Grrr....Verflixt! I hate it when I miss out on fun. While the Confederate peoples are not exactly fond of the idea of going to war, they have a very proud and commendable military history--a tradition that the U.S.S.C.F. has continued, at least in the sense that their military vehicles (land, air and sea), weapons, designs and tactics/logistics have been given a full revamp/resupply/rebuilding, making them an efficient force--and the compulsory two years of Military Service to the State (starts at age 18, unless you are otherwise found unfit (physically or mentally) for service, or have the required documentations and letters of request from various officials (not gonna form the details of WHO exactly, at the moment) that prove you are either a University student, or are already doing your part for the State with consistent work ethic (many dropouts TRY to go this route, but learn too late they shouldn't have slept in class, or not studied). Approximately two-thirds of U.S.S.C.F.'s TOTAL population has served at least in one year of millitary service (six months basic training, six months advanced or, if there's a war on, 'In-field' or "Near-field" (field as in the battlefield where the front line is) training, like what the Herald went through). About a third of that fraction remain in the military (in whatever respective branch/corps./etc. they made it into), while the rest either finish their second year and move on, or are allowed early leave from their second year for excellent performance or other such reasons, including academic requests made by universities, etc. (though this does have a catch--if more troops are needed, and you got to skip your second year, you are on the list of people to be called into immediate military service at the discretion of the State). So that means 22.4 % of the current U.S.S.C.F. population (now at 1.092 billion) is almost constantly in active duty in the military. (Lesse... 0.22 x 1.092 billion = 4,875,000 men/women constantly on active duty...and this is during peacetime, keep in mind, folks).
