Nelagan Marine Corps Guide to the Uninitiated
Written by Fillion Blackwood
Authorized by Commandant Cerune Russell
Introduction
Welcome to the Nelagan Marine Corps recruit, this guide (hereafter known only as the NMCGU) will help you understand the various ins and outs of marine culture, tactics, and history, as well as help you achieve a working knowledge of rank and structure. For the next twelve weeks, you will be trained at The Marine Corps Recruit Depot Aquata Island. Here you will learn the fundamentals of taking orders quickly and without question, armed and un-armed combat, as well as physical conditioning in preparation for field work.
History
The Nelagan Marine Corps was started by then-Count Greg Russell of Shireroth and his sister, Lady Cerune, as their response to a letter for help by the Golden Eagle Society. In the thick of a rebellion against their own duchy, Lady Cerune insisted that she lead the new corps in the Nelagan war herself. While initially hesitant, Count Greg eventually agreed knowing that if the rebellion didn't go well, his sister would be out of reach from their enemies.
After landing at Nova Kajar, they set up their main camp (Camp Russell) on the eastern outskirts of town, and split their combat division into four regiments to guard the four main towns of Bryden, Nova Kajar, Sai'Por, and Thassala Bone. Though they dug in and prepared for a big fight, but nothing came as the war ended before any ground force could launch an invasion.
Initially the corps recruit depot was going to be located at Thassala Bone, and their main camp on the outskirts of Nova Kajar, but after being given permission to take over Aquata island, it was decided that the entire operation would be moved and a permanent base erected on the northern half of the island.
-NOTE: No marine is to step foot on the Provost B Memorial Nature Preserve in the southern half, on penalty of presidential displeasure.
Culture
The Nelagan Marine Corps are dedicated to the three core values of the Warrior Code as set down by the gods Sephiroth and Tempus in the Cedrist pantheon. They maintain a strong 'warrior ethos'. Every marine is trained extensively on the rifle.
1. Never back down from a fight.
Cowardace is a sure-fire way to be drummed out of the corps, after some 'motivational beatings' of course. In the eyes of every marine, cowardice is the second worse sin you can commit.
2. Give no quarter, and expect none in return.
This is the most controversial of the principles, and is often subject to numerous interpretations. Some interpret it quite literally, and often toe the line between war and war-crime. Others interpret it to only include warriors, and still more interpret it to be less literal and more motivational than anything.
3. Loyalty to your brothers and sisters above all.
Disloyalty to your unit is the ultimate sin a marine can commit. It seems ironic that they would still believe this after they deserted the Shirerithian military, but in actuality they believe they didn't break this principle at all because they were under the direct command of the count, who authorized their break.
Judicial Procedure
Any marine accused of betrayal or significant cowardice is brought before their regimental colonel, who together with the marine's battalion commander and company commander form a tribunal who are authorized to punish the marine in a fitting manner if found guilty (up to and including confinement to the brig, or execution for betrayal). Enlisted personnel and junior non-commisioned officers are not allowed to officially accuse any other marine of betrayel or cowardice. Senior non-commisioned officers are allowed to accuse enlisted personnel and junior noncoms, but not warrant officers or commisioned officers. Senior noncoms may only accuse other senior noncoms above their rank if a second senior noncom officer seconds the accusation. Warrant officers are allowed to accuse enlisted personnel and all noncoms, but not officers. They may accuse a fellow warrant officer of higher rank only if a second WO seconds the accusation. Commisioned officers may accuse any rank below them, and may accuse any rank above them with a second from any general. Generals are the exception. They may not be called into question except by the commandant zirself. In any case where a colonel is accused, he stands trial before his major general, his lt. general, and the Commandant zirself.
MARINE HYMN
The Marine's Hymn was written over a thousand years ago by a miriothan noble who's name is lost to time. Since the hymn makes no mention of Shireroth, it was kept as the official hymn of the NMC.
From one end to the other,
We will fight for home and brother.
We will not back down
We will not surrender
We will never retreat to safer cover.
We will fight the coming storm,
Though flesh and bone and cloth be torn.
In the dark of night
In the heat of the day
In bloody baptism we shall now be born.
MOTTOS AND BATTLE CRIES
The NMC motto is- "From the darkness-light", and has been the motto of the Shirerithian marine corps since its formation some 1000 years ago. It was such a good motto, we kept it as well.
An unnofficial motto the corps adopted some time ago is, "All are one". A nod to the unity that is expected between marines.
"Oorah" is the battle cry and is used as an affirmative, a display of enthusiasm, and a greeting.
COAT OF ARMS
The coat of arms used by the NMC is a derivation of the original coat of arms used by the Shirerithian Marine
Corps. The red, inverted star and the two horizontal green bars represent the defiant blood of a Nelagan marine who is willing to defend his country to the death. the three black stars represent the three principles of the corps, and the white background represents the innocent civilians which must always be protected.
COLORS OF THE CORPS
The colors of the corps are red, green, and black.
NICKNAME
The nickname of the NMC is "the Mighty Red Star", and also doubles as the nickname for the first (and only) combat division of the corps.
MASCOT
The Eagle is the official mascot, but much to the chagrin of our esteemed commandant, the marines unanimously voted that the unofficial mascot of the NMC would be the "Foaming Cerune", a cute chibi-ized version of our commandant, with crazed foam coming out of her mouth. Needless to say, it is not brought up when Commandant Russell is around.
SWORD
The sword marine corps officers wear on formal occasions is called 'the Marine Corps Cutless' and has been used since the formation of their parent organization in Shireroth.
The Kukri blade is the exception to this rule, which is given to all special operations personnel to wear on formal (and non-formal) occasions regardless of rank.
BIRTHDAY
The birthday of the Nelagan Marine Corps is celebrated every year with a day off from duties (except for those duties which affect security), and a formal cake-cutting ceremony. The first slice is passed to the oldest marine present, and is then passed to the youngest marine present, thus symbolizing the passing of knowledge to a new generation.
DRILL AND CEREMONIES
Close order drill is used in recruit training, as well as the Marine Corps Birthday Ball, a change of command, or a retirement.
Mess night is also done several nights a year, and is used as an opportunity to enjoy high-quality food, as well as remember and honor the dead.
PHYSICAL FITNESS AND MARTIAL ARTS
All marines are reqired to spend at least 3 hours a week exercising. Additional hours of exercise also make marines look favorable for promotions.
The Nelagan Marine Corps martial Arts program (NMCMAP) is used to train marines in the rigors of hand-to-hand combat, to increase their combat prowess as well as give them a less-than-lethal option in urban combat or policing duties.
Pay grades and ranking structure
How much you will be payed, will be concurrent with your rank.
Enlisted personel
recruit- no insignia- this is the standard rank all civilians recieve when they enter the recruit depot.
private (Pvt)- E-1- no insignia- after graduation from boot camp, all recruits are given the rank of private.
private first class (PFC)- E-2- One chevron- An automatic promotion is given after twelve months as a private to this rank, though a recruit might start out with this rank if he proves himself exceptional.
lance corporal (LCpl)- E-3- One chevron above an eagle- Lance corporals are promoted for their intelligence and leadership skills, and sometimes lead a fire-team. Advancement comes after seventeen months as a private first class.
Non-commissioned officers (NCO)
corporal (Cpl)- E-4- Two chevrons above an eagle- Corporals are promoted for their intelligence and leadership skills among the lance corporals, and sometimes lead a squad.
sergeant (Sgt)- E-5- Three chevrons above an eagle- sergeants are promoted for their intelligence and leadership skills among the corporals, and lead squads as well as corporals. They recieve higher pay for their higher experience.
Staff non-commissioned officers (SNCO)
staff sergeant (SSgt)- E-6- Three chevrons above an eagle and a rocker below- Staff sergeants serve as the platoon sergeant for a platoon, and their job is to coordinate logistics for the platoon.
gunnery sergeant (GySgt)- E-7- Three chevrons above an eagle and two rockers below- Gunnery sergeants serve to coordinate logistics for a company-sized group of marines.
master sergeant (MSgt)- E-8- Three chevrons above an eagle and three rockers below- Master sergeants do not have a general comand leadership responsibility as the previous sergeant rankings have, but provide specific technical leadership in their field.
first sergeant (1stSgt)- E-8- Three chevrons above a diamond and three rockers below- first sergeants have a general command leadership responsibility for a battalion, and are the principle assistants for a lt. colonel.
master gunnery sergeant (MGySgt)- E-9- Three chevrons above an exploding bomb and four rockers below- A promotion for the master sergeant ranking, it reflects increased experience and dedication.
sergeant major (SgtMaj)-E-9- Three chevrons above a star and four rockers below- A promotion for the first sergeant, they are the principle NCO for an entire regiment, and serve under a colonel.
Special
sergeant major of the marine corps (SgtMajMarCor)-E-9- Three chevrons above a shield and four rockers below- the Sergeant major of the Marine Corps is a single-person billet, and is the senior enlisted marine of the corps, and acts as an advisor to the Commandant on all matters concerning the enlisted marines.
Warrant Officers
All warrant officers are promoted and trained as needed, when a job opens up that needs the authority of an officer, but doesn't rate fully training the marine.
Marine gunner- varies- Exploding bomb-
Warrant Officer (WO)- W1- Two blue squares on top and below a yellow square
chief warrant officer-2 (CWO2)- W2- Four squares of alternating blue and yellow colors
chief warrant officer-3 (CWO3)- W3- Two yellow squares on top and below a white square
chief warrant officer-4 (CWO4)- W4- Four squares of alternating yellow and white colors
chief warrant officer-5 (CWO5)- W5- One long, yellow rectangle with a blue rectangle inside
Officers
Company Grade Officers
Second Lieutenant (2ndLt)- O-1- Green bar- Second Lieutenants typically lead a platoon.
first lieutenant (1stLt)- O-2- Red bar- Typically promoted after 24 months of service as a second Lieutenant, and either stay as experienced platoon leaders, or sometimes move on to a company.
captain (capt)- O-3- Twin red bars- Captains typically lead a company, or operate as a staff officer at the battalion level.
Field Grade Officers
Major (Maj)- O-4- Green Oak leaf- Majors generally serve as the executive officers (second-in-command) of a battalion, or as staff officer for a regiment.
lieutenant Colonel (LtCol)- O-5- Red Oak leaf- Lieutenant colonels generally command a battalion.
Colonel (Col)- O-6- Red Eagle- Colonels typically command a regiment.
General Officers
brigadier general (BGen)- O-7- an inverted red star- Brigadier generals typically serve as a deputy general to a major general.
major general (MajGen)- O-8- Two inverted red stars- Major generals command an entire division.
Lieutenant general (LtGen)- O-9- Three inverted red stars- Lieutenant generals command an entire expeditionary force.
Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC)- O-10- Four inverted red stars- The Commandant is the leader of the marine corps.
Command Structure
The Nelagan Marine Corps is headed by the Commandant of the Marine Corps (currently, Cerune Russell), who is answerable to the Commander in Chief, and the president. The Commandant's subdivision is called, "Headquarters Marine Corps", and is responsible for advising the commandant on all matters, as well as commanding various elements within the corps. Below this top level, are three subdivisions that answer to the HQMC.
Operating Command
This is the branch that commands and operates the 'Marine Expeditionary Forces', who are the ones who actually go out and do the fighting. It also commands the special operations forces, which are currently classified.
The Nelagan Marine Corps fighting force is coordinated into a structure called the, "Marine Expitionary Force". This force is commanded by a lt. general, and is capable of amphibious landings. In fact, this is the primary job for the marine corps. We are able to deploy our forces anywhere in the world within days, and have a thirty day supply that allows us to operate without support from home for that long. This allows us to form the initial beachhead (to clear the way for the army), and also allows us to keep the beachhead and surrounding areas manned until the army arrives. After the front line has been established by the army, it is the marine corps job to occupy the sea ports and surrounding areas under Nelagan control, to safeguard the ways in and out by sea.
Currently, there is only one Marine Expeditionary Force (IMEF, pronounced eye-mef), and is broken down further into three branches, each commanded by a major general. The IMEF command element contains some personnel that report directly, and is broken down as follows:
-IMEF Command Staff (10 personnel)
-1st Intelligence Battalion (400)
-1st Communication Battalion (400)
-1st Radio Battalion (400)
-1st Air naval Gunfire liaison Company (100)
The 1st Marine Division is the 'ground combat element' of the IMEF, and it numbers more than eleven thousand currently. It is broken down as follows:
-Headquarters Battalion (guards), (200)
-1st Marine Regiment (infantry), (2000)
-2nd Marine Regiment (infantry), (2000)
-3rd Marine Regiment (infantry), (2000)
-4th Marine Regiment (Artillery), (2000)
-1st Combat Engineer Battalion (explosives experts), (400)
-1st Light Armored Recon Battalion (), (400)
-1st Recon Battalion (400)
-1st Tank Battalion (400)
-1st Assault Amphibian Battalion (400)
The 1st Marine Aviation Wing is the 'aviation combat element' of the IMEF, and is also the smallest element at about one thousand marines. It is broken down as follows:
-Headquarters Squadron (30)
-1st Marine Aircraft Group (attack harriers), (108)
-2nd Marine Aircraft Group (cargo), (340)
-3rd Marine Aircraft Group (troop transport and attack helicopter), (340)
-1st Marine Air Control Group (90)
-1st Marine Wing Support Group (90)
The 1st Marine Logistics Group is the 'logistics combat element' of the IMEF, and numbers around seven thousand. It is broken down as follows:
-Headquarters and service battalion (400)
-1st Combat Logistics Regiment (2000)
-2nd Combat Logistics Regiment (2000)
-3rd Combat Logistics Regiment (2000)
-1st Engineer Support Battalion (400)
-1st Dental Battalion (400)
Logistics Command
This is the branch that commands and operates everything that doesn't fight. This includes the Marine Base Construction Regiment, the Research and Defense Regiment, Logistics Command, and the Recruit Depot Command.
Marine Forces Reserve
This is the branch that commands and coordinates the reserve forces. In times of peace, they are the ones who track and operate the reserve forces. In times of war, they are the ones responsible for coordinating and activating the reserves. Currently the reserves number twenty-thousand, and when activated would form a second Marine Expeditionary Unit.
Notable marines
Commandant: Cerune Russell
Bio: Noblewoman from the County of Mirioth, Amity, and So-Sara in Shireroth; was sent to Nelaga to escape her sketchy past.
Assistant commandant: John Murray
Bio: John was cerune's personal assistant in Shireroth, and was chosen as her assistant for his dedication and seriousness, as well as his Eidetic memory.
IMEF Lt. General: Gamemalvin Usa
Bio: Gamme (as his friends call him) has a shadowy past, most of it relating to his time working in the black ops organization SHINE in Shireroth. Loyal and dedicated, he is well liked by his troops.
1st Marine Division Major General: Jason Allese
Bio: Jason Allese is an old war veteran that has served with the Shirerithian Marine Corps for twenty years. He's known for his macabre sense of humor.
1st Marine Aircraft Wing Major General: John Rogers
Bio: John Rogers is a man of few words, and was rumored to be a freelance mercenary in a previous life. He joined the corps to escape his own past, and now takes to the skies in leadership of the marine airwing.
1st Marine Logistics Group Major General: Guy Mclure
Bio: Guy is a fiery redhead with a temper that has gotten him demoted several times. He is extremely loyal to his friends, and deadly to his enemies. His ability to keep the logistics flowing under any circumstance has earned him a solid reputation despite his temper.
Special Operations Command Major General: Natasha Rose
Bio: Natasha followed her sister's lead in going into special operations. They both operated with SHINE until mysterious circumstances saw her sister's disappearance. Soon after she joined the marine corps.
Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps: Amos Laugherty
Bio: Amos has been with the corps for twenty years, but decided the officers path was not what he wanted. He is the senior enlisted marine in the corps currently, and happily serves as the 'alpha-male' among the enlisted now.
Weapons
Here's where we list the various nasties that you get to kill people with.
Boomist Assault Rifle- These are the hold-overs the veterans who came from Shireroth still use. It uses a 45mm box magazine with 30 rounds in it, and is currently being phased out in favor of the:
Jasonian Assault Rifle- The JAR, while similar in name and function, is physically very different. It also uses a .45mm box magazine with 30 rounds, but was modeled after Jasonia's old assault weapon design.
N45 Pistol- the N45 is the Nelagan designation for a standard 45mm pistol, which packs as much of a punch as the assault rifles, but with far less of a rate-of-fire. It has an internally-fed box magazine with eight rounds. Used by officers and enlisted personnel in the special operations command as a back-up weapon, it is usually never far from their grip.
N9 Pistol- The Nelagan 9mm sidearm, this is the normal operations counterpart to the N45.
N12 Shotgun- When close-quarters combat is unnavoidable, this 12 gauge shotgun has 9 rounds to make your point with.
Mp5 Submachine Gun- Issued to black ops personnel only, this is a medium-range weapon that fires 9mm bullets with 30 rounds per magazine.
N50 Sniper Rifle-A 50 caliber sniper weapon that can kill you at two-thousand meters. No gophers popping up in MY yard.
Nelagan Heavy Machine Gun- The NEHMAG is a 50 caliber, belt-fed monster that doesn't play around. When he speaks, you listen, and you DON'T talk back.
Nelagan Light Machine Gun- The lighter counterpart to the NEHMAG, the NELMAG uses 45mm bullets just like the assault rifles, just at a much higher rate. It can be belt-fed or magazine fed, whichever is available at the time.
M60 Mortar- A mortar tube which requires three marines to fire, it uses 60mm nasties, and will kill you from a distance of two miles away.
A155 Medium Howitzer- 155mm, fifteen mile range, no fun at all- for the enemy.
Anti-tank Missle Launcher- the AT missle launcher is 83mm of nasty, and is designed to punch through most armored vehicles.
Anti-Air Missle Launcher- the AA missle launcher (sometimes refered to as 'the twelve-step') is 70mm, and has a range of about forty-eight hundred meters.
Nelagan grenade launcher- the Negla attaches to the bottom of the fire-team leaders JAR, and fires any type of grenade needed. Grenade types include the smoke grenade, the flash-bang grenade, the incendiary grenade, and the ever-popular fragmentation grenade.
Marine Corps Cutless- Carried by marine corps officers at formal ceremonies, they are thirty-six inches in length, and despite the ceremonial use, are still sharpened for actual use.
Nelagan Marine Corps Bayonet- This usefull tool can double as a bayonet or a knife.
Nelagan Marine corps Knife- Issued only to officers or enlisted personnel who wont be carrying a JAR, this knife was modeled after the Boomist Knife used by their predecessors in Shireroth.
Kukri Knife- This exotic, twenty-three inch knife is carried during formal ceremonies and regular use by the special operations officers and enlisted personnel. The special operations officers are the only officers in the corps who do not carry a cutless with them for formal use, and the special operations enlisted personnel are the only enlisted personnel allowed to carry a ceremonial weapon at all.
Non-lethal weapons- There are a few weapons we carry which are not technically supposed to kill you, and they are as follows:
used by the military police only
-collapsible baton
-riot shields
-pepper spray
-tear gas
Vehicles
We've covered how your going to kill the enemy, but you won't have to walk to the enemy to kill them; no, we provide our marines with complimentary shuttle service... with a smile!
Light Utility Vehicle- The LUV is a light cargo and personnel transport with an excellent, proven track record around the world, this vehicle comes in several variants and colors. It comes with bullet-proof armor and four-wheel drive suspension, and depending on the variant, some kind of weapon.
popular variants:
-Humvee with machine gun turret
-Ambulance Humvee variant
-Communications Command Humvee
Medium Utility Vehicle- Or MUV for short, is the primary mover for the howitzer cannons we use, and is also used to transport cargo and personnel in greater numbers than the LUV could handle. This six-wheel, all-terrain vehicle has a truckbed with a modular design that is able to be replaced with different variants depending on the nature of the mission.
Heavy Utility Vehicle- Or HUV for short, is an eight wheel, all-terrain vehicle that is called for when you need something big transported. Working with or without a trailer, this truck is also the vehicle tasked with recovering broken-down anything else.
Scout Infantry Vehicle- The SIV is an eight-wheeled, all-terrain armored personnel carrier that is used by the 1st Light Armored Recon Battalion. Once a beachead has been established, and the corps needs to push inward, the 1st LARB is sent into the field to scout with these. Its primary weapon is a 25mm chain gun, and its secondary weapons are two Nelagan Light Machine Guns and four grenade launching tubes. It has a crew of three, and can carry up to four passengers. Top speed max's out at sixty-two MPH.
Expeditionary Combat Vehicle- The ECV is the marine corps fighting backbone. Capable of being launched from sea, it can travel on the sea at twenty-eight MPH, and carries a crew of three plus up to seventeen passengers. Its primary weapon is a 40mm cannon, and its secondary is the Nelagan Light Machine Gun. Once on land, it can reach speeds of forty-five MPH.
N1 Battle Tank- Designed after the old battle tanks of Jasonia, the N1 has a 120mm cannon, one Nelagan Heavy Machine Gun, and two Nelagan Light Machine Guns. Reaching an average speed of about thirty-five MPH, what it lacks in speed, it makes up for in Nasty.
Aircraft
When you absolutely, positively, need it destroyed overnight.
AV-N1 Harrier- a vertical/short take off and landing vehicle capable of flight with little or no runway, the Harrier is a jet with alot of nasty to it. It's maximum speed is six-hundred and sixty two MPH, and is capable of a range of around fourteen hundred miles. It has a 25mm chain gun, and seven hardpoints to carry missles and bombs on.
N-22 Eagle- The N-22 Eagle is the corps primary mover for troops going to and from the battlefield. As a tiltrotor aircraft, it has two turboprop engines that are capable of taking off vertically like a helicopter, but later changing in-flight to a conventional airplane, which conveys faster speeds and more fuel-efficiency. It has a crew of two, its range is about a thousand miles, and is capable of transporting two squads at a time.
CH-23 Sea Dragon- The Sea Dragon is a cargo helicopter without equal. Its massive size and cargo-carrying capability make it the primary cargo-lift aircraft in the corps. Capable of carrying thirty thousand pounds, it has a crew of five, and carrys no weapons on board.
NH-1 Huey- a lighter troop and cargo transport, this helicopter is capable of carrying two crew members and an entire squad into and out of battle. They have one Nelagan Heavy Machine Gun, and one Nelagan Light machine Gun.
NA-1 Sea Krait- A twin-engine attack helicopter with two crew and a range of four-hundred and twenty six miles, this particular nasty has a 20mm gatling gun and 6 hardpoints.
Seacraft
The Nelagan Marine Corps do not operate their own seacraft (with the exception of their hovercrafts), but instead rely on the Nelagan navy to provide a sealift to their destination. Since the Nelagan Archipelago now hovers in mid-air, the navy has created a massive floating port complex below Nelaga Proper, which acts as the port for all naval vessels. The Navy has set aside four fleets called an 'Expeditionary Strike Group'. Alltogether they are refered to as the "Marine Fleet".
-1st Expeditionary Strike Group
-2nd Expeditionary Strike Group
-3rd Expeditionary Strike Group
-4th Expeditionary Strike Group
Each Group carries a single regiment, and the entire Marine Fleet isn't always deployed at the same time, or to the same area.
