Onaway National Defense Forces

The Onaway National Defense Forces (ONDF; : Fórsaí Cosanta Náisiúnta Ónaivéingeasa, FCNO; : Zhimaaganishii a'Onaweiyaa, ZaO) are the unified armed forces of Onaway and the nation's civil administration. According to the Commonwealth Defense Organizational Act, the official description of the ONDF states "The Onawean Forces are the armed forces raised by His Majesty the High Chief kept and maintained by the Onawean nation, consisting of a single, unified service known as the Onaway National Defense Forces."

This unified service is composed of land, sea, and air elements referred to as the Federal Army, Onawean Navy, and Onawean Air Force, respectively. Additionally, the ONDF is composed of the Commonwealth Guard, which oversees domestic emergency relief and public order needs, and the Commonwealth Rangers, the nation's. Personnel may belong either to Regular or Reserve Forces within their respective branch. The nation's reserves are composed of three sub-components: the Primary Reserve, Secondary Reserve, and the Cadets Organizations and Reserves-in-Training Service. Under the Commonwealth Defense Organizational Act, the ONDF is a separate, distinct entity from the National Defense Bureau, which serves as the civilian support system for the ONDF and the federal-level department responsible for the administration and formation of defense policy in Onaway. At present, the ONDF is composed of an estimated 176,081 active duty members of the Forces, and 89,069 in reserves.

The ONDF's is nominally the reigning High Chief Mingan VI, though in practice they share this duty with the Chancellor. It is overseen by the National Defense Secretary, and led by the Chair of the General Staff, which is further assisted by the Unified Defense Forces Council.

History

 * Main article: Military history of Onaway
 * ''See also: History of the Federal Army, History of the Onawean Navy, History of the Onawean Air Force

Pre-1546

 * Main articles: Onawean-Velorencian War, Onawean War of Resistance

After the invasion, occupation, and dissolution of the First Kingdom of Onaway by invading forces from the Velorencian Empire, the remaining members of the Hereditary Chiefs were able to establish a network of underground resistance fighters and militia groups against the occupation forces. These operations were nominally based in the Myrish town of Helsingfed, the territorial capital of Helsingfed and Salme, where the Chiefs were given protection by the Myrish crown. This was composed largely of the remnants of the levies from the and  tribes, among other indigenous groups, as well as  and  persons both part of the defunct Army and the general public, and later, armed contingents of organized labor among white Onaweans, even the settled Florencian populations. Some of these units were continuations of formations created prior to the destruction of the First Kingdom, and many more were novel, local entities - often with different aims and political beliefs. While the bulk of forces were in nature with no clear ideological goal beyond restoration of the independent Onawean government, the rising popularity of Social Republicanism in the working class communities of the south would encompass the doctrines and aims of numerous members of the resistance. These groups would participate in numerous campaigns of agitation, civil disobedience, and attacks on Imperial government and military structures, in a scattered period of civil uprising from 1466 to 1469 that would define the first phase of the Onawean War of Resistance.

The leadership for these militias were generally isolated to each particular detachment, though they were nominally under the direction of the Hereditary Chiefs - the efficacy of this connection varying between regions under Velorencian occupation. This scattered resistance began to merge back into a singular force during the outset of the Florencian Revolution, with the reestablishment of the Chiefs on the mainland near modern-day Aulavik and the reconfiguration of the remaining pre-occupation regiments into the "New Onawean Army", with associated militias being organized as "Free Royal Irregulars" (FRI). Chiefly Levies once again made an appearance, but were effectively folded into the NOA as its de-facto officer corps by the end of the war. The Irregulars composed most of the forces employed during the second phase of the War of Resistance, and ultimately would more substantially affect the doctrinal and tactical legacy of the ONDF, continuing the legacy of hit-and-run and high mobility tactics established since the [[Salio-Onawean War prior to independence. This iteration of the Onawean military participated in the organized in the Ogemaw Campaign, following the signing of the treaty of the same name, which officially resecured Onawean independence from foreign occupation.

Following the conclusion of the Ogemaw Campaign, and the reestablishment of the Onawean government in Chawegan, the NOA and FRI were reconfigured into the Royal Onawean Armed Forces through the 1478 Army Act. The Naval Recommissioning Act followed soon after, with the newly-revived Onawean Navy purchasing from Andemyr. The first domestically-produced warships were launched from His Majesty's Royal Dockyards (present-day OFB Michiwikwed) in 1491. The Onawean forces were officially neutral during the First World War, though the Onawean Navy and a number of Reserve units were activated to protect the borders. However, Onaweans constituted a major contingent of the International Humanitarian Corps during the conflict, with the very first airborne operation being carried out by Onawean IHC medics during the latter phases of the war. The Onawean Royal Army Air Corps, the precursor to the modern ORAF, was founded in [YEAR], owing to a robust postwar domestic aviation industry.

Onawean forces entered the Second World War alongside the Florencian Coalition, declaring war on the Zhenian Empire in 1528. Onawean forces saw action across the Pacific Theater of the war, but was most heavily involved in the Liberation of Kilalurak, with major Onawean engagements including [BATTLES GO HERE]. Volunteer forces saw action in the Azoran Theater, but to a far smaller degree.

The postwar Onawean Army continued to face organizational struggles due to the decentralized command structure that lingered from the War of Resistance, as well as the unresolved issue of politicization of the armed forces.

Organization
The Onawean Constitution of 1581 affirms the role of the nation's sovereign as the of the Onaway National Defense Forces. All orders for deployment and disposition, including, are considered under the jurisdiction of and are issued  with the approval of a three-quarters majority vote in the National Privy Council. While the High Chief carries out these orders, they are required to be done in consultation with the Chancellor as well as the National Defense Secretary.

The combined 265,150 personnel of the Onawean National Defense Forces are divided into a hierarchy of ranks of and  members. In consultation with the Chancellor and National Privy Council, the High Chief has power to appoint the Chair of the Onawean General Staff (COGS), which oversees the whole of the national military leadership across all branches of the service and highest-ranking in the ONDF. From this role, the COGS oversees the Generall Staff alongside the Vice Chair, consisting of the leaders of each of the five service branches of the ONDF: the Supreme Commanders of the Federal Army, Air Force, and Commonwealth Guard, the High Admiral of the Navy, and the High Commissioner of the Federal Rangers, as well as the designated leaders of Onawean Joint Operations Command (designated ND5) and Onawean Special Operations and Forces Command (designated ND6). The General Staff typically operates from Ketchum Central Armory in Chawegan. The High Chief, as well as most other members of the Hereditary Chiefs which sit on the National Advisory Council, as well as their designated heirs, act as honorary officers-in-chief of units within the ONDF, though these roles are purely ceremonial in nature.

The Onawean National Defense Force operates out of seventeen Onawean Forces Bases (OFB) across the country, including Ketchum Central Armory. Following the post-coup reforms initiated in the late 1570s, a number of bases and facilities have been merged or decomissioned. All officers and enlisted personnel recieve training at the National Defense Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Bandon, Migisi. Officers often will either enter directly into the ONDF with a degree from a civilian university, or recieve their commission upon graduation from the Military University of the United Commonwealth. Training and education on more particular elements of tactics, doctrine, and leadership take place at a number of specialized facilities across the nation, and to a lesser extent, other allied nations, especially in Andemyr and Florencia.

Mission
The Commonwealth Defense Organizational Act of 1578 establishes the mission of the Onawean National Defense Forces, as part of the "New Foundational Principles" as: The ONDF is intended to serve as a purely defensive organ of the Onawean state, though has participated in interventionist actions throughout its history as part of efforts against "imperialism aimed at native Veharian peoples and their ways of life", with the most visible example being the Onawean participation in the Liberation of Kilalurak, as well as aiding in the Florencian deployment to Kapuku, both taking place during the events of the Second World War.
 * To ensure the safety, security, and sovereignty of the Onawean peoples from threats foreign and domestic;
 * To defend and maintain the integrity of the territories which constitute the United Commonwealth of Onaway;
 * To protect the safety of commerce and transportation in the Bay of St. Brendan and Valithor Gulf;
 * To aid in humanitarian, peacekeeping, and disaster relief efforts across the world in general and in Veharia in particular;
 * To maintain and promote the freedoms of the indigenous peoples of Veharia where threatened.

Federal Army

 * Main article: Federal Army (Onaway)

The Federal Army (GAC; : Armhór an Chomhlathais Ónaivéingeasa, ACO; : Zhimaaganishii a'Onaweiyaa, GZO) is the primary land fighting force of the nation. It is headed by the Supreme Commander of the Federal Army and His Majesty's Ground Forces Command. It is administered through five divisions of active service personnel: the 1st Onawean Division, 2nd Onawean Division, 3rd Onawean Division, 4th Onawean Division, and 5th Onawean Division. An additional non-combat Division, the 6th Onawean Division, serves as a doctrine and training system, as well as the operational headquarters of the Federal Army. The headquarters for the Federal Army are located on the campus of the Ketchum Central Armory in Chawegan. Though military institutions are scattered throughout the territory of the nation, major training, support, and command centers are located in OFB Fort Duchesne, OFB Leitirmóir, OFB Pawamo, OFB Pollagh, and OFB Tacumshane.

Each Division has an Active Service Brigade Group, and two additional Reserve Brigade Groups, save for the 4th and 5th Divisions, which have three assigned Reserve Brigade Groups. In total, there are twelve Reservist Brigade Groups in the Federal Army.

Navy

 * Main article: Onawean Navy

The Onawean Navy (ORN; : Cabhlach an Chomhlathais Ónaivéingeasa, CCO; : Zhimaaganishii Naabikwaang a'Onaweiyaa, ZNO) is led by the High Admiral of the Onawean Navy and the Onawean Admiralty Council. It is composed of 20 surface vessels and submarines, which are deployed in two fleets: the Southern Fleet, based out of OFB Michiwikwed in Agogibing, and the Northern Fleet, based out of OFB Michazhingwak in Aulavik. The fleet is further supplemeneted by a number of supply and patrol vessels, as well as aircraft. The ORN participates in joint training exercises with Andemyr, Florencia, Kilalurak, Salia, and Valithoria, as well as in support of peacekeeping and humanitarian operations abroad. In addition to protecting the territorial waters of Onaway, the ORN is generally the main assurance of territorial integrity for the Myrish overseas community of Helsingfed and Salme, located in the Bay of St. Brendan.

Air Force

 * Main article: Onawean Air Force

The Onawean Air Force (OAF; : Aerfhórsa Ríoga Ónaivéingeasa, ARO; : Zhimaaganishii Bemisemagakawag a'Onaweiyaa. ZBO) is led by the Supreme Commander of the Onawean Air Force and His Majesty's Strategic Air Command. It is divided into five Air Groups, further divided into fifteen Wings, and twenty total Squadrons. Each group is responsible for different aspects of military aviation:
 * Group Praayo - Oversees the territorial integrity of the Onawean mainland.
 * Group Baat - Oversees domestic support services.
 * Group Gaama - Participates in international deployments of Onawean military assets and personnel, as well as overseeing the Onawean program.
 * Group Satro - Oversees support services in overseas deployments.
 * Group Koyego - Oversees the sovereignty of the Onawean Remote North and Skandarin Islands, as well as the maintenance and integrity of the Polar Region International Zone on behalf of the World Concordat, in conjunction with Andemyr.

At least one major air base is located in each Chiefdom, while the administrative command-control centers of each of the five Air Groups are located in Agogibing, Aulavik, Chawegan, Dewje'og, and New Kavan, respectively. A joint Onawean-Myrish Aerodrome is operated in the Myrish region of X to oversee the Arctic Ocean and Polar Region International Zone.

Commonwealth Guard

 * Main article: Onawean Commonwealth Guard

The Commonwealth Guard (CG; : Gardaí an Chomhlathais, GC, often simply "Gardaí"; : Gaadig a'Onaweiyaa, GO) is led by the Supreme Commander of the Commonwealth Guard and His Majesty's Commonwealth Guard Command, which is subdivided into the Ground Response Office (CG-GRO) and Air Response Office (CG-ARO). It is considered part of the national military reserve system of the Federal Army and the Air Force, but is divided between regional command structures to respond to domestic emergencies, with one contingent per Chiefdom. As such, they receive training alongside the GAC and RAF, but unlike those services, members are employed with the ONDF on a part-time basis, and often are mainly employed in civilian industry. The CG may additionally be called up to serve as members of the GAC or RAF in times of national emergency, and it is not unheard of for some units to see limited overseas deployment.

Commonwealth Rangers

 * Main article: Onawean Commonwealth Rangers

The Commonwealth Rangers (CR; : Maoir an Chomhlathaisis, MC; : Nandawag a'Onaweiyaa, NO) is the and  of Onaway. It is led by the High Commissioner of the Commonwealth Rangers, who oversees the Onawean Civil Captaincy Council. It is similar to the CG in that it has jurisdictions allocated for one operational division per each Chiefdom. The Rangers cooperate with the Onawean United Commonwealth Police, but are superior to the OUCP in authority. The Rangers are the nation's armed police forces, and are typically called to investigate and respond to emergencies which regular police do not have the adequate resources or jurisdictional capacity to respond to. The Rangers are composed of, border security (in coordination with the Home Office), riot response, cybercrime and cyber infrastructure defense, counter-terror, and financial crimes units (in coordination with the Commonwealth Treasury). Units may also be called to assist the Commonwealth Guard, or serve as military police units during operations abroad where necessary.



Special Command Offices
With the adoption of the National Defense Forces Organizational Act, two additional offices were created in the that coordinate resources and personnel between the service branches, or engage in specialized high-risk or high-value operations. These are not themselves service branches, but are special offices which are directly under the control of the General Staff composed of personnel between the service branches, used as is necessary for a given operation.

Joint Operations Command
Denoted as National Defense Office 5 (ND5), the Joint Operations Command is concerned with the development of inter-service relations and cooperative capabilities. Additionally, this office is often in charge of the arrangement of joint training exercises. ND5 has no actual units unto itself, and is purely an administrative organ of the ONDF.

Special Operations and Forces Command
Denoted as National Defense Office 6 (ND6), the Special Operations and Forces Command is a formation which, while capable of operating independently, is operated under the discretion of the Chancellor, High Chief, National Defense Secretary, and Chair of the General Staff, as well as the representative of a given branch of the ONDF on the General Staff of the personnel deployed on operations or exercises. This office is concerned with the execution of operations. It is composed of four operational regiments:
 * Joint Task Force Zhashagi (ND6-JTFZ) - The Special Forces group representing the Federal Army. Engages in high-priority and high-risk missions during foreign deployments of the ONDF.
 * Joint Task Force Geda (ND6-JTFG) - Formally a part of the Navy. Engages in infiltration, reconnaissance, scouting, amphibious assault, and other high-precision tasks deemed to be of vital importance to the carrying out of the ONDF's operational mission.
 * Onaway Rapid Emergency Response Unit (ND6-ORERU) - Reserved for domestic deployment, ORERU is a unit of the Commonwealth Rangers typically concerned with response to high-risk emergencies, typically in anti-terror operations. Unlike the other SOFC regiments, ORERU directly responds to the Chancellor and is deployed on their discretion.
 * 313th Special Aviation Squadron - The squadron within the Air Force which operates and  assets. Additionally has expanded to oversee orbital infrastructure defense operations in conjunction with the Commonwealth Rangers and Onawean Aerospace Exploration Agency.

Onawean Forces Bases
17 Onawean Forces Bases (OFBs; : Fhorsarmúr Ónaivéingeasa; : Zhimaaganishii Gabeshiwin a'Onaweiyaa) are operated domestically by the Onawean National Defense Forces. Most are generally under the administration of a single service branch, but a minority are jointly operated between the branches, usually for administrative purposes. For a facility to be considered and OFB, it must be host to one or more major units of the ONDF. Current OFBs include:
 * OFB Agogibing, Saginong.
 * OFB Aulavik, Reshkanko.
 * OFB Bakegamaa, Genesi.
 * OFB Central (Ketchum Central Armory), Chawegan. Base of operations and administrative seat for all operations of the ONDF.
 * OFB Dewje'og, Ogokanong.
 * OFB Fort Bizhiw, Okkuddo.
 * OFB Fort Duchesne, Kenoki.
 * OFB Fort Okemos, Chawegan. Command center for the Federal Army.
 * OFB Leitirmóir, Osdemo.
 * OFB Michazhingwak, Reshkanko. Base of operations for the ORN Northern Fleet.
 * OFB Michiwikwed, Saginong. Command center of the Onawean Navy, and base of operations for the ORN Southern Fleet.
 * OFB New Kavan, Migisi.
 * OFB Pawamo, Osdego.
 * OFB Pollagh, Zhaawanong.
 * OFB Tacumshane, Nodawa.
 * OFB Ukkusiksalik, Washdenong.
 * OFB Wanata, Osdemo.

Onawean Forces Stations
Onawean Forces Stations (OFSs; : Fhorsbunáit Ónaivéingeasa; : Zhimaaganishii Agaasagabeshiwin a'Onaweiyaa) are minor outlying facilities utilized by the ONDF. Historically, these have been host to minor units or detachments of the Commonwealth Guard prior to their formal designation as an independent service branch from the Federal Army. These facilities lost much of their usefulness to the organizational needs of the ONDF following the end of during the constitutional restoration and subsequent cost-cutting measures enacted by post-1581 governmental mandates. Under the modern organization of the ONDF, each OFS is generally under the administration of its nearest OFB, with a handful of exceptions, including refueling stations for naval craft, radar bases, and early warning installations.