Themiclesian Marine Corps (actual thing)

The Themiclesian Marine Corps is the naval infantry branch of the Themiclesian Navy. Their duties include ship boarding and landing, reconnaissance, and certain kinds of operations purely on land, while they also participate in many humanitarian operations. Their strength is 12,520 active and reserved altogether.

Mission

1. Land operations in support of naval operations and peripheral duties.
2. Security duties at naval installations.

Structure

Regiments

The Marines consist of 29 statutory regiments stood up with Parliamentary approval, each one being dedicated to one or more specializations, such as air and land conveyance, medicine, police, administration, infantry, cooking, baking, etc. Units in them are withdrawn to form operational battalions capable of discharging a mission of a certain scope and persist in the field for a set duration. During training, regiments of the same specialization tend to co-operate with each other, and the same is also true of regimental balls and meals. Veteran support groups are also organized on a regimental basis.

Operational units

• 409th Mechanized Battalion (Air Transit)
• 502nd Mechanized Battalion
• 507th Mountaineers Battalion
• Arctic Company of Trur
• Special Reconnaissance Company
• Flight Photography Squadron
• Headquarters Support Group

Reservists

About one-quarter of the Marines is in reserve. Reservists have two training sessions a year and two weeks per session.

History

Naval impressment

The royal government of Themiclesia became heavily involved in Meridia after the 8th century, seeking to defend its exclusive interest in profitable Maracaibean trade, whence undervalued gold flowed into Themiclesian coffers. To fend off challengers to its exclusive position, a navy became a standing force that, by 820, merited its independence from the royal household's administration. The early navy was challenged by the fact that Themiclesia was thousands of nautical miles from contested waters, which were virtually at its opponents' doorstep.  Thus opponents' naval strategems were far more flexible and easily supported with troops and supplies. To remedy this shortcoming, Themiclesia solicited allies starting from the 1000s to make available local men (if not ships) to join its fleet in battle, so that such soldiers needed not be transported from Themiclesia and consume victuals en route. Such men were called "passengers" since they did not participate in the ship's navigation.

This system of sporadic impressment would continue in some form until the 17th century, though the subjects of impressment gradually shifted from allies solicited by treaty to Themiclesian colonies. It should be noted that not all men pressed were soldiers: anyone in a position not required for the ship to move could be enlisted this way, including surgeons, priests, translators, etc. In 1278, however, Themiclesia encountered a serious mutiny from the men pledged by its allies to support its fleet; the grievances were poor salaries, prolonged service terms, and abuse by Themiclesians. By 1290, Themiclesia had improved terms for such pressed men, since previously compensation for their service was due to allied states, not to the pressed men themselves; at the same time, records of persons and their time served and salaries paid also began to appear.

In 1318, the job of assessing and disbursing this kind of payment was transferred by an edict promulgated by the Chancellor the Baron of Qik-lang, from the Admiralty Department to the Exchequer Department for an unknown reason, but by this time the pressed individuals were no longer purely foreigners. The modern marine corps take this reform as its founding, but not to the universal approval of historical researchers.

Split from Exchequer Department

When the Progressive Party took the reins of government in 1975, a "ruthless war on waste" was declared, for whose prosecution the mandatory consular stamping to give effect to minor ordinances was earmarked for abolition. It was a longstanding law that powers reserved to the Crown, whenever lawfully devolved, was always devolved to a Viceroy in the provinces or to one of the Counsels in the demesne land governed by the Exchequer Department. These were individuals whose appointees carried sufficient gravitas and incidental oversight to permit them the safe exercise of Crown powers.

Because all Marines regiments were under the Exchequer Department, all ordinances issued by Marines officers would need to be stamped by the Exchequer Department to enter effect, and numerous instruments (like enlistment papers) would be filed at the Exchequer Department. Any subsequent alterations to such instruments would also need to be filed to the same place, which would occur for example if one was promoted or became married. While it is not unreasonable for the Exchequer Department to function as a repository of records, the rules of bureaucratic hierarchy require the Captain-general of Marines to sign all petitions to copy the Exchequer Department's files; the Marines maintain unofficial records used from day to day and for drawing up its own policies, as provided by the Marine Corps Act of 1948.

The Progressive government undertook to sever the force from the Exchequer once and for all in 1975 and discussed striking out remaining legal ties between them and the Marines. The Exchequer Department, to the government's surprise, produced a plan dating from the Conservative government of 1947 – 51 but was never implemented due to the collapse of that administration. The Defence Secretary was thoroughly surprised that such a plan had already been developed and ordered it be updated and presented to Parliament. With unremarkable votes, the measure passed both houses and received Royal Assent on March 1, 1977.

On March 5, the Captain-general return his brass stamp and black ribbon to the Chancellor of the Exchequer; the next day, he went to the Sublime Gate to collect a silver stamp and blue ribbon from the Attorney-general, and at the same time the honorific of Counsel-general of the Palace (上大夫卿) was conferred to give consular authority.

Culture

Uniforms

As in the case of the Consolidated Army, all regiments of the Marines may also specify their own uniform regulations. As of 1976, all dress uniforms have been withdrawn, and regimental events may be attended with either civilian clothing or military undress. The following orders are recognized by ordinance:

• Undress #3, consisting of a blazer and waistcoat in navy blue (that is, black) and grey trousers with or without patterns, according to the regiment's regulation; peaked cap; worn for walking out and official engagement.
  • Undress in Winter #10, with a sack Chesterfield with water-repellent facing in plain navy blue.
• Field Uniform #6, consisting of a camouflaged jacket and trousers worn at ordinary work and garrisons.

Officers lieutenant-colonel rank and above retain the Frock Coat for daytime dress occasions and the Dress Coat for those in the evening; these are equivalent to the civilian Morning Dress and White Tie. Their uses are restricted functions involving heads of state and government, as well as ministers of Cabinet rank, such as State Openings and Prorogations of Parliament and weekly meetings to report their progress to the responsible minister. For officers who are also members of the Emperor's court, on a bench, or serving in an ex officio civil capacity, the Frock Coat is worn under Vestments.

• Frock Coat #1, consisting of a black frock coat, double-breasted and faced buttons, waistcoat, and fancy trousers; court slippers at the royal court, dress boots elsewhere; bicorne.
  • Top Frock Coat and Frock Overcoat #2 for winters.
• Dress Coat (never numbered), the same as White Tie for civilians, except with a black waistcoat.

Music

Themiclesian Marines compose of the Halconian Ensemble, a 18-member group specialized in 15th-century polyphonic music introduced to the Meh region. Due to the musical notation of the era, performances are intertwined with interpretations and extemporization. The director is expected to be able to create free counterpoint of four voices on the spot and direct members of the ensemble to realize the composition. This group is most often employed to play national anthems at state occasions.

Drill teams

The Themiclesian Marines possessed a rifle drill team from 1948 – 1975, when it was disbanded under an austerity directive under Sak's Progressive administration. After that time, when a drill team is required, one is assembled ad hoc from available servicepeople and reservists who signify their willingness for temporary activation. They are usually not very good because a short drilling period, often as little as two hours, will intervene between the group's meeting until a public appearance. In their 2012 appearance to welcome a head of state, one member dropped their rifle six times, and the commander repeatedly confused "right" and "left", causing some consternation at the Foreign Office.

After this episode, a volunteer drill team was formed in 2013. That was then dissolved in 2015 because none of its members could find a consistent time to practice drills.

See also

• Themiclesia