Home Guard of TECT
| The Home Guard of TECT | |
|---|---|
 Flag of the Home Guard. | |
| Active | 1970-Present. |
| Country | TECT |
| Allegiance |  The Empire of Common Territories |
| Type | Land force. |
| Size | 15,000,000 Minimum. |
| Part of | TECT Armed Forces |
| Nickname(s) | Home Guard, Imperial Guard. |
| Patron | Sgt. Miller |
| Motto(s) | "One Stand, No Retreat." |
| Colors | White and Green. |
| Mascot(s) | Brown Bear. |
| Anniversaries | June 16th (Foundation Day). |
| Commanders | |
| General-Secretary | GEN. Filibert Armbruster. |
| Chief of Staff | GEN. Ulrich Luft |
| Sergeant Major | BG. Dirk Koertig |
The Home Guard of TECT or Imperial Guard (HG), is a conscription-based home defense and reservist military branch under the TECT Armed Forces. Aside from senior staff and leadership, the Home Guard is entirely comprised of unaligned volunteers and Home Guardsmen from incorporated states within the Empire. Home Guardsmen in a reservist role are professional military reservists, often former active duty personnel who've chosen to sign onto the branch as a reservist after their duty/training; the bulk of the service branch, however, is comprised of members of the Empire's incorporated member-state's Home Guard units. Outside of the Colonial Stem Duchies, each state of the Empire (Imperial States, Kingdoms, and commonwealths) is required to contribute members of its defense/military forces into the Home Guard reservist pool; although not required by law, non-required parties such as the Colonial Stem Duchies are allowed (or encouraged at times) to volunteer men towards the reservist pool. Each state of the Empire is required by law to posses language in their Constitution stipulating the creation and maintaining of a Home Guard, all so that they may be able to contribute to their defense as well as ready themselves for emergancies.
On August 21, 1996 the Congress of TECT passed a law forming the Home Guard's current formation. Home Guard Regulations Action, signed by the Emperor for approval, established the levels and number of reservists within the branch, requires a stable and well regulated budget to allow for basic training activity, and to clarify the controls in place between state and national commands. HGRA is famous for setting a national level of ten million Guardsmen total in the reserves with typical rotations to allow batches "refresher" training and annual training exercises; an Amendment passed in 2020 increased the reservist pool to fifteen million men, requiring two rounds of conscription drafts to fulfill the required quota. In order to maintain the minimum quota, the original 1970 Home Guard Act contained provisions on how the Armed Forces and Government could recruit Guardsmen. Volunteers would be picked first, including individuals or even militiamen, all of whom would be required to sign-up for their state's service pool; second would be conscription drafts based on state service pools, then if that failed to fill to capacity, the states would be required to begin drafting ex-servicemen, then lastly adults between 18-30 based on whatever criteria they find adequite.
The Home Guard's primary role is state defense from natural forces, threats both foreign and domestic, and to enforce state law and security; state executives have used such armed forces in the past to assist in disasters and increase manpower for security situations - colony and territory governments use Guards as their primary security forces, often as self-defense forces. The primary command structure is made up similar to the Imperial Army's structures; leaders are commanding officers with the State's/Territory's executive acting as the Commander-In-Chief (culturally speaking, the Emperor still remains the Commander-In-Chief of all military forces - this case is no different and the structure, through the national command structure, still has the Emperor as the executive.). Ranks, structure of units, and organization is identical to the Imperial Army. In terms of equipment, Home Guard units operate most ground equipment the Imperial Army does - the difference being that the equipment is often older handy downs and with less strategic means. For example, Home Guard units operate older Feurig 1A1s and Feurig 2A1s along with modern troop carriers and artillery. The Air Branch of Home Guard forces operate standard Imperial Army helicopters but not fighter or strategic aircraft. Home Guard forces often do not operate naval or maritime equipment; some, however, operate river boats and other patrol oriented craft. Primary naval defense is handled by the Imperial Navy's Coast Guard Branch.
Guardsmen serve a standard two years deployment which is for all soldiers. Recruits have a choice of part time service (often working a week or weekend at a time) or full time (deployed like other military forces in bases or actual combat deployments). These soldiers are reservists (except full time deployed) and will receive requests to deploy to war if necessary; conscripted soldiers being forced to go to war has never happened or is so rare that it has never happened. This makes recruitment cycles annually ever two years rather then having recruiting in branches. Recruits then travel to Imperial Army recruitment centers/bases for basic and job training.
Conscription Debate
The debate whether to conscript or not is heavily based off the number allowed and demanded for manpower. Ten million was the estimated cap during the time primarily because of the Mainland States. According to the HGRA law still, "Territories, foreign to the Mainland, are outside the established number requirement standard." This portion protects territories and colonies from penalties in having larger then average Home Guard troops; the idea being they are less protected since they're farther away from home, requiring as much manpower as possible. These entities do however have to abide by budgeting and conscription regulations, preventing the past abuses seen by the pre-HGRA Home Guard scandals. The debate continues, however, with Colonial States. One side supports the same policy as territories must follow because such "States are isolated to the same extent as colonies and territories - they lack immediate help if under attack or under a disastrous situation." Opponents of this often make the claim that the fact such territories achieve statehood means they should follow the same standards as the States. "Part of achieving statehood is following the standards set by them and the central government. This must include HGRA limits. The fact they were able to achieve such a status as a state means they are established enough to mean they are well protected and organized as a territory." Appeals in national court system are reaching both State and the Empire's Supreme Courts. A 2012 ruling, upheld by the Emperor, exempts Colonial States from the Mainland's standards. Citing the original 1st District Judge's ruling, "A Colonial State, like any, must follow the standards given to it by other States, the central government, and the Emperor. However. Security in terms of national defense and other risks leaves such territories open for damages if not prepared strongly enough. Any territory, state or not, outside our mainland is at risk everyday of attack or looming threat - thus, Colonial States should be allowed to prepare rationally as any other foreign bound territory to the Empire."