National Guard SOH

Military of Spirit of Hope
Motto	"Guarding Hope"
Founded	1901
Personnel
Active personnel	273,450
Reserve personnel	32,400
Expenditure
Budget	$85 Billion

The National Guard of Spirit of Hope is the primary Imperial law enforcement and civil defense agency of the imperial government. While subject to the Code of the Armed Forces and considered a branch of the military, the National Guard answers to the Prime Minister and not to the President.

Organization

The National Guard is primarily organized along specialist branches based on the activities of the branch. Major branches are Internal Security, responsible for general imperial law enforcement, Border Security, responsible for immigration and customs, Economic Security, primarily responsible for activities such as counterfeiting and securities violations, and Air Defense, responsible for air defense of the empire in partnership with the Air Force. Each branch is further subdivided by geographic region and further specialties.

The Border Security Branch operates 3 motorized infantry regiments who are tasked with defensive operations around the national boarders, capital, and secure sites within Spirit of Hope.

Personnel

The National Guard has the highest proportion of warrant officers and senior non commissioned officers (SNCOs) out of any armed forces branch in Spirit of Hope.

Commissioned Officers

There are two primary routed by which officers are commissioned in the Spirit of Hope National Guard, the Academy of the National Guard and Direct Commissioning.

The largest number of officers are commissioned through Direct Commissioning, candidates are selected from applying civilians, junior non commissioned officers (NCOs), and SNCO's who show high leadership potential. All candidates must be over the age of 21 and under the age of 30 when training is completed, score above ZZ on the Legal Vocation Test, and have an advanced degree in an appropriate field for the occupation to which they are applying. Officer Candidate School lasts eight months, before candidates are commissioned and sent to their primary occupation training.

The Academy of the National Guard is the other source of commissioned officers, it is a four year service academy open to all citizens over the age of 17 and under the age of 24. After completing the Academy officers will serve a five year tour with specific units, at which point the officer will either leave the National Guard or return to the Academy to complete an advanced degree before being assigned to their permanent occupation duty.

Pay Grade	O-1	O-2	O-3	O-4	O-5	O-6	O-7	O-8	O-9
Title	Lieutenant*	Lieutenant*	Captain	Major	Colonel	Brigadier	Lieutenant General	General	Field Marshal
Abbreviation	LT	LT	CPT	MAJ	COL	BG	LTG	GEN	FM

"*"The National Guard only recognizes the difference between O-1 and O-2 Lieutenants for pay reasons, an O-2 Lieutenant has no authority over an O-1.

Warrant Officers

In the National Guard Warrant officers are the senior criminal investigators, appointed from SNCOs for their demonstrated ability to investigate crimes and produce results. Warrant Officers will often be appointed to oversee complicated or high profile criminal activities. They have authorities equivalent to a Lieutenant.

Pay Grade	WO-1	WO-2	WO-3	WO-4
Title	Inspector	Senior Inspector	Chief Inspector	Master Inspector
Abbreviation	WO	CWO	SWO	MWO

Enlisted

Enlisted members of the Spirit of Hope National Guard enter service through one of two Recruit Training centers, where they are trained for 8 weeks before being sent to their primary occupation training, or through direct enlistment, which is used for the enlistment of proven personnel other service branches, Sheriffs Deputies from the various Kingdoms, or Imperial City law enforcement agencies. Promotion to Constable is automatic after completing training, and promotion to Constable First Class is automatic after two years of good service.

One year after promotion to Constable First Class a guard is eligible for promotion to Lance Constable, and if recommended by superiors will be appointed as a junior non commissioned officer. Follow on promotions are based on performance in their job and leadership roles, as evaluated by the first two officers in their chain of command.

Pay Grade	E-1	E-2	E-3	E-4	E-5	E-6	E7	E-8	E-9
Title	Recruit	Constable	Constable First Class	Lance Constable	Corporal	Sergeant	Investigator	Senior Investigator	Chief Investigator
Abbreviation	RC	CS	CFC	LCCS	CPL	SGT	INV	SINV	CINV

Equipment

Weapons

During the normal course of duties members of the National Guard are not routinely armed, though all must pass weapons qualifications as part of their initial training and yearly requalification's. Some personnel, primarily those responsible for the protection of VIPs are critical locations, are routinely armed.

Individual Weapons

The primary small arm of the Spirit of Hope National Guard is the AR-2000, with the Glock 19 as the primary side arm. General members of the National Guard generally only carry a collapsing baton and some form of chemical irritant under normal duties

Specialized weapons that are employed by some units include hand grenades, sniper rifles, grenade launchers, and some crew served weapons.

Air Defense Weapons

The Air Defense Branch operates a number of different platforms to defend the airspace of the empire. A small number of shore based Mk 41 VLS cells are located near population centers and strategic targets, equipped with missiles to intercept cruise or ballistic missiles. Additionally Terminal High Altitude Area Defense and Patriot Batteries are operated for mobile area air and missile defense.

Vehicles

Ground Vehicles

The primary tactical vehicle of the Spirit of Hope National Guard is the Mowag Eagle, with the MTVR serving as the primary light truck. Various forms of cars and SUVs are used for patrol and investigative duties.

Aircraft

The National Guard operates a number of aircraft, primarily for law enforcement and search and rescue missions.

For fixed wing aircraft the National Guard operates 40 C-130s equipped for marine patrol and search and rescue missions

A 90 UH-60 Black Hawks are used as utility helicopters, preforming a variety of law enforcement, search and rescue, and surveillance missions, and 130 H-65 Eurocopters are used for maritime search and rescue operations

A verity of drones are operated by the National Guard, with the AAI Aerosonde and the Scan Eagle being the most common.

Naval Vessels

The National Guard operates over 225 naval vessels over 65 feet long, these vessels conduct law enforcement, search and rescue, military defense, tug boat, and navigation aid maintenance in Spirit of Hopes exclusive economic zone and territorial waters.

In the Large Patrol Category 25 Deep Sea Cutters and 3 Ice Breakers are currently operational. The purpose of these vessels is to conduct long term patrols of the furthest parts of the exclusive economic zone where they conduct law enforcement, military defense, and search and rescue missions.

For the Medium Patrol category 40 Offshore Cutters, 20 Patrol Cutters are currently operational. These vessels conduct short term patrols of the exclusive economic zone, conducting law enforcement, search and rescue, and environmental response missions.

For the Small Patrol category 90 Shore Cutters are currently active. These vessels serve as immediate response and patrol of the territorial waters of Spirit of Hope.

For air to navigation 18 Ocean and 30 Costal Navigation Cutters are operational. These ships primarily maintain navigational aids throughout the exclusive economic zone and territorial waters of Spirit of Hope but are also equipped to assist in law enforcement and search and rescue missions.

Aerostats

The National Guard operates a number of different tethered aerostats for observations and law enforcement duties. Two different forms are primarily operated, one based out of static locations and one based on mobile platforms.

Static aerostats have a volume of 12,000 cubic meters of lifting volume and lift 1100 kg of radar, acoustic, and visual surveillance equipment. 6 Static aerostat stations are operational along Spirit of Hopes major land boarders with an additional 15 static aerostats stationed near major metropolitan areas.

Mobile aerostats have a volume of 7,100 cubic meters of lifting volume and lift 540 kg of radar, acoustic, and visual surveillance equipment. The National Guard operates 10 such systems.

Over the Horizon Radar

In combination with the Airforce the National Guard operates a number of over the horizon radar instillations, which combined give a 360 degree coverage of Spirit of Hope out to 3,000 km spotting air and surface vehicles.