Royal Aswickan Army

Royal Aswickan Army
Royal Army
Active	1606–present
Country	Aswick
Allegiance	Aswickan
Type	Army
Role	Land warfare
Size	83,360 active full time, and 26,300 Army Reserve
Part of	Aswickan Armed Forces
HQ	Army Headquarters, Winchester
Engagements	Aswickan War of Independance, Great Astyrian War, Great Astyrian War 2
Commanders
Chief of the General Staff	Field Marshal Alexander Shepherd
Deputy Chief of the General Staff	General James MacGregor
Army Sergeant Major	Warrant Officer Patrick Torres
Insignia
War flag
Non-ceremonial flag
Logo

History

Regional Wars (1915 - 1950)

During the First Great Astyrian War, Aswick was ordered by Aquitayne to raise a force of 50.000 men that would form the Aswickan Imperial Force. They were sent to the trenches in Gaul, and as sympathy for Aswickan independence grew the Aquitaynians decided to give command of the A.I.F to an Aswickan officer, and then proceeded to place them further down the line, isolated from Aquitaynian troops. The Aquitaynian High Command had thought this to be a way to both appease the Aswickans by making them think they received some independence, while at the same time letting them feel the consequences of a life without Aquitaynian support.

The A.I.F did more than what was asked of them, though, and it proved to the men that Aswickan independence was something that could actually happen.

At the same time, the Governor of Aswick, James Stonebridge, negotiated with Gaulish and Kobali commanders toforce a ceasefire between the Aquitaynian and the Aswickan troops once Aswick declared its independence. It would be difficult, if not impossible to get these men back to Aswick, as a result of the Aquitaynian naval blockade that would surely be placed. As such, the Governor felt that the Aswickan troops there might as well stay there and be useful. Even though they'd get almost no reinforcements, and would have to rely on Gaul and Kobolis for supplies, until the blockade could be broken.

Modern Army

Personnel

The Aswickan Army has been a volunteer force since national service ended during the 1960s. Since the creation of the part-time, reserve Territorial Force in 1908 (renamed the Army Reserve in 2014) the full-time Aswickan Army has been known as the Regular Army. The size and structure of the army are evolving, and the Ministry of Defence publishes monthly personnel reports. In December 2016 there were 83,360 trained Regulars and 26,300 trained Army Reservists.

Army 2020 followed the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010 (SDSR). According to the Ministry of Defence, Army 2020 will "ensure that the Aswickan Army remains the most capable Army in its class" and enable "it to better meet the security challenges of the 2020s and beyond". The SDSR initially outlined a reduction of the regular Aswickan Army by 7,000, to a trained strength of 95,000, by 2015. After the publication of "Future Reserves 2020", another independent review of army structure, it was announced that the Regular Army would be reduced to a trained strength of 82,000 and the Army Reserve would be increased to a trained strength of about 30,000; this would bring the ratio of regular to part-time personnel more in line with Aquitayne and integrate the Army Reserve into the Regular Army.

In addition to the regular and reserve armies, all former Regular Army personnel (known as the Regular Reserve) may be recalled for duty as needed. The Regular Reserve has two categories: A and D. Category A is mandatory, with the length of time in the category dependent on time spent in Regular Army service. Category D is voluntary, and consists of personnel who are no longer required to serve in category A. Regular Reserves in both categories serve under a fixed-term reserve contract and may report for training or service overseas and at home, similar to the Army Reserve. In 2007, there were 121,800 Regular Reserves, of which 33,760 served in categories A and D. Beginning in April 2013, the full Regular Reserve strength was no longer reported—only those serving in categories A and D (30,000 in 2015).

Equipment

Main article: List of equipment of the Royal Aswickan Army

Current Deployments

Low-intensity operations

Location	Since date	Details
Caranad	2014	International Security Sustainment Forces (ISSF): One para Regiment on standby as QRF for coalition forces in the region. To be handed over to 3 Commando RM.
Scotia	2016	Operation Resolve: Army forces are assisting with integration and police duties until such a time as local authorities can capably take over.

Permanent overseas postings

Location	Since date	Details
Aquitayne	1998	Aquitaynian-Aswickan Mountain Warfare Training Centre
Bankampar	2017	Royal Aswickan Desert Warfare School

Structure

Aswickan Army structure is broadly similar to that of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, with a single command (based in Winchester) known as "Army Headquarters" or informally as "Horse Guards". Headquarters is responsible for providing forces at operational readiness for employment by the Permanent Joint Headquarters.

The command structure is hierarchical, with divisions and brigades controlling groups of units. Major units are regiment- or battalion-sized, and minor units are company-sized units (or platoons). All units are Regular (full-time) or Army Reserve (part-time).

Naming conventions of units differ for historical reasons, creating some confusion; the term "battalion" in the infantry is synonymous with a cavalry, artillery or engineer regiment, and the infantry "company" is synonymous with an engineer or cavalry squadron and an artillery battery. The table below illustrates the different names for equivalent units.

Infantry	Cavalry	Artillery	Engineers
Regiment (Two of more battalions grouped for administration)	No equivalent	No equivalent	No equivalent
Battalion	Regiment	Regiment	Regiment
Company	Squadron	Battery	Squadron
Platoon	Troop	Troop	Troop

Adding to the confusion is the tendency of units (again for historical reasons) to misuse titles for larger administrative structures. Although the Royal Artillery consists of 13 Regular regiments (equivalent to infantry battalions), it calls itself the Royal Regiment of Artillery when referring to the units as a whole. The Royal Logistic Corps and Intelligence Corps are not corps-sized, but consist of several battalions or regiments.

Operational Structure

See also: Administrative structure of the field forces of the Royal Aswickan Army

The field forces of the Aswickan Army after the Army 2020 reforms are organised in garrison as:

• Reaction forces: An Air Assault Brigade, Air Cavalry Brigade, and an armoured division of three armoured infantry brigades.
• Adaptive forces: The 1st Division, consisting of seven infantry brigades. The adaptive force consists of specialised infantry battalions who train, advise, assist, mentor and accompany operations by indigenous forces.
• Force Troops Command: Nine brigades of supporting units which supplement the reaction and adaptive forces.

For operational tasks the most common unit is the battlegroup, formed around a combat unit and supported by units (or sub-units) from other areas. An example of a battlegroup in the Reactive Force (e.g. the 1st Brigade) would be two companies of armoured infantry (e.g. from the 1st Battalion of the Highlanders), one squadron of heavy armour (e.g. A Squadron of the Royal Tank Regiment), a company of engineers (e.g. B Squadron of the 42 Engineer Regiment), a battery of artillery (e.g. D Battery of the 1st Regiment of the Royal Horse Artillery) and smaller attachments from medical, logistic and intelligence units. Typically organised and commanded by a battlegroup headquarters and named after the unit which provided the most combat units, in this example it would be the 1 Highlanders Battlegroup). This creates a self-sustaining mixed formation of armour, infantry, artillery, engineers and support units, typically 700 to 1,000 soldiers commanded by a Colonel.

The table below demonstrates how three or four battlegroups make up a brigade and three or four brigades make up a division. A division is currently the largest unit the Aswickan Army is capable of deploying independently, although it could be grouped with three or four other divisions from a multi-national coalition to form a corps.

Typeo f Unit	Division	Brigade	Battlegroup	Battalion, Regiment	Company, Squadron	Platoon, Troop	Section	Fireteam
Contains	3 Brigades	3-4 Battalions (Battlegroups)	Combined Arms unit	4-6 Companies	3 Platoons	3 Sections	2 Fireteams	4 Individuals
Personnel	10,000	5,000	700-1,000	720	100	30	8-10	4
Commanded by	Major General	Brigadier	Colonel	Lieutenant Colonel	Major	Captain, Lieutenant, or Second Lieutenant	Corporal	Lance Corporal

Special Forces

See also: Aswickan Special Forces

The Aswickan Army contributes two of the three special forces formations to the Aswickan Special Forces directorate: the Special Air Service and Special Reconnaissance Regiments. The Special Air Service consists of one regular-army and two reserve regiments. The regular regiment, 29 SAS, has its headquarters and depot in Joint base Oakwell and consists of five squadrons (A, B, D, G and Reserve) and a training wing. 29 SAS is supported by two reserve regiments: 28 SAS and 30 SAS—collectively, the Special Air Service (Reserve) (SAS [R])—under the command of the 1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade.

The Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR), commonly known as the Jamestown Rangers (taking their name from a regiment that originally performed a similar role during the Aquitaynian war for independence), formed in 2005, performs close reconnaissance and special surveillance tasks. The Special Forces Support Group, under the operational control of the Director of Special Forces, provides operational manoeuvring support to the Aswickan Special Forces.

Recruitment

Although the army primarily recruits within Aswick, it accepts applications from Aquitaynian citizens and (occasionally) those from friendly nations who meet certain criteria. The Aswickan Army is an equal-opportunity employer (with some exceptions due to its medical standards), and does not discriminate based on race, religion or sexual orientation.

The minimum age is 16 (after the end of GCSEs), although soldiers under 18 may not serve in operations. The maximum recruitment age was raised in January 2007 from 26 to 33 years, and the maximum age for Army Reserve soldiers is higher. A soldier would traditionally enlist for a term of 22 years, although recently there has been a shift towards 12-year terms with a 22-year option. A soldier is not normally permitted to leave until they have served for at least four years, and must give 12 months' notice.

Oath of Allegiance

All soldiers must take an oath of allegiance upon joining the Army, a process known as attestation. Those who wish to swear by God use the following words:

I, [soldier's name], swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King William I, his heirs and successors and that I will as in duty bound honestly and faithfully defend His Majesty, his heirs and successors in person, crown and dignity against all enemies and will observe and obey all orders of His Majesty, his heirs and successors and of the generals and officers set over me.

Others replace the words "swear by Almighty God" with "solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm".

Commission

William the First, by the Grace of God King of the United Kingdom of Aswick and Scotia, and of His other Realms and Territories King, Shield of Winchester, Protector of the Realm, Lord High Admiral.

To our Trusty and Well Beloved ....... ....... Greeting:

We, reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Loyalty, Courage, and good Conduct, do by these Presents Constitute and Appoint you to be an Officer in Our Royal Army from the .... day of ........ ...... You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge your Duty as such in the Rank of .............. or in such other Rank as We may from time to time hereafter be pleased to promote you to, of which a notification will be made in the Jamestown Gazette, and you are in such manner on such occasions as may be prescribed by Us to exercise and well discipline in their duties such officers, men and women as may be placed under your orders from time to time and use your best endeavours to keep them in good order and discipline.

And We do hereby Command them to Obey you as their superior Officer and you to observe and follow such Orders and Directions as from time to time you shall receive from Us, or any superior Officer, according to the Rules and Discipline of War, in pursuance of the Trust hereby reposed in you.

Given at Our Court, at Saint James's the .... day of ........ .... in the ..... Year of Our Reign

By His Majesty's Command

Training establishments

Royal Military Academy Raleigh (RMAR) is the officer-training school, and Royal School of Artillery (RSA) trains the Royal Artillery. Royal School of Military Engineering (RSME) trains the Corps of Royal Engineers.

The Army Training Regiment, Markham provides training for Army Reserve recruits, and the Army Training Regiment, Seabright provides training for the Army Air Corps, the Royal Artillery, the Royal Corps of Signals, the Royal Logistic Corps, the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, the Adjutant General's Corps, the Royal Army Medical Corps and the Intelligence Corps. The Army Training Regiment, Lincoln trains the Royal Armoured Corps, the Army Air Corps, the Royal Artillery, the Royal Engineers, the Royal Corps of Signals, the Royal Logistic Corps, the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, the Adjutant General's Corps, the Royal Army Medical Corps and the Intelligence Corps.

There is an Infantry Training Centre at Chatterick and an Infantry Battle School in Daecon. Other training centres are the Army Foundation College and Army Training Units.

Ranks

Enlisted

Paygrade	Title	Abbreviation	Rank Insignia	Notes
OR-0	Recruit	Rct		Temporary rank until the Recruit finishes Basic Training
OR-1	Private	Pte		Actual title may vary, depending on the individual's Regiment Main article: Private (Aswick)
OR-3	Lance-Corporal/Lance Bombardier	LCpl/LBdr		Usually called "Lance". Leads a fireteam.
OR-4	Corporal/Bombardier	Cpl/Bombardier		Leads a Section.
OR-6	Sergeant	Sgt		Second in command of a troop or platoon.
OR-7	Staff Sergeant	SSgt		Senior role combining man and resource management in company or Squadron.
OR-7	Gunnery Sergeant	GySgt		Senior role combining man and resource management in Battery.
OR-8	Colour Sergeant	CSgt		Referred to individually by their appointment e.g. Company Sergeant Major. A senior management role focussing on the training, welfare and discipline of battery
OR-8	Sergeant Major	SgtMaj		Referred to individually by their appointment e.g. Company Sergeant Major. A senior management role focussing on the training, welfare and discipline of company/battery/ squadron
OR-9	Warrant Officer	WO		Referred to individually by their appointment e.g. Regimental Sergeant Major. The most senior advisers to battalion commanding officers. Responsibility for discipline and equipment of officers and men

Officers

Paygrade	Title	Abbreviation	Rank insignia	Notes
OF-0	Officer Cadet	OCdt		Officer training rank
OF-1	Second Lieutenant	2LT		May command a platoon
OF-1	Lieutenant	Lt		Commands a platoon
OF-2	Captain	Capt		Serves as Company 2IC
OF-3	Major	Maj		Commands a Company; May serve as Battalion XO
OF-4	Lieutenant-Colonel	LtCol		Commands a Battalion, or may serve as Regimental 2IC
OF-5	Colonel	Col		Commands a Regiment/Battlegroup
OF-6	Brigadier	Brig		Commands a Brigade
OF-7	Major-General	MGen		Commands a Division
OF-8	Lieutenant-General	LGen
OF-9	General	Gen
OF-10	Field Marshal	FM		Commander of the Army

Uniforms

Main article: Uniforms of the Aswickan Armed Forces § Army

The Aswickan Army uniform has sixteen categories, ranging from ceremonial uniforms to combat dress to evening wear. No. 8 Dress, the day-to-day uniform, is known as "Personal Clothing System – Combat Uniform" (PCS-CU) and consists of a Multi-Terrain Pattern (MTP) windproof smock, a lightweight jacket and trousers with ancillary items such as thermals and waterproofs. The army has introduced tactical recognition flashes (TRFs); worn on the right arm of a combat uniform, the insignia denotes the wearer's regiment or corps.

Working headdress is typically a beret, whose colour indicates its wearer's type of regiment. Beret colours are:

• Khaki: The Coldsteam Guards, Grenadier Guards
• Black: Royal Armoured Corps
• Light grey: The Highlanders
• Brown: Royal Tank Corps
• Rifle Green: Royal Greenjackets,
• Maroon: The Royal Dragoons, The Light Horse, The Queen's Royal Lancers
• Beige: Special Air Service
• Sky blue: Army Air Corps
• Cypress Green: Intelligence Corps
• Scarlet: Royal Military Police
• Green: Adjutant General's Corps
• Burnt Orange: King's Aquitaynian Guards
• Navy blue: All other units

In addition to working dress, the army has a number of parade uniforms for ceremonial and non-ceremonial occasions. The most-commonly-seen uniforms are No.1 Dress (full ceremonial, seen at formal occasions such as at the changing of the guard at the Royal Palace) and No.2 Dress (Service Dress), a brown uniform worn for non-ceremonial parades.

See also

• Army Cadet Force
• Ministry of Defence
• List of Aswickan Army installations
• Aswickan Special Forces