Soldier Skills at different TLs and cultures

[Dangerious P. Cats]

What sort of things would soldier skill entail at different tech levles and across different cultures? Given how broad that probably is I guess it's better for peole to pick their favorite periods in military history and work out what it might mean there if that suits better. Proposals at what it may look like at higher TLs are also welcome.

[copeab]

Before TL6, there is a much greater emphasis on formation drills (each forms a line the they charge each other, or stand their ground and volley fire) than maneuvering. This was a change forced by changing technology and military leaders were quite slow to adopt it).

[Polydamas]

5th century BCE middle class Greek: Very basic knowledge of how to move as a group (possibly not drill per say but the ability to move in ranks and files when you know where to stand). Knowledge that its very important to stick close with your comrades in battle. Knowledge of the properties of different troop types which your community has used or fought against recently (arrows aren't very dangerous as long as you charge quickly, thrown spears are more so, cavalry are scary but probably won't close in if you are close to your comrades, Thracians are savage and use javelins and light shields, ...). How to pick a trustworthy servant, and probably what to bring and how he should carry it. How to find a spot to build your shelter in a military camp. How to get food, oil, wine, and water in a crowded, disorderly camp. A general knowledge of military ethics, such as “its dishonourable to let foreigners ravage the territory of your community if you have any chance of fighting them” and “the population of a city that is besieged, resists, then surrenders can be enslaved”. A collection of friends' and relatives' war stories which give some idea of good or bad things to do in different situations (cp. the History skill writeup).