Grand Army
| Grand Army | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1521 |
| Country | Nordic Federation |
| Branch | Army |
| Role | Land Warfare |
| Size |
300,000 Active Duty 260,000 Ready Reserve 680,000 Reserve 29,000 Civilian Personnel |
| Part of | Nordic Armed Forces |
| Motto(s) | "Följ Mig" "Follow Me" |
| March | "March of the Grand Army" |
| Equipment | Equipment of the Grand Army |
| Engagements |
See list
|
| Commanders | |
| Grand Marshal | Erik Kalos |
| Minister of Defense | Flemming Lentfer |
| Chief of Staff | Pasi Välimäki |
| Deputy Chief of Staff | Jonny Lindfors |
| Command Sergeant of the Army | Henning Bæk |
| Notable commanders |
Gustavus Adolphus Charles X Gustav Charles XII Charles XIV John Curt von Stedingk Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim Aarne Sihvo Carl Gustav Fleischer |
The Grand Army is the land force of the Nordic Armed Forces, together with the Home Guard. This is a WIP
Mission
The Grand Army is the land force of the Nordic Armed Forces, and has the express purpose of:
- Defending Nordic sovereignty and territorial integrity
- Supporting national policies
- Implementing national objectives
- Conduct authorized civil works programs
- Overcoming any nations responsible for aggressive acts that imperil the peace and security of the Nordic Federation
- Other duties as directed by the Grand Marshal
Additionally, the Grand Army itself has defined 7 additional core missions, including:
- To conduct sustained combined arms operations in all environments, terrain and conditions to defeat enemy ground forces.
- To seize, occupy and defend land areas of importance.
- Conduct air and missile defense operations with cooperation with other branches of the Nordic Armed Forces.
- To interdict enemy air power, sea power and communications though operations on and from land.
- To provide logistics to joint campaigns and missions, including aeromedical evacuations.
- To conduct reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition.
- To conduct operations in support of foreign allies.
History
Svea Life Guards dates back to the year 1521, when the men of Dalarna chose 16 young able men as body guards for the insurgent nobleman Gustav Vasa in the Swedish War of Liberation against the Danish-dominated Union of Kalmar, thus making the present-day Life Guards one of the world's oldest regiments still on active duty.
In 1602, the Swedish Imperial Army would station its first troops on Stormkold, and by 1712 either directly or indirectly controlled most of the island.
In 1879, peacetime conscription would be introduced following the end of the Fourth Northern War.
In 1916, the Swedish Imperial Army would become the Federal Army.
In 1921, the Federal Army would become the Grand Army
Structure
The Grand Army is broken up into multiple commands, with the Grand Army Headquarters located in Stockholm, Sweden at the Gustavus Adolphus Center, and is responsible for coordinating various Grand Army commands and Grand Army interaction with other branches.
Field Army
The Field Army (FA) is responsible for preparing and coordinating combat and combat attached support forces, and itself is comprised of 4 commands and 12 active duty divisions spread across four corps.
Training Command
The Training Command (TraCom) is responsible for training soldiers for needed tasks, including the mandatory service, and with developing doctrine.
Levels of Command
The structure of the Grand Army divisional and below is hierarchical and command is based on rank.
| Type of Unit | Division | Regiment/Brigade | Battalion | Company | Platoon | Squad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contains | 2-4 Regiments | 3-5 Battalions | 3-5 Companies | 3-5 Platoons | 3-5 Squads | 8 Men |
| Personnel | 10,000 | 5,000 | 800 | 120 | 30 | 8 |
| Commanded by | Major General | Colonel/Brigadier General | Lt. Colonel | Captain | Lieutenant | Sergeant |
Recruitment
Training
Grand Army Initial Combat Training, or ICT, is an 11 week training regime that every Nordic soldier goes through, including conscripts. ICT is designed to instill discipline, strength, and the correct mindset in prospective soldiers, and is divided into five phases, each with its own purpose and mission. After ICT, soldiers are sent to AEK for job specific training.
Red Phase:
Red Phase exists to give Trainees their first taste of military life, and to drill in the importance of attention to detail, teamwork, and discipline, as well as to teach soldiers basics such as weapons security, marching, core values, and tenants of the Grand Army, and proper wear of the uniform.
Week 1: Initial exercises, introduction to drill and ceremony, and instructions in Grand Army Values.
Week 2: Rappel tower on day 9, requiring teamwork exercises to complete. Trainees are separated into squads and given ranks within the squad, with each squad getting seven M2018PTS rifles and an M1946PTS GMPG. Days 13-14 are spent on a 6km ruck march with kit, followed by digging team-sized foxholes and pulling security for the night, filling in the foxholes, and a 6km march back. After returning on day 14, Trainees deemed lacking may be transferred to another platoon at the Platoon Drill Instructor’s will, in exchange for another lacking Trainee.
White Phase:
White Phase is the primary combat training phase for ICT, with Trainees learning basic tactics, basic medical care, the use of their rifle, pistol, and grenades, and training in hand-to-hand and knife fighting.
Week 3: Tactical Medical Care training, and the first range day, with Trainees using life rifles for ranges. Trainees take their first Grand Army Fitness Test. Trainees go through the gas chamber for the first time.
Week 4: Trainees are on the rifle range every day except Sunday and Trainees who are deemed lacking in rifle expertise on Sunday.
Week 5: Three more days of rifle ranges, as well as two days of pistol ranges. Saturday and Sunday are used to teach initial hand-to-hand training.
Week 6: A day of grenade training using simulated grenades and training in both hand-to-hand combat and knife fighting using special foam knives. Trainees take another GAFT
Blue Phase:
Trainees learn squad and platoon tactics and skirmish with PTS gear. As a company, Trainees will spend at least 18 days in the field and will dig 2 or more platoon-level defenses.
Week 7: A 12km ruck march followed by 3 days in an emplaced position, a 5km ruck march, and the remaining 4 days in a secondary emplaced position before a 14km ruck march back. Trainees are actively encouraged to skirmish with the other platoons and other companies during downtime, and during the day are taught tactics, camouflage, map reading, and conduct a land navigation course in team-sized elements.
Week 8: Five days of training at the Urban Training Village vs other companies, with a daily 4km ruck march to and from the UTV. Trainees skirmish over several key points under the command of their Drill Instructors, with the most successful company being rewarded with a relaxed day at the Grand Army Museum on Sunday.
Week 9: Preparations to undergo the Forge, training in how to use camo nets, classroom instruction on equipment identification, and radio use. New boots and uniforms are issued if needed. Trainees take their third GAFT.
Forge:
The Forge is the final test for an aspiring Nordic soldier, a week-long high-stress environment with constant movement, actions, and decisions, only to end with a shot of brannvin at the end for passing Trainees.
Day 1: A 19km ruck march in full armor, followed by digging and camouflaging team-sized foxholes in platoon defenses.
Day 2: A 3km ruck march in full kit, as well as the final range for the trainees in the form of a stress shoot. Trainees dig and camouflage team-sized foxholes and skirmish with other Blue and Forge Trainees in nearby defenses.
Day 3: A 2km ruck march in full kit, with Trainees moving through an overly friendly village without ammo. Villagers wear protective suits and have the goal of stealing the Trainees' equipment.
Day 4: A 3km ruck march in full kit before conducting land navigation. That night, trainees go through the infiltration course, crawling 100m through live MG fire.
Day 5: A 5km ruck march in full kit, followed by Trainees digging team-sized foxholes in a company defense and being skirmished by Blue or other Force companies to hold their defense.
Day 6: A 5km ruck march in full kit, followed by Trainees digging team-sized foxholes in a company defense and being skirmished by Blue or other Force companies on the offense.
Day 7: A 23km ruck march back to the company, with Trainees going through the gas chamber partway through. After the ruck, Trainees are given a shot of brännvin.
Gold Phase:
Gold Phase centers on Trainees during in their issued items, graduating, and being sent to their various Skills Schools. For the first time, Trainees are authorized to wear their field caps.
Week 11: Trainees clean and turn in everything needed for training. Service Dress uniforms are issued and fitted for the first time. On Friday, Trainees graduate wearing their Service Dress uniforms and change back into combat uniforms for movement to their Skills School if directly by bus or stay in Service Dress if moving by bus to an airport or train station.