The RSF Regiment

Sic itur ad astra "Thus one journeys to the stars"

Much like the RAF Regiment the RSF Regiment is the army type arm of the Royal Space Force. A type of Space Infantry who can fight off-world, in space, and in some of the most hostile planets you can imagine. The new RSF regiment needed to be agile, capable, and adaptable; work autonomously from UK control and provide their own in-house support and have soldiers that have the ability of independent initiative.

When setting up the new unit the RSF turned to Captain Ashley Dyer from the Royal marines. Captain dyer had already put in place many reforms to the British Army, streamlining the command structure and stopping direct entrant officers. His plan was similar for the RSF. There were a few remits that had to be met;

  • The new Regiment needed to be completely self sufficient.
  • All equipment needed to be able to be moved quickly from orbit.
  • Each Regiment should have their own air, engineering, and medical units.
  • Each Regiment should be self contained.
  • Ground bases needed to be portable and capable of operating in adverse atmospheres.


Organisation

The new 2060 all arms military organisation was much leaner and more flexible than the previous structure. It needed to allow for forces operating many years away without ready contact with the higher authorities. The new RSF Regiment falls predominantly under the banner of  Space Command but sometimes fulfils a role on Earth under Land Comman

Defence Department

Executive control, management, and administration. An all civilian organisation lead by the commonwealth citizens.

Armed Services

Split in to Navy, Army, Royal Air Force, Royal Space Force, and Phoenix Legion. The Internal Security Forces also come under this banner but operate a different structure to that given below.

Commands

  • Land Command
    • Forces operating on land. Includes Army, amphibious, and air assets as required
  • Sea Command
    • Naval assets
      • Fleet command
      • Surface Survey command
  • Air Command
    • Orbital and air assets
  • Space Command
    • Solar and extra solar assets
      • Group command
      • Station command
      • Survey command
      • Colony command
      • Discovery command

Regiment

The RSF regiment is split into various Regiments. In much the same way as the Phoenix Legion refers to the overall as just 'The Legion' it is split in to other Legions which are also referred to as 'Legion' without the 'The'. A single Regiment is made up of 10 Cohorts with an HQ and Admin section. 

At full strength it is made up of 10 cohorts with the first cohort twice the size of the others. A headquarters, Intelligence unit, and an administration section are also attached to each regiment.

Cohort

A regiment is split in to 10 cohorts.

  • 1st cohort - double strength infantry squadron
  • 2nd cohort - standard infantry squadron
  • 3rd cohort - standard infantry squadron
  • 4th cohort - standard infantry squadron
  • 5th cohort - standard infantry squadron
  • 6th cohort - standard infantry squadron
  • 7th cohort - Heavy armour
  • 8th cohort - Engineering
  • 9th cohort - Air wing
  • 10th cohort - medical

Squadron

Cohorts 2-6 each have three squadrons, the 1st cohort has six squadrons. The 7th and 8th cohorts each have one squadron made up of 50 soldiers. The 9th cohort air wing also has the one squadron of 30 soldiers. The 10th cohort is made up of a single squadron of 50 soldiers. These medical personnel are commonly split between the other cohorts.

All infantry squadrons are fully mechanised and armoured. Each has their own APC/IFV and are drop capable.

Three sections make up a squadron. This is the standard small unit of a regiment.

Section

Three squads make up a section. This is the most commonly deployed unit for small scale operations.

Squad

Two Rifle teams of four soldiers make up a squad. This is usually the smallest unit that is sent anywhere.

Rifle Team

Two soldiers make a Rifle Team.

Lancer

The standard operational combat grade.

Private

The lowest rank. Everybody in the new military starts here and completes their training.

Training

With the advent of citizenship voting the military needed to ensure that they only trained dedicated personnel. Everyone within the commonwealth could apply to join the military. A new 3 month All Arms Selection course would be employed to help in weeding out the undesirables. All arms of the commonwealth's armed forces undertake basic training. This ensures that all members of the armed forces have some small arms skills and drills.

  • All Arms Selection Course - 3 months
    • basic drills
    • small arms
    • armoured suit assessment
    • flight assessment
    • aquatic assessment
    • space assessment
    • physical training

The new All arms selection course is unlike any previous basic training A recruit can leave at any time, no explanation needed. either of their own volition or instructors recommendation. Yes there are still room inspections but not to the degree of old inspections. The recruit is expected to keep themselves clean and to look after and service their equipment. They are also expected to look after one another.

I couldn't believe the amount of food they had on offer. We stuffed so much on those first couple of days I thought that I was going to pop! That was until that first run on the third day. I don't think that there was anyone who didn't throw up everything they had eaten! Certainly stopped me eating excessive amounts I can tell you.

When a recruit signs on they are transferred to one of the Commonwealth all arms selection training camps. On arrival they are assigned to a barrack block, four to a room. This is their new squad. As recruits leave the remaining recruits are moved up to fill the spaces. This enables them to work with different people and tests their adaptability.

You are only allowed one small bag for personal possessions. With all of the moving around you soon realise you don't need most of that shit anyway.

Upon completion of all arms training, which has a 60% failure rate, the new recruits are given their assignments; Navy, Army, RAF, or RSF. They then go on to complete training in their relative arm of the military. Upon completion of their primary training the recruits time in service starts and they become a private.

Think, Adapt, Accomplish.

The RSF Regiment course last 2 years in all. The first six months is carried out on Mars. This course is designed to give the soldier the skills required to work off-world. The main role of the Regiment course is to train the soldier in space operations. Low gravity and spacesuit combat requires a special skill set that needs a hell of a lot of practice to accomplish efficiently.

Always leave your enemy an out. An enemy with nothing to lose by surrendering, will fight to the death, and is a far deadlier opponent.

The following year is carried out on a variety of RSF starcraft. This course is designed to train the soldier in EVA and shipboard operations. The RSF regiment assists the RSF Spacehands when stationed in an Scraft. This part of the course is similar to the RSF initial course.

What they don't tell you is that the majority of that year is spent in a spacesuit!

The last 6 months is carried out alongside operational instructors before being signed off as a full Lancer.

Additional skills include;

  • Low orbit freefall drops
  • Engineering operations
  • Armoured vehicle operations

Operations

Due to the RSF Regiments diverse nature of operations a single RSF Regiment has all that it needs to carryout operations. From space patrols to peacekeeping missions. A variety of equipment is carried and the RSF regiment needs people trained in its use. This makes the RSF regiment one of the most multi-skilled trained units in the British Military.

Transportation

Each RSF Regiment is based on board one of the Vanguard class Scraft. As they are a highly mobile force trained to fight on any planet the RSF Regiment is independent. The Vanguard provides their logistics, supplies, and transportation.

When it comes to a long term planetary deployment the RSF regiment uses mobile base modules including transportable bases, ISO container buildings, Inflatable shelters, and other air transportable equipment. This ensures that a RSF Regiment can quickly deploy to a planet and set up camp in the shortest possible time.

Gone are the days of light vehicles with no armour. All operations are carried out with air and drop transportable Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) and Wraith Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV). These smaller vehicle can be loaded in containers. Larger vehicles such as Spectre MBTs are loaded on to container racks for transportation.

Each squadrons engineering section has two engineering Eidolon tracked APC fitted with a 180 degree side hoe and 4-way front bucket. The engineers are also responsible for transportation of support equipment.

The air wing provide aerial close support, dropship pilots, and service equipment.

Career Progression

All soldiers start as a Private. After 2 years of operational duty they are eligible for promotion. There are no direct entrant Officers nor fast track to promotion. A soldier needs to complete 2 years at each rank before they are eligible for upward progression to the next rank. All ranks are trained at least one rank above their current rank. this ensures that a unit can continue to operate should the higher rank be lost.

Ranks

  • OR-1 Private
  • OR-2 Lancer
  • OR-3 Lance Corporal (squad leader and section 2IC)
  • OR-4 Corporal (section leader)
  • OR-6 Lance Sergeant (1st section 2IC)
  • OR-7 Sergeant (squadron leader and 1st section leader)
  • OR-9 Squadron Sergeant (Senior squadron leader and leader of 1st squadron)
  • OF-2 Lieutenant (cohort leader)
  • OF-3 Captain (1st cohort 2IC)
  • OF-4 Major (1st cohort leader)
  • OF-6 Regimental Sergeant Major (regiment commanding officer)
  • OF-7 Colonel (command 2IC)
  • OF-8 Brigadier (command leader)
  • OF-9 General of the Navy/Army/RAF/RSF
  • OF-10 Field Marshal (All Arms commander) 

Generally OF-7 and above are staff officers and are not deployed with a regiment. The RSM is the highest ranking officer and will always deploy with their regiment.

Putting the RSM in charge doesn't seem to make much difference. We all thought that the RSM was in charge anyways. They're the only one we would take any notice of anyway!

Pay

Pay is an unusual system. Although a soldier is being paid they don't actually receive anything. Everything that they need is available freely using their government ID. Instead when a soldier leaves after their term of service they receive a pay bonus which is their pay in a lump sum.

This sounds great! But in practice they pay a reduced rate when you are travelling between deployments. Your asleep most of the time anyway so you can see why. Mind you, they do pay your family an allowance back home whilst you are away. It's only after a couple of deployments you realise that you may never see them again what with the time dilation and everything!

Special Forces

The RSF has a few special forces these include;

  • The Special Space Cohort (SSC)
  • Pathfinder Cohort

Special Space Cohort

The SSC is the RSF's version of the SAS and SBS. They undertake the same initial induction course, and in the same way that the SBS split up to undertake their own training, so do the SSC. The SSC are tasked with a variety of space based operations as well as many ground based.

Pathfinder Cohort

Pathfinders are a very specialised group. Commonly operating in squads, or bricks of four Lancers and either attached to other Regiments or deployed to small craft as a single team. They are tasked with long-range support and extra-solar reconnaissance. Many Phoenix Legionnaires make up the Pathfinder Cohort.

Copyright RSF