commanders did come from general supplies as that specific secondary duty offered an individual a wide understanding of most squad functions.
Many old -timers have more than one secondary duty due service time and changing interests. Additional duties are an individual choice to be tackled on their own off duty time. Each such duty merits extra pay. Each APE also has training in some spacecraft system: environmental, gunnery, power-room systems, tactical, intelligence, small craft or fixed-wing operations, etc. Since many APES come from the other services this is normally a matter of expanding on previously learned skills.
Misha explained that every commander regardless of rank commands his own squad. A fifth-level commander (a fist) or The Sixth himself commands a fighting squad of ten troopers and goes into combat. By tradition, a commander’s own squad is never handpicked, no matter how high his rank. It is comprised of any remaining members of the squad he commanded as a second-level. Over time, he gains replacements. Randomly assigned replacements come from existing available troopers or new recruits. Commanders who foolishly lose a high percentage of their squads are regarded unfavorable for higher advancement.
Ten troopers and one commander form a squad. These eleven people constitute what is organizationally the first tier. A second-level commander (a deuce) is in command of most squads. This is the most basic APES unit structure. Any squad unable to regain full strength during a regeneration phase is folded into another short squad or if severe shortages occur, they are disbanded to fill other squads. Commanders must fill a slot in the organizational chart. Any commander without a slot is re-organized downward or if the need arises, moves upward into an open slot.
A third-level commander (a third or trey) directly leads a squad of ten troopers and also commands ten second-levels. Each deuce is in charge of a squad of ten troopers. These 121 people constitute a second tier.
The f ourth-level commander (a quad) leads a squad of ten troopers. This is affectionately called a quad squad. The fourth directly oversees ten third-level commanders. These 1,331 fighting troopers form a third tier. Often times a unit this size or larger does not have its people located physically on the same spacecraft, station, planet or even in the same region of space.
A f ifth-level commander (a fist) leads a squad of ten troopers and supervises ten fourth-levels. These 13,310 men constitute a fourth tier.
The sixth-level commander leads a squad of ten troopers and also directly commands, if the APES were fully staffed, ten fifth-level commanders. These 131,100 men constitute the fifth tier.
Misha told Brianna that her command was in the first fifth. It had to be as there had never been two fifth levels in all of APE history. If a hundred and thirty-one thousand APES in combat armor could not do the job, then it couldn’t be done. She also pointed out that her command was in the third fourth tier, plus the ninth third tier and the second second tier, otherwise known as the 1392nd.
She explained that no APE is, was, or ever will be drafted or inducted against their will. Nor will they be kept in the service unwillingly. The only exception is that an APE cannot quit when on deployment or during regeneration phase. Even taking on replacements during a deployment is not normal as it can affect teamwork.
“So ,” Misha concluded. “There you have the short course in APEery. Still want to join up?”
Brianna nodded. “Only it sounds like I can’t get assigned to your squad even if you would have me.”
Misha smiled. “I would trade for you right now if I could. I would rather have heart than size any day, but it just does not work that way. Tell me the truth, Brianna: are you having problems where you are now? Because, if you don’t like military service in the AMSF, then you surely will hate being in the APES.”
“Oh no,
Many old -timers have more than one secondary duty due service time and changing interests. Additional duties are an individual choice to be tackled on their own off duty time. Each such duty merits extra pay. Each APE also has training in some spacecraft system: environmental, gunnery, power-room systems, tactical, intelligence, small craft or fixed-wing operations, etc. Since many APES come from the other services this is normally a matter of expanding on previously learned skills.
Misha explained that every commander regardless of rank commands his own squad. A fifth-level commander (a fist) or The Sixth himself commands a fighting squad of ten troopers and goes into combat. By tradition, a commander’s own squad is never handpicked, no matter how high his rank. It is comprised of any remaining members of the squad he commanded as a second-level. Over time, he gains replacements. Randomly assigned replacements come from existing available troopers or new recruits. Commanders who foolishly lose a high percentage of their squads are regarded unfavorable for higher advancement.
Ten troopers and one commander form a squad. These eleven people constitute what is organizationally the first tier. A second-level commander (a deuce) is in command of most squads. This is the most basic APES unit structure. Any squad unable to regain full strength during a regeneration phase is folded into another short squad or if severe shortages occur, they are disbanded to fill other squads. Commanders must fill a slot in the organizational chart. Any commander without a slot is re-organized downward or if the need arises, moves upward into an open slot.
A third-level commander (a third or trey) directly leads a squad of ten troopers and also commands ten second-levels. Each deuce is in charge of a squad of ten troopers. These 121 people constitute a second tier.
The f ourth-level commander (a quad) leads a squad of ten troopers. This is affectionately called a quad squad. The fourth directly oversees ten third-level commanders. These 1,331 fighting troopers form a third tier. Often times a unit this size or larger does not have its people located physically on the same spacecraft, station, planet or even in the same region of space.
A f ifth-level commander (a fist) leads a squad of ten troopers and supervises ten fourth-levels. These 13,310 men constitute a fourth tier.
The sixth-level commander leads a squad of ten troopers and also directly commands, if the APES were fully staffed, ten fifth-level commanders. These 131,100 men constitute the fifth tier.
Misha told Brianna that her command was in the first fifth. It had to be as there had never been two fifth levels in all of APE history. If a hundred and thirty-one thousand APES in combat armor could not do the job, then it couldn’t be done. She also pointed out that her command was in the third fourth tier, plus the ninth third tier and the second second tier, otherwise known as the 1392nd.
She explained that no APE is, was, or ever will be drafted or inducted against their will. Nor will they be kept in the service unwillingly. The only exception is that an APE cannot quit when on deployment or during regeneration phase. Even taking on replacements during a deployment is not normal as it can affect teamwork.
“So ,” Misha concluded. “There you have the short course in APEery. Still want to join up?”
Brianna nodded. “Only it sounds like I can’t get assigned to your squad even if you would have me.”
Misha smiled. “I would trade for you right now if I could. I would rather have heart than size any day, but it just does not work that way. Tell me the truth, Brianna: are you having problems where you are now? Because, if you don’t like military service in the AMSF, then you surely will hate being in the APES.”
“Oh no,
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