Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 10:14 am
Militia
Fatatatutti's Militia - colloquially called the 'Army' - is an all-volunteer force whose role is restricted to defense of the island of Fatatatutti.
Mobility
The major point of Fatatatutian military doctrine is the ability to get troops to trouble spots quickly and in sufficient concentration to repel any invader. (As one officer once put it, "Get there fastest with the mostest.")
Infantry
The bulk of the Fatatatutian Militia consists of infantry. Most light infantry regiments are organized similarly to parachute units (see below) to facilitate air mobility - i.e. so they can be transported by air, though not delivered by parachute. However, heavy infantry units are often organized into 10 per squad, forty per platoon, 160 per company, 640 per batallion and so on.
Equipment
Standard-issue infantry equipment includes:
Training
Since all recruits are volunteers, they are expected to be motivated when they arrive. The training program is designed to teach them how to use that motivation productively.
Instead of a separate 'Boot Camp', recruits are sent to real field units for basic training. They are familiarized with their weapons by using them. They are required to demonstrate a reasonable level of marksmanship as well as the ability to disassemble and reassemble their weapons blindfolded.
Recruits are trained in small-unit tactics by ambushing highly-trained elite troops.
Most Fatatatutian schools teach first aid, so recruits improve their proficiency by learning how to treat battle-related injuries.
They are also trained to navigate across-country with or without a compass and to live off the land. Near the end of their basic training, they are required to complete a week-long march through the bush to a pre-assigned location, carrying nothing with them but their weapons and ammunition. To pass the test, they must arrive at the rendezvous on time, ready for combat, in good condition, with no weight-loss, etc.
There is no fixed length of time for basic training. Recruits who are inducted at the same time do not necessarily 'graduate' at the same time. Each one is graduated when he or she is deemed to be ready.
After completing this level of basic training, recruits are invited to join the unit as a regular member or a reserve member. They are given further training based on their assigned job specialty.
Paratroopers
Because the capacity of the standard C-130 transport is 64 fully-equiped troopers, parachute units are organized around a platoon size of 32 and a squad size of 8. A company is 128 troopers, a battalion is 512 and so on.
Commandos
Commandos are trained in special techniques - e.g. rappelling from helicopters - for special missions. Unlike the vast majority of Fatatatutians, almost all commandos can swim. They are equiped and armed for the mission at hand.
They are usually organized in squads of 8 and platoons of 32 to facilitate parachute drops. A standard Commando has 128 members and there is no further organization above that level. Because of the highly-specialized and demanding nature of their training and missions, a Commando is usually commanded by a Major or Colonel.
Armour
Fatatatutti's rugged terrain makes armoured operations difficult except for narrow strips of land along the coast. Farther inland, bridges are not built to support heavy tanks, so operations are limited to light tanks and armoured cars.
The role of armoured units is generally to protect coastal installations, such as port facilities. Wheeled armoured cars are used for scouting and skirmishing. Some infantry fighting vehicles are used by heavy infantry units, in conjucntion with tanks.
Foreign Regiments
Fatatatutti has several regiments that are composed largely of people of foreign origin.
After the Crozet Peace Force crisis (see Peacekeeping), when Fatatatutti created its own Fatatatutti Peace Force, a large number of Drachslander and Borickian troops were reluctant to leave the command of Gen. Castro-Stalina to return to their own countries. To permit them to stay in Fatatatutti, a Drachslander Regiment and a Borickio Regiment were formed and the members were given Fatatatutian citizenship.
Another example is the Fallschirmjager Regiment, which is composed of immigrants of German extraction.
These foreign regiments within the Militia should not be confused with the Foreign Legion which is a separate body not officially connected to the Militia.
Air Corps
The Air Corps operates from small airfields all over the island. Some of them are so short that improvized arrester gear and safety barriers are provided.
The roles of the Army Air Corps include:
Ranks
Uniforms
Infantry wear jungle camouflage, though a plain green T-shirt is often substituted for the camouflage shirt in warm weather. Regular infantry wear a green beret and paratroopers wear a red beret.
Commandos wear regular infantry uniforms except on special night missions when they often wear all black.
Armoured crews wear green coveralls and a black beret or a helmet.
Aircrews wear khaki coveralls and black baseball caps.
There are no dress uniforms.
Funding
Although it is seen as a joke by some foreigners, the Fatatatutian armed forces are funded entirely by civilian contributions, especially bake sales. The families of soldiers take great pride in providing the best possible equipment and supplies for their sons and daughters.
Fatatatutti's Militia - colloquially called the 'Army' - is an all-volunteer force whose role is restricted to defense of the island of Fatatatutti.
Mobility
The major point of Fatatatutian military doctrine is the ability to get troops to trouble spots quickly and in sufficient concentration to repel any invader. (As one officer once put it, "Get there fastest with the mostest.")
Infantry
The bulk of the Fatatatutian Militia consists of infantry. Most light infantry regiments are organized similarly to parachute units (see below) to facilitate air mobility - i.e. so they can be transported by air, though not delivered by parachute. However, heavy infantry units are often organized into 10 per squad, forty per platoon, 160 per company, 640 per batallion and so on.
Equipment
Standard-issue infantry equipment includes:
- Weapon - assault rifle or carbine. Officers are permitted to purchase their own sidearm to carry instead of a carbine. Soldiers assigned to the Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) sometimes carry a personal defense weapon as well. For any other soldier, carrying two kinds of ammunition is strongly discouraged.
- Weapon Maintenance Kit (WMK) - commonly called a 'wonk'.
- Helmet - complete with liner and cover.
- Web Gear - consisting of belt, suspenders, ammunition pouches, haversack and various attachment straps.
- Bayonet - carried in the boot, strapped to the leg, on the belt, or inside or outside the haversack.
- 4x Hand Grenades - 2x fragmentation and 2x smoke.
- Folding Shovel
- 2x Canteens - 1 to 1.5 liter capacity. One is usually carried on the belt and one in the haversack.
- Bedroll and Ground Sheet
- Rain Poncho
- Mess Kit
- Rations - usually for 3 days - i.e. 9 or more MREs (Meal, Ready to Eat). When operating in isolated areas, soldiers sometimes carry 7 days of rations or more.
- Can Opener - often carried with the ID tags.
- Portable Stove and Fuel
- Water-Purification Tablets
- First-Aid Kit
- Field Dressings
- Sewing Kit
Training
Since all recruits are volunteers, they are expected to be motivated when they arrive. The training program is designed to teach them how to use that motivation productively.
Instead of a separate 'Boot Camp', recruits are sent to real field units for basic training. They are familiarized with their weapons by using them. They are required to demonstrate a reasonable level of marksmanship as well as the ability to disassemble and reassemble their weapons blindfolded.
Recruits are trained in small-unit tactics by ambushing highly-trained elite troops.
Most Fatatatutian schools teach first aid, so recruits improve their proficiency by learning how to treat battle-related injuries.
They are also trained to navigate across-country with or without a compass and to live off the land. Near the end of their basic training, they are required to complete a week-long march through the bush to a pre-assigned location, carrying nothing with them but their weapons and ammunition. To pass the test, they must arrive at the rendezvous on time, ready for combat, in good condition, with no weight-loss, etc.
There is no fixed length of time for basic training. Recruits who are inducted at the same time do not necessarily 'graduate' at the same time. Each one is graduated when he or she is deemed to be ready.
After completing this level of basic training, recruits are invited to join the unit as a regular member or a reserve member. They are given further training based on their assigned job specialty.
Paratroopers
Because the capacity of the standard C-130 transport is 64 fully-equiped troopers, parachute units are organized around a platoon size of 32 and a squad size of 8. A company is 128 troopers, a battalion is 512 and so on.
Commandos
Commandos are trained in special techniques - e.g. rappelling from helicopters - for special missions. Unlike the vast majority of Fatatatutians, almost all commandos can swim. They are equiped and armed for the mission at hand.
They are usually organized in squads of 8 and platoons of 32 to facilitate parachute drops. A standard Commando has 128 members and there is no further organization above that level. Because of the highly-specialized and demanding nature of their training and missions, a Commando is usually commanded by a Major or Colonel.
Armour
Fatatatutti's rugged terrain makes armoured operations difficult except for narrow strips of land along the coast. Farther inland, bridges are not built to support heavy tanks, so operations are limited to light tanks and armoured cars.
The role of armoured units is generally to protect coastal installations, such as port facilities. Wheeled armoured cars are used for scouting and skirmishing. Some infantry fighting vehicles are used by heavy infantry units, in conjucntion with tanks.
Foreign Regiments
Fatatatutti has several regiments that are composed largely of people of foreign origin.
After the Crozet Peace Force crisis (see Peacekeeping), when Fatatatutti created its own Fatatatutti Peace Force, a large number of Drachslander and Borickian troops were reluctant to leave the command of Gen. Castro-Stalina to return to their own countries. To permit them to stay in Fatatatutti, a Drachslander Regiment and a Borickio Regiment were formed and the members were given Fatatatutian citizenship.
Another example is the Fallschirmjager Regiment, which is composed of immigrants of German extraction.
These foreign regiments within the Militia should not be confused with the Foreign Legion which is a separate body not officially connected to the Militia.
Air Corps
The Air Corps operates from small airfields all over the island. Some of them are so short that improvized arrester gear and safety barriers are provided.
The roles of the Army Air Corps include:
- intercepting carrier-based aircraft (combat air patrol)
- attacking amphibious landing zones
- reconnaisance (low-altitude and high-altitude)
- transport
Ranks
- Private Recruit
- Private
- Corporal
- Sergeant
- Lieutenant
- Captain
- Major
- Colonel
- General
Uniforms
Infantry wear jungle camouflage, though a plain green T-shirt is often substituted for the camouflage shirt in warm weather. Regular infantry wear a green beret and paratroopers wear a red beret.
Commandos wear regular infantry uniforms except on special night missions when they often wear all black.
Armoured crews wear green coveralls and a black beret or a helmet.
Aircrews wear khaki coveralls and black baseball caps.
There are no dress uniforms.
Funding
Although it is seen as a joke by some foreigners, the Fatatatutian armed forces are funded entirely by civilian contributions, especially bake sales. The families of soldiers take great pride in providing the best possible equipment and supplies for their sons and daughters.