Hello.
I'm new to the forums, but not new to the setting or the system. I was creating a runner from the Sioux Nation, and since I am a story-heavy character creator, started to look more into the Sioux Defense Forces since they are a pretty large part of Sioux national culture and would have been a big part of my runner's previous life. I came to find that relatively little information existed about them, so I started up a little blurb in my character's backstory. That blurb became this project: To create a mildly-detailed set of information about the Sioux Defense Forces that could be used to help flesh out Sioux Nation characters.
This is still a work in progress and I am open to suggestions or alterations. Most of the information is from source material when it exists, such as the tribes that make up the Sioux Nation, or it is from educated inference, such as the number of active personnel (Based on a 1-in-14 ratio, which what Israel currently has approximately). If you have questions or suggestions, please offer them.
Thus, I give you the following.
Sioux Defense Forces
Overview
The Sioux Defence Forces constitute the combined arms wing of the Sioux Nation. With no oceans, the SDF is primarily ground-based, with 80% of their overall manpower and funding going to the Army. Thanks to this funding, and mandatory military conscription, the SDF is relatively large, well trained, and well equipped for a nation with as small a population as the Sioux.
Each of the recognized tribes of the Sioux Nation makes a manpower contribution, and the various brigades are mostly ethnically homogeneous in an attempt to increase cohesion and esprit de corps. Some of the tribes are small and cannot field a full detachment on their own, and instead contribute men and women to the units of a larger related tribe or combine their men and women with other small tribes that are ethnically similar. For example, none of the woodlands tribes are large enough to field their own brigade, so the six tribes all form one unit together.
The land of the Sioux Nation is large, rugged, and has many wide-open spaces. Such terrain has historically proven to benefit artillery, motorized infantry, and armored fighting vehicles. With this in mind, the SDF has a high percentage of artillery, all of their Rifle Brigades are motorized, and armored vehicles feature heavily.
The Sioux Nation is subdivided into 6 Operational Zones: North, North-East, South-East, South, West, and Central. Each Operational Zone has 4 active brigades permanently assigned to it for defense: 3 Rifle Brigades and 1 Armored Brigade. The exception to this is the Central Operational Zone, which has no Armored Brigade.
The Wildcat Brigade has 9 Squadrons, with one assigned to each Operational Zone, one assigned to executive protection duties, and two assigned to the Office of Military Intelligence directly.
When the SDF Reserves are activated, the Army more than triples in size. It gains an additional 40 Reserve Rifle Brigades, 10 Reserve Armored Brigades, and 2 Reserve Wildcat Brigades.
Sioux Defense Forces Statistics
Army: 80,000 Active in 18 Rifle Brigades, 5 Armored Brigades, and 1 Special Forces Wildcat Brigade.
Air Force: 20,000 Active in 7 Fighter Regiments, 7 Transport Helicopter Regiments, 4 Attack Helicopter Regiments, and 2 Bomber Regiments.
Sioux Defense Forces Tribal Contributions
Cherokee and Lumbee
-x3 Rifle Brigades (1st, 2nd, and 3rd Tsalagi Rifle Brigades.).
-x2 Armored Brigades (1st and 2nd Tsalagi Armored Brigades.).
Sioux
-x3 Rifle Brigades (1st, 2nd, and 3rd Sioux Rifle Brigades.).
-x1 Armored Brigade (Sioux Armored Brigade.).
Cheyenne and Arapaho
-x2 Rifle Brigades (1st and 2nd Cheyenne Rifle Brigades.).
-x1 Armored Brigade (Cheyenne Armored Brigade.).
Creek and Seminole
-x2 Rifle Brigades (1st and 2nd Muscogee Rifle Brigades.).
-x1 Armored Brigade (Muscogee Armored Brigade.).
Navajo and Apache
-x2 Rifle Brigades (1st and 2nd Dene Rifle Brigades.).
Crow and Hidatsa
-x2 Rifle Brigades (1st and 2nd Crow Rifle Brigades.).
Woodlands (Mohawk, Mohegan, Mahican, Onondaga, Delaware, and Oneida)
-x1 Rifle Brigade (Woodlands Rifle Brigade.).
Shoshone
-x1 Rifle Brigade (White Knives Rifle Brigade.).
Ojibwe, Cree, and Potawatomi
-x1 Rifle Brigade (Stone Child Rifle Brigade.).
Chickasaw and Choctaw
-x1 Rifle Brigade (Muskogean Rifle Brigade.).
Sioux Defense Forces Brigade Structure
Rifle Brigade (~3,500 Men.).
Brigade Headquarters (850 Men.).
Tank Battalion (150 Men.).
3 Rifle Battalions (500 Men Each.).
Artillery Battalion (250 Men.).
Multiple Launch Rocket System Battalion (250 Men.).
Air Defense Battalion (250 Men.).
Engineer Battalion (250 Men.).
Armored Brigade (~2,800 Men.).
Brigade Headquarters (850 Men.).
3 Tank Battalions (150 Men Each.).
Rifle Battalion (500 Men.).
Artillery Battalion (250 Men.).
Multiple Launch Rocket System Battalion (250 Men.).
Air Defense Battalion (250 Men.).
Engineer Battalion (250 Men.).
Special Forces Wildcat Brigade (~3,000 Men.).
Brigade Headquarters (300 Men.).
9 Wildcat Squadrons (300 Men Each.).
Sioux Defense Forces Training
The training cycle for the Sioux Defence Forces really begins two years before conscription. The Sioux Scouts is a youth paramilitary organization that almost everyone, including Anglo residents, is a part of. Starting at the age of six, Sioux Scouts are trained in basic survival skills, wilderness navigation, first aid, and other such useful skills. At the age of sixteen, the Sioux Scouts are then trained in firearms handling, marksmanship, military command structure, and simple battle tactics. When a Sioux is conscripted and begins their service commitment, they are already a well-rounded recruit with a lot of training underneath their belt.
The first week is in-processing, followed by three weeks of primarily remedial instruction on what was covered in the Sioux Scouts to ensure everyone is on the same page. What follows is seven months of intense physical, emotional, and mental preparation. The first two months are spent rotating through the various specialties of the SDF with training and testing in each area. At the end of this period, a conscript is offered one of three specialties that they scored well in. The last five months are spent in more specialized training, culminating in a one-week period where a conscript must survive on their own in the Sioux wilderness with only their rucksack.
Once the eight-month training cycle is completed, the conscript is approved and spends the last four months of their service commitment in active duty with one of the SDF brigades. Once his year is completed, a conscript may elect to extend their active enlistment or proceed to the reserves, where they will remain for four years.
Sioux Defense Forces Equipment
SDF equipment is neither high tech nor expensive, but extremely reliable and durable. The philosophy of the SDF high command is to equip it’s men with the basics and rely on the ferociousness and tenacity of the warriors to overcome any deficiency in arms. How effective this strategy is remains an ongoing debate, but no one can question the training and fighting spirit of the SDF. The standard arms and armor of the SDF are inexpensive, reliable, and bomb-proof.
In addition to whatever arms and special gear they carry, all SDF troopers are expected to be relatively self-sufficient when it comes to equipment. Each one carries a good quality backpack with a survival kit, at least two liters of water, a rating 6 respirator, a combat knife, an Urban Tribe Tomahawk, a folding entrenching tool, a Rating 1 Advanced Medkit, a weaponry cleaning kit, rain poncho, and whatever personal items they would want to carry with them.
Front-line combat troops rely on the tested, reliable, and affordable AK-97 series, even going so far as to use modified versions as squad automatic weapons. Combat support troops use instead the Cavalier Gladius as a lightweight sub-machine gun. The Colt L36 is the standard sidearm carried by officers, whereas armored vehicles crews, non-combat staff officers and NCOs, and even military police are issued the Ceska Black Skorpion as a PDW.
Standard Weaponry and Armor
-Pistol: Colt America L36.
-SMG: Cavalier Gladius.
-PDW: Ceska Black Skorpion.
-Rifle: AK-97 or AK-98.
-Automatic Rifle: AK-97 with Long Barrel, Shock Pad, Bipod, and Extended Magazine.
-Marksman Rifle: Ruger 101 with Suppressor and Bipod.
-LMG: Shiawase Nemesis with Shock Pad, Bipod and 100-round belts.
-Armor: Armor Jacket w/ Securitech PP Arms and Legs, SWAT Helmet.
Sioux Defense Forces Organization
This section will look at the basic organization of the SDF brigade, starting with the most simple battlefield unit, the Rifle Squad.
Rifle Squad - 8 Men.
Sergeant - Squad Leader, armed with AK-97.
Corporal - Assistant Squad Leader, armed with AK-97.
Automatic Rifleman - Fire Support, armed with AK-97 w/ Long Barrel, Bipod, Shock Pad, and Extended Magazines.
Grenadier - Fire Support, armed with AK-98.
Medic- Medical Support, armed with Cavalier Gladius.
Rifleman x3 - Assault Trooper, armed with AK-97.
The Rifle Squad is 8 men and can be functionally divided into two teams: The Support Team made of the Sergeant, Grenadier, Automatic Rifleman, and one Rifleman, and the Assault Team made up of the Corporal, Medic, and 2 Riflemen. Motorized with a modified ten-seat Toyota Gopher, the Squad can carry enough food, water, and ammo in their vehicle for 48 hours of independent operation. A vehicle-mounted, satellite-linked comm system is used for command communication, and the Sergeant and Corporal both carry encrypted micro-transceivers for tactical communication.
Rifle Platoon - 28 Men.
-Platoon Headquarters - 4 Men.
Platoon Leader - Lieutenant, armed with AK-97.
Assistant Platoon Leader - Senior Sergeant, armed with AK-97.
Radio Operator - Communications Specialist, armed with Cavalier Gladius.
Marksman - Fire Support, armed with Ruger 101 w/ Bipod and Suppressor.
-x3 Rifle Squads - 24 Men Total.
The Rifle Platoon is composed of 28 men. The Platoon Headquarters has no vehicles of it’s own, and instead divides themselves between the Toyota Gophers assigned to each Squad. The Radio Operator carries a manpack satellite-linked comm system used for exchanges with upper levels of command and like the Squads that make it up, a Rifle Platoon can operate 48 hours without resupply.
Rifle Company - 110 Men.
-Company Headquarters - 8 Men.
Commanding Officer - Captain, armed with AK-97.
Executive Officer - 1st Lieutenant or Captain, armed with AK-97.
First Sergeant - Senior Sergeant, armed with AK-97.
Technical Sergeant - Senior Technician, armed with Cavalier Gladius.
Supply Sergeant - Supply Specialist, armed with Cavalier Gladius.
Matrix Support - Decker, armed with Cavalier Gladius.
Magical Support - Mage, armed with Cavalier Gladius.
-x3 Rifle Platoons - 84 Men Total.
-Weapons Platoon - 18 Men.
The Rifle Company is composed of 110 men and is capable of 96 hours of independent operation. The Weapons Platoon provides fire support and is composed of a four-man Headquarters, an ATGM Squad of seven men with three ATGM Launchers, and a Machine Gun Squad of seven men with three Medium Machine Guns. It has two Toyota Gophers for transport. A twelfth Toyota Gopher is provided for the Company Headquarters.
Rifle Battalion - 500 Men.
-Battalion Headquarters - 70 Men.
Battalion Staff - 12 Men.
Support Company - 50 Men.
Medical Platoon - 8 Men.
-x3 Rifle Companies - 330 Men Total.
-Mortar Battery - 60 Men.
-Anti-Tank Platoon - 20 Men.
-Air Defense Platoon - 20 Men.
The Rifle Battalion is composed of 500 men total and is capable of ten days of independent operation. It combines infantry, artillery, anti-tank, air defense, medical, and support personnel into a maneuverable, versatile, and capable unit. The Battalion Headquarters has six Toyota Gophers and ten heavy-duty cargo trucks for transport. The Mortar Battery provides high-angle fire support from six 120mm tubes and has eight Toyota Gophers for transport. The Anti-Tank Platoon supplies four four-man Heavy ATGM Teams with one launcher each and has four Toyota Gophers for transport. The Air Defense Platoon supplies four four-man MANPADS Teams with two launchers each and has four Toyota Gophers for transport. In total, a Rifle Battalion has 58 Toyota Gophers and 10 cargo trucks.
Rifle Brigade - 3,500 Men.
-Brigade Headquarters (~850 Men.).
-Brigade Staff (60 Men.).
-Support Battalion (500 Men.).
-Medical Company (60 Men.).
-Reconnaissance Company (60 Men.).
-Electronic Warfare Company (60 Men.).
-Magical Warfare Company (60 Men.).
-NBC Company (50 Men.).
-Tank Battalion (150 Men, 40 Tanks.).
-Battalion Headquarters (30 Men, 1 Tank.).
-x3 Tank Companies (40 Men, 13 Tanks Each.).
-x3 Rifle Battalions (~1,500 Men Total.).
-Artillery Battalion (~250 Men, 18 Howitzers.).
-Battalion Headquarters (40 Men.).
-x3 Howitzer Batteries (70 Men, x6 Howitzers Each.).
-Multiple Launch Rocket System Battalion (~250 Men, 18 MLRS.).
-Battalion Headquarters (40 Men.).
-x3 MLRS Batteries (70 Men, x6 MLRS Each.).
-Air Defense Battalion (~250 Men, 18 SAMs.).
-Battery Headquarters (30 Men.).
-x3 Air Defense Batteries (70 Men, x6 SAMs.).
-Engineer Battalion (~250 Men.).
-Battalion Headquarters (30 Men.).
-x3 Combat Engineer Companies (70 Men Each.).
The Rifle Brigade is the most common formation in the SDF and is combined-arms in its approach to warfare. With a full complement of Matrix, Magical, Armored, Rifle, Artillery, Support, Recon, NBC, and Engineering personnel, it is totally self-sufficient and capable of combating the enemy in any battlefield type. The only difference between brigade types is that a Rifle Brigade has three Rifle Battalions and one Tank Battalion, while an Armored Brigade has three Tank Battalions and one Rifle Battalion.
Having integrated ideas put forth by you lovely people, here goes take 2.
Hope we're on to something here.
1. Sioux Defence Forces Overview
The Sioux Defence Forces constitute the combined arms formations of the Sioux Nation, dedicated to the protection of the homeland as well as to the training, assisting, and equipping of the other fraternal Native American Nations. The SDF is therefore primarily a defensive organization, focused on combating the most prominent threat to the Sioux Nation: The UCAS. Knowing full well that they cannot compete in a pure conventional war against this adversary, the SDF has a layered and hybrid strategy, relying on conventional, asymmetric, and special forces to make occupation of the Sioux Nation a literal hell for any long-term period.
The Sioux Nation is divided into five Operational Zones: North, East, South, West, and Central. Each Operational Zone has both Ground and Air Components assigned to them for general defense of the Sioux Nation and is led by an Operational Zone Commander. The Eastern OZ is considered to be the most prestigious because of its position on the border with the UCAS and it commands the lion’s share of the SDF military might.
The general strategy of the SDF in the face of UCAS aggression is to conduct fighting withdrawals to the western part of the nation, to use large numbers of small, independent formations as insurgents, and to carefully and precisely strike with conventional and special forces at key strategic areas while a Ghost Dance is organized by the Shamans of the Nation. The Ground Component of the SDF can thusly be broken into three wings: conventional, unconventional, and special. Mandatory conscription, a relatively large budget of 7.9% GDP, and a tenacious warrior-culture have made the Sioux Nation a regional power in North America and the most militarized of all the NAN.
Ground Component
The conventional Ground Component forces are primarily three large, well-equipped, and highly visible Combat Brigades stationed on the border with the UCAS. These include armored, mechanized, and artillery formations intended to perform the initial contact with a UCAS assault and delay them long enough for the reserves to be called up and the rest of the defensive strategy to be enacted. Any man or woman of any tribe my serve in them. The Combat Brigades are directly answerable to the Operational Zone Commander, thus following a typical military command structure, and approximately one-third of their manpower comes from selected conscripts.
The unconventional forces are composed of the vast majority of the Sioux Defense Forces personnel, organized into smaller Tribal Battalions. These formations are primarily conscripts or reserve personnel and carry little in the way of heavy weapons, instead relying on speed, surprise, and violence of action to attain success. They also perform COIN operations throughout the Nation and secure the relatively-safe borders with the AMC, the PCC, and the SSC. During a state of war with the UCAS, they will operate in both large and small scale insurgent operations against the occupation. The Tribal Battalions are mostly ethnically homogeneous in an attempt to increase esprit de corps and breed a ‘hometown heroes’ ethos. Sioux conscripts and reservists typically serve alongside tribal brethren from their own group or among those of ethnically related groups. They plan, coordinate, and execute operations with minimal oversight to allow them to function well in their envisioned insurgent role, but do answer to their Operational Zone Commanders for general readiness and performance.
The special forces are composed of less than 5% of the SDF personnel and are the legendary Wildcats. The Wildcats’ main function, aside from counter-terrorist and intelligence duties, is to be a deployable corps of the SDF and is utilized to train, assist, and equip the fraternal Nations for war. The Sioux Nation has an active interest in the well being of her Native neighbors and invests heavily to ensure their relative stability and security. In this, the Wildcats shine. Any man or woman of any tribe my serve in the Wildcats if they pass selection.
Air Component
The Air Component of the Sioux Defense Forces would be more accurately called an anti-air component. While the Sioux Nation does maintain a small amount of fighter aircraft and both attack and transport VTOLs, the Air Component is primarily organized around ground-based surface-to-air missile sites and interceptor drones. The Air Component is also considered to be a part of the conventional forces, and as such, is focused on combating aggression from the UCAS. Any man or woman of any tribe may serve in them. Selected conscripts account for about one-third of the manpower of the Air Component.
The Air Component has two Special Air Defense Brigades that exist outside of the Operational Zone structure. These two units defend Rapid City and Cheyenne and answer to the military leader of their respective cities. The remaining Air Defense Battalions and aircraft squadrons all answer to their respective Operational Zone Commanders.
SDF Statistics
Ground Component: ~38,000 Active in 1 Wildcat Brigade, 3 Combat Brigades, and 48 Tribal Battalions.
Air Component: ~12,000 Active in 2 Special Air Defense Brigades, 6 Air Defense Battalions, 6 VTOL Squadrons, 4 Attack VTOL Squadrons, and 4 Fighter Squadrons.
Reserve Component: ~150,000 Reserve.
SDF Disposition
Northern OZ
8 Tribal Battalions, 1 Air Defense Battalion, 1 Transport VTOL Squadron.
Eastern OZ
16 Tribal Battalions, 2 Air Defense Battalions, 2 Transport VTOL Squadrons.
3 Combat Brigades, 4 Attack VTOL Squadrons, 4 Fighter Squadrons.
Southern OZ
8 Tribal Battalions, 1 Air Defense Battalion, 1 Transport VTOL Squadron.
Western OZ
8 Tribal Battalions, 1 Air Defense Battalion, 1 Transport VTOL Squadron.
Central OZ
8 Tribal Battalions, 1 Air Defense Battalion, 1 Transport VTOL Squadron.
SDF Tribal Battalion Contributions
Cherokee - 10.
Sioux - 6.
Cheyenne - 5.
Creek and Navajo - 4 Each.
Crow - 3.
Woodlands (Mohawk, Mohegan, Mahican, Onondaga, Delaware, and Oneida) - 3.
Shoshone and Ojibwe - 2 Each.
Lumbee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Seminole, Arapaho, Apache, Hidatsa, Cree, Potawatomi - 1 Each.
2. Sioux Defense Forces Training
The training cycle for the Sioux Defence Forces really begins years before conscription. The Sioux Scouts is a youth paramilitary organization that almost everyone, including Anglo residents, is a part of. Starting at the age of six, Sioux Scouts are trained in basic survival skills, wilderness navigation, first aid, and other such useful skills. When a Sioux is conscripted and begins their service commitment, they are already a well-rounded recruit with a lot of training underneath their belt.
The first week is in-processing, followed by three weeks of primarily remedial instruction on important topics covered in the Sioux Scouts to ensure everyone is on the same page. The next two months are spent in physical training, education on strategy, tactics, small arms handling, and the military lifestyle. Then, the conscripts are sorted into a Ground Component training group and an Air Component Training group. The trainees are all assigned a specialty consistent with their abilities, and spend the next five months in training tailored to their specialty assignment. Regardless of their specialty, every conscript is expected to be competent in stealth, ambush tactics, escape-and-evasion, and long-term operational independence. Training culminates in a two-week period where a conscript must survive on their own in the Sioux wilderness with only their rucksack.
Once the eight-month training cycle is completed, the conscript is approved and spends the last four months of their service commitment in active duty. Once his year is completed, a conscript may elect to extend their active enlistment or proceed to the reserves, where they will remain for four years. If a conscript extends their enlistment, they may stay in their previously assigned unit, transfer to one of the conventional units, or apply to the Wildcats.
3. Sioux Defense Forces Equipment
SDF equipment must be properly understood in the context of the tripartite division of the armed forces. The conventional Combat Brigades are armed and equipped with high-tech, modern equipment that makes them on-par with many other armed forces across the world. Up-to-date armored combat vehicles, GPS guided artillery batteries, and individual weapons linked into PANs are standardized. Magical, matrix, and drone support are totally integrated to allow the Brigades to conduct full-spectrum warfare. The standard rifle is the FN HAR and combat troops are equipped with full body armor, smart-linked and chemsealed helmets,
The Independent Battalions, however, are armed in a somewhat more rugged manner. Since they lack heavy weapons, they rely mostly on small arms. Single-use anti-tank launchers, man-portable air defense launchers, mines, and mortars provide fire support for light infantry armed with less expensive AK-97s rifles, armored jackets and gas-masks. Magical, matrix, and drone support are integrated as well.
It is fair to say that the Wildcats have access to any weaponry and armor they desire, and the specific models used by them remain a mystery.
In addition to whatever arms and special gear they carry, all SDF troopers are expected to be relatively self-sufficient when it comes to equipment. Each one carries a good quality backpack with a survival kit, at least two liters of water, a combat knife, a tomahawk, a folding entrenching tool, an individual first aid kit, a weaponry cleaning kit, rain poncho, and whatever personal items they would want to carry with them.
Conventional Troops Standard Weaponry and Armor
Pistol: Browning Ultra-Power.
SMG: Ingram Smartgun X.
Rifle: FN HAR.
LMG: Shiawase Arms Nemesis with Shock Pad, Bipod and 100-round belts.
Marksman Rifle: Cavalier Arms Crockett EBR with Suppressor and Bipod.
Armor: FBA with Chemseal and Helmet.
Tribal Battalion and Reserves Standard Weaponry and Armor
Pistol: Colt America L36.
SMG: Cavalier Arms Gladius and Ceska Black Skorpion.
Rifle: AK-97.
LMG: AK-97 with Long Barrel, Bipod, Extended Magazines, and Shockpad.
Marksman Rifle: Ruger 101 with Suppressor and Bipod.
Armor: Armor Jacket with Securitech PP Arms, Helmet, and Rating 6 Respirator.
4. Sioux Defense Forces Unit Structure
SDF Combat Brigade (~3,200 Men.).
Brigade Headquarters (300 Men.).
Support Battalion (500 Men.).
2 Tank Battalions (150 Men Each.).
2 Mechanized Battalions (600 Men Each.).
Artillery Battalion (300 Men.).
Engineer Battalion (300 Men.).
Magical Warfare Company (100 Men.).
Matrix Warfare Company (100 Men.).
Drone Warfare Company (100 Men.).
SDF Special Air Defense Brigade (~2,000 Men.).
Brigade Headquarters (150 Men.).
Support Battalion (350 Men.).
Long-Range SAM Battery (150 Men, x6 Launchers.).
Medium-Range SAM Battalion (450 Men, x18 Launchers.).
Short-Range SAM Battalion (450 Men, x36 Launchers.).
Drone Interceptor Wing (450 Men, x72 Drones.).
SDF Wildcat Brigade (~2,000 Men.).
Force Headquarters (200 Men.).
8 Wildcat Squadrons (225 Men Each.).
SDF Air Defense Battalion (~500 Men.).
Battalion Headquarters (120 Men.).
Medium-Range SAM Battery (100 Men, x6 Launchers.).
Short-Range SAM Battery (100 Men, x12 Launchers.).
Drone Interceptor Squadron (90 Men, x24 Drones.).
Radar Company (90 Men.).
SDF Tribal Battalion (~400 Men.).
Battalion Headquarters (90 Men.).
3 Light Infantry Companies (80 Men Each.).
Combat Support Company (70 Men.).
SDF Aircraft Squadron (~200 Men.).
Squadron Headquarters (35 Men.).
Support Company (90 Men.).
3 Flights (25 Men, 6 Aircraft Each.).