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Author Topic: Militia Organization  (Read 1572 times)

Offline Delfos

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Militia Organization
« on: March 18, 2015, 12:36:30 PM »
Just so I'm not reported for hijacking, I'll continue this here for those wanting to discuss it. The rest of this discussion is here (link).
My previous post on the "Legality of Military Actions conducted without Citizen-Sergeant" thread sums up what I've been talking about, you can read here (link).
In the following quote I transcribe certain bits for proper context:
(...) Bustos is a toilet scrubber and he has to scrub toilets. (...) traditional military hierarchy. That's fine, but I think as a revolutionary value of equality and all that, maybe we shouldn't make a "toilet scrubber" title and force them to toilet scrub, if you know what I mean.

(...) None of what you described requires ranks, we generally discuss militia matters informally and people justify them regardless of ranks, that is a good approach, very like what I proposed as a "Syndicalized" or "ad hoc" militia. If people can see the merit in those proposals I will certainly support or write an amendment.

(...) I just think sometimes we, the militia, do operations for the slightest of reasons. Maybe the above mentioned discussion should be mandatory even if only within the militia in IRC. Maybe even a simple vote within IRC would totally satisfy me and make me say I'm proud for the "work" we're doing.

(...) organized on the spot and executed by those in favor. Those against may bring the operation in question to, what in our current system would most likely fit, the Ecclesia. In a way, we've been doing that, again there's no need for ranks or "orders", it's just more interpretive of free will if it's organized in a more participative way. Participative Democracy ftw.

Kinda like this: (Link to past discussion)

(...) a citizen doesn't have to be in "our" militia to participate, and as a principle maybe we shouldn't also block anyone that isn't a citizen either, like a foreign dignitary or a random friend from another region wanting to participate on a militia operation with us. Make it more Participatory is what I mean.

Quote
I think it should arise on need, as it has been for many of them, organized on the spot and executed by those in favor. Those against may bring the operation in question to, what in our current system would most likely fit, the Ecclesia. In a way, we've been doing that, again there's no need for ranks or "orders", it's just more interpretive of free will if it's organized in a more participative way.

My perspective on this probably isn't worth much (since I'm not at all involved in the militia, and barely in the Ecclesia at all), but I'd like to offer at least a few words to the discussion.

So long as the active members of the militia feel the need for occasional deployment, there will be some kind of standing structure to the organization. Establishing the militia provides transparency, accountability and official representation to what would exist anyway. An 'ad hoc' militia would be somewhat confusing (and if I recall, that's what we had before the Act, more or less, and it was confusing).

The ranks may be pulled from 'traditional military hierarchy' but legally speaking they don't carry that much weight (Citizen-Sergeant aside). It's a way of adding flavor to the organization, aesthetics consistent with the revolutionary theme even if it doesn't follow to the egalitarian aspect. So long as that hierarchy doesn't begin to contradict the actual structure of the government/militia/etc., the titles are fine. Drawing purely from strict egalitarianism is, frankly, rather dry.
Ah but you see, this is exactly what happens, it doesn't matter ranks or where the "order" comes from, there were even decisions last night to end Madrigal that weren't done with the Sergeant so why have pretend titles so people can feel good about them and pin them as medals? Just for fun? If it's just for fun, I don't want to be accused of wanting to stop fun, lol. I think they are useless while there is and always will be people with more contacts and connections, it'll naturally occur without ranks that those will ultimately lead without needing a Citizen-Sergeant to ghost them. hm yes this could as well be against the fact we have a Citizen-Sergeant but it's not something I find achievable to campaign for, I'm just talking about military ranks and supposed hierarchy.

If you'd like to ban titles within the militia or impose some sort of equality on the structure that the Sergeant (or whoever leads the militia) cannot override, it may be worth opening a new thread. If you'd also like to eliminate the Sergeant altogether then that's a more fundamental change that would also warrant its own thread.

Cool, but eliminating the Sergeant isn't something we're prepared for. Ranks are just pin medals and they are detrimental to our revolutionary comradeship: the recent lashing of Bustos for not following "Militia orders" was clearly a class evidence, grunt may not do what he wants, grunt that does isn't a proper militiaman. Without ranks I doubt this would happen.

I've had Cormac run operations even before he was an "officer", a good point against them ranks? (Cormac may not be the best example given recent events lol) Anyway, this as a positive example against ranks and Bustos' walk of shame as a negative example of ranks should suffice to make my point, a more simple and participatory approach is really something our revolutionary values should uphold.

I propose an amendment to the Militia Act
Quote from: Militia Act
III. Militia shall be organized.
    1. The Citizen-Sergeant shall delineate rank and responsibility within the Militia..

Quote from: Amendment
1. The command channel is where our Militia will organize it's operations.
2. The Citizen-Sergeant can delegate responsibility within the Militia.
3. All participating in the operations are equal and cannot be discriminated through rank or service.
4. Participating in operations may include foreign agents deemed trustworthy by those in the command channel.

idk if 1 should mention the IRC Channel or if that's a security risk or how to make it more defined. Anyway, I said I was bad at writing laws, you guys told me this already, so feel free to discuss changes.

Offline Delfos

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Re: Militia Organization
« Reply #1 on: March 20, 2015, 11:10:51 AM »
btw I'm conducting a study on proposing legislation >:D

Offline Eluvatar

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Re: Militia Organization
« Reply #2 on: March 21, 2015, 08:17:42 AM »
The problem with (4) is how to interpret it. Is deeming trustworthy by unanimity? By majority? Does it include the foreign agents? Does it include people who join without being invited?
                                 
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Offline Delfos

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Re: Militia Organization
« Reply #3 on: March 21, 2015, 08:45:56 AM »
I don't see any other way unless Citizen-Sergeant is omni-present.
Concepts:
- make the command channel a key part of the militia's organization (instead of relying on ranks)
- open the militia to participatory values (Asta is always then why not vote?)

I guess it could be a vote by majority that includes everybody in the channel but not the "foreign agent".
Regarding inviting and uninvited people, IRC has proper commands to deal with that, we can lock the channel and rely on invites and "white" lists.

Offline Khem

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Re: Militia Organization
« Reply #4 on: March 21, 2015, 03:44:53 PM »
I appreciate the attempt for bringing egalitarian ideals to the militia, however I am not one of them so it is difficult to say whether or not such should be enforced with them. I would love to hear from more militia members about this.

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Offline Myroria

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Re: Militia Organization
« Reply #5 on: March 21, 2015, 06:50:53 PM »
I think this is an excellent draft, but I will not be voting for it.
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Offline Hendrix

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Re: Militia Organization
« Reply #6 on: April 10, 2015, 11:19:20 AM »
Would it not be slightly more prudent to organise this on a more NATO like scale.

Whilst we dont have any standing threat of invasion, we could all do with co-operation on a myriad of military matters.

Organisation into the Militia should be aimed at Regional protection and mutual defence as well as strengthening individual nations by broadening their own capabilities and experiences.

Form a Rapid Reaction Corps, in which contributing nations send a specific unit be it battalion, brigade or division over a certain ammout of time, Self commanded. We all know that troops are adverse to following the orders of foreign senior officers.

Form a joint training and dvelopment Command, hosted by one nation for a period of time, specialising. For example, TUFM has a large Steppe in the North which borders on Tundra, a Winter Warfare Course could be held there, nations with Good officer training can host officer training cadres in their nations etc.

Form a Joint intelligence service in which all information on terror and possibile infiltration is shared.

Form a larger Reserve. Forces kept on Sovereign soil but earmarked for immediate deployment to the scene of a crisis, be it a natural disaster, terrorist attack or outright invasion.

Command of each of the above given to an individual nation - who will also staff it on a senior level, rotating every few months.

These are just thoughts, I'd also look at the name, the term 'militia' implies these are not professional soldiers, whereas in the majority of nations not only are they professional, but they are career minded.

my two penneth.

Offline Myroria

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Re: Militia Organization
« Reply #7 on: April 10, 2015, 01:31:07 PM »
That's an excellent idea for an RP, but the Taijitu Militia is a formation of NationStates gameplay. People use puppet nations that are in the World Assembly to defend delegates of founderless regions from invasion by people who would send their own puppet nations in and take it over.

The argument Delfos was making is "should the Militia have ranks?". The debate is whether or not the Citizen-Sergeant should have the ability to delegate responsibility for orders to subordinates.
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Offline Hendrix

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Re: Militia Organization
« Reply #8 on: April 10, 2015, 01:52:49 PM »
ahhh i see!

But what would the ranks represent?

Offline Myroria

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Re: Militia Organization
« Reply #9 on: April 10, 2015, 02:31:36 PM »
Generally we use ranks to delineate authority. The bottom is sans-culottes, named after the rabid revolutionary citizenry of France during the Revolution. Above that is lancepesade, equivalent to lance-corporal. Then corporal, then Citizen-Sergeant, which is an elected position. For example - if a corporal notices that a region needs to be liberated from raiders but the Sergeant isn't around, they are authorized to tell lower ranks to participate if they can and to organize the lib.

Delfos would prefer a more loose, syndicalist militia where people vote on what operations to do.
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Offline Hendrix

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Re: Militia Organization
« Reply #10 on: April 10, 2015, 02:55:36 PM »
OKay, sounds complicated.

Also, I would consider starting a little higher up - A Lance corporal is generally in charge of 4 men. Wheras here to add legitamacy the starting for someone doing something as high would be at the very least a Brigadier.

just my two sense, it looks odd a Corporal ordering stuff like that etc.

Offline Funkadelia

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Re: Militia Organization
« Reply #11 on: April 10, 2015, 04:22:00 PM »
OKay, sounds complicated.

Also, I would consider starting a little higher up - A Lance corporal is generally in charge of 4 men. Wheras here to add legitamacy the starting for someone doing something as high would be at the very least a Brigadier.

just my two sense, it looks odd a Corporal ordering stuff like that etc.
In the name of egalitarianism, we do not have any ranks higher than a Sergeant. We formed more ranks accordingly.
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