Kalistani Major History

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Registration of Militia aims to standardize Partisan training and operations
Independent Gun Clubs begin coalescing
Gendaris, Odufaray
February 15, 5243


Members of the 2/1 Odufaray Duchy Division of the MKI begin training in countryside

The historical difficulty that Kalistan has long had in its attempts to re-arm are finally being sidestepped once again by the re-activation of a Party's Militia. The Institutionalist Party of Kalistan recently filed its articles to establish its militia and begin working with the Regular Forces to conduct training exercises. Dubbed the "Militia of Kalistani Institutionalism" the militia formed, largely as a highly mobile, light armored unit aimed at perfecting irregular combat on Kalistani soil. The Institutionalist militia was formed largely along the same lines as another dominant partisan group in Kalistan's History, the RSMoK, which belonged to the Socialist Party of Kalistan and saw action in several conflicts in its history, including the Ananto War. However, there are some key differences.

"We wanted to build our units playing to the strengths that our partisans possess," said Staff Sergeant Vernon Samuelson, of the Second Battalion, 1st Regiment of the Odufaray Division of the MKI. "We've focused on getting shooting clubs organized into a militia, which naturally suggests infantry formations. Small arms and crew served weapons are easy to obtain, they are produced relatively inexpensively, and they allow a bit more mobility than the artillery batteries of old. Focusing on foot soldiers increases the mobility of the Partisan forces, allowing us to carry out our strategic mission more effectively."

The Militia, which will eventually consist of about 29,000 Partisans when it is at full strength, now sits at about 10% of that number, with companies forming in each of Kalistan's 5 duchies. Each unit will eventually do a form of basic training, based largely on the Regular Force's manual for recruit training, and will be mustered into a unit which is nearby his or her home. Men and women over the age of 18 are permitted to join the militia, and each must swear or affirm that they will support Kalistan's institutions and traditions. "We also do take an oath to the nation," said SSgt Samuelson, "but do not swear any sort of personal loyalty. Our mission is to protect our homes, our families, our Duchy and our Nation against those who would threaten any of those thing, enemies foreign and domestic. And that's it."

The full recruitment for the Militia is expected to take more and 14 months, and training will be constant that entire time. "After that, we won't accept more than we can use in the organizational structure," said Samuelson. "So we will utilize waiting lists and civil brigades, until a spot opens up. At this point, service with the militia will be an position of high honor and distinction. We expect that it should encourage even more people to seek to be part of the organization." Operations with the Regular Forces are also already beginning for some of the longer standing groups which started forming into Partisan units last summer, and have more training and experience. Soon that cooperation and use of Regular Force facilities will be open to all units.