National Guard SOH

Military of Spirit of Hope
Motto	"Guarding Hope"
Founded	1653
Personnel
Active personnel	578,240
Reserve personnel	698,540
Expenditure
Budget	$251 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.

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