Post by Shadow`X on Sept 5, 2009 21:36:46 GMT -5
THE UNITED STATES COLONIAL MARINES
The United States Colonial Marine Corps is America’s interstellar force-in-readiness. This role, distinct from that of the US Army, stems from the country’s position as a starfaring, colonizing power, and its leading role within the structure of the United Americas. Though the term “marine” has its roots in describing a soldier who fought from ships at sea, in the modern era it has become synonymous with those elite forces of soldiers who are always ready to fight, regardless of their nation’s readiness for war, and who are capable of operating far from their home soil. The Colonial Marine Corps has a dual responsibility - first, to serve on land, on sea, in air, and in space; second, to exploit the advantages of readiness and interstellar deployment capability.
The capability to project power across the vast reaches of space to the surface of a distant world is an essential element of national strategy. Colonial Marine forces, operating with the space fleet, are the nation’s only major means to forcibly enter any hostile area from space. They are an independent combined force having all the elements of combat power. Their versatility and responsiveness add a significant dimension to the options available to the National Command Authority in time of crisis.
The National Security Act of 2101 established the Colonial Marine structure as four combat divisions and four aerospace wings, plus the support services organic to these formations. At the time of fiscal year (FY) 2179, Colonial Marine Corps strength stood at 165,000 Marines; roughly the same figure as at the turn of the 22nd century, though this has declined from a peak of 240,000 in FY 2165 at the end of the Tientsin (8 Eta Bootis A III) campaign. Reserve manpower stands at around 50,000, comprising a fifth division and aerospace wing.
The USCM is fully integrated into the joint command structure of the United Americas Allied Command (UAAC) and forms the major striking element of the UA forces. Within the UAAC, the Colonial Marines Corps is tasked with maintaining the collective security of all UA signatories and their recognized interstellar colonies within the frontiers of the Network. Operating in tandem with local forces, the USCM is often the first line of defense and the vanguard of any counterattack.
The United States Colonial Marine Corps is America’s interstellar force-in-readiness. This role, distinct from that of the US Army, stems from the country’s position as a starfaring, colonizing power, and its leading role within the structure of the United Americas. Though the term “marine” has its roots in describing a soldier who fought from ships at sea, in the modern era it has become synonymous with those elite forces of soldiers who are always ready to fight, regardless of their nation’s readiness for war, and who are capable of operating far from their home soil. The Colonial Marine Corps has a dual responsibility - first, to serve on land, on sea, in air, and in space; second, to exploit the advantages of readiness and interstellar deployment capability.
The capability to project power across the vast reaches of space to the surface of a distant world is an essential element of national strategy. Colonial Marine forces, operating with the space fleet, are the nation’s only major means to forcibly enter any hostile area from space. They are an independent combined force having all the elements of combat power. Their versatility and responsiveness add a significant dimension to the options available to the National Command Authority in time of crisis.
The National Security Act of 2101 established the Colonial Marine structure as four combat divisions and four aerospace wings, plus the support services organic to these formations. At the time of fiscal year (FY) 2179, Colonial Marine Corps strength stood at 165,000 Marines; roughly the same figure as at the turn of the 22nd century, though this has declined from a peak of 240,000 in FY 2165 at the end of the Tientsin (8 Eta Bootis A III) campaign. Reserve manpower stands at around 50,000, comprising a fifth division and aerospace wing.
The USCM is fully integrated into the joint command structure of the United Americas Allied Command (UAAC) and forms the major striking element of the UA forces. Within the UAAC, the Colonial Marines Corps is tasked with maintaining the collective security of all UA signatories and their recognized interstellar colonies within the frontiers of the Network. Operating in tandem with local forces, the USCM is often the first line of defense and the vanguard of any counterattack.