NS Military Realism Consultation Thread #4

[Questers]

Is there a thing as a military too small?

Yes. When your military doesn't have the manpower to defend your country, that's too small.

[Questers]

why so much for your professional mercenary force?

also they would take decades to develop any noticeable issues.

We were looking to impose a no-smoking policy in our force

I thought you wanted to increase morale?

[Themiclesia]

We were looking to impose a no-smoking policy in our force

I thought you wanted to increase morale?

How does smoking increase morale?

[Questers]

I thought you wanted to increase morale?

How does smoking increase morale?

lol

http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htmora ... 00720.aspx

another article: "There was a video going around at the time advising soldiers what to do in cases of battle shock. It told us to get back to a safe place, give them a cup of tea and a fag and send them as quickly as possible to the front again. "

The effects of nicotine on concentration and stimulation are well known, as are its effects on morale.

[Registug]

Legal drugs and shit

Basically giving them the freedom to do what they want with their body.

My military is "smoke if you want but don't force it on others. Also buy it yourself."

[Questers]

For some reason nicotine often has a calming, relaxing effect on people. It's good for steadying the nerves.

[Registug]

Someone wants to smoke they smoke

Someone doesn't want to smoke they don't

The country itself has anti-smoking laws like "not in crowded areas, places that serve food, government buildings etc." So it's encouraged that you try not to start the habit. Not that anyone really cares.

[Themiclesia]

Someone wants to smoke they smoke

Someone doesn't want to smoke they don't

The country itself has anti-smoking laws like "not in crowded areas, places that serve food, government buildings etc." So it's encouraged that you try not to start the habit. Not that anyone really cares.

If that's the case, we have to ensure that we serve up good quality tobacco. Our soldiers get the best everything, except weapons...

[Romberg]

If you could make a trans-dimensional rift back to MT, we could sell high quality Cuban cigars for a price...

/threadjack

[Questers]

Questers probably issues 1 pack a day to its troops.

[Questers]

Someone wants to smoke they smoke

Someone doesn't want to smoke they don't

The country itself has anti-smoking laws like "not in crowded areas, places that serve food, government buildings etc." So it's encouraged that you try not to start the habit. Not that anyone really cares.

If that's the case, we have to ensure that we serve up good quality tobacco. Our soldiers get the best everything, except weapons...

It seems that weapons would be the best thing you would give them if you had no other choice.

[Registug]

Actually, was thinking of just having a bunch of free packs at the canteen area for grabbing if you want one. Wasnt gonna hand them out with rations because "encouraging non-smokers to develop the habit".

But then a pack of smokes could be used as bargaining chips and that is military culture as fuck.

[Themiclesia]

Actually, was thinking of just having a bunch of free packs at the canteen area for grabbing if you want one. Wasnt gonna hand them out with rations because "encouraging non-smokers to develop the habit".

But then a pack of smokes could be used as bargaining chips and that is military culture as fuck.

We're an elite army!

[Questers]

But then a pack of smokes could be used as bargaining chips and that is military culture as fuck.

yeah its really :QUESTERS:

the most prized ration in the GSR Army is marmalade which usually goes for like a week's worth of cigarettes or something.

[Rich and Corporations]

Not necessarily a good idea.

Well it does make quite a bit of sense actually. By cutting down on crew they cut down on costs, while also leaving more manpower for other units. Which is especially a good idea when you are the United Kingdoms and you don't have a massive budget or massive man power to call upon.

Human factors. The fourth crewmember assists in observation of the skies, operating the radio, guard duty, and replaces casualties if necessary.
And manpower costs pale in comparison to equipment and maintenance costs for a tank.

But then a pack of smokes could be used as bargaining chips and that is military culture as fuck.

No, just prison culture.

[The Akasha Colony]

Someone wants to smoke they smoke

Someone doesn't want to smoke they don't

The country itself has anti-smoking laws like "not in crowded areas, places that serve food, government buildings etc." So it's encouraged that you try not to start the habit. Not that anyone really cares.

If that's the case, we have to ensure that we serve up good quality tobacco. Our soldiers get the best everything, except weapons...

I'm not sure what the point of this is anymore. To brag about how much money you've wasted on the troops for no appreciable benefit? As long as the weapons are reliable, the food is acceptable, the discipline fair, and the pay acceptable, the troops will be fine. Spending more money on these doesn't really have any benefit with the possible exception of weapons and combat equipment. If soldiers for the past millennia of human warfare have been able to maintain morale in terrible conditions, with shitty food, unreliable weapons, and high casualty rates, your troops should be able to do the same. If they can't, serving them food from Michelin star restaurants and fine caviar isn't going to magically turn them into a force of Chesty Pullers and Alvin Yorks.

[Themiclesia]

If that's the case, we have to ensure that we serve up good quality tobacco. Our soldiers get the best everything, except weapons...

I'm not sure what the point of this is anymore. To brag about how much money you've wasted on the troops for no appreciable benefit? As long as the weapons are reliable, the food is acceptable, the discipline fair, and the pay acceptable, the troops will be fine. Spending more money on these doesn't really have any benefit with the possible exception of weapons and combat equipment. If soldiers for the past millennia of human warfare have been able to maintain morale in terrible conditions, with shitty food, unreliable weapons, and high casualty rates, your troops should be able to do the same. If they can't, serving them food from Michelin star restaurants and fine caviar isn't going to magically turn them into a force of Chesty Pullers and Alvin Yorks.

Oh I see. What about some extra training lessons?

[The Akasha Colony]

Oh I see. What about some extra training lessons?

Training, and not just 'lessons,' but the whole menagerie of exercises including field training, war games, classroom learning, etc. is one of the better ways to do it. Morale increases when troops feel confident, and they feel more confident when they are better trained. What scares most is the unknown, and training lets you better train troops to deal with the unknown and to become more familiar with their equipment and each other. It also helps build the other major morale pillar, which is esprit de corps. When troops have pride in their unit and their military, they have pride in themselves for being in that unit and for serving.

This is why money dumped to excess in other places may actually be a detriment to morale, as it projects the image that the government is simply trying to throw money at the problem rather than spending on things that actually improves readiness and fighting ability.

[Questers]

If that's the case, we have to ensure that we serve up good quality tobacco. Our soldiers get the best everything, except weapons...

I'm not sure what the point of this is anymore. To brag about how much money you've wasted on the troops for no appreciable benefit? As long as the weapons are reliable, the food is acceptable, the discipline fair, and the pay acceptable, the troops will be fine. Spending more money on these doesn't really have any benefit with the possible exception of weapons and combat equipment. If soldiers for the past millennia of human warfare have been able to maintain morale in terrible conditions, with shitty food, unreliable weapons, and high casualty rates, your troops should be able to do the same. If they can't, serving them food from Michelin star restaurants and fine caviar isn't going to magically turn them into a force of Chesty Pullers and Alvin Yorks.

Well I did say this like twice before, but apparently nobody listens to me, so...

[Themiclesia]

I'm not sure what the point of this is anymore. To brag about how much money you've wasted on the troops for no appreciable benefit? As long as the weapons are reliable, the food is acceptable, the discipline fair, and the pay acceptable, the troops will be fine. Spending more money on these doesn't really have any benefit with the possible exception of weapons and combat equipment. If soldiers for the past millennia of human warfare have been able to maintain morale in terrible conditions, with shitty food, unreliable weapons, and high casualty rates, your troops should be able to do the same. If they can't, serving them food from Michelin star restaurants and fine caviar isn't going to magically turn them into a force of Chesty Pullers and Alvin Yorks.

Well I did say this like twice before, but apparently nobody listens to me, so...

Sorry about that. But thanks

So how do we give them pride in particular units as you suggest? Given them character and history?

[Oaledonia]

Any good ideas to commit political suicide in my army?

[Themiclesia]

Any good ideas to commit political suicide in my army?

Disband them.

[Oaledonia]

Any good ideas to commit political suicide in my army?

Disband them.

HAHAHAHAHA, no.....

[The Akasha Colony]

Well I did say this like twice before, but apparently nobody listens to me, so...

Sorry about that. But thanks

So how do we give them pride in particular units as you suggest? Given them character and history?

It's really something developed by the unit itself over time, and can't be artificially constructed. That's why nowadays if the US Army has to raise a new unit, most often they'll give it the name, colors, and lineage of a previous unit that was decommissioned in the past.

Unless your military is literally brand new and has never fought in a war before, it should have units that have distinguished themselves in the past. Even units that aren't famous like the 101st Airborne or 442nd RCT have lineage for unit members to take pride in. Famous heroes of the past who were perceived to be exemplars of the service's tenets also tend to help, such as Chesty Puller and Smedley Butler for the US Marines.

[Themiclesia]

Sorry about that. But thanks

So how do we give them pride in particular units as you suggest? Given them character and history?

It's really something developed by the unit itself over time, and can't be artificially constructed. That's why nowadays if the US Army has to raise a new unit, most often they'll give it the name, colors, and lineage of a previous unit that was decommissioned in the past.

Unless your military is literally brand new and has never fought in a war before, it should have units that have distinguished themselves in the past. Even units that aren't famous like the 101st Airborne or 442nd RCT have lineage for unit members to take pride in. Famous heroes of the past who were perceived to be exemplars of the service's tenets also tend to help, such as Chesty Puller and Smedley Butler for the US Marines.

Well, each of our armies (six in total) traces its origin back to a significant figure who led this group to victory in notable circumstances, so I suppose that could serve as a 'beacon' or 'reminder' of sorts of one's pride in those armies.

Such as our Principal Army traces its origin intermittently back to 1496, whose leadership is tied to the Earl of Melonmere before the 18th Century, whence command was transferred to the King permanently. The New Army was raised as a standing army in 1697, etc.

For such a reason, our six armies are pretty much independently operating, which difference extends to structure and personnel management, and preserves certain medieval traditions, but I'm not sure if such divisive difference it's a good thing.