unit. However, there are still some organizational units that are required by the Central Command of the Armed Forces, which are to be described below, alongside some other local definitions.
A division is the largest organizational unit in Ranger hierarchy, led by either a brigadier or general. While headcounts can vary quite widely between different divisions, the maximum personnel allowed to be organized into a division is 2,000 men, 300 vehicle crews, and 500 support staff, totalling about 3,500 personnel. This is not strictly enforced, but is checked regularly to ensure a single division does not overburden the logistics of a specific territory.
A brigade is the name for a temporary grouping of two or more battalions together, either to ease logistics or simplify references to the forces in the area. They are named based on what battalions form the brigade. For example, if the 1st, 2nd, and 4th battalions were operating in the same area, they would be referred to as Brigade 124.
A battalion is the standard suborganizational unit of divisions and one of the least consistent standardized groupings. While there are little similarities between the different battalions of different divisions, the maximum allowed personnel in a battalion is 750. This ensures divisions can split their forces effectively and are not as vulnerable to a single leader defecting or being killed. Battalions are most often led by field colonels, but are sometimes rarely led by field brigadiers.
A company is a temporary grouping of two or more platoons with the same purpose as brigades; to ease logistics and simplify the process of sending orders to them, as well as referencing them in communications and reports. Companies are referred to with phonetic designations, such as Alpha, Bravo, and so on.
A platoon is a temporary grouping of two or more squads, organized for the same purpose as brigades and companies. Platoons are often used to assign vehicular support to a given set of squads and rarely exceed 100 men.
A squad is the smallest standard unit of organization in the Rangers. It is composed of 6-14 men and led by a field sergeant. Often times, these sergeants are assigned low-ranking officers as communications experts, such as regular lieutenants or captains.
A fire team is a very rare unit not normally used by divisions not originating from Juningrad. This temporary grouping is a subunit of a squad, often three or four men with a specific set of talents or equipment. These are most often utilized in urban warfare and defensive actions aboard naval vessels.
Recruitment
Recruitment for the Rangers is fairly straightforward. Like the rest of the Commonwealth Armed Forces, they are an entirely volunteer force with the valid enlistment age at 24 and cut-off age at 50. Enlisted personnel are given an honorable discharge after successful completion of their last tour of duty following their 80th birthday, whereas officers serve well into their 100s and may die of old age or sickness before being discharged. Enlisted personnel given honorable discharges may apply for officer's training past their 80th year, but must fully graduate their training to be accepted back into the Armed Forces.
Conscription is almost unheard of in the Garrant Commonwealth and has been for hundreds of years. The most recent time civilians were pressed into service was in 1442 A.F., during the Tsarova Contact War. This war was the third most costly in Anchorage's history, beating out two of the Ice Wars and overtaking both Marroli Wars, which both involved the Commonwealth.
Because of the lack of conscripted personnel in their forces, Rangers enjoy a high level of training. Basic training lasts from 8-10 months, culminating in a special exercise where the trainees are dropped in a random location in the wilderness and given a choice; hike over several miles of terrain without maps or guidance to their graduation ceremony or stay behind and wait for the dropship to return. This exercise originates from the earliest known history of the Rangers, where those who enlisted were required to learn the forests and hills of the Commonwealth's territory. Back then, these were often raw recruits only beginning their training with the help of an experienced guide leading them. Today, the trainees are given little or no assistance, both in the form of instructors leading them and technological aid. Furthermore, they are required to carry their full combat load through the trip, making it a much more gruelling affair for the troops. This exercise, however, has paid off quite well for the Commonwealth, as it weeds out those less fit to serve and teaches their troops valuable lessons on how to survive in unfamiliar areas without any clear line of supply. For this reason, Rangers can be confidently dropped into almost any combat zone, to such a degree that they could be likened to marines.
So confidently, in fact, that the Rangers are the one and only general infantry fighting force the Commonwealth has at its disposal. They function as marines, mechanized infantry, footsoldiers, national guard, and airborne entirely by themselves. With all of these tasks at their feet, it is no wonder that the Rangers are the single most expansive branch of the Armed Forces, numbering in at least twenty billion strong. However, despite their numbers, the Rangers most often find themselves at home during times of conflict, where only a comparative handful - two billion offensively mobilized during the recent Timosi War - actually serve on the front lines. Historically, this represents a significant change since contact with Tsarova, as before the Tsarova Contact War, at least 50% of the Armed Forces would be serving in theaters of war during a major conflict. The decision to keep 90% of the available units deactivated was a result of pressure from the civilian government, as a Tsarova invasion on an undefended colony would most certainly be disastrous, both for the Armed Forces' credibility and the Commonwealth at large.
Traditions
Since the early years of the colonial space age, which has persisted into today, the Rangers have maintained the long-standing tradition of the "Dropsite Heroes". This mantle has been applied to all rangers, past and present, who have been the first to land on a planet controlled by hostile forces. These men and women are expected to be the first in and last out, given the honor of planting the Woodsman's Star following the planet's surrender, and charged with the tasks of establishing a foothold on the planet, defending the central command post, and - should the war efforts take a turn for the worse - fight to the last man until the command staff can be evacuated. These rangers are expected to remain on the planet until the conquest is a success, be it among fellow soldiers, fellow prisoners, or beneath a headstone.
This tradition is not always followed to the letter, as any competent leader wouldn't allow soldiers under his command to be captured or killed where a retreat would be possible. However, the Dropsite Heroes have always been given the honor of planting the flag following the capture of the planet. Should they have fallen in combat, the Woodsman's Star is raised above their graves out of respect, often permanently.
Like MIAV divisions are considered the sword of the Commonwealth, the Rangers are regarded as the shield. These professional soldiers, trained and equipped to a higher standard than most, are the men who give the Commonwealth its true military strength. With the powerful Garran economy fueling them, there is almost nothing these determined men cannot accomplish.
Purpose
The Rangers were organized in 1003 A.F. to serve as a unit comprised entirely of men armed with long rifles to support the cavalry of the time. As time passed, they became the standard infantry unit of the Commonwealth, eventually earning their place in history during the 3rd Ice War in 1041, where they alone were able to push back the invading Timosi forces. With the help of the Federal Guard, the Commonwealth eventually forced a Timosi surrender, freeing up troops to support the beleaguered Marroli front. It was during this war that the Commonwealth forged close ties with the Federation, which it had thoroughly impressed with the quality of training for its troops.
Because of these close ties, the Rangers have found themselves time and time again fighting alongside the Federation. Despite how incompatible their governments and military doctrines are, it is immediately apparent that the two fill almost every gap in the other's armed forces. Where the Commonwealth provides fewer, more highly trained soldiers, the Federation provides the numbers necessary to see a war to its end.
Because of this, there are few occasions where one nation has gone to war without the other quickly following.
The Commonwealth Space Navy and the mostly forgotten Naval Forces, which serve aboard seaborne vessels, do not have their own dedicated marine corps and instead draw from specialized Ranger divisions to serve aboard their vessels. Of note are the Novenholdt divisions and almost legendary Juningrad divisions, which specialize in boarding and defensive actions aboard both sea and space ships, among other things.
Organization
The Commonwealth organizes its men quite differently from other nations. This stems from their liberal interpretation of past armed forces and stubbornness in letting go of old traditions.
Firstly, Ranger divisions are organized from (or for) a city or planet, depending on the circumstance. Depending on their assignment, these units may be given a special designation. However, divisions raised without a specific purpose in mind do not include such designations.
Homeguard is the designation for units raised from a specific city or planet to defend that territory. These divisions are often trained to a higher standard than others, as it is rare that they actually see combat.
Outguard is the designation for units formed to defend a city or planet, but do not originate from said territory. These divisions are usually temporary units organized to secure recently claimed territory or to reinforce homeguard units that have suffered heavy losses. Often times, outguard divisions are homeguard divisions temporarily relocated from secure areas to frontline territories.
Inguard units are exceptionally rare divisions raised to guard internal supply routes and work forces from raiding forces or neutral parties, such as pirates and Tsarova incursions. As said before, it is rare that these units are organized, as outguard or homeguard divisions often perform this duty themselves.
In terms of overall force organizations, the Rangers make use of very fluid units and command structures, often leaving the use of organizational terms and structures almost entirely up to the officers leading the unit. However, there are still some organizational units that are required by the Central Command of the Armed Forces, which are to be described below, alongside some other local definitions.
A division is the largest organizational unit in Ranger hierarchy, led by either a brigadier or general. While headcounts can vary quite widely between different divisions, the maximum personnel allowed to be organized into a division is 2,000 men, 300 vehicle crews, and 500 support staff, totalling about 3,500 personnel. This is not strictly enforced, but is checked regularly to ensure a single division does not overburden the logistics of a specific territory.
A brigade is the name for a temporary grouping of two or more battalions together, either to ease logistics or simplify references to the forces in the area. They are named based on what battalions form the brigade. For example, if the 1st, 2nd, and 4th battalions were operating in the same area, they would be referred to as Brigade 124.
A battalion is the standard suborganizational unit of divisions and one of the least consistent standardized groupings. While there are little similarities between the different battalions of different divisions, the maximum allowed personnel in a battalion is 750. This ensures divisions can split their forces effectively and are not as vulnerable to a single leader defecting or being killed. Battalions are most often led by field colonels, but are sometimes rarely led by field brigadiers.
A company is a temporary grouping of two or more platoons with the same purpose as brigades; to ease logistics and simplify the process of sending orders to them, as well as referencing them in communications and reports. Companies are referred to with phonetic designations, such as Alpha, Bravo, and so on.
A platoon is a temporary grouping of two or more squads, organized for the same purpose as brigades and companies. Platoons are often used to assign vehicular support to a given set of squads and rarely exceed 100 men.
A squad is the smallest standard unit of organization in the Rangers. It is composed of 6-14 men and led by a field sergeant. Often times, these sergeants are assigned low-ranking officers as communications experts, such as regular lieutenants or captains.
A fire team is a very rare unit not normally used by divisions not originating from Juningrad. This temporary grouping is a subunit of a squad, often three or four men with a specific set of talents or equipment. These are most often utilized in urban warfare and defensive actions aboard naval vessels.
Recruitment
Recruitment for the Rangers is fairly straightforward. Like the rest of the Commonwealth Armed Forces, they are an entirely volunteer force with the valid enlistment age at 24 and cut-off age at 50. Enlisted personnel are given an honorable discharge after successful completion of their last tour of duty following their 80th birthday, whereas officers serve well into their 100s and may die of old age or sickness before being discharged. Enlisted personnel given honorable discharges may apply for officer's training past their 80th year, but must fully graduate their training to be accepted back into the Armed Forces.
Conscription is almost unheard of in the Garrant Commonwealth and has been for hundreds of years. The most recent time civilians were pressed into service was in 1442 A.F., during the Tsarova Contact War. This war was the third most costly in Anchorage's history, beating out two of the Ice Wars and overtaking both Marroli Wars, which both involved the Commonwealth.
Because of the lack of conscripted personnel in their forces, Rangers enjoy a high level of training. Basic training lasts from 8-10 months, culminating in a special exercise where the trainees are dropped in a random location in the wilderness and given a choice; hike over several miles of terrain without maps or guidance to their graduation ceremony or stay behind and wait for the dropship to return. This exercise originates from the earliest known history of the Rangers, where those who enlisted were required to learn the forests and hills of the Commonwealth's territory. Back then, these were often raw recruits only beginning their training with the help of an experienced guide leading them. Today, the trainees are given little or no assistance, both in the form of instructors leading them and technological aid. Furthermore, they are required to carry their full combat load through the trip, making it a much more gruelling affair for the troops. This exercise, however, has paid off quite well for the Commonwealth, as it weeds out those less fit to serve and teaches their troops valuable lessons on how to survive in unfamiliar areas without any clear line of supply. For this reason, Rangers can be confidently dropped into almost any combat zone, to such a degree that they could be likened to marines.
So confidently, in fact, that the Rangers are the one and only general infantry fighting force the Commonwealth has at its disposal. They function as marines, mechanized infantry, footsoldiers, national guard, and airborne entirely by themselves. With all of these tasks at their feet, it is no wonder that the Rangers are the single most expansive branch of the Armed Forces, numbering in at least twenty billion strong. However, despite their numbers, the Rangers most often find themselves at home during times of conflict, where only a comparative handful - two billion offensively mobilized during the recent Timosi War - actually serve on the front lines. Historically, this represents a significant change since contact with Tsarova, as before the Tsarova Contact War, at least 50% of the Armed Forces would be serving in theaters of war during a major conflict. The decision to keep 90% of the available units deactivated was a result of pressure from the civilian government, as a Tsarova invasion on an undefended colony would most certainly be disastrous, both for the Armed Forces' credibility and the Commonwealth at large.
Traditions
Since the early years of the colonial space age, which has persisted into today, the Rangers have maintained the long-standing tradition of the "Dropsite Heroes". This mantle has been applied to all rangers, past and present, who have been the first to land on a planet controlled by hostile forces. These men and women are expected to be the first in and last out, given the honor of planting the Woodsman's Star following the planet's surrender, and charged with the tasks of establishing a foothold on the planet, defending the central command post, and - should the war efforts take a turn for the worse - fight to the last man until the command staff can be evacuated. These rangers are expected to remain on the planet until the conquest is a success, be it among fellow soldiers, fellow prisoners, or beneath a headstone.
This tradition is not always followed to the letter, as any competent leader wouldn't allow soldiers under his command to be captured or killed where a retreat would be possible. However, the Dropsite Heroes have always been given the honor of planting the flag following the capture of the planet. Should they have fallen in combat, the Woodsman's Star is raised above their graves out of respect, often permanently.
