Benacian Union Defence Force

Benacian Union Defence Force
Country	Benacian Union
Founded	1703 AN
Branches	Land Forces Maritime Forces Aviation Forces Ransenari Grouping of Forces Kalgachi Grouping of Forces
Headquarters	Bastion Ziggurat, Merensk
Leadership
Szodan of Benacia	Zacharias Avon-El
Commissioner for War	Vahid al-Osman
President of the General Staff Council	Titus Groen Mercajski
Manpower
Military age	15–65 years old
Conscription	Wartime only
Active personnel	1,956,344
Reserve personnel	13,776,023
Expenditures
Domestic suppliers	Mishalan Arsenal Rothaven Boatyards Stahl Maschinenfabrik Koïsoßwerke Stonetree Engineering Group Šlomxala Arsenal
Foreign suppliers	Constancia  Mondosphere  Natopia  Nouvelle Alexandrie  Sanama

The Benacian Union Defence Force is a combined-arms force charged with the territorial defence of the Benacian Union against foreign adversaries as well as the ongoing suppression of partisan rebellions and endemic banditry in the interior regions of Benacia. The BUDF consists of the Land Forces, the Maritime Forces, the Aviation Forces, and the Ransenari Grouping of Forces. The BUDF is also supported by a number of other uniformed services which act as a wartime reserve to the main force, these include the Benacian Labour Reserve, the Corps of the Gentlemen-at-Cudgels, the Women's Auxiliary Service, the Worshipful Guild of the Sacred Carnifices, the Public Forces of Ransenar, the Sovereign League for Defense and Deterrence, and the State Guard of the Unified Governorates.

Budget

Estimates for the defence budget of the BUDF, considering its notoriously opaque governance structure, the involvement of Benacia Command, and the separation or duplication of its procurement services across multiple departments and ministries, vary widely. However, the consensus amongst international observers has been that, as of 1743 AN, between 12.5 and 20.8% of the GDP of the Union-State is devoted to military expenditure. However it should be recognised that a large proportion of this is devoted to making good upon the catastrophic material losses experienced during the Shiro-Benacian War, as well as on maintaining an expanded force under arms with a much reduced economic base following the catastrophic loss of Elwynn.

Personnel, recruitment & training

The peacetime BUDF relies on a combination of voluntary enlistment and purchased apprenticeships to fulfil its manpower requirements. In general terms, recruitment and training across all service branches is done at the brigade/division level, with recruitment being the responsibility of attached the formation's attached commissariat regiment whilst basic training is the responsibility of the formation's inspectorate regiment.

Any male subject of the Benacian continent may enlist with the BUDF for a five year tenure of contracted service from the ages of sixteen to thirty-five. Contracted servicemen may renew their service terms every five years for a further term until they reach the statutory discharge age of sixty-five.

The BUDF supplements voluntary enlistment with the purchase of apprentices at auctions held by the municipal corporations of bailiwicks when boys reach the age of thirteen in Elluenuueq and fifteen in the Unified Governorates. The BUDF maintains a number of retired or invalided captains on half-pay on the condition that they reside in the bailiwicks and organise the local militia and the annual mustering of men eligible for militia service. These serve as liaisons for commissariat recruitment officers when they are touring the governorates in search of their next draft of manpower.

The purchase of apprentices is discretionary but requires the use of legatine authority so as to prevent corrupt and irregular practices at the regimental level.

Once authorised, apprentices purchased for regimental requirements are enlisted on the basis that three years of further education is to be provided in exchange for five years of contracted service, which is then renewable every five years up to the age of sixty-five as with the voluntarily enlisted.

Apprentices are placed into brigade cantonment schools, operated by the inspectorate regiment attached to that formation. The curriculum provided at these schools includes grammar and arithmetic, and political-religious instruction. Those with a demonstrable aptitude are taught fieldcraft, fortification, music and singing, ledger keeping and accounting, the military sciences relevant to land, sea, or air service, or mechanics. Those lacking such talents are instead taught carpentry, blacksmithing, machine-operating, shoemaking and other trades useful to the military.

Whilst apprentices receive the same initial rank (nuïak) as voluntary enlistments, the enlistment bounty is instead deducted as a contribution towards the cost of the apprentice's purchase and the cost of his further education.

Upon induction, by whatever means, all nuïaks, must give the Oath of Service to the Benacian Union. Refusal to give the oath at this stage is an automatic discommendation, which will result in inductee being immediately placed into custody pending a hearing by the Cull Commission of the bailiwick in which the transgression has occurred. The period in which the inductee is this held in confinement awaiting the hearing is a last opportunity to recant. If the inductee does not subsequently regain his reason and take the oath, an investigation of the corruption in the subject that gave rise to the refusal would then ensue. Depending upon the outcome, the condemned subject would either be transferred to the Benacian Labour Reserve, pending posting to a penitent brigade, or else be obliged to face the judgement offered by the Wheel of Misfortune.

Non-commissioned officer training

The training and development of non-commissioned officers (NCOs) are critical to the operational effectiveness and professional competence of the BUDF. This model system combines the traditional Benacian approach to NCO training with contemporary practices, tailored to meet the unique demands of modern warfare. The objective is to cultivate highly capable, disciplined, and professional NCOs who can effectively lead and support their units in a variety of operational environments.

At the heart of the NCO training doctrine is the mission command philosophy, which emphasises empowerment, decentralisation, and initiative. NCOs are trained to make informed decisions within their commander's intent, fostering a culture of adaptability and responsiveness at all levels of command. This approach ensures that NCOs can operate effectively even in the absence of direct oversight, making them invaluable assets in dynamic and fluid combat situations.

The training doctrine identifies several core competencies essential for NCOs:

1. Leadership: NCOs are groomed to lead small units with confidence and tactical acumen. Leadership training encompasses both tactical and operational levels, preparing NCOs to assume greater responsibilities as they progress in their careers.
2. Tactics: Proficiency in modern warfare tactics, including hybrid and asymmetric warfare, is a cornerstone of the training programme. NCOs are taught to employ innovative tactics that can effectively counter diverse threats.
3. Technical Skills: Mastery of weapons systems, communication equipment, and other relevant technologies is critical. NCOs receive extensive technical training to ensure they are proficient in the use and maintenance of modern military hardware.
4. Physical Fitness: A high standard of physical fitness and endurance is maintained throughout the training programme. Rigorous physical conditioning ensures that NCOs are prepared for the physical demands of combat.

The training programme instils a strong sense of values and ethics in NCOs. Discipline, integrity, and loyalty are emphasised as fundamental qualities. NCOs are expected to uphold the highest standards of Humanist behaviour, fostering trust and cohesion within their units.

NCO training establishments are controlled by the General Inspectorate of the BUDF.

The Basic NCO Training Academy, located in the Northern Banner Group area of operations, serves as the entry point for aspiring NCOs. The six-month programme focuses on foundational skills and knowledge. The curriculum includes a Basic Leadership Course, which covers the fundamentals of leadership, communication, and military ethics. Tactical training, physical conditioning, and technical proficiency form the core components of the training regimen, ensuring that graduates are well-prepared for their initial assignments.

Located in the Eastern Banner Group area of operations, the Advanced NCO Training School offers a nine-month programme designed to build on the foundational skills acquired at the Basic Academy. The curriculum includes an Advanced Leadership Course, specialised tactics training, and joint operations coordination. NCOs are also provided with advanced technical training, covering the maintenance and operation of sophisticated weaponry and equipment. This phase of training prepares NCOs for more complex and demanding roles within their units.

The Senior NCO Academy, situated in the Central Banner Group area of operations, offers a comprehensive twelve-month programme aimed at developing high-level command and staff functions. The curriculum includes a Senior Leadership Course, strategic studies, and a mentorship programme. NCOs are also given the opportunity to participate in international training exchanges, collaborating with NCO academies of allied nations. This exposure to different military practices and perspectives enhances their strategic and operational capabilities.

The training methodology incorporates advanced simulation systems and regular field exercises. Simulations provide a controlled environment for NCOs to hone their skills, while field exercises offer realistic training scenarios that mimic combat conditions. This combination of theoretical and practical training ensures that NCOs are well-prepared for the challenges of modern warfare.

Continuous education is a key component of the training system. NCOs have access to a wide range of online courses, allowing them to pursue further education and keep their skills up to date. Regular refresher courses are also provided to ensure that NCOs remain proficient in their duties.

Regular assessments and a structured feedback mechanism are integral to the training programme. Periodic assessments evaluate the progress of NCOs and identify areas for improvement. Feedback from superiors and peers fosters a culture of continuous improvement, ensuring that NCOs are always striving to enhance their capabilities.

The training programmes are designed to align with the overall doctrine and strategy of the BUDF. This ensures consistency and coherence in the training and operational practices of NCOs. Regular updates to the training programmes reflect changes in military doctrine and emerging threats, keeping the training relevant and effective.

The training system provides clear career paths for NCOs, with opportunities for further education and promotion. Recognition and rewards for outstanding performance and commitment motivate NCOs to excel in their roles. This focus on professional development ensures that the NCO corps remains a cornerstone of operational effectiveness and military excellence.

Commissioned officer selection and training

Officer candidates are found via three routes:

1. Meritorious Subjects between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five who directly volunteer;
2. Apprentices, purchased into service at the age of fifteen, who are identified as suitable candidates for officer training;
3. Non-commissioned officers who have achieved seniority in their specialism, aged thirty-five to forty-five.

All officer candidates are required to confirm their loyalty to the Union-State by swearing anew the Union Covenant and Oath of Service. If an officer candidate is not already a member of the Nationalist and Humanist Party he must undergo an evaluation by an N&H ideological compliance officer, with the potential of being referred to the Benacian Censorate and the Magisters-Carnifex if the answers given prove to be unsatisfactory.

Upon acceptance, the rank of silbir (Praeta: "squire") is bestowed and the process of continuous training and evaluation over an eighteen month period will begin. All trainees, for their initial period of indoctrination and orientation are placed under the discipline of the General Inspectorate.

Further training of the Corps of the Black Legions

Training for the Corps of the Black Legions, followed the pattern established under the Prince of Modan for the discipline of Imperial troops assigned to the Central Banner Group of Benacia Command. Berht Klarænst, known to those passing through it as the "Depot" is situated within an eponymous bailiwick that has been depopulated by the expulsion of the Black Lach. One thing would become apparent from the beginning for new arrivals: officers, non-commissioned officers, and men alike, all went through the same training, leapt or clambered over the same obstacles, learned to handle the same weapons in the most efficient way, and lived the same hard life together.

Those who dedicated themselves to the black banners of the legions swore absolute obedience to their commanders, who in turn sore unquestioning obedience to their commanders and so forth all the way up the chain of command. Soldiers, irrespective of their origins, were forbidden to pillage, steal or molest civilians, accept gifts, have relations with women, eat meat or drink alcohol for the term and duration of their service, except during specified and authorised respite periods. Officers were forced to undergo examinations to assess their familiarity with Kalgachi battle drills, Sanaman Manoeuvreist principles and Shirerithian-Laqi infiltration tactics, largely with the intention of weeding out those lacking in flexibility of thought.

The main objects of legionary training were fourfold: firstly, to produce a spirit of discipline and comradeship, second to none of the armed forces of any power; secondly, to learn the lesson that darkness is a help and not a hindrance; thirdly, to endow the legionary with a degree of physical fitness approaching that of a trained athlete, and at the same time to give him skill in handling all infantry weapons liable to be encountered on the battlefield; and finally – the most consistently reinforced message throughout training to make the legionary eager always to attack as and when opportunity permitted, even – especially – when the odds were not in his favour.

The legionary was expected, and required, to cultivate a spirit of continual aggression that would hold up under any circumstances, fair or foul; moreover, to attain this versatility, the legionary was expected to acquire a mastery of the art of war in all conditions, not only on land, his natural element, even when that land was a precarious foothold on a steep mountain crag, or a tangle of woodland brush and bog sown with dread-nettles and shrapnel-lilies, but also on sea, and, if need be, in the air.

Basic training for all personnel enlisted with the forces under the direct control of Benacia Command is the responsibility of the Inspectorate of Training and Discipline whose primary establishment is located within the Zitadelle of Merensk. Volunteers for the legions, and all personnel assigned to the legions must be volunteers, are normally recruited from amongst the wider pool of personnel maintained by the General Inspectorate, as well as the Aerospace and Maritime Forces maintained by Benacia Command. N&H and ESB paramilitaries are also eligible to volunteer although they, being blessed with their own defined career paths and material comforts, typically tended not to avail themselves of this opportunity.

The physical part of the legionaries training had its impact upon their state of mind. As the days went by and the legionary became able to march faster and still faster for longer and longer distances with heavier and heavier loads until he could cover 15 kilometres in ninety minutes, and 55 kilometres in nine hours, the innate pride born of an awareness of one's own strength took a hold on him. The legionary, spurred on by healthy competitive rivalry with his comrades, became more and more a man apart, as indeed he was by reason of his own conscious decision to join; thus the constant series of physical efforts the legionary undertook were, in and of themselves, an excellent form of mental training.

After basic training was completed the inductees were cycled through three week courses of so-called "spiritual hardening", inspired apparently by the methods and insights of the Urchagin. Those who flunked the course would be cashiered and their records stamped, in green ink, with the initials LMF ("lacking moral fibre") effectively rendering them unemployable upon their return to civilian life anywhere in the territories of the Unified Governorates of Benacia. The motto of the training regime henceforth was that 'Faith and Endurance surpasses Might'. The hardening process began on the first day with trainees forced to line up in files of ten and, at a charge, bayonet a row of live pigs suspended from the rafters before them. Each file would train together, be rewarded together, and be punished together, they were solemnly warned, for the remainder of the three weeks. As an illustration of this the files where any member had baulked at bayoneting a live squealing animal would be denied food and sleep but would be instead assigned to punishment details for the entirety of the rest period while everyone else enjoyed pork stew and a good night's sleep. As first two weeks progressed the trainees were subjected to a barrage of assault courses, long forced marches along wilderness tracks, and competitions where the files were set against one-another to obtain dispensation vouchers for meat and alcohol or else merely to avoid bringing up the rear and being assigned to yet another punishment detail. The final week consisted of tutorials on living off the land, vehicle dismount drills, counter ambush drills, and close quarter combat practice against veteran legionaries dressed up as Laqi bandits. One of the perks for the old-timers was the opportunity to inflict upon the new recruits all the nasty tricks, traps, and humiliations, that had been heaped upon them during their own induction. The concluding action of the week was a bunker clearance drill focusing on oblique angles of approach with use of stealth and concealment, forced entry with demolition charges, room to room clearance with gas grenades and thermite sticks followed by the gunning down of those still standing and the bayoneting of those prostrate on the ground. To add an extra dimension of realism each of the practice bunkers was held and defended by a detachment of surplus protected persons, tethered in place but equipped with riot guns and cudgels, who had been promised their freedom if they successfully survived the drill. None ever did.

At the conclusion of the three weeks each participant was given a week's leave, a pint of grog from the Depot canteen and an enamelled lapel badge featuring a blood-red hand held palm upwards.

The old Imperial practice of targeting minority groups for the purposes of sharpening a unit's blood-lust and improving situational awareness has continued into the present practices of training cohorts, with regular deployments of Fiþn (Troop) sized contingents into Lach infested territory. These raids would be conducted usually via a nighttime "vertical insertion" utilising re-purposed "Walrus" gravimetric transporters escorted by Whirdlebirbs. Once delivered into hostile country, via the hair-raising practice of "grav-tank desant", the troop would be obliged to utilise the time honoured practice in dealing with the Lach and to bring a specified quantity of tongues (including some with the bodies of their owners still attached) to the prearranged extraction point within a set number of hours or days. It should be noted that gravimetric vehicles were gradually superceded by more conventional rotorcraft during the 1680's.

In addition to serving as an introduction to the basics of field craft, these "vaszvaþnur" also helped to thin out the numbers of Black Lach who might otherwise be tempted to filter southwards over the old frontier from Inner Benacia into Upper Lywall.

Since 1686 the Vaszvaþnur has been mostly conducted against recalcitrant and or primitive communities in the Upland Confederation and the Iridian Isles under the guise punitive expeditions to deter or punish banditry and piracy.

Survivors of their first vaszvaþnur received a silver-gilt lapel badge, tastefully depicting a dagger embedded in a Lach skull, a five year service bond of ₦50,000, and a fortnight's leave. As a test of the initiate legionaries initiative, the cohort upon being dismissed would be instructed to reassemble at the end of the fortnight period at a new location, entirely removed from the Depot, anywhere on the Benacian continent. The exact location and time was spelt out. How the recruits would make it to the destination was their own affair. Those who failed to be present and correct on parade at the time and place specified would be returned to the ranks of the General Inspectorate. For the most part the locations would prove to be somewhere absurdly remote and inhospitable within the Raspur Pact's sphere of operations - New Blackstone and Raikoth were popular choices for testing an initiate legionary's ability to organise his own travelling arrangements on the fly. One, somewhat rakish, instructor specified that his recruits were to assemble on the steps of a specific gin house in Shirekeep's entertainments district - which they did, prompting a riot amongst the bar's patrons and obliging the Palatini Corps to send an armoured personnel carrier equipped with a high-pressure water hose in order to quell the disorder.

These excursions, and the subsequent return journey to the Depot, would provide one final opportunity for the instructors to evaluate their charges before the final sifting. By this stage those unable to make the grade ought to have either been flushed out of the system or else solemnly cremated with all due ceremony on a pyre at the edge of the Depot's hinterland of cleared forest. This then, barring mishaps, was the opportunity to pick out candidates for commissioned and non-commissioned officer training, as well as those who might be suited for specialist training in the armoured, aerospace, or maritime arms of the Black Legions.

For those remaining at the end of the sifts however, assignment to the legions awaited. Although the need to replace casualties would sometimes override other considerations, normal practice would be to assign the newly minted legionary to a cohort at some considerable remove from his place of origin.

One of the more unusual aspects of legionary training was the insistence upon each trainee, as a part of his assigned section, tending to an allotted plot of land in which it was their duty to plant, tend, and cultivate a variety of vegetables during their time at the Depot. The purpose for this becomes more clear when the trainees are expected to first clear a patch of the forest adjacent the depot, a forest teeming with deliberately planted urtica terribilis, primula ballistis and lilium discerptionis. For the ordinary legionary it provides an education on how to recognise, avoid, or neutralise the most noxious and fatal reminders of Benacia's legacy of reckless bio-engineering by the Transhumanist foe; for junior officers on the other hand it is an opportunity to contemplate the difficulties inherent in uprooting and containing persistent rhizomic structures.

The other positive was that it kept catering costs for the establishment at Berht Klarænst under control.

Command structure

Top-level organisational structure of the BUDF, as proposed in 1701 AN.

The Benacian Union Defence Force reports to the High Presidium of the Benacian Union via the Benacian Security Council for strategic and operational matters and the Commission for War for administrative and logistical matters.

It is subjected to ideological discipline, at all levels above the regiment, by units of the General Inspectorate which provides supporting political officers and Mobile Security Troops who served as blocking detachments.

General Staff Council

The General Staff of the Benacian Union Defence Force mirrors closely, for simplicity and interoperability, the pattern set by Benacia Command. Indeed, the Command Executive of Benacia Command, headquartered in Merensk, maintains an interface with the General Staff of the BUDF via a liaison office in Chryse in addition to its political representation on the High Presidium of the Benacian Union.

The Commissioner of Defence, on behalf of the High Presidium, appoints a President of the General Staff Council, who holds the post for four years, and who in turn nominates banner officers to head the three service branches of the BUDF as well as the seven specialist support directorates of the General Staff itself. These officers, all on four year terms similarly, therefore comprise the totality of the General Staff Council.

The seven directorates are as follows:

• D1 - Information Technology
• D2 - Logistics
• D3 - Manpower
• D4 - Planning
• D5 - Operations
• D6 - Military Intelligence
• D7 - Political Relations

The General Staff Council and its supporting directorates, as constituted, therefore are responsibile for operational and strategic level planning, where operational planning covers units and formations above the legion ("Salb") level.

In practice, under most circumstances, operational deployments, including combined arms, joint, and allied operations, would be conducted via the substantially parallel structures of the Benacian Continental Theatre Command of the Raspur Pact, which organises a number of combined arms corps, field armies, and banner groups. Accordingly the foremost concern of the General Staff Council of the BUDF in wartime would be force generation and sustainment.

Personnel selected for assignment to the General Staff Council and its directorates are rebadged and assigned to the General Service Corps so as to detach them from their previous service branch and area of specialism. The General Service Corps, in addition to supporting the General Staff Council also provides the Command and Control Regiments encountered at the corps-level formation and higher.

Branches

Ransenari Grouping of Forces

The Ransenari Grouping of Forces was established as a branch of the BUDF in 1713 AN so as to receive the balance of manpower transferred from the Grand Army of Ransenar, Navy of Ransenar, and the Riverine Forces of Ransenar after the accession of Ransenar to the Benacian Union in 1711 AN.

Operations

Current missions

Contributions to Raspur Pact theatre commands

Continental Theatre Command	Material allocation (%)	Lead Nation
Apollonia Command	0%	Nouvelle Alexandrie
Benacia Command	100%	Benacian Union
Cibola Command	0%	Natopia
Keltia Command	0%	Nouvelle Alexandrie
Tapfer Command	0%	Natopia
Trans-Euran Command	0%	Constancia

Concluded operational deployments

• Kapavian insurgency
• Operation Jungle Bolo
• Conquest of Valora
• Operation Penitent
• Operation Revetment
• Norasht campaign
• Allied Mission in Eastern Apollonia, Hurmu & Lyrica
• Shiro-Benacian War
• East Keltian Collapse

Equipment

Land warfare

Equipment of the Land Forces of the Benacian Union

Vessels

Vessels of the Maritime Forces of the Benacian Union

Aircraft

Equipment of the Aviation Forces of the Benacian Union

Ranks, Insignia, Uniforms & Wages

Note: the suffix "bi-Mari" (at sea) and "bi-Łoidi" (in flight) are affixed to the conventional ranks of officers to indicate when the subjects are in the service of the Maritime Forces or Aviation Forces respectively. If translated into Istvanistani, the rank of salbnan might thus be rendered Legate, Legate-at-Sea, and Flight-Legate, in the land, sea, and air domains. This courtesy is typically not extended to lower ranks as it is understood that they must serve in whichever domain they are directed to at any given moment.

Table of Grades and Ranks of the Benacian Union Defence Force

Grade	Insignia	RP Rank Code	Rank	Pay
Chiefs of Staff (4.0)		OF-10	Frumst Frainan	Combined Officer Pay x10
General Officers (3.0)		OF-9	Frainan Streïakeï	Combined Officer Pay x9
		OF-8	Frainan Hohmin	Combined Officer Pay x8
		OF-7	Frainan Uihmanzis	Combined Officer Pay x7
		OF-6	Salbnan	Combined Officer Pay x6
Senior Officers (2.1)		OF-5	Ahmst Bræþstranin	Combined Officer Pay x5
		OF-4	Ahmst Tazstraneï	Combined Officer Pay x4
		OF-3	Ahmst Mairstranin	Combined Officer Pay x3
Junior Officers (2.2)		OF-2	Fiþnan	Combined Officer Pay x2
		OF-1	Golsapbir	Standing Grant to Officers 360 marks and basic rate of pay 180 marks providing Combined Officer Pay of 540 marks.
		OF(C)	Silbir	Standing Grant to Officers set 90 marksper annum. Educational Bursary set at 135 marks per annum.
Non-Commissioned Officers (1.1)	File:BUDF Grade 1.1.png	OR-9	Ænst Opratzan	Basic rate of pay x9
		OR-8	Opratzan	Basic rate of pay x8
		OR-7	Ahtaldan	Basic rate of pay x7
		OR-6	Tzæknak	Basic rate of pay x6
		OR-5	Frum	Basic rate of pay x5
Enlisted Men (1.2)	File:BUDF Grade 1.2.png	OR-4	Usczosoþ Streïak	Basic rate of pay x4
		OR-3	Usfaroþ Streïak	Basic rate of pay x3
		OR-2	Streïak	Basic rate of pay x2
		OR-1	Nuïak	Enlistment bounty 12 marks (less deductions); Basic rate of pay 3,600 chits per annum

Rations, welfare and other miscellanea

All subjects of the Benacian Union, both civilian and military, are entitled to receive the Basic Ration allocation. This forms the foundational level of nutritional sustenance, upon which further ration entitlements for military personnel and key workers are built. The Basic Ration consists of the following weekly provisions:

• Milk (4 litres)
• Eggs (6)
• Meat (150g)
• Butter (50g)
• Margarine (50g)
• Edible oil
• Tea
• Cheese (30g)
• Sugar (100g)
• Jam (50g)

The Basic Ration is distributed via halls of allocation in the bailiwicks wherein the duty stations of personnel are located, based on personnel documentation, and is subject to availability of supplies. Penalties are enforced for violation of rationing policies.

Members of the Benacian Union Defence Force (BUDF) receive supplementary cumulative ration entitlements on top of the Basic Ration, scaled according to rank and responsibilities. In 1716 AN, following serious outbreaks of scurvy amongst personnel garrisoned in the Warring Islands, a daily citrus juice ration was introduced for all BUDF personnel.

Enlisted ranks

Enlisted men and non-commissioned officers of the BUDF receive the Field & Industrial Service Ration as their standard daily entitlement. This consists of:

• Bread (800g)
• Water biscuit (200g)
• Processed meat (150g)
• Coffee or tea
• Sugar
• Salt
• Rum ration

This basic ration is supplemented when units are engaged in intensive combat operations or demanding labour. The rum ration is only issued in the field.

The more prudent of officers will seek to supplement the official rations of their men by allocating land within their duty station's cantonments for setting up vegetable gardens. Troops under their command can then grow fresh produce to augment the preserved rations in their diets. Similarly, the commissariat of each brigade and higher formation maintains a commissary store operated as a concession by members of the guild of factors. Here, BUDF personnel can use their relatively generous pay to purchase whatever additional food items they feel would address deficiencies in the official rations.

The more enterprising officers may also lead their subordinates on hunting expeditions to supplement the tinned and salted meat rations with fresh game when opportunities allow. Such initiative ensures the troops get needed nutrition and vitamins, while honing their fieldcraft and promoting bonding between the officers and enlisted men.

While the regimented ration scales reinforce the hierarchical structures of Benacian society, these supplementation practices introduce more flexibility and opportunity for personal initiative within the BUDF. They also help mitigate nutritional deficiencies that could undermine combat effectiveness if relying solely on the official rations.

Officers

Commissioned officers receive the enhanced Government & Guild Service Ration:

• Bread (800g)
• Eggs (1 per week)
• Meat (230g per week)
• Butter (50g per week)
• Margarine (50g per week)
• Edible oil
• Coffee
• Cheese (50g per week)
• Sugar (225g per week)
• Jam (60g per week)

Senior officers from tribune to magister grades are further entitled to the prestigious Higher Government & Guild Service Ration. This includes:

• Breakfast: Bacon, tomatoes, bread, jam, cocoa
• Lunch: Wintergleam pudding, roast pork or lamb, potatoes, bread, jam
• Tea: Bread, jam
• Supper: Ox-tail soup, roast beef, whisky and soda, leeks, rice pudding, coffee

The Higher Ration is intended to be served in dedicated officers' messes and field facilities. Alcohol rations are deducted for officers on certain duties or when operating machinery.

All BUDF ration scales are supplemented by standardised nutritional assessments to maintain health and combat effectiveness. Failure to adhere to rationing policies is treated as a disciplinary offence.

See also

• Cantonments and depots of the Benacian Union