The North Atlantic Pact
Background
Officially called the "Treaty of Friendship and Mutual Aid of Northwestern countries" but more commonly known as the North Atlantic Pact (NAP). It is a military alliance composed of a number of, theoretically, equal countries though by a large extent it is dominated by the United Socialist American Republic.
Member States
- Belgium
- Canada
- Denmark
- France
- Ciselban German Peoples' Republic (AKA, Red Germany)
- Greece
- Iceland
- Italy
- Luxembourg
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Portugal
- Spain
- Turkey
- United Republics of the British Isles (URBI)
- United Socialist American Republic (USAR)
Military Uniformed Services (MUS)
Although as per the language of the treaty NAP is composed of independent armies, the various measures passed over the years went beyond harmonizing practices and weaponry and many national armed forces's uniforms, ranking system and traditions are nearly carbon-copies of USAR's units. This is believed to be a conscious effort on the part of USAR's military advisers to make other countries' armed forces easier to integrate within a USAR-lead force should there be an open conflict with the Warsaw Treaty Organisation (WTO)
NAP countries have distinct Militarized Uniformed Service troops for their various secretariats. Member countries sometime omit certain Armed Uniformed Service if they prove unsuitable (ex: coast guard for landlocked countries) though otherwise they tend to be fairly consistent.
Though never stated outright by any of NAP government, having multiple Militarized Uniformed Service is seen as a way to prevent a military coup by any high ranking government official in control of one of them.
Military Services under Secretariat of Land Defense
- Army: Responsible for land based offensive and defensive operations.
- Army Republican Guard: Made up of people who have done their National Service in the army and who agreed to continue to serve part time.
- Coast Artillery Corps (CAC): responsible for land-based defense of coastal areas as well as anti-aircraft duties. Conscripts who volunteer for the CAC agree to a longer National Service due to the skills needed to be learned.
- Coast Artillery Republican Guard: made up of people who finished their National Service as part of the CAC and decided to volunteer for further service as part of part-time units.
Military Services under Secretariat of Naval Defense
- Navy: the main armed naval component of the country's armed forces an composed mainly of conscripts.
- Naval Republican Guard: Made up of people who have done their National Service in the navy and who agree to continue to serve part time.
- Marine Corps: amphibious component of the country's armed forces.
Military Services under Secretariat of Air Defense
- Air Force: responsible for offensive and defensive air operation.
- Air Republican Guard: composed of units whose members agree to serve part-time following their national service.
- Americair: government own civilian airline staffed by former members of the air force.
Military Services under Secretariat of Border Defense
- Coast Guard: responsible for defending the Maritime borders of the country. The coast guard also has a secondary role as maritime search & rescue.
- Border Guard: charged with defending the land borders of the country
Military Services under Secretariat of Health and Quarantine
- Health and Quarantine Corps (HQC): Responsible for medical services delivered to the various other MUS as well as operating quarantine stations and psychiatric asylums. Armed troops are responsible for enforcing quarantine orders as well as ensuring the continued detention of asylums' inmate
Military Services under Secretariat of Industrial Affairs
- Atmospheric and Geodetic Survey Corps (AGSC): One of the smallest MUS. The precise geophysical knowledge of its member was deemed too sensitive to be spread among the other MUS so that instead of training their members in atmospheric / oceanographic / meteorogoly / geodetic disciplines, officers of the AGSC are seconded to them. To counterbalance this pool of knowledge, the AGSC armed troops are limited to only such security troops as is needed to protect their various instalation and ships.
Other government agencies with law-enforcement powers also maintain their own armed uniformed troops though their lack of military-grade material and vehicles means that they are not considered MUS.
Organisation of the MUS
A given country is divided into districts for the purpose of administration, procurement and conscription. At the beginning of National Service, conscripts are given a certain level of choice in which organisation they will serve baring urgent needs in one or prior actions which would disqualify the conscript from serving in a particular organisation (ex: politically unreliable individuals would be barred from serving in the coast guard or the border guard).
The number of years a conscript has to serve varies from one service to another based on training requirement and to prevent some of them becoming bloated if seen as an easy way to do one's National Service.
A number of units are formed within each districts but conscripts are purposefully prevented from serving near their hometown as it is feared that morale would be affected should they have to quell an uprising of the local population.
Units are classified based on their "COMRED" (combat readiness) rating:
- 3 means that the troops (apart from the officer staff) are conscripts undergoing training
- 2 means that the troops have finished their basic training but would require a few days to organize
- 1 means that all troops are in baracks, equipment has been issued and the unit can be deployed at a moment's notice.
Ranks
With few exceptions, the ranking system is the same not only across services but also across countries.
Generally speaking, there are few NCOs ranks as these posts are filled with conscripts who are not expected to show much initiative.
In some cases, conscripts will be deemed to have useful technical aptitude but not the leadership and/or political reliability to become officers. If they so chose, they will be allowed to apply to a military trade school and stay on as a specialist past their conscription period.
Some with advanced technical skills gained in civilian life but not considered suitable for a position of command are allowed to apply for Warrant Officer School. A warrant officer position in the reserve force enjoy some of the benefit of Commissioned Officers but limited command over others and a more limited career advancement prospect.
Those who desire to become professional soldiers past their conscription time and have been vetted by the party will be allowed to apply to an officer school and, upon graduation be given a commission.
Morale Officers
Morale Officers are political appointees to the units of the various MUS as well as any non-MUS of importance (such as law enforcement). Officially their duties are to ensure that the men are fully motivated to do their duties. More often then not, this entail attempts at political indoctrination although the wise morale officer will know how to mix political dogma with sporting events and light entertainment.
Another aspect of the morale officer's duty is the requirement to report back to the government regarding any potential counter-revolutionary behaviour within the unit. Commanding Officers who display counter-revolutionary behaviour may be dismissed or even charged with some criminal offence. Apart from extreme cases though, when it comes to the troops themselves, the morale officer concentrates on rewarding proper politically sound behaviour instead of seeking to punish inappropriate ones as it is felt that while a politically unsound commanding officer could be dangerous, the lack of sophistication of the average soldiers will limit the amount of damage he could realistically do.
