The Colonial Marine Division is the basic ground element of the Marine Space Force. It is essentially a balanced force of combat, support and service elements. Organized around three infantry regiments, the division is especially designed to execute the orbital assault mission, and is capable of sustained surface operations.
The Colonial Marine Aerospace Wing is the aerospace combat element of the Marine Space Force. Designed for aerospace support and the air mobility mission, the aerospace wing is essentially an administrative formation, since much of it's fighting strength is directly attached to the Colonial Marine division. Typically, a Marine aerospace wing operates some 300 drop ships, 30 heavy-life shuttles and 100 strikeships.
The challenge to Marine logisticians is immense; they must approach their missions with the same aggressive execution as the infantrymen in the assault. They have finite quantities of supplies at hand, yet have to operate a 'push mode' system, anticipating the needs of the forward units and moving loads to them even before they realize the need for it. Inevitably, this can lead to wastage when supplies are pushed forward to units who, for whatever reason, no longer need them; however, such waste is preferable to the disaster that can occur if supplies are not forwarded until after the need has arisen.
Because, even in a 'hot' conflict, Colonial Marine units are often dispersed in small units across continental distances, the USCM logistic prime movers are the ubiquitous UD-4 Cheyenne drop ship and the N-1 Snakefighter. In the field, the M570 all-terrain transport is the land based prime mover, with powerloaders often used on-site to offload cargoes. UNITED STATES COLONIAL MARINE CORPS AEROSPACE WING COMMAND The Colonial Marine Aerospace Wing is an administrative formation responsible for the operation of all aerospace craft within the Marine Space Force to which it is attached. Wing tasks include air superiority missions, reconnaissance, close air support, dedicated strike, forward supply, transport, casualty evacuation and search and rescue. Aerospace operations are also an integrated part of the standard Marine Infantry. A particular division is divided into three groups. Drop Groups ferry and support invading Marine Infantry. Tactical group is tasked with recon, and attack missions. Finally, the Support Group is assigned CasEvac, search and rescue, psyops, special forces insertion, and like tasks. The major workhorse of the Colonial Marine Corps is the UD-4 'Cheyenne,' compromising a majority of all three groups.
COLONIAL MARINE ASSAULT UNIT
The building block of the Colonial Marine operating forces is the Marine Assault Unit, a reinforced battalion combat team designed to operate independently in areas of deep space, far from reinforcement or logistical support. The key to the MAU is it's mobility and flexibility; an MAU incorporates it's own dedicated starlift capacity, capable of deploying the entire unit swiftly to any trouble-spot planet. This starlift capacity, which varies in size according to the mission, is tasked to supply logistics for a minimum of 30 days of ground combat operations. USASF fleet units are usually attached to the MAU to perform space control, reconnaissance and orbital bombing missions.
The line strength of an MAU is formed from two to four line infantry companies. An aerospace Drop Group and some Attack Group elements accompany the infantry complement. Each line company will usually incorporate support assets which may be attached down to the line platoons, including additional UA-571 remote sentries, M402 multiple-launch fire support mortars, HIMAT anti-tank missiles and the SIM-118 Hornet and LIM-417 Phalanx Surface-to-Air Missile systems. If sufficient starlift capacity is available, an armor company of fourteen tanks may be attached to the MAU's line strength.
The MAU is commanded by a headquarters platoon that co-ordinates the command, communication, intelligence and logistics functions of the unit. Attached to headquarters are a number of non-combat sub-units, including a logistics platoon, maintenance company and medical unit. Additional combat sub-units include a reconnaissance platoon, scout-sniper squad, combat engineering platoon and a heavy ordnance company which provides the battalion's heavy fire support and artillery guns, M201 multiple launch rockets, HIM-122 Lancer anti-ballistic missile systems and HIM-78 Sprint ground launched space weapons.
COLONIAL MARINE LOGISTICS The challenge to Marine logisticians is immense; they must approach their missions with the same aggressive execution as the infantrymen in the assault. They have finite quantities of supplies at hand, yet have to operate a 'push mode' system, anticipating the needs of the forward units and moving loads to them even before they realize the need for it. Inevitably, this can lead to wastage when supplies are pushed forward to units who, for whatever reason, no longer need them; however, such waste is preferable to the disaster that can occur if supplies are not forwarded until after the need has arisen.
Because, even in a 'hot' conflict, Colonial Marine units are often dispersed in small units across continental distances, the USCM logistic prime movers are the ubiquitous UD-4 Cheyenne drop ship and the CS-14 Briareos heavy lift shuttle. In the field, the M570 all-terrain transport is the land based prime mover, with powerloaders often used on-site to offload cargoes.
COLONIAL MARINE CORPS INFANTRY USCM doctrine stresses the need for small, autonomous infantry units capable of operating with or without higher level support on the non-linear battlefield. Given the fluid nature of battle at the small-unit level, the rifle unit must be capable of moving great distances rapidly using it's own transport, must carry its won heavy support weapons and sensors, and be able to apply great concentrations of firepower rapidly. The current organization of the Colonial Marine rifle squad and platoon reflect the ultimate development of this doctrine.
A rifle squad consists of four Marines, including a Corporal, a Lance Corporal, and two Privates / Privates First Class. Each squad divides into two-man fire teams: the Rifle Team and Gun Team. The Rifle team consists of a pair of riflemen assigned together on the 'buddy' system, both equipped with the M41 pulse-rifle. The Gun Team is made up of rifleman with an M41 and a machine gunner carrying the automatic M56 Smart Gun.
Two squads, led by a Sergeant and riding with a driver in an M577 Armored Personnel Carrier, make up a section. In a drop operation, a UD-4 drop ship is attached to the section from the aerospace company team.
Two sections, led by a lieutenant, form a rifle platoon, for a total paper strength of 25 Marines including the APC and drop ship crews - though in practice this is often less. Platoons commonly carry one or two synthetic humans in a technical or scientific advisory role, and to assist as medics or backup drivers/pilots. Organic support weaponry available to the platoon usually includes eight M240 flamethrowers, eight UA-571 remote sentry guns, two M78 PIG phased plasma guns or M5 rocket-propelled grenade launchers, eighteen M83 SADAR anti-tank smart rockets, and a single M402 multiple-launch fire-support mortars. Sufficient sensor equipment to establish an overlapping detection matrix with a frontage of 1,000 meters is also carried.
RANKS You must achieve a certain Reputation...then be endorsed by a higher-ranking official (at least two ranks higher. PCs will never meet some positions, but they are all listed so that everyone knows where they stand in the food chain: Listed from low to high:
RANK/REPUTATION RECQUIRED
- ENLISTED
Private (Aeroman)* - 0
Private 1st Class (Aeroman)* - 4
Lance Corporal (Aeroman First Class)* - 4
NON COMMISIONED
Corporal (Senior Aeroman)* - 8
Sergeant - 15
Staff Sergeant - 10
Gunnery Sergeant - 10
First Sergeant - 10
Sergeant Major - 10
COMMISIONED
Second Lieutenant - 32
First Lieutenant - 12
Captain - 12
Major - 40
Lieutenant Colonel - 15
Colonel - 15
This is not a cost value. When your reputation reaches this number, you are eligible. To get the rank, you must be sponsored by either another character three ranks higher or by a NPC of higher rank. It is GM's discretion depending on if the PC has gotten someone’s attention. The Character will continue to earn Reputation but the GM should have a very good reason if the requirement for promotion is half than the PCs current reputation.
When the new rank is achieved, the Reputation is set to zero (Remember your MEMBERSHIP in the CMC increases as ranks get higher—see Character Generation) and the PC must start earning again. Remember than if a Career Non-Com want to pursue a Commissioned rank, he/she bust be busted down…all reputation is lost when this happens.
GMs can award Reputation points for acts of bravery or for volunteering for hazardous duty. Most rewards should hover around 2 to 5 for REALLY amazing acts of loyalty or bravery. You CANNOT trade Reputation for OP but you can trade OP for reputation on a 1:1 basis.
After each adventure, the GM should award REPUTATION. The average should be 1 or 2…or even 0. Not every fight needs an award. Some secret missions are so black-bordered that it doesn’t technically exist. No credit can be awards. Also, the GM is more than allowed to award ½ or even ¼ points for small advances. Single sortie missions aren’t much but can add up after a while.
I. LAW OF WAR
Discipline in combat is essential. Disobedience to the law of war dishonors the Nation, the Marine Corps, and the individual Marine, and far from weakening the enemy's will to fight, it strengthens it. The following principles require the Marine's adherence in the accomplishment of any mission. Violations have an adverse impact on public opinion both national and international and have on occasion served to prolong conflict by inciting an opponent to continue resistance and in most cases constitute violations of the UCMJ. Violations of these principles prejudice the good order and discipline essential to success in combat.
1. Marines fight only enemy combatants.
2. Marines do not harm enemies who surrender. They must disarm them and turn them over to their superior.
3. Marines do not kill or torture prisoners.
4. Marines collect and care for the wounded, whether friend or foe.
5. Marines do not attack medical personnel, facilities, or equipment.
6. Marines destroy no more than the mission requires.
7. Marines treat all civilians humanely.
8. Marines do not steal. Marines respect private property and possessions.
9. Marines should do their best to prevent violations of the law of war. They must report all violations of the law of war to their superior.
http://serenadawn.com/Alien-CMC.htm This is where I have gotten most of my information from for the game.
