Ventoran Armed Forces

The  (: Fuerzes Armadas Ventoranas) are the national defense forces of Ventora. They consist of three combat branches: Army (Ejército), Navy (Armada), and Air Force (Fuerza Aerea), the Logistics Corps (Cuerpo Logístico), and, in wartime, may include the Gendarmerie (Gendarmaría). The armed forces operate as the national-level forces on active duty augmented by the ready reserve forces while performing their annual service. Outside of call-up or annual service, the majority of ready reserve forces are devolved under the peacetime control of the duchies. The duchies may use these forces, as well as their commonwealth-supplied equipment, for any lawful purpose, such as disaster response, at the expense of the duchy.

Command structure
Although members of the armed forces take an oath of fealty to the regent as, the actual commander-in-chief in wartime is the governor general. During peacetime, the senior official is the Defense Commissioner. The Defense Commission oversees the day-to-day administration and functioning of the forces. The Captains General of the branches and Logistics Corps report to the Commissioner directly. Although the Gendarmerie receives support from the armed forces, provides military police, and may be subordinated to the military during wartime, it operates under the authority of the Interior Commission during peacetime.

Reserve forces are under the peacetime control of the various duchies, distributed roughly on a basis of population. The ready reserves must maintain skills and competencies to standards set by the Defense Commission and are subject to recall for national service at the order of the governor general or by consent of the duke or duchess. Reserve unit equipment and mandatory annual service requirements are funded by the commonwealth. The duchies may use their reserves for any lawful purpose at duchy expense. Common additional services on behalf of a duchy include supporting police during special events or providing assistance in response to natural disasters and other emergency services.

Defense Staff
The Defense Staff (Estado Mayor de la Defensa) provides advice to the Defense Commissioner and his subordinate senior (branch) commanders. The staff evaluates statistical and intelligence data, assesses combat capabilities, and develops strategic and operational plans to achieve Ventora's military objectives. Captain General Lepho Luis Salomón Matos is the current Chief of the Defense Staff. Although the fourth highest ranking official for protocol purposes, the Chief of the Defense Staff is not actually in the chain of command.

Military sectors
Ground and air forces are allocated among five military sectors for administrative, defensive, and strategic capabilities purposes. Since ground and air reserve forces fall under peacetime control of the duchies, the sectors simplify mobilization in the event of need. Assignment of active duty forces within the sectors serves to facilitate oversight and coordination of reserve forces and allows for rapid defensive response of active duty forces. A general commands forces within each sector.

Army


Ground forces fall under the auspices of the army. The primary function of the army is to defend Ventora from attack by external forces. Captain General Leandro Grimaldo Señor Castro del Facer is the current Army Chief of Army Operations. Divisions provide the backbone for command and control. A regimental system with lineage and honors dating back to when armies were raised by the dukes and duchesses form the primary tactical units. The modern ground forces are well-trained and equipped, drawing their personnel from across the, not just a particular duchy.

The army is the largest of Ventora's military services in terms of personnel. There are 252,719 active duty soldiers and 1,150,077 ready reservists, of which about 67,390 are on duty at any given time to fulfill their annual duty requirement. Reserve regiments have a habitual relationship with active counterparts who form half the manpower of 30 divisions. Under this structure, 7 divisions are fully manned at any given time. An additional 4,940,676 citizens remain in the inactive reserve subject to call-up in the event of war. 

Navy


Ventora's navy is comparatively robust considering the size of the country. This is due to the country's seafaring history and traditions. The navy ensures the protection of Ventoran shipping on the high seas in addition to the seaborne defense of the homeland. Captain General Horacio Fabián Borja y Chavarría is the current Chief of Naval Operations.

With a manpower of 26,032, including about 6,300 naval infantry, the navy operates 97 ships and small craft totaling over 335000 t in displacement. The ships operate in two fleets: a high seas fleet and a coastal fleet.

The Naval Air Group operates AV-38 attack aircraft from the Florián III. The Air Group also employs a variety of helicopters and the PM-40 maritime patrol seajet.

The navy is the oldest and second smallest, in terms of personnel, of Ventora's military services. In addition to active duty personnel, the navy has 123,912 ready and 497,862 inactive reservists. Owing to its unbroken operation since 1763, it enjoys precedence in matters of protocol over the other services.

Air force


Charged with aerial defense and support to both land and sea forces, Ventora's air force has a variety of air superiority, bomber, and close air support aircraft. For example, the CM-40 seajet is a multi-role airframe capable of take-off and landing at sea or on land. It can carry cargo and troops or be outfitted with anti-ship missiles, sonobuoys, depth charges, and/or mines for anti-ship and anti-submarine roles, or bombs and missiles for ground force support. Captain General Emus Carlos Goudora Coincomento y Barcezela is the current Chief of Aerial Operations.

From a manpower perspective, the air force is the smallest of Ventora's military services at 23,100 active duty personnel. The service has 95,253 ready and 438,322 inactive reservists. Civilian employees working for the air force number 9,507.

Logistics Corps


The Logistics Corps provides support services to the combat branches and oversight of the Gendarmerie's military police operations. Key functions of the Logistics Corps include:
 * Materiel specification, acquisition, storage and distribution, maintenance and repair
 * Personnel administration, housing, feeding, transport, and medical services
 * Facilities acquisition, operation, maintenance and repair
 * Acquisition or provision of other services as needed
 * Basic and advanced military and technical training

Captain General Edmundo Desiderio Álonia Cartahuela is the current Chief of Logistics. He oversees a force of nearly 169,214 active military and 29,530 civilian personnel who see to the operation of military facilities and transport, maintenance, and supply of military equipment and personnel. To this end, Logistics Corps operates 20 support vessels with more displacement, at over 291,500 tons, than the navy's combat craft. The support vessels include landing vessels, oilers, replenishment ships, and tugs. The Logistics Corps is the second largest of the services in manpower and has the largest budget since it supports the entire military. In addition to active personnel, the Logistics Corps counts 683,137 ready and 3,363,128 inactive reservists in its manpower pool.

Personnel
Ventora's armed forces has a total manpower pool of nearly 12 million. Readily available personnel consists of 471,714 active duty and 2,053,152 ready reservists. The rest are inactive reserves who are subject to recall until age 45 but do not attend regular training. Among active duty personnel, between half and two-thirds of the force consists of personnel completing their compulsory service while the balance are career personnel. A majority of personnel above the rank of sergeant (enlisted) or captain (officer) are either careerists or long-term ready reservists.

Conscription
All citizens must complete national service upon reaching age eighteen. Service may be deferred for students in university. Military service conscripts complete 18 months of active duty. Those selected for leadership duties are subject to 24 months of active duty. A conscript with the appropriate skills and aptitude may apply for specialized roles, such as aircraft pilot, and, if selected, agree to extend their active duty obligation by the length of the training program.

After their conscript period, personnel who muster out remain ready reservists until reaching six years of service. Ready reservists are called up for three-week (four weeks for leaders) training/duty periods annually. Upon satisfying their minimum service obligation, they may become inactive reservists until age 45 or volunteer to extend their ready reserve role. There is no recurring training for inactive reservists unless recalled to active duty in the event of a national emergency. The first week of service takes place at the induction center where personnel are screened, tested, issued uniforms and equipment, and introduced to military customs and requirements.

Training
Military training is administered by the Logistics Corps who operate training installations for basic military, functional, and specialty military training. There are also training facilities for technical skills to ensure competence in the duties assigned. In addition, Logistics Corps administers the Non-Commissioned Officer School, Officer Training Center, and the Defense Academy, which provides training for staff officers from all branches.

Following induction, all citizens complete the 8-week basic military training even if they will complete national service with another agency or organization. Military personnel then attend a functional training center for specific function and skill training or take part in basic leadership or officer training, if selected for a leadership track. The length of functional training depends on the duties involved. The basic leadership course is 4 weeks long while officer training school includes the basic leadership course plus an additional 12 weeks. Non-military personnel report to their sponsoring agency or organization upon fulfilling basic military training.

After functional training, recruits undergo eight weeks of collective military training as a small unit. Basic leadership graduates serve as squad leaders and newly commissioned officers take the role of platoon leaders to provide a practical skills opportunity before proceeding to their unit of assignment.

Some specialties and highly technical training opportunities require additional commitments for qualified participants. For example, candidates for aviation pilot training must commit to 4 years of active duty and 4 years of ready reserve service. This is an additional year of active duty and an additional year of ready reserve service over and above the requirement for ordinary military service.

Equipment


The Ventoran armed forces has extensive equipment ranging from weapons, armor, artillery, aircraft, ships, and vehicles to the mundane, such as material handling equipment, food service equipment, maintenance and repair equipment, and the like. Most equipment is quite modern and rather sophisticated for a country the size of Ventora. While there is a fairly robust domestic defense industry, a number of products are manufactured or assembled under license from overseas concerns. Beyond traditional trading partners, Ventora has fostered diversity among foreign defense sources for enhanced national security purposes.

Gendarmerie
During peacetime the Gendarmerie (Gendarmería) operates as part of the Interior Commission. Nonetheless, as a, it is legally a military organization. In addition to its border protection, government security, and specialized law enforcement duties, the Gendarmerie is charged with military police duties for the armed forces.

In wartime, the Gendarmerie may be returned to functional control of the armed forces at the request of the defense commissioner.

Civil Protection Corps
Although a private, (NGO), the Civil Protection Corps (Cuerpo de Protección Civil, CPC) is not part of any government agency in Ventora. It is chartered to provide civil defense and disaster response. Thus, it works to coordinate with military authorities to enhance efficiencies and allow the organizations to complement each other in fulfilling their duties. The CPC is one of a few NGOs in which assignment may fulfill the national service obligation.