Barrayaran military traditions
Barrayaran military traditions are the specific set of practices associated with the military on Barrayar: this concept describes the styles of military uniform, drill, or the music of a military unit. The military tradition also refers to a ancestors-long line: Vors, as military caste, as a whole have a military tradition, which is represented in the much higher representation of Vors in the military.
Barrayaran military originates from a variety of cavalry-based forces, a feature somewhat justified by the vast plains and by the relative scarcity of soldiers. The Vor caste was for centuries the only source of officers and a significant source of troops: therefore, their cultural values were and still are today both influencing and influenced by military traditions, which are based on Earth-European Middle Age Chivalry, Earth-Russian warrior ethics and Earth-Japanese Bushido.
Unlike British and British-descended military traditions, quite spread in the Nexus, Barrayar relies on its own history as a state rather than as a regiment and Barrayaran ideas of military discipline reflect rigid hierarchy perspectives.
Military honour code is Emperor-centred and places great value on the virtues.
Victory at all costs
Above all, even above the individual honour code which otherwise is the very fundamental principle for all the Barrayaran military culture, and deeply contrasting on it, the First Cetagandan War planted the seed of the most complete ruthlessness within the deep roots of the Barrayaran people: the war is to be won, no matter of the means employed. Nothing is more important than survival and victory: dead men are losers by definition. This includes to butcher children just to to send a message, to dismember them and to put bombs in their corpses to tear apart enemies. The Barrayaran fighter - from the hardened veteran to the newly enrolled partisan - intends to win, and puts aside all moral speculations or scruples. The war sets aside any moral standard of right and wrong: winning is what is right and losing is wrong. A soldier has to realize his job is to win, once he has won then he can go back to being gentle and affectionate.
This ruthlessness is both caused by and causing the relatively small size of the Barrayaran military. The official Barrayaran military doctrine refuses the cannon-fodder approach, emphasizing the elite army approach: an elite army of highly trained soldiers and turned lose on the enemy is more useful than a mass army. However, this is paired with the conscription, in order to obtain the line units and formations made up of highly trained soldiers, with other support units.
Individual honour code
Military honour code is Emperor-centred and places great value on the virtues of loyalty and self-sacrifice. It is to note that the interpretations offered during Time of Isolation suggested a slightly minor role of the self-sacrifice, not to mention of the Emperor's role. The idea of "military honour" is often used as a propaganda tool by both the government and military. The Barrayaran military honour sees war as purifying, and death a duty: this provides a spiritual shield to let soldiers fight to the end. The final battle of the Escobaran War, the Battle of Jump-Point Six, involved the large majority if the space forces of the invasion fleet and would exposed Barrayar to serious danger if they failed. Cautions were countered with the plea that the Navy be permitted to "bloom as flowers of death in the Space".
Military virtues
The Military honour code is typified by ten virtues, which also constitute the very core of the whole Barrayaran traditional stance:
- Courage
- Benevolence
- Respect
- Honesty
- Honour
- Loyalty
- Filial piety
- Wisdom
- Care for the aged
Soldier Emperor
The concept of the Soldier Emperor is a central concept in many Barrayaran cultural aspect. First of all, the Barrayaran Emperor is that because he is the Supreme Commander. During military campaigns, it is customary that the Emperor assume supreme command of operations; if this is not possible for various reasons, the Crown Prince takes the supreme ommand of operations (at least formally) and the Sovereign moves his official residence as close as possible to the front, to be able to personally follow the events of war. In both cases, the Emperor often visits front-line units, military hospitals, combat and Staff units.
Esprit de Corps
Esprit de corps is the capacity of a group's members to maintain belief in an institution or goal, particularly in the face of opposition or hardship. Morale is often referenced by authority figures as a generic value judgement of the willpower, obedience, and self-discipline of a group tasked with performing duties assigned by a superior. Discipline is fierce and training harsh, all intended to instill a group cohesion or esprit de corps that could bind the men together into effective fighting units. Barrayaran military training concentrates on instilling teamwork and maintaining a level head over individual bravery; however, though discipline and its enforcement is notdesigned to blunt the soldier's individual initiative, because intelligent, independent-minded soldiers who work together as a unit pose a significantly greater threat to an enemy, than blindly obedient men.
Within the Imperial Service, the Esprit-de-Corps takes a very sensitive part: on one hand, units and formations (especially ground line units, but also other military organizations) are organized on a regional and ethnic basis, in order to avoid possible widespread ethnic issues; on the other hand, the Imperial Service is tightly centralized, in order to prevent and easily crack down separatist insurrections. Loyalty is to the Imperium but pride is based in the soldier's unit, to which is attached a military standard. Successful units are awarded with official accolades, medals, citations and other awards. Therefore, Unit pride is carefully cultivated and managed in order to focus beneficial rivalries on fields other than ethnic or linguistic differences.
Officer and a Gentleman
The model military officer is a direct consequence of the individual military honour code. The Barrayaran military tradition requires that Vors must be officers; the idealised Officer-and-Gentleman attended the Imperial Military Academy. Besides typically being a member of the Vor class, an officer and gentleman is personified by his behaviour: he will remain polite, and even in the worst of situations he will always retain his sense of propriety. For example, an officer and a gentleman will rarely if ever cuss, and never knowingly in the presence of a lady. He would never take advantage of a lady, and will be very protective of women, both of their persons and their sensibilities. All Barrayaran officers are expected to be an officer and gentleman and this is emphasised very well during the officer training courses and "Conduct unbecoming an officer and gentleman" is a listed and well enforced court-martial offence.
Whether good or bad, a perfect Officer-and-Gentleman will always keep his Word he gave. What distinguishes the model is a set of "gentlemanly" principles, which include good manners and etiquette.
Being a real "honorary Vor", an high-ranking officer is expected to bear same Vor attitudes towards civilians and bourgeoisie. The typical stereotyped high-ranking officer or the typical Vor officer regularly wears both a sword and a monocle, and when he receives orders from a civilian who is also a bourgeois his left hand rests casually on his sabre, bearing the monocle in his eye and hesitating to salute and to give a slight bow. This constitutes a multiple outrage: the officer comes armed in front to a senior civilian official, he bears an item not included into military equipment and the slight bow implies the slight seniority or even the condescension towards a person junior to him. This is an accepted behaviour only if the civilian official did not previously hold a senior military appointment.
A deeply rooted tradition in the Space Forces is the manner of address for officers assigned to the Space Forces: officers who have obtained the Command School qualification are referred to, at least in space contexts, as "Commander Surname", while other space-assigned officers, who are not Space Command-qualified, are referred to as "Mister Surname" or "Lord Vor-surname".
Moral duties of officers
Moral duties include both service-related and private life behavioural aspects due to the ethical tension to be a good example for subordinates, civilian and the whole Imperium at large. Among moral issues related to the private life, The Barrayaran officer corps strongly favours heterosexual marital stability, even outside the legal provisions and requirements, especially in its senior ranks. While among the most famous Barrayaran military leaders some were gay or bisexual, this policy is also adopted in order to reduce the potential for ambient personal tensions transferring into work context.
Ethical issues of the command
The military and militarised world form a fine structure, a point of reference, which necessarily the community draws on, especially when, in times of difficulty, it needs to counter effectively anyone able to jeopardise the values of the Fatherland and of the ordained living.
The distinguishing feature of the military world is the human component, and to this we must look carefully to ensure that the negative effects of change produce the least possible impact.
Especially young people end up being more attracted by innovations and are generally more recalcitrant in keeping the traditions. And it is precisely for this reason that is necessary to invest primarily on them to make them less permeable to deleterious aspects of change. It is therefore necessary to strengthen the military ethic: it has always contains harmoniously in its womb "rules of conduct" inspired by the sense of duty, honour, loyalty, selflessness, esprit de corps. These stances are additional values that characterise the Imperial Service and the Imperial Police Force, becoming a real ingrained asset. Ethics also retrieves values from this example and work away from the spotlight, the pursuit of innovation in the wake of traditions and inner motivation.
This is a heritage that the military team absolutely can not dissipate, but rather must implement: namely within the exercising of command.
The command action is a matter of the utmost importance, which invests every organised structure, but in the military structure must also refer to the ethical values.
There are leaders who cannot command because they do not listen and others who can not command because they do not decide, leaders who wish to be feared and do not allow to be contradicted, and others, pettifogging bureaucrats, terrified to take initiative and responsibility that end up delegating. These trends unfold adverse effects: the ability to lead is made even more important by the aware discipline and by the end of the discipline "ready, blind and absolute".
The imperatives that define leadership are, first of all, affinity, that is, the need for a leader reliance on subordinates loyal and with similar views, to ensure the response to the needs. The relationship of affinity is supported by the reward or punishment, according to a system of values accepted by all; reward and punishment are strengthened by the example with which the authority, who asks subordinates to take the risk on its order, it shows itself to accept it personally;,the example is amplified by the word, that is the explanation of the leader in a speech directed his men; Finally, the word is expressed in action, the translation of the leadership in actual act of success. These imperatives are stored and transmitted by the military academies: the purpose of the officer training is to produce young men who observe the rules of ethics and good society and obey their superiors even and especially in times of severe stress and difficulties.
The approach in the personnel management is to be "individualized" because each soldier has its own personal and family life that the Commander must consider if he has to rely on each subordinate in every circumstance. The Commander cannot command without example, equanimity, involvement of people, without "knowing how to listen" before deciding. It should be understood according to two main aspects: the more specifically pertaining to the Commander's sphere of decision and the equally important sphere that concerns the knowledge of their men. And the men employed "know" each other if the Commander talks with them, and he becomes the valid points of reference, not only to the aspects directly related to the service, but also for those who were essentially private and emotional sphere of each soldier.
A command action is serene and balanced if it is able to improve, in accordance with the "rule", the harmony and the harmony of the unit, applying ethical values. The correct command action is based on the example, feeding the subordinates of valid patterns of behaviour, motivation, comradeship and ideal fellowship, and guarding against excessive arrogance and detachment.
The Commander, being a point of reference for subordinates, within its field of competence must be happy to fulfil the wishes of employees when they do not conflict with the requirements of the service and discipline.
The personality of the Commander
The first requirement is that the Commander of the charm of moral conqueror and leader of souls. Character and intelligence, courage and determination, energy and self-confidence, form the substrate of the ascendant staff. The quality of the charm plays a very important role for the success of the operations and then to success. The age, culture, the spirit of sacrifice, the strength of character and firmness of purpose must create a moral charm, with which to conquer the minds of subordinates and encourage them to devout obedience. All this requires constant effort, the power of discernment, insight, common sense and above all self-control.
The professional capacity is an essential requirement which contributes to the formation of personality. It is not possible to get that unity of purpose and intent when the master's authority is not supported by the ability. The ability to think clearly and solve problems in a humanly logical way must be the first ability of the Commander. The commander must pursue the goal proposed with inflexible constancy and go straight to the goal, without fear of obstacles. Once a decision is the man of action does not think that the success and whether there are obstacles, you will plunges into it with pleasure psychic, because overcoming them is always a joyful victory of the spirit.
The command action is the complex of acts which the commander tends to reach with, through his subordinates, the purpose of the service. In a system of relations between men, it is imperative that persons who have powers of command has physical skills, intellectual and moral qualities of the first order. If it is impossible to hide a physical deformity or a marked intellectual deficiency, which would be unacceptable moral flaws go unnoticed, to emerge later.
A commander must necessarily be sincere and fair with everyone, because a commander loses insincere, sooner or later, the estimate of superiors, colleagues, subordinates; driven by a deep sense of justice, in order to always be able to judge with fairness and balance, avoiding much to dislikes, grudges, personalities, which would lead to factions, envy, distrust of the unit; equipped with calm, weighting, serenity, firm but courteous modes, without excessive intransigence and harshness, but without excessive mildness. He must also be supported by loftiness of thought and intent emerge in which a scrupulous honesty, a sense of dignity, worship careful of customs and traditions, institutions, of patriotism.
The conduct of the Commander must, in all circumstances, be based on incontrovertible hinges, so that the subordinates feel that disciplinary action is sovereign, untouchable and impersonal. He must be first and foremost a "moral leader" of his men.
Sense of responsibility
The characteristic trait of the Officer must be a strong "moral courage", understood as the natural propensity of a person to commit his life to in working choices and decisions that do not affect the private sphere, but the interest of the Imperial Service and of the Imperium. The Officer of the Imperial Service, therefore, motivated by similar intent, can only base its actions on a strong sense of responsibility, both in private life, as in the professional one. Within its private citizen life, the sense of responsibility is used to guide choices and behaviours in order not to damage the image of the Service. In the professional sphere, however, the sense of responsibility must accompany all decisions relating to the operations and personnel management.
At the base of the sense of responsibility, there must be first the full awareness of their role and their duties: this, in turn, requires a solid basic preparation. The basic preparation allows the commander to be able to take any decision with due deliberation, firmly and with the serenity that comes from the knowledge of available tools.
This sense of responsibility could be translated as a parameter of "firm equilibrium" that guides the officer to assume, in the most serene feeling, choices and decisions that are always in line with the laws and regulations and with military values. The sense of responsibility is a guide to the Officer in relations with subordinates and in those circumstances where it is necessary to the exercise of the disciplinary action.
Every decision of the Commander must try to reconcile the subordinates' needs with the institutional interest, if that is possible. If this can not be implemented instead, Commander proceeds in the manner most appropriate to safeguard the interests in the field, always taking as a benchmark the higher needs of the Imperial Service. The sense of responsibility in the management of staff is to have cognizance of the problems of subordinates and try to resolve them within the limits and regulatory tools that you have, never fail to interest institutional care. In the exercise of the disciplinary action, the sense of responsibility requires it to impose a proportionate, balanced and free from any vexatious intent, doing well understand the reasons for the recipient that are at the foundation.
Military Oath
The military oath is a solemn act by which the military devotes all his energies to the service at the Emperor and to the defence of the Empire.
With the oath, the military at all levels vows to act always animated by high ideals of duty, in a spirit of self-denial and sacrifice as to withstand the hardships and privations, courageously face the dangers and proving to be generous in every contingency. The military must have a high sense of military honour which is the most valuable asset of the Imperial Service.
He in the cult of duty, in fidelity to the Emperor and to the country, in the memory of military traditions, lives righteously military life. The loyalty determines the maximum clarity in the relationship between the military at all levels, in the midst of it the discipline is strengthened. The oath is celebrated in a solemn manner by the corps commander, with the participation of the paintings of the department and for the collective oath ceremonies, authority and invited by those who take the oath.
Officers
All officers of the Imperial Service swear an oath of office upon commissioning. It differs slightly from that of the oath of enlistment that enlisted members recite when they enter the service.
It is traditional for officers to recite the oath upon promotion. One notable difference between the officer and enlisted oaths is that the oath taken by officers does not include any provision to obey orders; while enlisted personnel are bound by oath to obey orders, officers in the Imperial Service are bound by this oath to disobey any order that puts in danger the Emperor or his will. The oath is for an indeterminate period; no duration is specifically defined.
Officers and Warrant officers take the oath individually, placing their hands between those of the Corps Commander or, in case of commissioning from the Imperial Military Academy, between the Emperor's hands.
«I, [name], do solemnly swear to be faithful to His Majesty the Emperor and His legitimate successors, to observe faithfully the laws of the Empire and to fulfil all the duties of my State, with the sole purpose of inseparable good of the Emperor and Fatherland.
I, [name], do solemnly swear that I want to offer unconditional obedience to the Emperor, Serg Vorbarra, the commander-in-chief of the Imperial Service, and be prepared as a brave soldier to risk my life for this oath at any time.
I, [name], do solemnly swear that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Imperial orders; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter.»
Enlisted personnel
The troops take the oath before serving. The entire detachment of recruits goes to the Parade Ground framed in separate platoons. The formation is to be taken in "line of columns", each platoon to the right of each respective company.
The corps commander, in front of the troops deployed in arms and the flag on the right, is present arms, draws his sword, reads the formula, and with his voice vibrated questions "Do you swear?".
The recruits raise their right hand and cry aloud, "I swear!"
The band sings the national anthem, then the troop parades in front of the commander and flag, earning the exit from the parade ground. Outside the parade ground, is given the "break ranks" and returned their weapons, after a new gathering, and usually a refreshment to the barracks, you put the troops in freedom with obligation to release in uniform.
The troops swear on foot.
The formula read by the Corps commander is the following:
«I swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty Emperor Serg Vorbarra, 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.»
Flag Raising Ceremony
The Flag Raising Ceremony is an important ceremony, held each early morning.
The parade ground is full, the companies are each perfectly framed the front door of their dorm rooms. The National Anthem is sung loudly mandatory, it runs the flag-raising, and the acting is done in memory of the motivation of the decorations conferred on the War Flag of the unit, all the companies march within the yard to the martial beat of the drums, with songs and salute the flag.
The speech of the commander of the regiment is aimed at military glory, the love of country and loyalty to the Emperor. They are then given the lecture, practical lesson in self-defence, the provisions for the training activities of the day.
War Flag
All institutions, bodies and units of the Imperial Service adopt a "War Flag." Such flag consists of an arrow, rod, a drape, a belt, a cord.
The arrow is golden brass total length of 35 cm. On it is engraved the name of the organization. The rod is made of wood covered with green velvet and decorated with brass tacks placed in spiral line. It has a length of 2.20 meters including the shank sticking in arrow and calcium. The drape, woven fabric of natural silk, is of square shape of dimensions of 99 centimeters by each side. It is divided into three horizontal bands of black, red and black, each height of 33 cm. At the center is an embroidered gold star with a diameter of 29 cm. The turquoise blue band is made of natural silk. It is secured to the bottom of the arrow with a knot, so that the two strips that result are the length of 50 cm each. The strips are completed, the free end, a gold fringe 8 cm long and wide. The golden cord is knotted at the base of the arrow: the free portions that result have a length of 50 centimeters and terminating each with a silver flake than ten centimeters long.
"Imperial" title of the military units
Although the combined military forces of the Empire of Barrayar are called "Imperial" Military Service, not all units which compose it have such title. Each designation must meet with the Emperor's approval, something that takes protocol and paperwork. The latest recommendations have already been forwarded to the Imperial Palace. The title is usually granted for long and distinguished service or for an act of gallantry by part of the ground unit (usually but not necessarily a Regiment), of the spaceship (attaching the prefix "Imperial" to the name) or to another military unit. The title "Emperor's Own" follows similar rules, although such a honour must be earned for an act of gallantry in the midst of combat and it is more rarely granted and, therefore, it grants more seniority in status and prestige.
The most exalted unit in the Imperial Service is 1st Imperial Rangers Regiment, formally designated as "1st Emperor's Own Guides Regiment of Imperial Rangers of the Guard".
Titles of gallantry of ground-based units
Ground-based units have their own titles of distinction in reward for acts of gallantry. Such titles apply to all military units operating on the ground, i.e. including police services combat units and landing forces units.
Armoured Infantry units carry the standard title of "Foot Guards" and, in recognition of feats of arms, they may be awarded the title of "Men-at-Arms" (e.g. 246th Men-at-Arms Regiment instead of 246th Foot Guards Regiment). Mechanized Infantry units carry the standard title of "Line Infantry" and, in recognition of feats of arms, they may be awarded the title of "Units-of-Foot" (e.g. 135th Battalion-on-Foot instead of 135th Line Infantry Battalion). Finally, Light Infantry units carry the standard title of "Rifles", but, in recognition of feats of arms, they may be awarded the title of "Guides" (e.g. 357th Guides Regiment instead of 357th Rifles Regiment).
The Armour branch keeps the traditions of the ancient Cavalry Corps. Several Reconnaissance Regiments carry the title of "Hussars", "Dragoons" and "Light Cavalry": in recognition of feats of arms, they may be awarded the title of "Carabinier" (e.g. 468th Carabinier Regiment instead of 468th Dragoons Regiment); on the other hand, several Line Armour Regiments carry the title of "Cuirassiers" and "Lancers" (and others of "Tanks"). In recognition of feats of arms, they may be awarded the title of "Unit of Ordnance" (e.g. 579th Squadrons Group of Ordnance instead of 579th Lancers Squadrons Group). Also the Ground Support Aviation keeps Cavalry Traditions, and its units are treated like Line Armour units.
Guards unit
Guards units are elite units and formations in the Ground Forces of the Imperial Service. These units are awarded Guards status after distinguishing themselves in service, and are considered to have elite status. The Guards designation originated during the Cetagandan War. Units and formations awarded with the Guard title receive special Guards banners to display the status, alongside apposite badges to be worn of the right side of the chest. More often than not, Guards units and formations receive heavy weapons if infantry and elite tactical training, as well a peculiar indoctrination in the defence of the Barrayaran Empire, and are renowned for their ability to remain cool under fire in combat situations where even many other veterans would break. Guards units are highly trained in the use of numerous heavy weapons, and are entrusted with special equipment of high quality.
Those who want to be assigned to a Guards unit, must first prove themselves in the line troops and become hardened veterans before they are assigned to Guards. The Guards also have an impressive ethos of duty and honour, and looked upon with great favour among the standard regiments.
Veteran
Those of "Veteran" is a honourific title awarded to a trooper of the Imperial Service who has survived multiple battles and has become a skilled and efficient warrior for the Emperor of Barrayar. Those that survive a sufficient number of battles are the hardiest troopers in the Imperial Service, and their battlefield training has been honed in the fires of war. Veteran soldiers are sometimes assembled into what is known as a Veteran Squad to be placed within less experienced platoons or companies. Veteran soldiers assembled in the Veteran Squads may not be from the same regiment, and so may introduce less-known combat-tactics and an different war-ethics to their foster regiment. Many Veteran soldiers carry weapons and wargear not commonly issued to the massed ranks.
Military salute
In the Barrayaran military only officers are saluted, and the salute is both to the commission they carry from the Emperor and to the officers themselves. The right hand, palm down, is brought to the right temple, almost, but not quite, touching; the head has to be covered. Hand salutes are only given when a cover is worn. Except where a protocol dictates otherwise, the duration of the salute is timed at three beats of the quick-time march (approximately 1.5 seconds), timed from the moment the senior member first returns it.
When the presence of enemy snipers is suspected or presumed, military salutes are generally forbidden, since the enemy may use them to recognize officers as valuable targets.
Small arms salute
When carrying a sword, the Imperial Service uses a two-step gesture. The sword is first raised, in the right hand, to the level of and close to the front of the neck. The blade is inclined forward and up 30 degrees from the vertical; the true edge is to the left. Then the sword is slashed downward to a position with the point close to the ground in front of the right foot. The blade is inclined down and forward with the true edge to the left.
When armed with a rifle, the method used is "present arms"; the rifle is brought to the vertical, muzzle up, in front of centre of the chest with the trigger away from the body. The hands hold the stock close to the positions they would have if the rifle were being fired, though the trigger is not touched.
Military salute to special people and to special categories
When special people approach a member of the Imperial Service, the latter must salute him. Forms of salute vary according the rank and the status of the person saluted:
- Emperor, Emperor's Guardian and Regent: Kneel or Bow (except during parades or in operational area);
- Empress and Crown Prince: Salute or Bow (if the Crown Prince is saluted as prescribed by his own rank);
- Imperial Auditors: Salute;
- Minister of War and Chief of Staff: Salute;
- Ministers: Salute;
- Counts: Salute;
- Viceroys: Salute;
- Superior Officers of the Imperial Service: Salute
- Ambassadors: Salute;
- Directors and heads of government agencies related with tasks to security, even without the military status: Salute;
- All superiors in uniform, including counterparts in the police and government agencies related with tasks to security, even without the military status (in Uniform or with Duty insignia), as well as Retirees who are in uniform: Salute;
- Banners and standards of former units: Salute.
Gun salute
A gun salute is the salute performed by the firing of cannons or artillery as a military honour. The number of rounds fired in any given salute varies depending on the conditions.
| Number of guns | Recipients |
|---|---|
| 101 (Imperial Salute) |
|
| 31 |
|
| 21 |
|
| 19 |
|
| 17 |
|
| 15 |
|
| 13 |
|
| 11 |
|
| 9 |
|
Honours to the Flag
The National Flag is the symbol of the unity of the Fatherland under the Monarchy of the House of Vorbarra. The national flags of the Imperial Service are called military flags. There are three species of military flags:
- War Flags of war (flags - banners - labars);
- Flags of military institutions;
- Garrison Flags (of 1st, 2nd, 3rd category).
The military honours are rendered to the War Flag, when it is presented to the unit in arms and when it is removed from it, and to the Garrison Flags, when it is hoisted on a building or encampment where a guard is commanded or troops are lodged. The honors are repeated when the flag is lowered. Flag Honours are due to all flags every time they pass or are encountered.
Individual honours are made stopping at no less than 12 steps from the flag, and facing it, greeting 6 steps (for the sentinel and the isolated military) or maintaining the position of the military salute for the time of 9 steps.
Collective honours are made by the armed unit, including the guards, not on the march, with the order to present arms and with the three signs of attention followed by the salute to the flag, by the unarmed unit, not on the march snf with the position of attention, and by the the marching unit: with three warning signs to the right (or left), followed by the salute to the flag and with the consequent attention to the right (or left), later commanded for each individual passing platoon; if the troops are at a street pace, they tighten the ranks and take the pace. The position of honour of the unit is taken when the flag is 12 steps away and maintained for the time of 18 steps; the unit commanders repeat the salute when the flag is 6 steps away.
National mourning
On the occasion of national mourning:
- the War Flag is tanned with a black veil, of a shape and size similar to those of the blue band and applied like the band itself;
- the Garrison Flag is displayed at half mast;
- Trumpeters and music do not play during the ritual honors;
- In principle, the Garrison honours are not rendered;
- The Trumpeter at the barracks does not sound signs of honour, for the duration of the mourning.
War Flag
The War Flag is granted by the Emperor: it is the symbol of military honour and recalls the regiment (or the other equivalent military unit) its glorious war achievemnts. The War Flag is exhibited on the occasion of military or civil ceremonies and particularly on occasion of oaths of officers and troops, on occasion of military magazines, garrison honours, funeral honours and on occasion of national, garrison and regimental solemnities.
The War Flag salutes only the Emperor and the Empress and in the public functions takes precedence over all the civilian emblems; if there are several War Flags, the order of precedence between Arms and Corps is respected, and the War Flags take precedence over the flags of the military institutions and on the garrison flags.
When the War Flag is exposed, the escort that accompanies it (including the honour guard) salutes only the Emperor and the Empress, flags to which military honours are due, provided they have precedence over the War Flag, the person before whom the unit parades, on the occasion of military reviews, and the body to which military funeral honours are rendered.
The War Flag War is in the hands of the Regiment (or other equivalent military unit) and accompanies him throughout his life of peace and war. Normally, it is kept by the Regimental Commander and it is carried by the oldest or most decorated Ensign. In the absence of Ensigns, it is carried by the less senior Lieutenant of the Regiment.
Outside the Regimental barracks, the War Flag is normally escorted by two non-commissioned officers, chosen from the most decorated of the Regiment, or from a Honour Unit no smaller than a Company.
When the War Flag is exposed, the Escort greets only the Emperor and the people to whom they are made garrison honours or to whom funeral honours are gramted. The Honour Unit that carries the War Flag is usually accompanied by the Regimental band and the tambourines and follows an itinerary that includes the main streets and squares of the garrisoned city, where it always has precedence in circulation.
The War Flag, in stops outside the barracks, is always guarded by the sentinel, provided by a special guard and under the supervision exercised in turn by the Escort. In the camp, the War Flag is kept at the guardhouse. In civilian transport, the Flag of War is placed in a first-class compartment, reserved for the Regimental colonel, the Adjutant-Major of Ist Class and the War Flag Ensign; the two Escort non-commissioned officers travel in an adjoining compartment.
Behaviour toward superiors
Even before joining the Imperial Service, every soldier has behaved (or should have behaved) in a particularly helpful, deferential, well-mannered way towards other individuals. Parents, tutors, schoolmasters, etc. demand that the young person under their care, whom they are training and instructing, whom they want only to help, behave toward them as traditional good manners require. Soldierly formalities observed in interactions with superiors have the same stated purpose.
An inferior cannot interrupt superiors who are talking with someone else or who are busy by speaking to them. Instead, inferiors have to stand at attention to indicate that you have something to ask or to communicate. If the superior with whom the subordinate wants to speak is speaking with someone of even higher rank, the person of higher rank must be asked for permission to speak. A soldier has to speak loudly and clearly; to express consent, a subordinate must say "Yes, Sir!" and must mention the superior's rank; this custom applies also when called by a superior officer.
A subordinate always walks to his superior's left; when a subordinate accompanies a superior on horseback, he remains in the rear until he is told to ride forward. Off duty, superiors cannot be invited; if a superior toasts a subordinate, the subordinate rises & drinks while standing at attention. However, overdone courtesy and subservience are deemed unsoldierly.
Military personality construction
The barracks life is a total institution in which a system of practices, rules of conduct and specific reference values of a military culture is developed. The military socialization is characterized by different rites of passage that accompany the transition from the civilian life, made of values, status and roles, to the military life. The move follows three phases: separation, transition and aggregation.
Separation phase
In the preliminary separation phase, a person leaves the position and the shapes of the previous behaviour.
All this is done with a series of ritual acts that, in the case of military service, include the reception at the train station, the entrance to the barracks, the first days of life in the barracks by the recruit.
At the monorail there are soldiers in uniform waiting. Conscripts are grouped frame are made by the coach. Soldiers explain what the recruit can bring and what he cannot bring to the barracks and then search conscripts. The arrival at the barracks is greeted by a group of soldiers shouting in unison, "Welcome to hell!"
The first few days are crossed by a series of rituals that aim to delete values, status and roles of the "civilian life." The verbal, physical and psychological violence of the early days in the barracks consists of shouted orders, cancellation of individuality, actions imposed by his superiors in an apparently illogical and incomprehensible reasons.
The haircut and dressing are actions that permanently enshrine the separation of young recruits from the old status and the previous culture. The haircut is strictly "light bulb" and the same for everyone, while the dressing is made with the distribution of military clothing and delivery of items of wrong size.
Transition phase
In the transition or edge phase, the recruit is neither one side nor the other: it is located in an intermediate space between the state of departure and arrival. In the barracks, he gets into that stage where recruits are called "monsters", "spine", "toads", and so on. This phase lasts as long as the recruits does not get the combat qualification and until he finish the first period of training.
The name most commonly used to indicate the recruit at this stage is that of "monster".
It is a very tough phase from the physical, psychological, social points of view and the first two months are hard, very hard. The formal training is severe, sometimes ruthless. This hardness is applied to condition the recruit and obtain a fighter mentality.
In the first training phase relations between comrades are not governed by clear rules. The only clear point of reference is the corporal instructor. For each pair of corporals instructor a team of 24 recruits is assigned. Services and licenses depend on the instructors. Those who rebel instructors are ill-treated services, are likely not to go out in "off duty" and, above all, are likely to be isolated. Who does not rely on the protection of the instructors is considered a "dead dog", and is likely to remain just an absolute uncertainty of the relationships of the group. Only those who most rely on the control and protection of the instructors get through unscathed. They are those who are considered "the best", "the strongest", those who obtain the assignment.
Aggregation phase
Through the aggregation phase of a person is reintroduced into society. The aggregation phase of a conscript is the one that starts with the obtaining of the combat qualification and lasts for the rest of his military service, marked by several stages, each highly ritualized.
Moustache and beard
Within the Imperial Service, enlisted personnel does not carry a moustache or beard. Sideburns must not cross the line of the lower ear on the corner of the mouth, the hair must not cross the face or cover your ears, and be in line of the collar of his tunic. The hair is styled straight, and should be cut short so that the forehead and ears are uncovered, and the collar of the tunic is not touched by them.
Officers can carry a moustache and sideburns, but the remainder beard must be constantly shaved. The moustache can not go past the lip, nor therefore join with sideburns. The sideburns can not go over the line between the lower end of the ear and the corner of the mouth.
Tattoos
Tattoos in the Imperial Service are limited to the parts of the body covered by short sleeved shirts and pants; in certain cases, the Imperial Service allows tattoos on the arms, on the backs of the hands and on the back side of the neck. The primary requirement is that they are not “indecent or subversive”. The Unit Commander reserves the right to determine what is in good taste. Military tattoos show love for the Imperium and pride in one's own unit; however, in military society military tattoo designs are only allowed to be worn by experienced soldiers. Military tattoo designs often display your branch of service and unit. Military designs represent and, later in life, commemorate a meaningful and rewarding part of a soldier's life. Tattoos in Imperial Service often display weapons and tools in disuse or even completely ignored by any force contemporary to the Imperial Service, but still held dear in the Barrayaran tradition. Within the Barrayaran soldierly community, there are branch-specific tattoos as well as widespread ones; however, tattoos are very rare within the Officers Corps.
Members of space-based forces (i.e. Space Forces and Landing Forces Commands) traditionally chose tattoos with anchors incorporated into them, although Stars (helping guide a spaceman home), Swallows, sea predators and women are also popular choices, while in airborne branches such as the Orbital Control or the ORBIFORCOM old air-planes or contemporary air vehicles are a common choice of tattoo. Pin-ups are popular as well, representing the ideal and extremes of femininity — from maidenly perfection to temptation. The military tattoos of the special forces can comprise the guns, beret and other different things. Some people prefer to place the name of the military part. Internal troops usually depict the post or the symbols of connection with the military profession. Finally, a common theme for tattoos in ground-based units is two rifles or swords lying across each other, forming a low-profile X. Generally speaking, a tattoo representing the soldiers' unit symbol or Coat of Arms is considered a basic choice.
Within the space forces the legacy with both Earth and Barrayaran sea forces is deeply and proudly felt, and tattoos are among the favoured ways to display it, and these branches have during the decades made the tattoo a sort of privileged distinction. Therefore it should be no surprise knowing that swallow tattoo represents a popular choice. In addition to indicating that a spaceman had sailed for more than 5 years, swallows are also associated with the idea of return. This "return" symbolism is rooted in two ideas: the first was the swallow's famous migration pattern; second, it is traditionally believed that if a spaceman dies at large, birds carry his soul home, while the anchor is the perfect representation of stability. Sea predators are a special symbol of courage and will. A sea-bound ship is reserved for those
The dog tag is a steady symbol of the military. Tattoos of dog tags, called meat tags, can be designed around any other pattern and often it is blended with the folded flag, a memorial of someone that was lost in combat. Dog tag tattoos are simple and yet powerful reminders of what soldiers are willing to sacrifice, and that they are willing to make that sacrifice with pride. Skull tattoos are also popular among servicemen, especially during or after prolonged foreign deployments, as a death symbol; also Baba Yaga depictions have a very similar meaning. The snake represents potency and power. Snakes are typically shown coiled and ready to strike, representing a don't-tread-on-me sensibility, thus warding off evil, misfortune and unfavourable brawls.
Mess
A mess or messdeck an area where military personnel socialize and eat. On a military establishment there are usually three Messes:
- The Officers' Mess;
- The Warrant Officers' and Sergeants' Mess;
- The Troops Mess.
All Imperial Service personnel must belong to a mess, and are termed ordinary members of their particular mess; unmarried members usually live, eat, and socialise in them. Troops mess if established is normally used for socialising only. Members of their mess are also required to pay a subscription fee for supplies and upkeep. The amount is decided upon by the commanding officer within the limits stipulated by the Emperor's Regulations. Soldiers are welcome in any Mess for their rank, should they be away from their home unit, as long as they are paying dues in at least one mess. The Officers' Mess in a spaceship or space station is called the Wardroom. The Captain of a vessel is not normally a member of the Wardroom, which is always run by the Executive Officer, thereby known as the Mess President. This post is part of the job of being a ship's Executive Officer. All Imperial Service Bases and Imperial Service stations have three messes (officers', warrant officers' and sergeants', and junior ranks'), without separating different units. In this case, if a grounded spaceborne/naval establishment is included, the executive officer replaces his own naval commanding/ranking officer in the Mess Council, which groups ranking officers of the units located in the Base/Station itself. If the Base/Station includes only grounded spaceborne/naval establishments or units, yhen the Mess Council consists of Executive Officers of the relevant units (including the deputy commander of the Base/Station), while unit commanding officers (including the commander of the Base/Station) are not part of the Wardroom.
Organization
A Mess is run by the Mess Board, a group appointed by the local commanding officer (executive officers in case of space/naval establishments):
- President of the Mess Board (Officers' Mess) or Chairman of the Mess Board (Warrant Officers' and Sergeants' Mess);
- Vice President of the Mess Board, who is responsible for toasts during Mess Dinners. He is most junior person in the Mess;
- Treasurer;
- Secretary;
- Wines Member, who is responsible for keeping the bar stocked;
- House Member, who is responsible for furniture and infrastructure;
- Entertainments (Ents) Member, for any special events or parties in the mess;
The Commanding Officer of the unit has right of veto over the mess, and any changes or events must have his approval. The Commanding Officer is allowed into any Mess, but it is often considered an unbecoming conduct for a Commanding Officer to drink in a lower rank mess, except when invited on special occasions.
Rules of conduct
Troops Messes generally have no strict regulation of conduct, even though access is not limited to enlisted personnel, and Warrant Officers/Sergeants or even officers may also be present, ensuring a more regulated conduct.
The Warrant Officers' and Sergeants' Mess is the area where senior enlisted ranks and warrant officers can dine or spend their evenings. As opposed to the Troops Mess, the Warrant Officers' and Sergeants' Mess has a regulation, bylaws and a board. Access is usually restricted to senior enlisted ranks and warrant officers, while officers can gain entry, although it is uncommon.
The Officers' Mess also has a Regulation, bylaws and a board. Gentlemanly conduct is mandatory. For instance upon entering the main hall, officers are expected to stand at attention and perform a small bow. As with the Warrant Officers' and Sergeants' Mess, Officers' Messes have permanent personnel, as a general rule enlisted men. Some Officers' Messes have grand pianos, and hold recitals, as well as having music played during luncheons or dinners. Official events such as balls and unofficial events such as weddings, informational events and the like, are held here.
Headdress is not worn in Barrayaran messes, except:
- by personnel on duty, such as a duty or watch officer, or the service security;
- as permitted on special occasions, such as during costume parties, theme events, etc.;
- by personnel for whom wearing headgear is mandatory;
- by foreign personnel for whom wearing headgear is mandatory for cultural/religious reasons.
Personnel (with some exception) must ask for permission to enter in a Mess of different rank; that may be granted by the President of the Mess Board, his designate, or the senior member present. These restrictions are normally waived on certain special occasions, when the messes are "opened" to all personnel, regardless of rank. These occasions may include:
- Emperor's Birthday;
- Midsummer;
- Midwinter;
- Remembrance Day;
- Imperial Service Day.
The commanding officer of the establishment or unit that owns the mess is permitted access to all his messes; thus a ship's captain has access to his vessel's messes, the commanding officer of a ground unit/formation may enter any of his messes, and the base commander of a Imperial Service Base/Station is welcome in any of his base's messes. In practice, commanding officers rarely enter anything other than the officers' mess unless formally invited, as a point of etiquette. In addition, duty personnel or the Service Security have access to any and all messes for the purposes of maintaining good order and discipline.
Sabre Arch
A Sabre Arch is a wedding tradition in which sabres or swords are used to salute a newly married couple. The bride and groom pass under an honorary arch of sabres, typically when exiting the building in which the wedding ceremony took place. The tradition is often performed at the weddings of Imperial Service members. The tradition varies slightly among the different branches of the Service and is considered a privilege. Usually, an honour guard composed of officers or non commissioned officers, often from the same unit as the service member, form the arch with sabres or swords.
Officers and enlisted personnel in the bridal party wear dress uniforms. Black gloves are required for all sabre or sword bearers and military guests usually attend the wedding in uniform.
Immediately after the marriage ceremony is officiated, the sabre team positions itself in formation just outside the doorway, with typically six or eight sabre bearers taking part. The guests of the wedding are afforded the opportunity to assemble outside to view the event before it begins. On the command, the sabre team raises their sabres into a high arch, with tips touching and the blades facing up and away from the bride and groom. As the newly married couple exits the building, the senior usher announces, "Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my honour to present to you (Rank) and Mrs. (insert name)".
The bride and groom proceed into the arch, and as the couple passes through, the last two sabre bearers usually lower the sabres in front of the couple, detaining them momentarily. Before releasing the couple, the sabre bearer to the couple's left announces "Welcome to the Service Ma'am!" After the couple leaves the arch, the sabre team recovers on command and dissolves formation.
Only the bride and groom pass under the arch. It is also traditional at the wedding reception for the wedding cake to be cut with a sabre or sword.
Swords in courts-martial
The usage of swords in courts-martial is an established tradition within the Imperial Military Service. All court officials wear swords as well as all officers, whether they are a witness or are acting for the defence or prosecution. The accused is marched into court-martial by an armed escort; officers' escorts carry a drawn sword, while in other cases the escort carries a cutlass. Commissioned officers are obliged to put their swords lengthwise on the court table as a symbol of their rank and reputation being put on hold. When the verdict is decided, the judge moves the sword. At the conclusion of the hearing, the tip of the sword is turned towards them if they are found guilty; if they are found not guilty, they are presented their sword by the presiding officer.
Degradation ceremony
Degradation ceremony is the ritual dishonourable discharge of a soldier from some position of responsibility for a breach of discipline. The ceremony could involve public degradation, with the public destruction of symbols of status: rank insignia ripped off collar, badges and insignia stripped, swords broken, caps knocked away, and medals torn out and dashed upon the ground before being sent off to military prison.
In case of mass degradations, the commander has the entire unit form up, and then drums out one soldier from every company, complete with a lieutenant tearing off their rank insignias and badges, before being all sent off to the regular army with their uniform shredded.
Military funeral
A military funeral is a memorial or burial rite given by the military for a soldier who died in battle, a veteran, or other prominent military figures. A military funeral feature guards of honour, the firing of volley shots as a salute, drumming and other military elements, with a flag draping over the coffin.
The Military Personnel Command is responsible for providing military funerals.
Eligibility and nature of the honours
The Imperial Service renders honours in a military funeral for any eligible veteran if requested by his family. An honour guard detail for the burial of an eligible veteran shall consist of no less than two members of the Imperial Service: one member of the detail is a representative of the parent unit of the deceased veteran. The honour guard detail performs a ceremony that includes the folding and presenting of the Imperial flag to the next of kin and the playing of Funeral March which is played by a lone trumpet or bugle.
Law allows for military funeral honours for all veterans who were discharged under circumstances "other than dishonourable". Those who are eligible for military funerals and full honours are:
- Active duty in the Imperial Service;
- Former active duty who departed under conditions other than dishonourable in the Imperial Service;
- Former servicemen who were discharged due to a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.
Ceremony
Funeral ceremonies are based on three cumulative layers, varying according the rank and the position of the buried. However, the presenting of the flag is one of most touching moments and is included in all funerals. The flag of the Empire, draped over the casket, is meticulously folded fifteen times by a total of six honour guards, three on each side of the casket. An honour guard presents the flag to the next of kin. The presenter kneels while presenting the folded flag, with a point of the square-folded flag facing the recipient. The presenter then recites the following wording:
"On behalf of the Emperor, the Imperial Service, and a grateful nation, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one's honourable and faithful service."
Standard honour military funerals include a casket draped in the flag of the Empire of Barrayar and as a pall, and a casket team serving as honour guards in a ceremonial role over the remains and as pallbearers, a rifle party and the playing of Funeral March. For funerals for an Officer, the casket is transported via a horse-drawn limbers and caissons. For all other funerals, the casket is transported using a hearse; the formation of a rifle party consisting of an odd number of soldiers, between 3 to 7, fires a three-volley salute (size varies according to the rank of the deceased) and the playing of Funeral March is performed by a lone bugler or or trumpeter, at a distance of 40 yards from the grave site.
Full honour military funerals include all standard honours in addition to the following:
- For funerals of commanding officers of Colonel/Captain(Naval) rank and above, a riderless horse, symbolizing a fallen leader, follows the limbers and caissons. If the officer was a Vor, a standard carrying his proper House colours is added alongside the Barrayaran flag. Usually the salute of a significant War Flag is also granted.
- For funerals of fourth level general/flag officers, a 17 gun salute is fired; for third-level general/flag officers, a 15 gun salute is fired; for second-level general flag/officers, a 13 gun salute is fired; for Brigadier General/Commodore, a 11 gun salute is fired. Usually the salute of a significant War Flag is also granted.
National military funerals are reserved for the Emperor, the Prime Minister, the Minister of War, the Chief of General Staff and officers granted multiple-command posts. This class includes all standard and full honours in addition to participation of Escort Companies. For Imperial Funerals, a 51 gun salute using artillery and battery pieces is fired, while all other high state officials receive 19 gun salutes.
Retired soldiers
The highly considered position reserved to soldiers involves also those who formerly served in the Imperial Service. The ethos that "Once a Soldier, Always a Soldier" has led to several consequences, including the right to wear the military uniform, as well as a number of forms of address for those no longer on active duty:
- "Veteran Soldier" or simply "Veteran" can refer to anyone who has been discharged honourably from the Service;
- "Retired Soldier" refers to those who have completed at least 20 years of service and formally retired, or have been medically retired after less than 20 years service;
- "Sir" is appropriate out of respect.
Referring to a retired soldier by his last earned rank is deemed an appropriate and polite way.
- For soldiers who have left service with a less than full honourable discharge, might still be considered in active duty, although that title is also in keeping with a stigma; and many avoid the issue altogether by addressing the individual by name with no other title.
Veterans who have been wounded while on service usually do not use rank insignia when they are retired although they are fully entitled to wear them, insisting on the Wounded Brotherhood.
The rite of discharge of military and civilian high offices involves greetings to His Majesty. Generals in full uniform are presented to the Emperor and end the greeting address with gratitude for the trust granted and the hope to be able to continue to serve His Majesty. The Emperor then asks what the general would do, and he responds by expressing the desire for an assignment previously agreed upon.
Posthumous promotion
A Posthumous promotion is an advancement in rank or position in the case of a person who is dead. The granting of posthumous promotion and promotions in rank are quite common for soldiers who are killed in combat if certain criteria are met. This include:
- Military personnel that would have been promoted in rank in the month following their death or disappearance;
- Personnel that had been recommended for promotion in rank by the proper authorities before their death or disappearance;
- As a recognition for meritorious service by the relevant Command head, on his recommendation, or with his approval;
- In those cases where the promotion was delayed for reasons not in the responsibility of the person to be promoted.
Personnel that committed suicide are not be considered for posthumous promotion, except in special cases with approval of the relevant Command head concerned. In general, the posthumous promotion is active as of the first of the month of the death or disappearance, except in cases where the promotion would have been effective from an earlier date.