#militaristic

I kinda wanna do another Weiss redesign with a more militaristic look. All photos/references are from Pinterest. Tagging @thatguythatdrawsalot because they might like it (and hopefully give me some advice).

As it is Wednesday, the 1st of November, I'd love to provide my promised Worldbuilding Prompt, just for you!

Please talk to me about your military, if you don't mind! Picking a specific force to stick with, I'm curious if you have any militaries which do a lot of work with non-military government organisations?

Oooh this is a good one!! I don't get much excuse to talk about the militaries.

Okay, so for this I'll go with the Heavusian military since they're the most fleshed out.

And just to get a little extra worldbuilding in, I'll list the ranks and branches in Dornumite, with their English translations in parentheses. Pronunciations will be in brackets.

Heavusian (Dornumite) Military Basics

Heavusian military is very simplified when put to paper as the essential information, but becomes more complex as you go through it properly.

There are three branches and six, universal, ranks. A soldier chooses their branch when enlisting, and is given several aptitude tests which designate them for their starting rank, as well as their role within their chosen branch.

These aptitude tests include: marksmanship, mathematics, mechanical engineering, language comprehension, computer science, electronics information, world knowledge, geography, geometry, mechanical comprehension, word knowledge, electronics information, divine powerset (a test to determine one's Blessing and how it is triggered and used), and general retention skills.

A soldier may be promoted based on time served or performance in their rank, and may be listed as Do Not Promote for a number of reasons, which include but are not limited to

Incapable of higher duties

Consistently fails to meet standard performance for current Rank

Psychological instability (depending on severity can also be cause for termination)

Protection of Interests (used to prevent a crucial individual from being removed from the duties they are necessary for, or to prevent an individual with specialized, classified knowledge from being promoted to another area of operation where that knowledge may be compromised)

Any species may enlist, save for tribrids which, as those familiar with Dornum's policies will know, are executed on-sight.

Ranks

Rikante (Recruit) [R-ih-k-on-t-ay] - A recruit is an enlisted soldier who has not yet completed training. From the moment you enlist to the moment you graduate from training your rank is Recruit. Seniority does not apply to Recruits, and those hours away from graduating are still seen as no better than those who arrived on base moments ago. Recruits are given menial tasks and minimal responsibility, with their jobs on base often consisting of cleaning, cooking, and general upkeep of their living quarters. Time not spent performing a task for the betterment of the base MUST be spent training except during sleeping hours.

Fizare (Officer) [F-iz-arr-ay] - An officer is an enlisted soldier who has completed training and failed to exceed average expectations. They are assigned to a role based on their highest scores in the aptitude test, and placed under the command of a higher ranking soldier. There will typically be nine Fizare to one commanding soldier of the next rank. This grouping is known as a Dermala (literally meaning "ten man") [D-err-m-uh-l-uh]. Fizare are often seen as the "workforce" of the military, performing jobs alongside Recruits, as well as deliveries between bases, repairmen (small arms and vehicular), and general combat scenarios. Seniority is based on time served, with the military officially recognizing Fizare who have served for certain amounts of time as superior, with Fizare gaining a tally mark across their insignia for each year served as Fizare, denoting their experience to others quickly and easily. This has led to nicknames within the ranks such as "unscratched", "one-scratch", "two-scratch", etc. It is customary that, should a Fizare gain ten tally-marks, they be promoted immediately via Seniority Promotion, unless there is significant reasoning not to do so.

Vorokan (Warden) [V-or-oh-k-ah-n] - Vorokan are those who have either completed training with higher than average scores in three or more fields, or have proven themselves to be above average in their field as a Fizare. Vorokan are often in charge of a Dermala, and given leadership roles over Fizare. They are never asked to work alongside Recruits, with Vorokan duties often consisting of repairmen (small arms, large arms, vehicular, and general machinery), leading small combat operations (in tandem with other Vorokan and their Dermala), low-risk scouting missions, and deliveries from bases to leadership strongholds. Vorokan seniority is, like all ranks Fizare and above, based on time served and is denoted by tally marks on their insignia. Unlike Fizare, Vorokan and all ranks above it only require five tally marks to be given Seniority Promotion.

Karlemala (literally "Career Man") [K-arr-l-m-uh-l-uh] - Karlemala are high ranking soldiers that have either earned their place through years of service, significantly higher performance than the average Vorokan, or those who scored exceptionally well in six or more fields on the aptitude tests. They are tasked with leadership roles in their assigned fields, be that combat, strategy formation, engineering, scouting, or base operations. Karlemala are also tasked with commanding a Cigogarva (literally "Five Group") [See-go-g-arr-v-ah] which is comprised of five Dermala. The Cigogarva that Karlemala are in charge of are invariably designated to perform a task the Karlemala scored exceptionally well on during performance evaluations, training, and the aptitude tests. Karlemala duties consist of ensuring Vorokan perform their tasks to standard expectations or better, as well as training and preparing them for potential scenarios that are likely to be encountered by the Cigogarva or the Vorokan's Dermala. Karlemala are also given the responsibility of evaluating Fizare and Vorokan for performance worthy of promotion, and charged with evaluating them as "DNP", or "Do Not Promote", a special evaluation which permanently prevents an individual from exceeding their current rank.

Zolura (Warlord) [Z-oh-l-yoo-r-uh] - Zolura are those who scored exceptionally well on nine or more fields during the aptitude test, have been promoted due to exceptional performance as a Karlemala, or have served as a Karlemala for five years. Zolura are charged with duties such as training Rikante, furthering the skills and studies of Karlemala to prepare them for promotion, leading Hekgarva (literally "Three Group") which are comprised of three Cigogarvas, high-risk scouting missions, and large-scale combat scenarios. Zolura are also tasked with evaluating Karlemala under their command for early promotion or application of the DNP status. Zolura make up the strategists and high-end leadership roles within the military, and are seen as the penultimate symbol of war within the Heavusian military.

Akkdian (literally "Archdevil") [Ah-k-d-ee-ah-n] - Akkdian are the highest level of leadership within the Heavusian military, with only two ways to earn the rank. You must either be a Heavusi who has served as a Zolura for five years and does not hold DNP status, or you must pass with the maximum possible score in every field of the aptitude test, as well as show exemplary performance in all fields as determined by the Zolura overseeing training. In the case of the latter, you must pass a second aptitude test with a score of 90 points (out of 100) or more. The second aptitude test consists of mock combat scenarios both large and small scale, real-time strategy simulations, complex decision-making tests with various possible outcomes, and a series of firing range and killhouse exercises placing the potential Akkdian in difficult and rapid-paced scenarios to test their judgement, instincts, and reasoning. This second test is administered and scored by a team of five existing Akkdian, each scoring the potential Akkdian individually. The soldier's final score is the average of the scores given by each administering Akkdian, and this average must be 90 or higher to pass and be given the rank of Akkdian. Failure means being Ranked at Zolura, until such time they are able to pass (taking the second test once per year) or are listed as DNP. Akkdian are the generals of the Heavusian military, leading their operations at the largest scale, and are expected to perform vastly above their peers at all times. They have absolute authority, with the only higher command being the Heavusian Council in the capitol city of Dornum.

Branches

Gaiavantin (Grounders, literal meaning "Ground Walkers") [G-eye-uh-v-an-t-in]

Gaiavantin are the infantry and foot soldiers, comprised of any and all species, be they mammalian, reptilian, aquatic, flight-or-glide capable, Mundane, or Mythic.

The Gaiavantin work with both of the other branches on recon/scouting missions, search-and-rescue, general combat, infiltration, and their individual duties often consist of coordinating efforts in combat with the other branches, as well as taking the lead in destabilization efforts and all ground-based warfare.

Yinrudin (literal meaning "Wind Riders") [Y-in-r-oo-d-ah-ss]

Yinrudin are the air force, comprising of exclusively flight-and-glide-capable species such as Heavusi, birds, bats, flying squirrels, sugar gliders, etc.

Yinrudin are often recon/scouts, and those serving as pilots of planes, jets, and helicopters are typically charged with working as air support for the other branches. Yinrudin also serve as search-and-rescue for all branches, which has earned them the nickname "Kandurin" [K-ah-n-d-oo-r-uh-ss], meaning "Guardians".

Otezanin (literal meaning "Oceanics") [Oh-t-eh-z-ah-n-in]

Otezanin are the naval force of the Heavusian military. They are exclusively aquatic and semi-aquatic species such as Heavusi, sharks, orcas, whales, sharks, and various amphibian species.

Otezanin typically provide safe landing for Yinrudin off-shore, naval transport for Gaiavantin, naval support in combat via naval artillery and anti-air, as well as serving in stealth operations involving aquatic transport by submarine. Otezanin also serve alongside Yinrudin on ocean-based search-and-rescue operations. Their individual duties often consist of coordinating efforts in combat with the other branches, as well as taking the lead in water-based warfare.

Work with Non-Military Organizations

The Heavusian Military works directly under the command of the Heavusian Council, a political faction that controls Dornum. The Council is not a militaristic group, with the council as a whole serving a similar role to a King, simply split among several individuals working as a political whole.

The Council has also dictated that the Heavusian Military is beneath the BGP (Bureau of Genetic Purity, a group dedicated to enforcing the extermination and prejudice against Tribrids in Dornum) in authority, with the Bureau often calling in entire Cigogarvas of Gaiavantin soldiers to aid in large-scale sweeps during their irregular tribrid hunts.

Closing Notes

"crecer con cariño" (army version)

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There  is no on/off switch. Democracy, it turns out, is on a dimmer.