Republican Marine Regiments

Republican Marine Regiments
Regimientos Tercios dei República
Tercio Badge
Active	1534 (as the Tercios Imperial) 1650-Present (as the Regimientos Tercios)
Country	Iverica
Branch	Armada Iverica
Type	Marines
Role	Amphibious Warfare, Combined Arms
Size	80,000
Part of	Armada Iverica
Naval staff offices	Arsenal dei Tercios, Manille Municipality
Nickname(s)	Tercios, The Eldest, The Black Dogs
Patron	St. Erasmo
Motto(s)	First to fight, last to fall
Colors	Blue, Maroon, Gold
Mascot(s)	Sirius
Equipment	Equipment of the Republican Armed Service
Commanders
Encicomandante dei Tercios	Iago Norman Matti
Sargento Mayor dei Tercios	Rikkard Lee Emeri

The Republican Marine Regiments (RMR) are a corps of amphibious, combined arms regiments. They are more widely known as Tercios and are officially known in Iverica as Regimientos Tercios dei L'República. The Tercios can trace their origins back to the formation of the Iberic Empire's Tercios Imperial (Anglish: Imperial Regiment of Thirds). The regiments function as the Republic of Iverica's elite amphibious infantry body. The Regiments not only serve as warfighters and security for naval vessels but are the premier choice for honour guards in the Iverican government. Thus, all Iverican Embassies and a majority of foreign delegates are attached with a security detail of veteran Tercios. Given Iverica's geographical conditions and heavy naval focus, the Tercios are known to be one of the best-equipped infantry bodies in the Armed Service.

As a broadly warfighting and adaptable elite infantry force, the Tercios are trained for rapid deployment worldwide and are capable of dealing with a wide range of threats. The Republican Marine Regiments are organised into three types of units, Expeditionary Corps, Expeditionary Regiments, and Expeditionary Detachments. The three are distinguished by their size in terms of manpower and operate at different scales of warfare.

Each of the unit types is formed from a collection of battalions who number between 300-500 Tercios. Battalions are formed under regiments, each of which is distinguished by its own traditions and identity. Some regiments may be single-battalion regiments while others may have 2 or even 4 battalions within them. Using the Battalion as their basic operational unit, Tercio formations are structured according to their mission. These missions typically include ship security, boarding operations, amphibious assault, counter-piracy, and major ship-to-shore assaults. The Regiments primarily carry out amphibious assault and helicopter-borne operations but; though some land-warfare units are better equipped to conduct mechanised operations. Tercio doctrine in the 20th and 21st century has been adapted to address the realities of Third-Generation and Fourth-Generation strategies and tactics including but not limited to, Manoeuvre warfare, Counter-Insurgency, and Asymmetric warfare. Certain regiments are also trained to conduct special boat operations, raiding operations, or direct-action operations. Mainline combat units are trained to operate in all environments and climates, though particular expertise and training is spent on arctic warfare, jungle warfare, desert warfare, and expeditionary warfighting. Tercio regiments are also committed to the Republic of Iverica's Rapid Reaction Forces which include the regiments of the Exersito's elite Horse Grenadier Divisions.

Throughout its history, the Tercios have seen action in a number of major wars often fighting beside the Iverican Army – including both Argic Wars, the Thalassan War, Vasqqan Civil Wars, Operation Ultra Violet, and many others. Today, the Tercios are structured, trained, and fielded as a highly-deployable, major warfighting force with the ability to conduct special operations on a more limited scale.

History

Don Rafael Dei Servantes, Tercio Commanding Officer during the Gran Viatge

Beginning as the Imperial Regiment of Thirds, commissioned by the Emperor Philip VI in 1534, the Tercios were a military unit of the Iberic Imperial Army during the time of the House of Imené. The Tercios were famous for their resistance on the battlefield, forming the elite of the military units of the Iberic Empire. The Tercios were the essential piece of the powerful land forces of the empire, sometimes also fighting with the navy—a cooperation that grew as time passed and became fully-entrenched during the The Gran Viatge. They marked a rebirth of battlefield infantry, comparable to the Aroman legions.

The Imperial Tercios were one of the first modern Europan armies, understood as made up of professional volunteers, instead of the levies raised for a campaign or the hired mercenaries typically used in other Europan countries. Over a period of one and a half centuries, their position as the finest Europan infantry was built upon their professional training and high proportion of "old soldiers" (veteranos), in conjunction with the particular elan imparted by the Hidalgos (Lower Nobility) who commanded them. In addition, they were one of the first to effectively mix pikes and firearms (arquebuses).

As nearly all historical, ceremonial, and storied units of the Iberic Imperial Army were dissolved or struck from the rosters at the empire's collapse, the Tercios are de facto the infantry unit with the longest unbroken tradition of service. They are the single oldest infantry unit in the Republican Armed Service never having been suspended from service or retired. Some of the regimental pennants, guidons, and gonfalons date from before the Gran Viatge.

Recent Events

Operation Ultra-Violet
Tercios part of the embassy descurity detachment in the Iverican Embassy at Dieudonné, Afropa, were killed when a vehicle-borne explosive device was detonated near one of the compound's annexes. Shortly thereafter, the Violetist Liberation Army (VLA) claimed responsibility for the act. The blast also claimed the lives of Ambassador to Afropa Manuel Osmeña and 2 embassy staff. In response, battalions from the 1st and 7th Regiment of Tercios were deployed in support of the international counter-insurgency coalition cooperating with the Afropan government. From November of 2017 to January of 2020, Tercios operated alongside international peacekeepers, Afropan government forces, and elements of the Iverican Army's parachute regiments. The joint-Iverican forces conducted clearing patrols, raids, peacekeeping, and civilian outreach missions. Teams from the Tercio's 77th special operations regiment also conducted HVT raids. By 2020, the operation known as "Operation Ultra-Violet" was declared as a success; with the elimination of several key figureheads in the the VLA's command structure and with the capture of VLA military supply and personnel. Several hundred tonnes of small arms, explosive material, narcotics, and munitions were confiscated in raids. The Tercios and Exersito units also established garrisons in the eastern provinces to secure insurgent supply routes from Sa Hara.

Operation Amico
From June 2020 to March 2021 a detachment from the 3rd Regiment of Tercios operated with the VRI Sant Lazaro (FFG-019), a Súbic-class frigate, to support a joint-operation with Prymontian and Prymontian-Russian forces. The goal was to assist the state of Estaria, Ceris in resisting Sentist incursions. The Tercio detachment numbered 200 combat personnel and were initially prepared for civilian outreach and close-protection of the Sant Lazaro. During the 25th of February, massed Northern Sentist forces on the Occlait-Estaria border launched an assault with approximately 10 divisions of motorised infantry supported by a few companies of self-propelled anti-aircraft vehicles and some light artillery. Coalition forces were forced to withdraw, ordering an evacuation of civilians to the nearby Nesneubar Island. Performing valiant rear-guard actions and running interference for retreating forces, 105 Tercios were listed as killed-in-action by the time armed forces were able to withdraw to Nesneubar. Official admiralty accounts by Armada Iverica Capitan Ignacio Ruis Arnarson, commanding officer of the frigate Sant Lazaro, stated that the during the breakout operation launched by the remaining coalition forces encircled in Estaria's harbour districts, the Tercio Commander, Tribunier Frederico Deiboria was forced to order his men to fix bayonets. Subsequently, Deiboria, who was in command of foot forces escorting the vehicles, was forced to commit to hand-to-hand engagements with Sentists who had ambushed sections of the column from alleyways. Deiboria was killed in the melee but succeeded in fending off would-be ambushers. Deiboria is noted to have lead the first bayonet action of the Tercios in the 21st century.

Operation Interjection

Map showing friendly vessels (Iverican and Seylosian Forces) and enemy vessels (Haru) forces deployed to Corinium

A mixed unit of Tercios from the Ship Complements of no. 280 Surface Warfare Squadron boarded the fast replenishment VRI Notus (T-AOE 056) and proceeded to make landfall in Corinium, an island in the North Adlantic Ocean. The Operation had the overall goal of denying the annexation of the island by armed forces from Haruspex. The Tercio detachment assisted Seylosian forces in Corinium city in establishing a demarcation between North Corinium (occupied by pro-Haru seperatists) and South Corinium (lead by the original government).

Organisation

The Republican Marine Regiments are organised into three types of units, Expeditionary Corps, Expeditionary Regiments, and Expeditionary Detachments. The three are distinguished by their size in terms of manpower and operate at different scales of warfare.

Each of the unit types is formed from a collection of battalions who number between 300-500 Tercios. Battalions are formed under regiments, each of which is distinguished by its own traditions and identity. Some regiments may be single-battalion regiments while others may have 2 or even 4 battalions within them. Using the Battalion as their basic operational unit, marine formations are structured according to their mission. These missions typically include ship security, boarding operations, amphibious assault, counter-piracy, and major ship-to-shore assaults.

Active Tercio Regiments

Regiment	Motto	Parent Corps	Current Post	Role
1st Regiment of Tercios 1a Regimiento Tercio Seirios	Cavé perrome (Iverican) "Beware of dog"	1st Expeditionary Corps	7th Capital Task Group Bonifacio	Task Force Complement Expeditionary Regiment
3rd Regiment of Tercios 3a Regimiento Tercio Altaria	L'Petro D'Armada (Iverican) "Rock of the Navy"	1st Expeditionary Corps	2nd Carrier Task Force Deiargon	Task Force Complement Expeditionary Regiment
7th Regiment of Tercios 7a Regimiento Tercio Sant'Erasmos	Sant'Erasmos está tonitremendo (Iverican) "St. Erasmus thundering"	1st Expeditionary Corps	1st Carrier Task Force República	Task Force Complement Expeditionary Regiment
8th Regiment of Tercios 8a Regimiento Tercio Diomedes	Aristeia (Tagmatine Greek) "Excellence"	1st Expeditionary Corps	6th Capital Task Group L'Pilar	Task Force Complement Expeditionary Regiment
9th Regiment of Tercios 9a Regimiento Tercio Orion	Venatio supra omnia (Aroman) "Above all, the hunt"	1st Expeditionary Corps	8th Capital Task Group Apolinario Mavini	Task Force Complement Expeditionary Regiment
33rd Regiment of Tercios 33a Regimiento Tercio Tauros	Pedicabo ego vos et irrumabo (Aroman) Expletive	2nd Expeditionary Corps	---	Land Warfare Regiment
41st Regiment of Tercios 41a Regimiento Tercio	Carpe diem cras (Aroman) "Sieze the day tomorrow"	2nd Expeditionary Corps	---	Auxiliary Regiment Special Service Support
45th Regiment of Tercios 45a Regimiento Tercio	Morituri nolumus mori (Aroman) "We who are about to die, do not want to"	2nd Expeditionary Corps	---	Auxiliary Regiment Special Service Support
50th Regiment of Tercios 50a Regimiento Tercio	Et si inciderit in ore gladii , et elevabitur super scuta (Aroman) "And if we should fall upon their swords, we shall be lifted up upon our shields"	2nd Expeditionary Corps	---	Land Warfare Regiment
77th Regiment of Tercios 77a Regimiento Tercio Luparii	Luparii luporum lupis sumus (Aroman) "We are wolfhounds unto the wolves"	Comande dei Special Operaciones	---	Special Operations Forces
81st Regiment of Tercios 81a Regimiento Tercio Myrmidones	Nullus amicus melior, nullus inimicus peor (Aroman) "No better friend, no worse enemy"	2nd Expeditionary Corps	---	Dedicated Littoral & Riverine Warfare Regiment Special Boat Force

Administrative Subdivisions

Expeditionary Corps
Structured for major warfighting, a Cuerpos Tercio D'Expediciónare (CTE) may number 18,000-30,000 Tercios with various armoured and aerial assets in support. In this capacity, the Corps is capable of advancing well within terrestrial boundaries and confronting major warfighting enemy units in division strength. As of 2019, the Corps designation mainly serves administrative purposes for managing and re-deploying its constituent regiments through the authority of a Comandante dei Cuerpo (OF-8). As no major engagement has required the full deployment of a major warfighting force in recent years, Corps headquarters have been administering the tasking and organisation of the units under their command.

Expeditionary Regiments
The Regimientos Tercio D'Expediciónare (RTE), sometimes referred to as "Tercio Regimental Combat Teams" in TRIDENT terminology, are the smallest unit type that guarantees complete combined arms capability. To fulfil this role, a Regiment must be attached with at least minimal aerial, armoured, and electronic warfare assets. On average, marine regiments are far larger than those of the army, composed of 3,000-8,000 Tercios and commanded by a Comandante dei Regimiento (OF-7), the Regiments are tasked mainly with quick response and deployment to areas of medium or high-intensity combat of an operational scale. Under these parameters, Regiments are typically attached to Carrier Groups and Capital Elements. In a combat theatre, they are expected to be at parity with a brigade-sized force and are trained to respond with asymmetrical warfare if met with overwhelming odds.

Expeditionary Detachments
The Desapeios Tercio D'Expediciónare (DTE) are the smallest unit type capable of limited independent operations. Unlike a Regiment, Detachments are structured to fulfil specific mission requirements with as small a force as possible. This entails that Detachments be equipped only with the necessary equipment and manpower and neither with redundancies nor excessive swing-roles. Commanded by a Comandante dei Desapeio (OF-6) or by a Coronel (OF-5), a Detachment may be between 1,000-2,000 Tercios strong. This smaller size relegates Detachments to postings as small capital ship complements, handling sector security, seizing time-sensitive objectives, or aggressive reconnoitre in force.

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  Members of a securiy complement conduct a live-fire shooting drill on deck.

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  A Tercio fireteam simulates a ship-to-shore infiltration.

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  A VBSS team inserts via rotorcraft.

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  Tercios of an Extreme Climate Assault Battalion.

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  Tercios training with bolt-action rifles.

Personnel

Leadership

The Tercio Commandant (Iverican: Encicomandante dei Tercios) is the highest-ranking officer of the Republican Marine Regiments (TRIDENT Code: OF-9), unless a Tercio is either the Capo-Comandante D'Armaté Servicio or the Subcomandante D'Armaté Servicio. The commandant has the responsibility to staff, train, and equip the Regiments and has no command authority. The commandant is a member of the Júnt-Capos D'Armaté Servicio and reports to both the Minister of Defence and the Boardmembers of the Admiralty (Iverican: Almirantasgo)

A group of 3 to 5 Corps Comandants (Cuerpos Comandantes) serve as staff and direct subordinates to the Tercio Comandant. The Sergeant Major of the Tercio Regiments (Iverican: Sargento Mayor dei Tercios) is the senior enlisted Tercio and acts as an adviser to the commandant. Tercio High-Command (Iverican: Encicomande dei Regimientos Tercios) comprises the rest of the commandant's counsel and staff, with corps commandants that oversee various aspects of the Regiments assets and capabilities. The current Commandant is Iago Norman Matti (OdS), who assumed the position on March 30th, 2018. The current Sergeant Major is Rikkard Lee Emeri.

Qualification

Part of the "Trail of Tears" training site in Nou Navaerre

Tercios are required to undergo one of the most brutal, physically challenging, and psychologically taxing infantry training regimes in the wurld. Recruit training lasts for 36 weeks for enlisted and non-commissioned personnel and 64 weeks for officers.

While officially, a candidate for training must be 15-years of age to begin qualifying for the Tercios, the service maintains a large and well-attended Cadet Summer Academy. Cadets may be as young as 11-12 years of age to attend and must have both a parental written consent form and a memorandum of agreement stating that the Tercios are not liable for injuries or illnesses sustained during the cadet course. Despite being a course for children, training is taken seriously. Cadets learn wilderness survival skills, self-defence, basic firearms safety, map-reading and navigation, and many other related skills. Cadet courses are offered every summer and are demarcated by three milestone titles: Junior, Regular, and Prime. Graduating from each of the three titles require a cadet to pass physical and written exams that increase in difficulty.

Graduating past Prime is called "Running the Scores", or Coreré Los Vientes and requires cadets to have spent at least 3 summers in the cadets. The "scores" refer to the 3-score (58-62 kilometre) distance set over the most challenging terrain available in a Cadet Academy's locale. The Running the Scores exam requires the cadets to finish a gruelling 5-day course involving unassisted navigation, shooting, and survival.

It begins with a 500-metre swim from a boat to the shore where they will receive their supplies and load. Cadets are typically given 30 kilograms to carry in a rucksack and load-bearing vest. Though this may be reduced for younger candidates; load is scaled relative to height and weight of a candidate below 13 years of age. From the shore, they must navigate a predetermined but unmarked route through elevation and vegetation with checkpoint shooting stations that require hitting targets at varying ranges. The cadet must hit at least 29 out of 40 E-type human silhouette targets in the alpha or charlie zones. The targets are placed at ranges varying from 50 to 300 metres and may be partially in cover or in concealment. Only 40 rounds of ammunition is allotted for a single shooter per station and the shooter must only use the weapon's stock iron sights. The moment the shooter touches a spot marked as the station, the shooter will have 40 minutes to engage the targets. The shooting tests are administered regardless of the weather conditions or the cadet's physical state. The cadets are typically at varying states of physical or mental exhaustion when reaching the shooting stations—which are strategically placed to be difficult to get to. The cadets are also in varying states of discomfort, being soaked or lightly injured from some stages of the Scores.

The 1st to 3rd days will require a candidate to present themselves at an End Checkpoint before bivouacking alone for the night. On average, a cadet will navigate through 12 kilometres of dense or elevated terrain per day carrying their 30 kilogram load. The final stretch of the exam takes place on the 4th and 5th day and involves a simulated SERE exam where junior and regular cadets will form a screening patrol and attempt to capture the examinee-cadet. Though the examinee is given a large head-start, they will have been worn down and fatigued from the 3 previous days whereas the hunting party will be well-rested and driven by vehicle to the site. An examinee fails if he is tagged with a very short-range paintball gun. The SERE section of the course may take place where ever the Tercios in charge of the Cadet school judge is the most challenging in the province. The SERE course will also begin on the dawn of the 4th day and run until midnight of the 5th day, meaning that the examinee will be hunted, without rest, for 36 hours. Running the Score ends when the cadet crosses a finish line and presents his entire kit, accounted for, to the Tercio quartermaster who must confirm that all items are present. A Cadet may only attempt to Run the Scores a maximum of three times and may no longer attempt once they are older than 16 years.

Though taking the course is not required, Cadets who pass it are granted the title and tab of the "Young Landsman" (Tiero Joven) ahead of even their adult peers and are not required to pass any qualification test to begin basic training. Cadets who pass it may also apply directly for officer training without the need for any sponsorship.

Potential recruits for adult training must be aged 15 to 30 (18 to 25 for Commissioned Officers) and must undertake a series of interviews, medical tests, an eye/sight test, psychometric tests and must passed a Pre-Qualification Exam; which consists of a written test and a physical test. Once a potential recruit passes these, enlisted recruits undertake a 2-week selection course called Tercio Qualification Course or Curso-QT. Whereas potential officers undertake Leadership Qualification Course Curso-QL – both take place at Forta dei Laqrimas, Nou Navaerre. The Fort's name aptly translates to "The Fort of Tears" or the "Fort of Weeping". Officers must also pass the Officer's Decorum Trial (a behavioural evaluation that spans most of the total training period) and then pass a Naval Leadership Competency Exam. Upon passing the 2-week course, recruits then start basic training in the environment around Forta Laqrimas. A large proportion of training is carried out on Nou Navaerre's inhospitable terrain.

Training

An antique Pugio dei Tercios

Throughout the recruit training at the Fort of Tears, Tercios learn and develop many military skills such as weapons handling, marksmanship and proficiency with different firearms, personal administration, marching and parade ground skills, map reading, land navigation, basic maritime navigation, physical fitness and mental resilience development, fieldcraft skills such as camouflage and stalking, Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE), patrolling and sentry duty development, unarmed and armed close quarters combat, first aid, underwater escape, chemical biological radiological nuclear (CBRN) training, military communications and signals, teamwork skills, amphibious landings training, and leadership skills for officers, and two other electives. Later in the training timeline, candidates will be assigned to one Extreme Climate Operations (CEC) course.

Basic training lasts 35 weeks with checkpoint exams every 4 weeks. Exams separately test physical endurance, land navigation, radio communication, first aid, close-quarters grappling, firearms proficiency, basic diver proficiency, and basic section tasks. During this period, 58% of a recruit batch may be dropped from the programme or may withdraw voluntarily. Drop-outs are allowed to reapply only once; if a recruit fails again, they will not be permitted to reapply in the Tercio regiments.

At the end of basic training, graduating Tercios will be given a set of items. One shoulder patch, one cap badge, one aiguillette, and a Regimental Pugio dei Tercios, or naval dirk which can be fixed as a bayonet. The shoulder patch is a simple canvas maroon shield centered by a black star on a white lozenge; crowned by a white Orion's Belt constellation and footed by an Apollo's Bow constellation. The cap badge is canvas, but with all stars represented by polished stone fittings. The aiguillette is a black and maroon cord worn on the right shoulder. Officers recieve an additional P-38 pistol and a brass whistle.

Throughout their career, a Tercio can specialise in a number of different roles upon completion of their respective courses after spending 1–2 years as a Young Landsman (Iverican: Tiero Joven). Examples of some specialisations and different courses. A few common occupational courses include: Combat Engineer, Sniper, Corpsman, Aviator, Long-Range Reconnaissance, drill instructor, driver, clerk, signalman, combat intelligence, armourer, and heavy weapons. Specialisation in Extreme Climate Operations are also available; some include: Amphibious Expert, Mountain Specialist, Arctic Specialist, Hot Desert Specialist, Jungle Specialist. Tercios can also apply for the Special Boat Unit selection (SBU) or any other branch of the Special Operations Command. All Tercios will also conduct training exercises on differing military skills on a regular basis including development in mountain, arctic, jungle, amphibious and desert warfare.

Ranks

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Equipment

[ADD TABLE] | See Official List