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+---- Thread: A Primer on Military Tactics and Customs (/showthread.php?tid=846)
A Primer on Military Tactics and Customs - Chando1121 - 03-17-2011
Hello all! I thought this may give some background information to anyone looking to further their rp as it pertains to military tactics and customs and courtesies. This is in no way the end all be all, and Thay may work differently in real life, however, I thought it may be neat for people that are not in the military IRL to be able if they wished to utilize some of these for their characters...
Further, I recognize that we have many different walks of life and nationalities, so ultimately I'm going to outline how the US Military does things. I hope you all enjoy it. :P
Courtesy regarding rank
Officers and Non commissioned officers in the US military play a distinct and important role. In the US Military it is often said that the NCOs are the backbone of the military, insomuch that they are the most hands on in the training and implementation of tactics, techniques, and procedures. (TTPs) Officers are a fine group, but deal with a great deal of administration work, paperwork and the like. As a military veteran of eleven years, I have had to train many officers to the "combat standard" of our unit. That is not to say they do not know how to fight, simply that being an officer is heavier on the admin work than a simple grunt and most of them hate it :)
Amongst officers, in non official capacities ie. a cookout, going to the bar, eating lunch, you hear alot of first name calling. Paul, how's the steak? Normally this is pulled from the idea that an officer is by definition a gentlemen, one who keeps order in the chaos of battle.
Amongst Noncoms, those of the same rank typically will and can refer to each other using last name only. In my case, SSG Bowen reverts to Bowen. Most of them have known me since my days of being a young private and it is understood. However, while in official capacities, such as the training and disciplining of young soldiers, I am always Sergeant Bowen.
Officers have a strange rank structure. In that, lets say Vortar and I are promoted to Captain the same day in the same hour, in the same formation, who outranks who? No one in the military has the same rank. :) The answer is, who got it pinned on first. Time in grade is very important to a fully functional military unit as it gives purpose to who the hell is in charge, thus never having the too many chiefs not enough indians scenario. Amongst noncoms it is the same.
A word on tactics......
There are many military tactics and jobs in the military, so I will not begin to enumerate them all, as I feel Thayans head would explode at the wall of text. :)
There are two jobs that are near and dear to my heart. Point Man and Rear Guard.
These jobs have distinctly different missions but are equally as important. As point man, your job is to play scout for the others. Usually the one with the sharpest vision, the fastest reflexes and the best ability to shoot are placed in this position. Two key points of that job are: Leading distance, Communication.
A good point man should situate himself between 5 and 10 meters in front of the rest of the squad, letting him be the first scene if they were to walk into an ambush lets say. It is his job, upon seeing contact, to engage and communicate the danger to the rest of the squad. It is never a good idea to go anywhere out of sight as a point man. If something were to happen, the squads movement breaks down. Standard procedure if your point man gets out ahead and you don't see him is STOP. So you could be bleeding up ahead and no one would be coming.
Rear Guard
Rear Guard is a boring thankless job that many soldiers hate with a passion hotter than the sun. However it is needed. Your job as the rear guard is to do exactly that. Guard rears. You stay aprox 5 to 10 meters to the rear of the squad, watching the flanks and to the rear for ambush sights missed by the rest of the squad. Your job, should contact occur, is to engage the enemy, kill it if you can, and hold it if you can't so the rest of the squad can form up and engage as a unit.
I hope this small primer has been educational for all involved and I truly hope that it may help your rp of military figures and fighters and further, keep in mind as I said in the beginning, Thay may work differently. :) However, I searched through the source material and didn't find alot of information regarding this, so I thought it would be a fun little look into our men and women of uniform and the Tactics, Tecniques, and Procedures they use on a day to day basis.
Thanks for listening,
Scott
RE: A Primer on Military Tactics and Customs - Balanor - 06-17-2011
I just wanted to give this a bump as I think it's a really good post and I'd recommend characters try some semblence of tactics when adventuring in Thay.