Platan Armed Forces

The Plata People's Defense Force
Los Fuerzos Defensivos dela Gente Plataño
Flag of the Platan Armed Forces
Service branches	The Platan People's Militia People's Naval Self Defense Force Platan People's Air Self Defense Force
Headquarters	Ministry of the Popular Defense, El Dorado, Districto Capital
Air arm flying hours	10/month
Leadership
Chancellor	Alba Rafaela Rosalva Quintana
Minister for the Popular Defense	Manuel Federico Gonzalez
Captain General of the Platan People's Defense Force	Juan Carlos Rafael Esparza
Personnel
Military age	18-50
Available for military service	20,765,164, age 18-50 (DI 212)
Fit for military service	16,612,131, age 18-50 (DI 212)
Reaching military age annually	97,126 (DI 212)
Active personnel	68,725
Reserve personnel	20,472
Deployed personnel	386
Expenditure
Budget	$3,127,351,443 NSD
Percent of GDP	.75%

The Plata People's Defense Force (Verdean: Los Fuerzos Defensivos dela Gente Plataño) is the primary defensive force of the Democratic Republic of Isla Plata. As a result of the long conflict in Dorado, and a loss of public support for military adventures, the Platan government made massive cuts to its military budget and manpower. It operates on land, air, and in territorial and international waters. Though formerly a conscripted military the Platan Armed Forces have shifted towards an all volunteer active force as part of its downsizing. Though formerly much more aggressive force, the downsizing has resulted in many of the Platan Armed Forces' offensive assets being placed in reserve. Any citizen over 18, but younger than 38 may join the military. Additionally, martial arts and basic military training are strongly encouraged in the education system, and conscripted persons, as part of the Platan labor lottery, are given two years of military training and are placed into a long lasting defensive reserve.

History

The modern Platan Armed Forces can trace its roots to the New Model Verdean Army of the Verdean Empire. Standardization of the Verdean Army, and modernization took hold in the Platan Duchy, and brought them out of the post-classical age, with adoption of firearms and the regimental system, Plata as a unified entity military began to exist. As it was subservient to the will of the wider Verdean state. It was not until the breakup of the Second Verdean Republic at the conclusion of the Valden War that Plata began to create its own national military identity. Though much of the island had fallen into the hands of various military commanders, warlords, the governor in El Dorado managed to maintain the loyalty of a single Brigade of former Verdean Army personnel. The nascent Platan Republic as the territory of Dorado came to be known as managed to maintain its independence until the invasion of Capisarian Federal forces in the the DI 140s.

During the Capisarian occupation, a number of resistance groups cropped up, eventually being organized under two separate banners by the DI 170s. The first of these, the Silver Hand, was much more active in engaging Capisarians, regularly bombing colonial authorities, foreign owned mines, and military forces. The second, the Platan chapter of the FOLD was more focused on the care of the Platan people, but as the liberation conflict went on, particularly with the arrival of the rest of the FOLD, the Platan chapter became much more militant outright engaging Capisarian military personnel and Seraph Security mercenaries. These resistance forces, especially towards the end of the conflict became increasingly militarized, to the point where they effectively became national militaries in their own right, even eclipsing local Capisarian forces in terms of heavy equipment in the final days and weeks of the conflict.

Platan militants during the liberation war against Capisaria

After Plata had gained its independence, there was a brief struggle over the command of the new Platan Armed Forces, as both factions wished to take command. The conflict threatened to come to blows until Verdean moderators intervened and convinced the two groups to merge into a single combined whole. The newly formed Platan Armed Forces would then set about unifying the command structure and standardizing its organizational structure. Platan Armed Forces personnel were briefly tasked with keeping order in the DI 96 riots, and would be supplemented by Verdeans later on. Afterwords the Platan government would seek Verdean assistance in the modernization of its owned forces, and briefly underwent a massive campaign of modernization including being the first non-partner nation to purchase the Grifo fighter, as well as acquiring a large number of TM-05 Duque tanks, and a small number of Verdean staff to train Platans on use of the new equipment.

Plata would participate in the invasion of Isla Dorado after the nuclear attack on the Republic of Verde. Though initially it made a major contribution to the invasion and subsequent occupation of the island, it would steadily draw down its presence as Platan people became increasingly discontent about the ongoing war, and the substantial casualties it had suffered, eventually withdrawing altogether. This would be paired with major downsizing of the Platan military in both manpower and budgetary terms with the Platan budget being slashed by two thirds over the course of five years, and the deactivation of several military units, and the disposal of many assets. In spite of this, some modernizations have occurred with the acquisition of the El Dorado in DI 218 using earmarked funding.

Structure

There are currently 68,725 persons serving in the Platan People's Defense Force, down from its peak manpower of slightly under 200,000 persons. The Platan People's Defense Force is a strictly volunteer organization during peacetime, though there are provisions for the conscription of persons in the event of a conflict. Women are allowed to serve in the military, but are barred, in peacetime, from serving in combat roles; they make up roughly 3% of the total manpower of the FDGP (2,062 people). During wartime, there are provisions for rapid expansion of the Platan military and as a result there are officers and noncommissioned officers that are in the reserves after the downsizing of the military to be reactivated in the event of conscriptive reinstatement.

Platan Armed Forces Order of Battle

High Command

The Platan People's Defense Force is headed by the Platan Minister for Popular Defense, who reports directly to the Chancellor of the Platan Democratic Republic. The Minister of Popular Defense directs the Chiefs of Staff, which are comprised of the highest ranking officer of each of the Platan People's Defense Force, these Chiefs of Staff will then enforce the orders of the MDP through the upper command structures of their branch of service. The current Platan Minister for the Popular Defense is Juan Carlos Rafael Esparza.

Naval Self Defense Force

Platan Aircraft Carrier El Dorado refueling underway, shortly after its adoption by the Platan Navy.

The Platan Naval Self Defense Force (FDAMPP) and the attached Naval Infantry, is the senior service of the Platan People's Defense Force, as is the common tradition among culturally Verdean nations. Reformed after Platan regained its independence in the early DI 190s, the FDAMPP was initially small in size, it ballooned rapidly in size throughout the DI 190s as foreign military assets were sold off, and ships appropriated from Capisarian occupational forces were put into service. The Platan Naval Self Defense Force is disproportionately large for the size of the nation, though recent budget cuts have seen a rather substantive decline in rates of readiness among Platan Naval vessels.

There are currently 36,127 persons in the Platan Naval Self Defense Force all of whom are professional soldiers. There is a relatively small reserve pool of officers and noncommissioned officers, that are to be activated in the event of war; this pool stands at 986 strong. The Naval Infantry is integrated into the naval command structure, and maintains a Brigade sized force of roughly 4,500 personnel. The Naval Self Defense Force receives the largest portion of the total military budget, with nearly half of the money spent on the military going to the Navy; the current budget is $1,376,034,634 NSD.

Formations

The Platan Naval Self Defense Force has two components, the Fleet, and the smaller Naval Infantry. The primary power projecting arm of the Platan People's Defense Force, is the Platan carrier fleet, which is centered around the recently acquired El Dorado. Additionally, there is the Corvette Fleet, and the Submarine Fleet which operate in a green water capacity, and a Patrol Fleet which strictly operates along the coast of Isla Plata. Lastly there is the support fleet, and the berthing units that provide for fleet sustainment. The Naval Infantry consists of a single brigade of dedicated Naval infantry organized as an air assault force, as well as a small, company sized force of special operations soldiers that comprise the whole of the Platan Special Forces.

People's Militia

Platan People's Militia soldiers on training exercise in Verde.

The Platan People's Militia (MPP) is the primary ground arm of the Platan Armed Forces. As is the case with many militaries in the Verdean Archipelago, the Platan People's Militia traces its modern conception to the New Model Army of the Later Imperial Period. The Modern Platan People's Militia was founded in DI 189 from the resistance groups that liberated Isla Plata from the Capisarian occupation. Though initially disorganized and using exclusively equipment looted from the Capisarians during their withdrawal from the island, the MPP underwent drastic modernizations during the DI 190s. After its withdrawal from the Doradan conflict, the Platan Army was cut back significantly with both manpower and funding being cut by large amounts.

There are currently 42,216 persons serving in the Platan People's Militia, with all standing soldiers of the MPP are volunteers. A large portion of the MPP serves within the Territorial Reserve of the organization, with nearly 13,416 persons serving as reservists. Formerly there was a larger formalized conscripted reserve, but this was abolished during the downsizing of the Platan Armed Forces after the it was withdrawn from the Doradan Conflict. The MPP is second in budgeting priority receiving slightly over a third of the total national budget. It currently operates with $1,125,846,519 NSD in funding, which is far less than necessary to completely maintain all of its standing assets.

Formations

The Platan People's Militia is comprised of three components, the Revolutionary Guard, the Territorial Reserve, and Service Support Corps. The most, prestigious, the Revolutionary Guard, is the active component of the MPP, and is organized as a single division of mixed forces, with an air assault, armored, and motor rifle brigade. The Territorial Reserve is organized is a reserve rifle division with multiple brigades of light infantry. Lastly, there is the Support Service Corps which is organized into two divisions, the first is the Sustainment Division, which provides for support, medical, training, and intelligence services. The second is the Engineering and Storage service which provides combat and civil engineering, as well as the reserve asset forces, which maintain excess assets being held in storage. Additionally, there are provisions for the mobilization of the population with "ghost brigades" that are former elements of the Platan People's Militia that were cut back as the Platan Armed Forces were shrunk.

Air Self Defense Force

Platan Espejismo fighter on a runway in Plata.

The Platan Air Self Defense Force (FDAAPP) is the air arm of the Platan People's Defense Force. It was established for the first time after Platan independence in DI 189, using equipment most confiscated from Capisarian occupationa authorities that was left behind. During the early DI 200s, there was a significant expansion of the Air Self Defense Force particularly as their Verdean counterparts began to modernize and sell off some of its own aerial assets. The Air Self Defense Force was however, hit the hardest of any branches in the Verdean Armed Forces when the budgets were cut, resulting in much of the Air Force being relegated to reserve status, or being stripped for parts.

The Platan Air Self Defense Force Defense Force is the smallest of the Platan Armed Forces. There are 10,854 persons serving in the Platan Air Self Defense Force, all of whom are volunteers for Platan military service. There are 362 reservists, in the Platan Air Self Defense Force, primarily commissioned and non-commissioned officers. Similarly, the FDAAPP is the least funded of the Platan Armed Forces, receiving 20% of the total budget of the Platan Armed Forces, or a total of $625,470,290 NSD as of the past fiscal year.

Formations

The Platan Air Self Defense Force consists of two air divisions and the Air Force Support Group. The 1st Air Division is the largest of the FDAAPP services, with 4 Air Groups, as well as their relevant support staff, and the Platan unmanned aerial vehicle squadron. The 2nd Air Division is smaller with only the four Groups including the Platan trainer group. The Air Force Support Group maintains the base facilities, the Cyberwarfare Taskforce, as well as the FDAAPPP's anti-ballistic missile defenses, as well as a group of maintenance staff who keep up excess military equipment. Many of these units exist only on paper however, and the Platan Air Self Defense Force has a shockingly low readiness rate, only capable of maintaining a small handful of its many air squadrons.

Conscription

Jugada Signals Interception Array on Isla Plata.

The Platan Armed Forces was formerly a conscripted military force. However, since DI 215, the laws of conscription have gone largely unenforced as a result of massive military downsizing at the conclusion of the Platan Republic's involved in the Doradan War. As part of the labor lottery, it is nominally expected of every citizen to register for conscription, and citizens may be conscripted at any time. At its peak, nearly 200,000 conscripts served in the Platan Armed Forces, however, after the DI 215 law change, no members of the active, or formal reserve are conscripted soldiers. It is required however, that all citizens as part of the educational system, have some basic military training, including fitness drills, basic military strategy, survival, medical, and basic marksmanship training. If required, the Platan Armed Forces has plans for activating the reserves, and adding nearly forty brigades in the event that Plata needs to activate its entire strategic reserve.

Intelligence Gathering Operations

Platan Military Intelligence is somewhat lacking, as Plata relies more heavily on its nonmilitary intelligence gathering abilities. However the Platan Armed Forces do maintain a fairly substantial force in the People's Militia dedicated to intelligence gathering, and military counterintelligence. For the most part, Platan Military Intelligence relies on Human Intelligence over Signals Intelligence with the People's Militia maintaining substantial networks of spies in most of the Verdean nations, and other nations that it has an interest in. However, there are a handful of signals interception facilities throughout Isla Plata.

Role

Historically the Platan Armed Forces did have a more aggressive role, but cutbacks dramatically reduced the size and scope of the Platan military. Currently, the Platan Armed Forces serves almost purely as a defensive force, with only the Naval Infantry and certain elements of the Naval Defense Force having any meaningful force projection capability. Additionally, the Platan Armed Forces, has some role as domestic peace keepers, occasionally engaged in quelling domestic dissent. However, there is no legal requirement for volunteering for foreign service specifically, as all members of the Platan military are eligible for military service overseas.

Operations

Operation	Dates of Operation Commencement and Termination (Duration)	Verdean Casualties	Description of Operation
Military Operations
Operación Escudo	1. de Mesjula-50. de Mesisa DI 196 (4 months, 49 days)	212 KIA 756 WIA	A dissent suppression operation where the Platan Armed Forces worked with the Revolutionary Gendarmerie to suppress riots throughout the island. The operation came to an end shortly after the end of rioting.
Operación Fajardo	2.-28. de Mesisa 205 (26 days)	12 KIA 47 WIA	A short lived riot suppression operation centered around the city of Fajardo. As a result of relatively light casualties, the operation ends in peaceful resolution of the protest movement, rather than in total suppression.
Operación Resolución Odiosa	48. de Mesjandra-27. de Mesisa DI 213 (2 months, 31 days)	150 KIA 1,126 WIA 23 Ground Vehicles 3 Aircraft	A joint operation with the Verdean Armed Forces to invade Isla Dorado. Casualties are substantial, and Dorado is unable sustain offensive operations after the initial invasion. After this operation, the Doradan military is relegated to a defensive role.
Operación Guardia Verde	53. de Mesjandra DI 213 (1 day)	None	Riot suppression in El Dorado after the first casualty reports from the war in Dorado come in. Suppression action successful, though the protests see a political sea change in Platan society, and the beginnings of Platan withdrawal from the Doradan conflict.
Operación Ojo Vigilante	28. de Mesisa DI 212-16. de Mestor DI 213 (4 months, 40 days)	26 KIA 150 WIA 2 Ground Vehicles	A rear area resistance suppression mission. Platan forces acted as an auxiliary for the primary, Verdean Force. Though there is some resistance, casualties are relatively light. However, towards the end of the operation, Platan forces began to be withdrawn from Dorado as a result of ongoing protest at home, and an increasing desire for the end of Platan involvement in the war. The mission ended shortly after the adoption of a constitution for the new Doradan government.
Humanitarian Operations
Operación Caridad	16. de Mesvacío DI 193-17. de Mesjandra DI 212 (8 years, 3 months, 1 day)	None	A longstanding humanitarian operation to the Davidian people, during their occupation by the Finorskian state. It was ended shortly before the invasion of Isla Dorado in order to free up key logistical support assets for the invasion.

See Also

• List of Equipment of the Platan Armed Forces
• Ranks of the Platan Armed Forces