Doctrine of Total Defence (Hurmu)

The doctrine of Total Defence in Hurmu, comprising here the totality of the Realms of the Order of the Holy Lakes, represents a comprehensive, multi-layered approach to national security that integrates military capability, civil resilience, and internal order. This doctrine ensures that every facet of the state is prepared to respond to external aggression or internal crises through the coordinated efforts of the Hurmu Fyrð, the Auxiliary Service of Hurmu, the Civil Defence Corps of Hurmu, and the Hurmu Constabulary.

Military defence: the Hurmu Fyrð

The primary pillar of military defence is the Hurmu Fyrð, which functions as a professional territorial defence force. Its doctrine is centred on local knowledge and presence rather than expeditionary power projection. The Fyrð is tasked with the direct defence of the territory of the Holy Lakes and its associated districts.

• Professional Core: The Fyrð maintains a highly trained professional cadre responsible for command, control, and specialised operations.
• The Territorial Reserve Forces: These are locally organised units that can be mobilised rapidly to defend their own communities.
• Territorial Focus: By tying the territorial units to specific geographical areas, the Fyrð ensures that the defenders have a personal stake in the security of the land they occupy.

Logistical and functional support: he Auxiliary Service

The Auxiliary Service of Hurmu acts as the essential support apparatus for the Fyrð. Having evolved from the original Women's Auxiliary Service, it is now a gender-neutral organisation that provides the technical and administrative depth required for prolonged conflict.

• Operational Support: The service handles logistics, communications, and clerical duties, allowing the combat elements of the Fyrð to focus entirely on tactical objectives.
• Medical and Welfare: It manages the military medical infrastructure, ensuring that casualties are treated and that the health of the armed forces is maintained.
• Non-Combatant Status: While its members are uniformed and integrated into the military hierarchy, their primary function is the maintenance of the military machine rather than direct engagement with the enemy, though they remain authorised to bear arms for self-defence.

Societal resilience: the Civil Defence Corps

Total Defence extends beyond the military through the Civil Defence Corps of Hurmu. This body is responsible for the protection of the civilian population and the maintenance of essential services during emergencies.

• Public Safety: The Corps is tasked with firefighting, search and rescue, and the management of air-raid shelters or evacuation protocols.
• Infrastructure Protection: It works to ensure that vital utilities, such as water and electricity, remain functional even under the strain of war or natural disaster.
• Volunteer Integration: The Corps relies heavily on a broad base of volunteers, training the general public in basic survival and first aid to increase the nation's overall durability.

Internal security: the Hurmu Constabulary

The Hurmu Constabulary provides the final layer of Total Defence by maintaining the rule of law and internal stability. In a state of total mobilisation, the role of the Constabulary shifts to support the wider defence effort.

• Public Order: Ensuring that the mobilisation of the Fyrð and Territorial Reserve Forces proceed without domestic disruption.
• Counter-Intelligence: Identifying and neutralising internal threats or sabotage that might undermine the national defence.
• Guarding Key Sites: Coordinating with the Fyrð to protect government buildings, transport hubs, and other strategic points from subversion.

Synthesis of the Total Defence Doctrine

The overarching goal of this doctrine is to create a "nation in arms" where there is no clear point of failure. By separating functions between the Fyrð (combat), the Auxiliary Service (support), the Civil Defence Corps (protection), and the Constabulary (order), Hurmu ensures a specialised yet cohesive response to any threat. This integration signifies that defence is not merely the responsibility of the soldier, but a collective duty shared by all organised services and the citizenry at large. The doctrine recognises that modern conflict involves the whole of society, and therefore, the whole of society must be structured to survive it.