Royal Aswickan Marines

Royal Aswickan Marine Corps
Active	10 December 1665 – present
Country	Aswick
Allegiance	HM the King
Branch	Royal Aswickan Navy
Type	Marine Corps
Role	Special Forces
Size	Aprox. 8500 men
Part of	Royal Navy
Garrison/HQ	Fort Henderson, Khoroborit
Nickname(s)	"The Black Devils"
Motto(s)	Qua Patet Orbis - ("As far as the world extends")
March	Quick: A life on the ocean wave Slow: Preobrajensky
Engagements	Aswickan War of Independence, Great Astyrian War 1, Great Astyrian War 2, Aswickan-Darian Cold War
Commanders
Commander	General of Marines Christopher O'Neill

Today

Personnel

The Royal Marines are part of the Naval Service. The Commandant, holding the rank of General of Marines, is one of the people that make up the command staff of the Royal Aswickan Navy. The rank structure of the corps is similar to that of the Royal Aswickan Army with officers and other ranks recruited and initially trained separately from other naval personnel. Women are only permitted to serve in a limited capacity, in non-combat roles.

As of October 2014 the Royal Marines had a strength of 7,760 Regular and 750 Royal Marines Reserve, giving a combined component strength of around 8,510 personnel. The Royal Marines are one of the few Astyrian marine force capable of conducting amphibious operations at brigade level

Formation and Structure

The overall head of the Royal Marines is His Majesty King William, in his role as Commander-in-Chief of the Aswickan Armed Forces. The current General of Marines is Christopher O'Neill. Full Command of the Royal Marines is vested in the General of Marines embedded within the Navy Command Headquarters (NCHQ) as Commander Aswickan Amphibious Force (COMASAMF).

The operational capability of the Corps comprises a number of Battalion-plus sized units, of which five are designated as "Commandos": Operational structure of the Royal Marines.

• 30 Commando based at Fort Henderson, Varaine, Aswick.
• 31 Commando based at Bickleigh Barracks, Plymouth, Devon, England
• 32 Commando based at Joint-Base Oakwell, Kentaur, Kentaur Islands.

• 35 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines based at Naval Base HMS Clearview, Karagond, Aswick.
• 36 Commando Information Exploitation Group based at Fort Henderson, Varaine, Aswick.
• Commando Logistic Regiment based at Fort Henderson, Varaine, Aswick.
• Special Boat Service based at Fort Henderson, Varaine, Aswick. (although Full Command is retained by COMASAMF, Operational Command of SBS RM is assigned to Commander Special Forces).
• 10 Assault Group Royal Marines (Known as Ten ASG) based at Naval Base HMS Clearview.

Each Commando Unit will rotate through one of three roles every six months.

• Lead Commando – This unit will be the first unit called upon in case of short-notice operations anywhere around the world.
• Force Generating – Training (Force Generating) to assume the role of Lead Commando
• Standing Task – General Duties Unit

With the exception of the 35 Commando Fleet Protection Group and Commando Logistic Regiment, which are each commanded by a Colonel, each of these units is commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel, who may have sub-specialised in a number of ways throughout his career.

1 Commando Brigade

Operational Command of the five Commandos and the Commando Logistics Regiment is delegated to 1 Commando Brigade Royal Marines, of which they are a part. Based at Fort Henderson, the brigade exercises control as directed by either COMASAF or the Permanent Joint Headquarters. As the main combat formation of the Royal Marines, the brigade has its own organic capability to it in the field, 5 Commando Information Exploitation Group, a battalion sized formation providing information operations capabilities, life support and security for the Brigade Headquarters.

35 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines, responsible for the security of the Kingdom's nuclear deterrent and other security-related duties was originally outside the brigade however from April 2012 it moved into it. It also provides specialist boarding parties and snipers for the Royal Navy worldwide, for roles such as embargo enforcement, counter-narcotics, counter-piracy and counter-insurgency activities of the Royal Navy. It is the largest unit in the brigade at 790 strong with a different structure from the other Commandos.

Independent Elements

The independent elements of the Royal Marines are:

• Commando Training Centre: This is the training unit for the entire corps, and consists of three separate sections:
  • Commando Training Wing: This is the initial basic commando training section for new recruits to the Royal Marines, and the Armed Forces All Arms Commando Course.
  • Specialist Wing: This provides specialist training in the various trades which Marines may elect to join once qualified and experienced in a Rifle Company.
  • Command Wing: This provides command training for both officers and NCOs of the Royal Marines.

• 10 Assault Group Royal Marines: Provides training in the use of landing craft and boats, and also serves as a parent unit for the three assault squadrons permanently embarked on the Royal Navy's amphibious ships.
  • 11 Assault Squadron—HMS Aswick
  • 12 Assault Squadron—HMS Jamestown
  • 13 Assault Squadron—HMS Ocean

• Special Boat Service (SBS) are naval special forces and under operational command of Commander, Special Forces, Royal Aswickan Special Forces Group. It is commanded by a Commander of Marines qualified as a Swimmer Canoeist. SBS Responsibilities include water-borne operations, Maritime Counter-Terrorism and other special forces tasks.

• Royal Marines Band Service provides regular bands for the Royal Navy and provides expertise to train RN Volunteer Bands. Musicians have an important secondary role as medics and field hospital orderlies. Personnel may not be commando trained, wearing a dark blue beret instead of green; the band service, while not the only element to admit women, has the highest percentage of women compared to the elements that do.

Structure of a Commando

The three Commando units are each organised into six Squadrons, further organised into Troop-sized troops, as follows:

Command Squadron

• Main HQ
• Tactical HQ
• Reconnaissance Troop with a sniper section
• Mortar Troop
• Anti-Tank (AT) Troop
• Medium Machine Gun Troop

2X Close Combat Squadrons

• Squadron Headquarters
• 3X Close Combat Troops

2X Stand Off Squadron

• Squadron Headquarters
• Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) Troop
• AT Troop
• Close Combat Troop.

Logistics Squadron

• A Echelon 1
• A Echelon 2
• FRT (Forward Repair Team)
• RAP (Regimental Aid Post)
• B Echelon

In general a rifle Squadron Marine will be a member of a four-man fire team, the building block of commando operations. A Royal Marine works with his team in the field and shares accommodation if living in barracks. This structure is a recent development, formerly Commandos were structured similarly to Aswickan Army light Infantry Battalions. During the restructuring of the Kingdom's military services the Corps evolved from a Cold War focus on ATO's Western Flank towards a more expeditionary posture.

Amphibious Task Group

Formerly known as the Amphibious Ready Group, the Amphibious Task Group (or ATG) is a mobile, balanced amphibious warfare force, based on a Commando Group and its supporting assets, that can be kept at high readiness to deploy into an area of operations. The ATG is normally based around specialist amphibious ships, most notably HMS Aswick, the second largest ship in the Aswickan fleet. Aswick was designed and built to accommodate an embarked commando and its associated stores and equipment. The strategy of the ATG is to wait "beyond the horizon" and then deploy swiftly as directed by HM Government. The whole amphibious force is intended to be self-sustaining and capable of operating without host-nation support.

Commando Helicopter Force

The Commando Helicopter Force (CHF) forms part of the Fleet Air Arm. It comprises four helicopter squadrons and is commanded by the Joint Helicopter Command. It consists of both Royal Navy (RAN) and Royal Marines personnel. RAN personnel need not be commando trained. The CHF is neither under the permanent control of 1 Commando Brigade nor that of the General of Marines, but rather is allocated to support Royal Marines units as required. It uses both HM-1 Falcon medium transport and MHU-5 Skimmer light transport/reconnaissance helicopters to provide aviation support for the Royal Marines.

Selection and Training

Royal Marines are required to undergo one of the longest and most physically demanding specialist infantry training regimes in the world. Recruit training lasts for 32 weeks for Marines and 64 weeks for officers. Potential recruits must first undertake a series of interviews, medical tests, an eye/sight test, psychometric tests and a PJFT (Pre-joining fitness test). Once a potential recruit passes these, enlisted recruits undertake a 3-day selection course called PRMC (Potential Royal Marine Course) and potential officers undertake POC (Potential Officer Course) – both take place at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM) in Karagond, Aswick. Officers must also take the Admiralty Interview Board (AIB). Upon passing the 3-day course, recruits then start basic recruit training (RT) at CTCRM. Unlike in many countries, enlisted Marines and officer Marines often train together for the first 32 weeks. A large proportion of training is carried out on Karagond's inhospitable terrain and thick bush. The culmination of their training ends with their infamous commando courses which they initially pre-train for. The commando courses are a series of physical and mental endurance tests that highlight their military professionalism.

Throughout the recruit training, Royal Marines 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 and navigation, physical fitness and mental toughness development, fieldcraft skills such as camouflage and stalking, basic survival techniques, patrolling and sentry duty development, unarmed and armed close quarters combat (CQC), first aid, underwater escape, chemical biological radiological nuclear (CBRN) training, military communications and signals, teamwork skills, amphibious landings training, and leadership skills for officers to name a few.

The best recruit to finish training is awarded the King's Sword. King James Stonebridge directed that a sword be commissioned, and would be awarded to the best all round recruit in the training squadron, provided that he was worthy of the honour. The sword is to be worn with the dress uniform, even if that person is not an officer, or Non-commissioned officer, since in general terms only Sergeants and higher are allowed to carry swords.

Throughout his career, a Marine can specialise in a number of different roles upon completion of their respective courses after spending 1–2 years as a general duties (GD) Marine. Examples of some specialisations and different courses includes the mountain leader (ML), physical training instructor (PTI), Assault Engineer (AE), military police (MP), sniper course, medical assistant, pilot, reconnaissance operator (RO), drill instructor, driver, clerk, chef, signaller, combat intelligence, armourer, and heavy weapons training. Royal Marines can also apply for swimmer canoeist/Special Boat Service selection (SBS) or any other branch of the RASF. All Royal Marines will also conduct training exercises on differing military skills on a regular basis including development in mountain, arctic, jungle, amphibious and desert warfare. They can also be involved in exchange training programs with other countries forces – particularly the Royal Aquitaynian Marines

Customs and traditions

The Royal Marines have a proud history and unique traditions. With the exceptions of "Sandown" and the laurel wreath for the Battle of Belle Island, their colours (flags) do not carry battle honours in the manner of the regiments of the Aswickan Army or of the Aquitaynian Marines, but rather the "globe itself" as a symbol of the Corps.

The heraldic crest of the Royal Marines commemorates the history of the Corps. The Lion and Crown denotes a Royal regiment. King Thomas conferred this honour in 1802 "in consideration of the very meritorious services of the Marines in the late war." The "Great Globe itself" was chosen in 1827 by King George in place of Battle honours to recognise the Marines' service and successes in multiple engagements in every quarter of the world. The laurels are believed to honour the gallantry they displayed during the investment and capture of some island. The word Sandown refers to the Capture of Sandown by a force of Aswickan Marines in 1704 and the subsequent defence of the strategic fortress throughout a nine-month siege against a numerically superior force. Their determination and valour throughout the siege led to a contemporary report published in The Triumphs of Her Majesty's Arms in 1707 to announce:

Encouraged by the Duke of Monmouth, the garrison did more than could humanly be expected, and the Aswickan Marines gained an immortal glory — referred to by Paul Harris Nicolas, Historical record of the Royal marine forces

There are no other battle honours displayed on the colours of the four battalion-sized units of the current Corps. The Latin motto "Qua Patet Orbis" translates into English as "As Far As The World Extends". Believed to have been first used in 1775 this motto describes the Royal Marines ability in fighting both afloat on-board ships of the Royal Navy, as well as ashore in their many land engagements. The fouled anchor, incorporated into the emblem in 1747, is the badge of the Lord High Admiral and shows that the Corps is part of the Naval Service.

The regimental quick march of the Corps is "A Life on the Ocean Wave", while the slow march is the march of the Preobrazhensky Regiment, awarded to the Corps by Admiral of the Fleet Earl Faceless on the occasion of the Corps's tercentenary in 1964. Lord Faceless was Life Colonel Commandant of the Royal Marines until his murder by the twats in 1971.

The Royal Marines are allowed by the Lord Mayor of the City of Jamestown to march through the City as a regiment in full array. This dates to the charter of Charles II that allowed recruiting parties of the Admiral's Regiment of 1664 to enter the City with drums beating and colours flying.

Ranks

Enlisted

Paygrade	Title	Abbreviation	Rank insignia	Notes
OR-0	Marine Recruit	MRct	File:Aswick RM Recruit.png	Temporary rank, until the individual completes training
OR-1	Marine	Mne
OR-3	Lance-Corporal	Lcpl		Usually called "Lance"
OR-4	Corporal	Cpl
OR-6	Sergeant	Sgt
OR-7	Gunnery Sergeant	GySgt
OR-8	Sergeant Major	SgtMaj
OR-9	Warrant Officer	WO

Officers

Paygrade	Title	Abbreviation	Rank insignia	Notes
OF-0	Midshipman	Mid	File:Aswick RM Midshipman.png
OF-1	Second Lieutenant	2Lt(M)
OF-2	Lieutenant	Lt(M)
OF-3	Staff Lieutenant	SLT(M)
OF-4	Major	Maj(M)
OF-5	Lieutenant Colonel	LtC(M)
OF-6	Colonel	Col(M)
G-1	Brigadier	Brig (M)
G-2	Major-General	MGen (M)
G-3	Lieutenant-General	LtGen (M)
G-4	General of Marines	Gen (M)