Mustangs and General Burgoyne's revenge

[Agemegos]

The (very dated) third edition of Dunnigan's How to Make War is extremely scathing about the custom of appointing army officers on the strength of wealth, social privilege, or education. It attributes the excellence of any army that has done things that way to superb NCOs, and it asserts that the US Army only became one of the very few armies that "usually get things right" after the early Eighties, when (it asserts) new and far more realistic training methods exposed inept officers and provided some of the advantages of the "trial under fire" system of developing leadership.

Dunnigan's four ways of creating leaders are

1. The gentleman-officer tradition, which the British Army survives only because of useful military traditions and superb NCOs.
2. The aspirant system, in which potential officers are selected from among the troops and systematically put into higher and higher positions of authority. Used, according to Dunnigan, by the Romans, Israelis, and Germans. "In peacetime, the officer candidate is also given a technical and scholarly education, if he isn't already a university graduate."
3. Trial by examination. "A pervasive curse of educated cultures."
4. Trial by fire. "[I]n wartime, is often the system that just naturally emerges. In the hazardous atmosphere of combat, only the competent survive."

I know that there are many members of this forum whose experience of the US armed services has taught them to prefer "mustang" officers with experience acquired and ability proven in the ranks.


ObRPG

I'm revising my SF setting, FLAT BLACK. In FLAT BLACK the "Empire" is an interstellar peace-keeping organisation that also provides extensive aid programs where needed, and which is forbidden by its constitution for exercising sovereignty on any inhabited planet, or from meddling with the internal affairs of any planet-bound state. The only troops it is permitted are c. 455,000 marines, which is far too few to present a threat to any of the economically advanced and politically powerful colonies.

Imperial Marines are deployed as shipboard detachments (boarding parties for inspecting shipping and space stations, ready when necessary for insertion from orbit in Stealth Capsules (UT p.232)), garrisons in Imperial Residences on planets (for security, riot control if necessary, counter-terrorist work when necessary), and in sector reserve brigades (for peace-keeping "interventions" when the Senate approves). Each regiment rotates between these three roles on postings lasting some years (I have always made it five years, but I am considering cutting that back to three or even two). Imperial marines are light infantry (very poor in heavy iron such as armour and artillery). They are trained and deployed as commandos (i.e for brief intense raids against high-value soft targets (terrorists, CCCI)) and for peacekeeping patrols: they are neither trained nor equipped for field combat.

I have previously supposed that training for enlisted marines was one year (sixteen weeks of recruit training, sixteen weeks of commando school, and sixteen weeks of either drop training, riot training, or infantry training) followed by a year of on-the-job training with ones unit. But I discover that SASR "beret-qualified" operators require up to eighteen months of training on top of standard recruit and infantry, and that Australian commandos require 60 weeks of training on the direct recruitment program (38 weeks to become a Commando Grade One, followed by 22 weeks of Commando reinforcement training). I am beginning to suppose that the complexities of being a versatile TL10 special forces commando may require two years of training.

Anyway, the thing I wanted to pick the brains of the hive-mind over was Imperial Marines officer selection and training.

Now, FLAT BLACK features a highly-developed science of psychology consilient with neurology, so it is possible to determine a person's psychological capabilities by means of a brain scan. The Imperial Service Recruitment Bureau uses this technology to select recruits, so there is little danger of selecting officer candidates unsuited by temperament to lead and command. Also, the Imperial Marines could easily and would certainly use realistic training methods such as would ruthlessly expose any inadequacy in officer candidates. And furthermore, the very long service careers of Imperial servants allow newly-commissioned ensigns to be assigned for at least a year to companies where they will be supervised by a company commander and CSM as well as supported by an experienced platoon sergeant.

I have previously supposed that marines officers were directly recruited to officer training, which was three years long and included vocational training of an academic sort as well as material equivalent to the core of commando training. Now I am toying with other arrangements, including

• Training officer candidates along with commandos candidates in the first year of training, before sending officer candidates to OCS for two years and commandos to a further year of six months of enlisted training.
• Recruiting into the Marines generally, and not making a distinction between officer candidates and commando candidates until the end of the first year.
• Putting all recruits through the full commando course and at least one year on post before offering officer candidates OCS.
• Promoting marines officers through the ranks only.

Bearing in mind that I have thematic reasons for wanting to include homages to the British Empire of the mid-to-late Victorian period, and that I have thematic reasons to portray the Empire as competent, efficient, and free from corruption, advise me what Imperial Marines training and officer recruitment and training are desirable from a role-playing point of view.

[Akicita]

Originally Posted by Brett

Bearing in mind that I have thematic reasons for wanting to include homages to the British Empire of the mid-to-late Victorian period, and that I have thematic reasons to portray the Empire as competent, efficient, and free from corruption, advise me what Imperial Marines training and officer recruitment and training are desirable from a role-playing point of view.

To maintain the Victorian homage and competency simultaneously, I would remind you of the other means of entry for officers: Navy midshipmen. Eliminate the on-the-books-before-they're-on-the-ship sort of corruption and the results are pretty much like your first bullet point.

[thrash]

Originally Posted by Brett

Bearing in mind that I have thematic reasons for wanting to include homages to the British Empire of the mid-to-late Victorian period, and that I have thematic reasons to portray the Empire as competent, efficient, and free from corruption, advise me what Imperial Marines training and officer recruitment and training are desirable from a role-playing point of view.

Note that, unlike the 19th Century British Army, a commando unit cannot easily tolerate the presence of untrained personnel during operations. One flub in coordination, timing, or stealth could jeopardize the entire unit.

Also note that the key role of officers -- even, or perhaps especially, very junior ones -- in such a setting is to assess the political consequences of their units' actions, and adjust their means and ends to account for unanticipated risks and opportunities. As such, their academic training should fall somewhere between broad liberal arts and whatever passes for applied social sciences. This is likewise different than various military academies of the 19th Century, which were established to train engineering and hard sciences.

I suggest:

* A University education as a prerequisite. Like law school in the present-day US, no particular major or course of study is required. Rather, candidates are expected to demonstrate a faculty for critical thought, particularly on knotty political and social issues.

* A formal, graduate level Academy. The course won't have to be long -- a year, or two at most. This gives the candidate the specific academic preparation the Service requires (including customs and courtesies) while addressing any lingering academic deficiencies. Having professional instructors and no "senior class" avoids the worst public-school foolishness.

* A tour, probably at least a year, at an Imperial Residence as a supernumerary "observer." This is the equivalent of a medical internship: the candidates are still "under instruction," but they are expected to apply their academic learning to the analysis of real-world problems. Towards the end, they may be allowed (or required) to participate hands-on as "temporary, acting ensigns."

* Commando school. The course is the same as the enlisted receive, and probably taught in close proximity. Separate "candidate's companies" allow the future ensigns to train on thinking and leading more than just executing -- but they should have a clear reputation as being more demanding.

The newly-minted Ensign is probably 25 years old, ready to join his regiment with a detailed appreciation of his role.

Assuming ~50 regiments and a 10-year rotation cycle (through garrison, shipboard, and reserve), there will be 5 regiments a year available to assign "observers." Ideally, the new Ensigns will complete commando school and rejoin these regiments as they rotate into shipboard duty.

[Ed the Coastie]

In the StarFist series of books by David Sherman and Dan Cragg, all Marine officers have served a minimum of one enlisted hitch before being eligible for applying to OCS. It's been a while since I have read any of the books, but I seem to recall that the application process involved a combination of academic testing, an in-depth review of the applicant's service record, and the recommendation/endorsement of the applicant's Commanding Officer.

[Agemegos]

Originally Posted by Ed the Coastie

In the StarFist series of books by David Sherman and Dan Cragg, all Marine officers have served a minimum of one enlisted hitch before being eligible for applying to OCS. It's been a while since I have read any of the books, but I seem to recall that the application process involved a combination of academic testing, an in-depth review of the applicant's service record, and the recommendation/endorsement of the applicant's Commanding Officer.

There was a similar arrangement in Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers Some especially promising troopers were offered OCS from private. Juan Rico (the protagonist) got into OCS from sergeant. But you had to have volunteered without reservation, and to have served as enlisted. In fact, I don't think you applied for OCS: you got nominated by your CO.

You were a mustang, weren't you Ed? Do you think an all-mustang officer corps is compellingly plausible in the context? Do you think it is desirable from an RP point of view. Or would you advise me to keep a majority of Rodneys with a handful of mustangs among them, for variety in backgrounds for PCs and in characters for NPCs?

[Agemegos]

Originally Posted by thrash

Note that, unlike the 19th Century British Army, a commando unit cannot easily tolerate the presence of untrained personnel during operations. One flub in coordination, timing, or stealth could jeopardize the entire unit.

Yes indeed. The point applies to privates as much as to sublieutenants, too. That's why I was looking at beret-qualified SASR operators for a benchmark. They seem to get a total of 60 weeks being-taught-to-do stuff plus thirty-odd weeks of exercises in the kill-house and on assorted ranges before they join their troop.

Also note that the key role of officers -- even, or perhaps especially, very junior ones -- in such a setting is to assess the political consequences of their units' actions, and adjust their means and ends to account for unanticipated risks and opportunities.

Very much so. It is a TL10 setting, with AI and automated tools taking over many technical fields and trades. Judging social and political consequences, and dealing with people face-to-face is mostly what humans are for in the Imperial Service generally. I don't mind a subtle suggestion that Imperial Servants are the organic covering over a Service that is basically like the Terminator.

As such, their academic training should fall somewhere between broad liberal arts and whatever passes for applied social sciences. This is likewise different than various military academies of the 19th Century, which were established to train engineering and hard sciences.

Good point.

I suggest:

* A University education as a prerequisite. Like law school in the present-day US, no particular major or course of study is required. Rather, candidates are expected to demonstrate a faculty for critical thought, particularly on knotty political and social issues.

My high school tried to teach critical thinking and "a liberal, humane, pre-vocational education", and I rather hope that in FLAT BLACK high-tech pedagogy and (in Imperial schools) the decline of certain mediaeval traditions and the disappearance of politically-set curriculums will have made it possible.

So I imagine that in FLAT BLACK high school education will be much better than we are accustomed to, and that university training will be along specialised and vocational Australian lines rather than generalist liberal American lines.

* A tour, probably at least a year, at an Imperial Residence as a supernumerary "observer." This is the equivalent of a medical internship: the candidates are still "under instruction," but they are expected to apply their academic learning to the analysis of real-world problems. Towards the end, they may be allowed (or required) to participate hands-on as "temporary, acting ensigns."

Good idea! That's an institution I like.

* Commando school. The course is the same as the enlisted receive, and probably taught in close proximity. Separate "candidate's companies" allow the future ensigns to train on thinking and leading more than just executing -- but they should have a clear reputation as being more demanding.

The newly-minted Ensign is probably 25 years old, ready to join his regiment with a detailed appreciation of his role.

The age is not a problem, since marines can serve in the field to the age of eighty. Long service lives make a substantial investment in training well worth while. The main down side of such a long training is that keen youngsters can get bored and frustrated. We'll throw in one night a week, one weekend a month, and one week a year of Yeomanry training during their undergraduacy.

Assuming ~50 regiments and a 10-year rotation cycle (through garrison, shipboard, and reserve), there will be 5 regiments a year available to assign "observers."

The figures are in fact more like 240 regiments and a 15-year rotation cycle (though I am thinking of shortening that). The ~66 regiments on garrison duty are mostly split up into ~1,000 garrisons, which is ~15 per regiment. Lots will be ~ platoon sized and probably not suitable for a supernumerary intern, but there ought to be enough company-to-battalion sized garrisons, besides planets that have a long-term intervention force.

I reckon that with 450,000 marines of which 5–6% are officers I have about 24,750 Marines officers. If we say that the average service life of an officer is 45 years that means 550 ensigns getting commissioned per year and a slightly larger number of military interns. There are approximately as many interns to place as there are companies in the garrisons, and some of those are split up. We might have to place some interns with other companies that are in the field, such a intervention forces on deployment.

Ideally, the new Ensigns will complete commando school and rejoin these regiments as they rotate into shipboard duty.

Ideally. But you know how these things go. You need officer replacements when you need officer replacements, and death, disability, promotion, and retirement don't wait on the cycle. You can try to co-ordinate things a bit, but only promotions are really under control.

[jason taylor]

How common are operations? Before the eighteenth century it was often possible to have promotions tested by a near-constant state of warfare. In the absence of this, or of reasonably reliable simulations "merit" simply becomes patronage.

What are the political circumstances? Is the state obliged to skimp on military effectiveness for the sake of loyalty?

The officer and the gentleman model does have the advantage of having an officer class who are familiar with one another's company since youth; "playing fields of eton and all".

It is easier to test the merit of the officers of a naval force then a military force because a naval force has to deal with nature even in peacetime, whereas a land force from densely settled terrain does not.

Just some thoughts.

[combatmedic]

What are the service academies like, if such things exist?
Is there an equivalent of Westpoint, Saint-Cyr, or Sandhurst?

You could always have a 'gentleman officer' tradition in the Army or Navy, and have the Space Marines do things differently.

Is there a class like the junkers on one or more worlds? What sort of aristocratic militray traditions exist?

[combatmedic]

Originally Posted by jason taylor

It is easier to test the merit of the officers of a naval force then a military force because a naval force has to deal with nature even in peacetime, whereas a land force from densely settled terrain does not.

I don't know much about spaceflight, astrogation,etc in Flat Black.
'Space is not the ocean', but is it plausible that the Imperial Navy has a peacetime proving ground of sirts in extraplanetary space?

[Agemegos]

Originally Posted by jason taylor

How common are operations?

Pretty much constant. The planets that have little call for marines get few marines, most marines get sent places where things are going on all the time: colonies in general are about as well-run as states in Africa since 1960. The Empire has agronomists and public health workers and educators and civil engineers scattered at hundreds or thousands of project sites on each planet, and they are forever getting kidnapped for ransom or taken hostage by terrorists and rebels. On average there are ninety planets in a state of war at any time, requiring marines to anticipate and prevent massacres, the use of weapons of mass destruction etc. And the Imperial Senate approves five to ten interventions per year, in which marines are generally used to seize the government and CCCI assets before they can effect resistance. Besides all that there are riots and demonstrations at the typical Imperial residence several times per year, and many governments apply to their Resident for Imperial assistance in counter-terrorist actions.

What are the political circumstances?

The Empire is nominally subject to supervision by the Senate, but revenues from the Imperial monopolies on (a) interstellar transport and (b) real estate on new settlements give it a great deal of independence.

Is the state obliged to skimp on military effectiveness for the sake of loyalty?

Absolutely. High tech weapons are so frightful, field commanders are so isolated from supervision, and the Empire is so averse to massacres &c. that reliability is paramount over military effectiveness as a selection criterion. Fortunately, the Empire gets to make half its recruits using TL10 (advanced) developmental psychology, and to select the other half from among a large excess of volunteers using TL10(advanced) neuropsychology. So it does manage to find enough officers who are both suitable and at least modestly able.

Total human population is 815 billion, of which perhaps half are aged between 18 and 80. Only 25,000 marines officers are needed. So if one person in a thousand was inclined to volunteer, Imperial recruiting could choose the top 0.75% by aptitude and reject 99.25% as temperamentally unsuited.

Originally Posted by combatmedic

What are the service academies like, if such things exist?
Is there an equivalent of Westpoint, Saint-Cyr, or Sandhurst?

I have always previously supposed that there was a Naval academy and an Imperial Marines training base at each sector headquarters, but that Imperial marines officers were trained at a single, central academy with at least one semester in orbit around the ruins of Old Earth. That would give the L5 Marines Academy year classes of ~550 cadets. That seems perhaps too large a class, but the class of about 26 that you would get with an officer program at each SHQ is very small.

You could always have a 'gentleman officer' tradition in the Army or Navy, and have the Space Marines do things differently.

The Empire doesn't have an army. It isn't allowed one (the Senate would not countenance it having enough military forces to take out one of the big important colonies), and besides interstellar shipping of an army and its heavy iron would be prohibitively expensive. When it needs lots of boots on the ground and birds in the air for a major peacekeeping operation it has to beg for contingents from the colonies' "self-defence forces" and dicker over who will be in command, conditions of engagement, etc.

The Imperial Navy I have decided ideas for. Naval officers are very nearly trained from childhood.Their academies are based on the Space Patrol academy in Heinlein's Space Cadet.

Is there a class like the junkers on one or more worlds? What sort of aristocratic militray traditions exist?

The intention is that the colonies should be madly various, with every possible social institution found on some. There is a constraint, though, that most of the prosperous central ones with large populations and high tech are politically unified and therefore have no-one to fight, whereas most of the Balkansised ones have never had enough population that there was any very intense competition for land and resources. Genuine military traditions are correspondingly rare.