Commonwealth of Susquehanna Defense Force (1983: Doomsday)

The Commonwealth of Susquehanna maintains a small armed force. Most of the military units were formed post-Doomsday, with a few pre-Doomsday units training troops after the apocalypse. Military service is by volunteer only, although in times of need the government can draft from ages 18 to 45 years of age, in a selective service style recruitment.

Much of the equipment operated by the Commonwealth is pre-1960's equipment that is being replaced with newer models as funding becomes available. It lacks manpower and modern equipment. Most of the equipment has been purchased from foreign nations or is converted civilian equipment.

The total military strength as of 2014 stands at approximately 987 soldiers and personnel. This makes it the smallest standing military in former Pennsylvania. The State Police and local police can be activated in an emergency to support the military.

Susquehanna currently only has troops deployed within the nation, but occasionally personnel will train with the militaries of Reading and Gettysburg.

All personnel are trained in rescue and emergency operations. They can support the police and emergency organizations in time of need.

Currently it is primarily a ground force with minor air support and water support. There are also police and special forces as well as logistics.

History
Immediately after Doomsday, local police and small National Guard units in various communities formed small military groups for defense. Some towns organized small civilian militias to back up defense against gangs and raiders who were prowling around the area. After the area unified, the military commanders integrated all the ragtag groups into a more organized militia. They lacked artillery or explosives and only had a handful of scavenged M2 Browning machine guns and M1919 machine guns.

Most infantry were armed with a hodgepodge of weapons, from M16's to M14's to hunting rifles. They were organized into several platoons and operated independently of one another.

The main issue the nation faced was the lack of any major military instillation in or near Susquehanna's territory that had not been leveled by a nuke. There was a small logistical and cargo Army Reserve unit in Bloomsburg as well as an Army National Guard clerical unit in Berwick. Neither was officially infantry but both had training in the field and began to patrol regularly. The men operated along side local college security and police units.

After several months, the area needed additional manpower and the civilian militias were formed. The soldiers and police began to train them alongside ROTC and JROTC units from Bloomsburg University and local high schools.

Once the training was complete, the area had a manpower of 200 militia members, 250 National Guard members, 180 ROTC members, 75 JROTC members and 60 police, SWAT, and security members. Overall, there were 765 available personnel.

Once they were trained, the commander of the Provisional Pennsylvania Militia requisitioned 20 local trucks and converted them into technicals armed with M2 Brownings.

Between 1983 and 2005 the militia operated a small air arm and waterway arm. They were equipped with scavenged aircraft (which rarely flew), and rowboats armed with rifles.

After the official formation of the Commonwealth of Susquehanna, the militia disbanded and re-formed as the Commonwealth of Susquehanna National Guard. They formed a separate air arm and turned some of the best soldiers into a special forces unit called the Susquehanna Guard.

When raiders became a problem, the government launched Operation Retribution to destroy them. The military was weak and struggled to do more than keep them out. To add support, the government purchased 20 Jeep Raiders (eight have been destroyed), four artillery pieces and a variety of other equipment. There was also standardization to the M14 in 2006 after recovering a large stockpile.

To portray a more neutral tone, in mid 2012 the National Guard was renamed the Defense Force, although individual service branches suffered no name changes.

Commonwealth of Susquehanna Army National Guard
The Commonwealth of Susquehanna Army National Guard is the largest branch of the armed forces.

It is the oldest branch of the armed forces, having been in existence in some form since the foundation of the nation. There are 718 soldiers in the Army National Guard. The military allows females to serve in any branch of the Defense Forces. The Jeep battalion, as well as the engineering and logistics company are commanded by females.

Both men and women earn the same pay and rank advancement in the armed forces.

Training
All soldiers regardless of gender or job are sent through the same training.

First they are sent to four weeks of physical training. To pass basic training, they must be able to run a mile with a full combat load (73 pounds of gear, plus weapons and ammunition) in under 15 minutes, then ten miles with a training load (40 pounds of gear, plus weapons and ammunition) in under two hours, do 60 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 20 pull-ups, and do ten chin-ups.

If they pass that, they go to weapons training. At weapons training, they spend one week training on handguns, two weeks on their personal assault rifles, and five days on improvised explosives. To pass weapons training they must shoot seven rounds and hit at least five targets with a one-inch spread; fire ten rounds from their rifles, hit at least seven targets (nine for scout or sniper), and have a one-inch spread.

Infantry
The largest branch of the Army National Guard is the infantry branch. The main role is to provide defense from foreign powers, and raiders, offensive against hostile nations and groups, as well as security and aid police during a natural disaster.

History
The infantry can trace back to immediately after Doomsday. It is the successor to local militias that formed to defend the towns and communities from raiders, and rogue army groups.

In 2005, the military was officially formed as part of the Commonwealth of Susquehanna National Guard (Since renamed the Defense Force).

Manpower
The nation maintains three companies of infantry of 108 men, for a total of 324 available soldiers. All infantry regardless of role are issued M1911 pistols and almost always given some sort of explosive (Molotov Cocktails, homemade grenades or nail-bombs).

Each company has four platoons, divided into four infantry fire teams, and three heavy weapons fire teams (Machine Gun Team, Rocket Team, and Mortar Team).

Two companies are active units, with full time soldiers, while the third is a reserve company, which only activates if needed.

Non-Standard Equipment
Soldiers may be issued other weapons to support missions outside of the capability of their standard issue weapons.

Fire-team

 * Team Leader- Leader of the unit. Armed with a select fire M14 rifle, six 20-round magazines, and 50 extra rounds of ammunition, as well as the unit radio if issued one. Provides direct leadership in situations as well as information on the mission.
 * Rifleman- Baseline infantryman. Equipped with an M14 select fire, seven 20-round magazines, and 50 extra rounds of ammunition. Second-in-Command.
 * Designated Marksman- Acting scout and marksman of the fire team. Equipped with select fire M14, bipod, and a scope as well as five 20-round magazines, and 30 rounds of loose ammunition.
 * Heavy Rifleman- Heavy infantryman. Equipped with a select fire M14 with a heavy barrel, ten 20-round magazines, and 60 extra rounds of ammunition. Acts as a baseline infantryman, but may provide suppressing automatic fire in certain situations.

M60 Machine Gun Team

 * Team Leader/Gunner- Leader of the team. Equipped with a M60 machine gun, and standard issue weapons. Provides support fire for fire teams and bazooka team. Carries one belt of ammunition (250 rounds).
 * Machine Gunner- Equipped with a M60 machine gun, and standard issue weapons. Provides support fire for fire teams and bazooka team. Carries one belt of ammunition (250 rounds).
 * Loader/Ammunition Bearer- Carries three belts of extra ammunition (750 rounds). Loads gun as needed. Issued standard issue pistol and grenades.
 * Spotter- Spots for the crew. Carries one belt of ammunition (250 rounds). Issued an M2012 bolt action rifle, and eight ten-round magazines.
 * Infantryman- Equipped with an M2012 bolt action rifle, ten ten-round magazines. He also carries one belt of ammunition (250 rounds).

M20 Super Bazooka Rocket Team

 * Team Leader/Gunner- Leader of the team. Issued Super Bazooka as well as the standard issue sidearm. Carries one rocket.
 * Ammunition Bearer- Carries four extra rockets. Issued standard sidearm as well as a Model 870 shotgun for close combat.
 * Spotter/Infantryman- Issued M2012 bolt action rifle with eight ten-round magazines. Also carries one extra rocket as well as the sidearm.

Mortar Team

 * Team Leader/Gunner- Leader of the team. Equipped with the M01 Cannon, and standard issue weapons. Provides indirect fire support the other units. Carries two mortar shells.
 * Loader/Ammunition Bearer- Carries the M11 bipod and the M21 sight, and three mortar shells. Loads mortar as needed. Issued standard issue pistol and grenades.
 * Spotter- Carries M31 baseplate and spots for the crew. Carries two mortar shells. Issued M2012 and eight ten-round magazines.

Units

 * 55th Infantry Company
 * 109th Infantry Company
 * 223rd Infantry Company (Reserve)

Artillery
Artillery is a newer branch of the Army National Guard. It was formed on April 3rd, 2013 when the nation received four M101 artillery pieces from the Canadian government as well as trucks to tow them and carry ammunition and supplies. There is one battery of four guns, with four trucks towing and supporting.

Ammunition for the guns is sparse, with around 100 shells available for current use. Most of these are locally manufactured, although a few have been purchase from other nations.

Due to low fuel supplies, horses are also commonly used to pull the guns. There are 20 Canadian draft horses provided to the artillery branch for towing purposes. They also have 30 American Saddle-bred horses for riding.

Manpower There are six men assigned per howitzer, three for firing, two as spotters, and one to relieve any soldier who becomes less effective. Overall, there are 24 soldiers in the artillery branch, although that may change as Susquehanna faces better armed opposition.


 * Artillery Battery (four guns, 24 men)
 * Two Artillery Platoons (two howitzers, 12 men)
 * Two Artillery Sections (one howitzer, six men)

Howitzers
 * One Team Leader- Directs firing of gun, as well as ordering movements of the unit. Armed with standard issued weapons.
 * One Ammunition Bearer/Loader- Carries fresh shells to the gun, loads guns and piles spent shells. Carries a Model 870 shotgun for close range defense, as well as standard load.
 * One Artillery Gunner- Armed with standard equipment as well as Model 870 shotgun. Fires the gun.
 * Two Artillery Spotters- Armed with M2012 bolt action rifle. Act as forward observers to direct artillery rounds as well as provide defense for the gun. Also carry standard issue weapons.
 * One Reliever Soldier- Armed with M2012 bolt action rifle, and standard equipment. Relieves any tired or wounded soldiers on the gun, may replace one of the soldier is killed or unable to continue fighting.

Units
 * 107th Field Artillery Battery

Motorized/Mounted Infantry
Susquehanna has a single jeep force that utilizes 12 Jeep Raiders purchased from North Pennsylvania. Originally 20 Jeeps were operated, but eight have been destroyed by enemy action. Eight new Jeeps were procured from North Pennsylvania and have been delivered. They will be used in current combat operations to capture the rest of Sullivan County and a larger portion of Schuylkill County.

Due to the lack of fuel, the government also has horses available for the troops to use. Normally the horses are use for everyday patrols, or standard movement. The jeeps are only utilized in a conflict, or emergency when speed is of the essence. The unit has access to 60 American Saddlebred horses, which are generally used in peacetime, for border patrol, and for certain reconnaissance missions where stealth is critical.

Manpower
 * One (1) company of Jeep Raiders
 * Five (5) motorized infantry platoons
 * Two (2) motorized infantry squad
 * One (1) motorized infantry fireteam
 * One (1) Jeep Raider
 * Two (2) operators
 * Two (2) infantrymen
 * One (1) maintenance platoon

Units
 * 103rd Motorized Infantry Company

Mechanized Infantry
In late 2017, Susquehanna purchased ten M113, five units were refurbished ex-Canadian M113's, four were refurbished machines from Kentucky, and one machine was refurbished from North Pennsylvania. An additional oversize company of soldiers were recruited through a combination of extended contracts for enlisted personnel, and increasing recruitment rates.

The M113's were supplied unarmed. However, Susquehanna has acquired a separate weapons package from North Pennsylvania. This package included M2 heavy machine guns, M60 general purpose machine guns, M20 bazookas, and two M30 heavy mortars. Due to the lack of any heavy armor, Susquehanna has planned to locally retrofit the machines with heavier turrets, and upgrade the armament to provide for better offensive capabilities. Two of the armored personnel carriers will be outfitted into mortar carriers, providing a level of heavy fire support for future operations.

A decision was made after the completion of Operation Freedom Wind and the loss of eight Jeep Raiders to explosives and anti-vehicle actions. The Secretary of Defense advocated to acquire armored personnel carriers, providing improved protection from attack, as well as more offensive capabilities for the Defense Forces.

116 additional personnel were added to the Army National Guard to compose a new company. 50 are maintenance personnel, while the rest are combat crews or infantry. Each platoon consists of two fire teams, which are equipped in the same manner as the infantry fire team.

Manpower
 * One (1) company of M113 Armored Personnel Carriers
 * Four (4) mechanized infantry platoons
 * Two (2) mechanized infantry sections
 * One (1) Armored Personnel Carrier
 * Two (2) APC operators
 * Two (2) infantry platoons
 * One (1) mechanized mortar platoon
 * Two (2) M130 Armored Mortar Carriers
 * One (1) Armored Mortar Carrier
 * Four (4) AMC operators
 * Two (2) AMC spotters
 * One (1) maintenance platoon

Units
 * 28th Mechanized Infantry Company

Military Police
There are 50 members of the Military Police. They are the former personnel of the Hazleton Security forces. Many are assigned as law enforcement on military bases and in military secured regions as well as unorganized territories.

They are qualified to aid local police and security as well as the State Police in criminal investigations and securing crime scenes.

All are trained in counterinsurgency, hand-to-hand combat, firearms and non-lethal tactics.

They also are responsible for prosecuting any criminal cases within the armed forces. There are several lawyers and aides. The civil court prosecutes crimes, but with military advisers.

Officers are equipped with a variety of weapons and equipment.


 * East Barrack: Hazleton (Carbon Territory, Luzerne, South Luzerne Territory, Wyoming): 30 officers
 * West Barrack: Bloomsburg (Columbia, Montour, Schuylkill, Sullivan, Federal District): 20 officers

Waterway Patrol
The Commonwealth does not have an independent military branch for maritime defense, simply because there was not a need for a large naval force. Instead it was formed as a component of the Army National Guard, similar to the pre-Doomsday Swiss Lakes Flotilla. There are 36 soldiers assigned to the Waterways Patrol.

Currently, Susquehanna operates six patrol boats. Two are Susquehanna-class, and four are Lehigh-class. Five of the vessels operate on the Susquehanna River, there out of Bloomsburg, and two outside of Sunbury. The remaining vessel, a Lehigh-class vessel, operates in the Lehigh River.

Units
 * 1st Bloomsburg Flotilla
 * 2nd Northumberland Detachment
 * 3rd Carbon Flotilla

Engineering and Logistics
There is a small 100 man engineering and logistic company. They operate the earth moving equipment as well as supply trucks to support the army in operations against the enemy. There are also 150 mules available to carry supplies due to fuel shortages.

There are 40 soldiers in the Engineering platoon, with their role as providing support for the army. An additional 40 are in the logistics, providing planning for meals, and bringing supplies and fuel to the front lines in wartime. They coordinate with the Air National Guard to ensure a constant flow of supplies makes it to the men.

The last 20 personnel are the finance and office duty personnel. They keep up with the paperwork, payroll and standard clerical duties. The majority of soldiers here are female, but all soldiers are still trained for combat roles and are capable of acting as infantry in an emergency.

Equipment
Most of Susquehanna's equipment has been salvaged over the years from the National Guard facilities, captured raiders, or purchased from Canada, and other foreign nations. There are still bolt action rifles issues to reserve forces. The M14 assault rifle has only been recently standard issue. There was a small quantity discovered in Tobyhanna Army Depot, as well as the various National Guard facilities.

There were several M2 Browning machine guns as well as M1919 machine guns around the various communities. They were given to different units and improvised mortars were constructed.

After contact was made with Canada, the government began to purchase some more machine guns from old stockpiles. When North Pennsylvania began manufacturing the Jeep alongside Toledo, the meager military budget managed to stretch and purchase 20 for additional fire support.

The M1911 has been obtained from a variety of sources, such as various military facilities, North Pennsylvania, State College, Reading, Virginia, Niagara Falls, and Superior. It is the standard issue sidearm of the army.

County/Territorial Militias
The militia force is the local defense organization and secondary reserve to the Defense Force, serving as a backup to the reservists. It is responsible for local defense, disaster response, as well as combat support to the National Guard in times of crisis. Members serve in their local counties and territories and can only be called up by the federal government during a state of emergency.

Unless nationalized, the militias are under the county board of supervisors, however for practicality, the county sheriff is the commander of each militia unit. Units are armed by the federal government to ensure standardization between the Defense Force and the militias.

History
County militias are a holdover from the formation period of Susquehanna. Between Doomsday and 1998, civilian militias were the backbone of local and regional defense. The local militias were folded into the Provisional National Guard, which took over the responsibility of the militias. With the responsibility extending to the entire nation, county officials complained in the late 1990's and early 2000's that their respective counties were not receiving adequate protection.

During the formation of the Commonwealths of Suquehanna, it was decided to permit the counties to form local militias. The first county to form one was Columbia County, soon followed by Montour and Schuylkill counties. Each new county to join borough local defensive militias, which were folded into the militia structure.

In 2014, Susquehanna addressed one of the criticisms of the militias; the lack of standardized equipment. Newly manufactured M2012 rifles and M45 revolvers were issued to the county militias, standardizing equipment and ammunition.

During the counter raider operations, spanning 2010 to 2018, the militias in Wyoming, Schuylkill, and Luzerne counties were active to assist in local defense as well as mop up operations.

In 2018, Wyoming, Carbon, and Schuylkill counties participated in military excercises with the Defense Force and Reading National Guard.

Recruitment
All the militias have the same recruitment requirements; citizen within the jurisdiction of the county must serve four years in the militia from their 18th birthday and are on call until they turn 45 years old. An exception is if they are serving in the National Guard, Military Police, the local police, or attending college (Which in this case, it is postponed until graduation).

Training
With the Defense Force requiring mandatory basic training, the militias are not required to provide this training. Militia members are only required to train for one day a month, and five days in the summer. Training consists of medical training, security operations, marksmanship, and counterterrorism operations. Additionally, they are trained to assist in emergency response during natural disasters.

Units
Each county and territory is responsible for operating their respective militias. Presently there are eight county militias (the federal district militia is considered a county militia) and two territorial militias. Members are only active as required by the local counties which varies, depending on the population.

Equipment
The M2012 rifle is the current standard issue rifle for the militias, having replaced the various weapons utilized by local militias, in 2015. The M45 revolver has been issued as the primary sidearm.

Uniforms are not widely available. Mostly commanders receive a uniform, and the rest are given colored armbands. Those with uniforms wear the county flag instead of the national flag. If they are federalized, they are given another armband with the national flag on it.

Susquehanna Guard
The Susquehanna Guard is one of the smallest branches (the Waterway Guard has less personnel) in the Defense Forces. It is a highly specialized force task with the protection of the governor and covert operations. Members, referred to as operatives, are recruited from the mainstream Defense Forces and undergo rigid training. Due to the sensitive nature of the work, operatives undergo strict background and character checks.

History
The Susquehanna Guard was formed from the militias prior to the formation of the Commonwealth of Susquehanna. At the time they had the title: Provisional Pennsylvania Capital Security, or PPCS for short. They had the role of defending the governor of the provisional commonwealth, providing security for the various government facilities, and acted as a counter-raider unit.

Training
All soldiers in the Susquehanna Guard are selected from the Army National Guard, Military Police or Air National Guard. They must be between the age of 21 and 38 to enter into the program. Approximately 70 soldiers are selected each year, but only about four make it through.

Since all the soldiers have basic training, and most have some combat experience, they are sent straight to training in Special Operations and security. Troops are trained in knife combat, hand to hand combat, as well as hostage rescue, VIP escort, covert insertion, and intelligence gathering, and are drilled for shooting in extreme conditions and under duress. Unconfirmed rumors state that recruits are trained to fire at targets while their fellow trainees are in the vicinity, to build trust and marksmanship.

Typically training runs from late September until late December for extreme conditions. Recruits train throughout Susquehanna, in a variety of urban and rural environments for situational awareness and to better understand various tactics. Recently, there has been training occurring outside of Susquehanna proper, at a Fort Indiantown Gap, State College, and Allentown.

Role
The Susquehanna Guard primarily two roles, as special forces and protection for the governor and other high ranking officials. In times of war, both units may be activated as special forces if required, and in this case, protection would fall to either the Military Police or State Police. The Susquehanna Guard has unofficially been planned for usage as a rapid reaction force, and during the Saeguney War, two operatives were sent to North Pennsylvania to learn counter-raider and counterinsurgency tactics.

Units
The Susquehanna Guard is split into two squads, A and B, with both having the same composition. Typically the units will rotate between acting as special forces or protective detail. Both squads are stationed in Bloomsburg, rotating between being stationed at Bloomsburg Post or attached to the governor. Attached squads may travel outside of Susquehanna when the governor is visiting foreign nations.

Equipment
Due to the nature of the varying roles of the Susquehanna Guard, it has access to a variety of equipment, and may procure weapons from the main body of the Army Nationsl Guard for use in various combat operations. The majority of weapons are small arms with a few vehicle mounted squad automatic weapons, single shot anti-tank weapons, and two grenade launchers to provide heavier fire support.

It is not equip with any artillery, heavy machine guns, anti-tank missiles, or anti-aircraft weapons. Due to the lack of fuel and aircraft, it is reliant on the Air National Guard for any deployment abroad or air support. Besides six jeeps and a single armored Lincoln town car for VIP transport, it lacks any armored or infantry mobility vehicles.

International Cooperation
Given the equivalent role as special forces, the Susquehanna Guard has cooperated extensively with Reading and State College special forces units. A pair of members unofficially traveled to North Pennsylvania and embedded themselves in North Pennsylvanian units combating raiders during the Saegunay War.

Commonwealth of Susquehanna Air National Guard
The Commonwealth of Susquehanna Air National Guard operates several aircraft from pre-Doomsday. Several light aircraft were salvaged from the Bloomsburg Area Airport, and Riverside Airport, while four were purchased from Canada.

The Air National Guard has only been recently formed, created in 2010 as an independent branch of the Defense Forces. Most of the aircraft have been refurbished, or purchased from Canada. They have gained extensive support from the remaining members of the Hazleton Composite of the Civil Air Patrol. The group had disbanded themselves after Doomsday due to the loss of all their aircraft. Most though, joined the militia for the city and passed on their legacy to the younger generation who had been born just before or after Doomsday.

The mission of the Air National Guard is to monitor the nation for foreign incursions, provide logistics and support, as well as air defense, and light attack/defense role. However, in 2019 it lost combat capabilities with the decommissioning of both Piper PA-24 aircraft.

There are three fixed wing aircraft operated by the Air National Guard, and 133 personnel on duty. Most of the aircraft are modified civilian aircraft, and the rest are old military aircraft, being used as an interim until new aircraft can be acquired. Susquehanna is looking to modernize its forces to defend against outside aggression.

Due to age, lack of parts, and fuel shortages, most aircraft see relatively few flight hours a year. On average, pilots fly 20 hours a year, and get 100 hours on the ground. There is an order in for two ground trainers from Canada due in mid to late 2015.

Fuel and Maintenance
There are talks of converting the aircraft over to natural gas, this reducing the need for avgas, although this is expected to be costly. As of now, there are no plans, and some propose just purchasing all new aircraft already designed for that purpose.

The aircraft are all kept up to date, but most of the aircraft are grounded due to the lack of fuel. There is enough fuel in the nation for a handful of flights, but they are limited. Most are for VIP trips, quick scout missions, and ground attack missions.

Although there are several aircraft operated, they see flight rarely due to fuel constraints and aging equipment. Typically the cargo aircraft are grounded, while the trainer and executive aircraft only see flight time every few months. Several of the aircraft are aging, leading to unreliability.

201st Training Wing
The training wing is the Air National Guard's smallest section. It operates one ground trainer for new trainees and one Cessna 172 bush plane as a basic trainer. Most people in the wing are cadets training on aircraft maintenance or flight, but there are three flight instructors, and six maintenance personnel.

171st Tactical Airlift Wing
The transport wing is the largest in the Air National Guard, being utilized for cargo transport between military installations and outside Susquehanna, as well as aerial insertion of the Susquehanna Guard. It operates one Douglas C-47 Skytrain cargo plane that are typically unarmed. However, it may be equipped with one M2 Browning in the nose and one FN MAG on the loading ramp. Originally, two aircraft were purchased from Canada. However, due to age and lack of spare parts, one was grounded in late 2018.

This unit typically operates out of Bloomsburg Airbase. However, it has utilized Hazleton Airbase and Fort Indiantown Gap for training and forward operations.

There are six pilots, six flight crew, and 15 maintenance crew assigned to this wing.

111th Aerial Patrol and Combat Wing
Due to mechanical failure and the age of both aircraft, the Air Natioanl Guard wrote off both Piper PA-24 ground attack aircraft in early 2019. Currently the unit is ground based. However, four P-51 Mustangs are on order from Kentucky and are due for delivery in early 2020.

This unit operates out of Hazleton Air Base. However, it is forward staged to ensure enough range to defend the Army National Guard.

There are four pilots and six mechanics for the Aerial Patrol and Combat Wing.

193rd VIP Wing
The VIP wing operates one long range aircraft, a Cessna 404 Titan. Their job is to transport the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and other governmental personnel around the nation and to visit other countries as well.

The unit is assigned to Bloomsburg Airbase, and is the most active air wing. It typically flies two to four missions per month.

There are five pilots and ten maintenance personnel assigned to the VIP Wing.

271st Air Support Wing
The air support wing are the support units for the rest of the Air National Guard. It provides a variety of technical services including logistics, ground support, and control for the aerial units. Additionally, the unit collaborates with the Army National Guard to coordinate operations.

There are ten air traffic controllers, ten communication specialists, 12 refueling operatives, and 20 firefighters.

Air Defense Wing
The air defense wing is responsible for the security and protection of airbases in both wartime and peacetime. They operate in conjunction with the Military Police and have the power to arrest individuals, though prosecution is undertaken by the Military Police.

There are 20 security officers, all of which are assigned to base duty. However, events during the liberation of Lehighton has lead the Air National Guard to consider increasing the size and mission of this wing. It has been considered to reform the unit to take con command and control combat missions.

Active Units
Currently although the government has personnel assigned to all the aircraft, only the 193 Wing, the 201 Wing, and the 271 Wing are active full time. The 111th unit is currently grounded due to the age of the existing inventory.

The other aircraft are kept in a mixed state of readiness, typically the trainer is kept flight ready for use within 24 hours notice, and the cargo aircraft are kept within 72 hours notice.

Training
Cadets are required to have attended Columbia County Community College or another institution to obtain the two year Aviation Professional Pilot's Associates Degree.

Once obtaining their degree, they are transferred to the 201st Training Wing. New inductees are first sent to six weeks of wilderness survival courses. Once completing that, they receive one month of firearms training, and hand-to-hand combat training.

Once completing basic training, the cadets are given one week of flight training, showing them around the aircraft and basic controls. Next, cadets are put through two months in the ground trainer to learn piloting and aerial operations. After ground training, successful cadets are then given a month training in the Cessna 172 basic trainer and on emergency field repairs that can be done to the aircraft.

After basic flight introduction, they train on their respective aircraft for up to one month, although more recently it has only been for two weeks. If cadets wash out of piloting school, they are moved to one of the support ground units.

Decommissioned/Lost Aircraft

 * Cessna 172 Skyhawk (Basic Trainer)- One (1) Shot Down (2007-2013), Three (3) Decommissioned (2005(?)-2009/2012)
 * Douglas C-47 Skytrain (Cargo)- One (1) Decommissioned (2011-2018)
 * Piper PA-24 Comanche (Ground Attack)- Two (2) Decommissioned (2016-2019)
 * Piper PA-28 Cherokee (Cargo, Liasion)- One (1) Shot Down (2005(?)-2012), Two (2) Decommissioned (2005(?)-2011/2012)

Uniforms
The Commonwealth of Susquehanna has three main uniforms for the Army National Guard and Susquehanna Guard, one additional one for the Waterway Guard, one for the Military Police, and one for the Air National Guard.

The Army National Guard and Susquehanna Guard use the Battle Dress Uniform for combat, training and emergency situations. The uniform is directly planned from the former United States Battle Dress Uniform. Badges are attached using buttons. The left arm has the rank badge and the National Guard arm patch. The right sleeve has the flag of the Commonwealth of Susquehanna as well as the unit patch below it.

The second is for soldiers to wear on base while off duty and for physical training. It is a tan color with Susquehanna's flag and the National Guard arm patch on the right sleeve and the rank insignia on the left sleeve.

The last combines the Mess Uniform and the Service Uniform into one uniform. It is a blue uniform, based on the Army Service Uniform, and is named the Army Formal Service Uniform. Soldiers are to wear it during formal dinners, services or other activities.

The Waterways Guard uses the same uniforms as the Army National Guard for base wear and formal occasions. The combat uniform is the same design as the Battle Dress Uniform, except it's naval camouflage, and has the naval insignia instead of the National Guard arm patch.

The Military Police share the same uniforms for duty with the Army National Guard, but utilize one special one while acting in a law enforcement role. It is olive green with no insignia on the right arm, and a simple armband on the left saying: Military Police.

The Air National Guard has its own uniforms for flight personnel. When soldiers or airmen are off duty, they use both the base and exercise wear, and the Army Formal Service Uniform with a Susquehanna Air National Guard pin for formal occasions. All personnel not assigned to fly in an aircraft use the Battle Dress Uniform for combat jobs. The flight uniform is called the Flight Personnel Active Uniform.

Defense Industry
The Commonwealth of Susquehanna does not have a large defense industry. The two major domestic suppliers to the armed forces are the Danville Steel Mills, and Appalachian Firearms Corporation.

Danville Steel Mills provides stamped armor for the military, knives and bayonets for the military. Currently they manufacture the M5 bayonet for the M14 assault rifle and the M2012 bolt action rifle.

Appalachian Firearms Corporation mainly manufactures ammunition for the armed forces. Another smaller section is manufacturing both the M2012 bolt action rifle and the M45. The rifle is the standard secondary and reserve rifle, being heavily based off of the M1917 Enfield rifle, except with a detachable ten round magazine, and an updated bayonet lug. The M45 is a new revolver that went into production on May 1, 2015. It will supplement the M1911 currently in service, with planned issuing to reserve, support, and the civilian militia. It is a .45 caliber revolver, and will share ammunition type with the current service pistol.

They also manufacture the M26 hand grenade, mortar bombs and rockets for the bazookas. The company also modified and refurbished used and damaged weapons.

There are current designs underway for a new assault rifle to replace the aging M14 arsenal. It is currently designated the XM15, and will have two variants. A rifle version and a carbine version, with the rifle being planned for usage in the Army National Guard, and the carbine being used for the Military Police, motorized units, and base security.

It is unknown if it will enter service due to Susquehanna's lack of any major manufacturing of firearms. A prototype is planned for 2020, but the date has been pushed back several times. It is possible the military will simply restock the armed forces with M14's from Virginia.

The newly formed Columbia Ordnance Facility opened in Berwick, in February of 2014. It manufactures unguided bombs and rockets, as well as incendiary bombs.

Much of the Defense Force's equipment is imported or scavenged. Susquehanna has begun exporting a limited number of the M2012 rifle to Niagara Falls, Reading, and State College as a drill rifle and sniper rifle due to its durability, low maintenance, and low cost.

Facilities
Susquehanna operates seven facilities and bases around the nation.

The overall headquarters of the Defense Force is in Bloomsburg, with Army National Guard bases in Bloomsburg, Berwick, Riverside, and Hazle Township. Each facility is surrounded by a barbed wire fence and has a gate guard with a manual pullback fence.

The Air National Guard operates two air bases out of Hazleton International Airport and Bloomsburg Regional Airport. The primary air field is Bloomsburg Regional Airport, with a few aircraft in Hazleton. They may utilize the air facilities at Fort Danville during wartime.

The Waterway Guard utilizes three small bases on the Susquehanna River where they do repairs and launch the boats from a small boat dock. They are each able to support up to four boats at a time, though each only usually houses two.

The military operates a single training facility near Millville. It has facilities for urban training, wilderness survival courses, climbing walls, and an assortment of other buildings and equipment for training. It is under the Army National Guard's command, but all branches utilize it for exercises.

Army National Guard Facilities
 * Berwick Armory (Berwick)
 * Bloomsburg Military Post (Bloomsburg): Shares Facility with Air National Guard
 * Camp Wyoming (Hazle Township): Shares Facility with Air National Guard
 * Fort Danville (Riverside)
 * Millville Training Post (Millville)

Waterway Guard Facilities
 * Port Bloomsburg (Bloomsburg)
 * Port Shickshinny (Packer's Island, Upper Augusta Township)
 * Port White Haven (White Haven)

Air National Guard Facilities
 * Bloomsburg Air Station (Bloomsburg): Shares Facility with Army National Guard
 * Hazleton International Airport Air Station (Hazle Township): Shares Facility with Army National Guard

Weapons of Mass Destruction
Prior to Doomsday, there were no weapons of mass destruction in the region.

Biological
The Defense Forces have officially announced the nation has not manufactured or obtained stockpiles of biological weapons. It is believed the only potential source would have come from Merck or Bloomsburg University. The Army National Guard has begun research into countering these weapons, as fears of raider obtaining or creating a disease is high.

Chemical
The Defense Forces have only announced that they utilize tear gas and smoke grenades, the former which is used by the Susquehanna Guard and Military Police, the latter which is used by all branches. Prior to Doomsday, there were no weapons stockpiled in the region.however, with the presence of Merck and two universities, it is within the capaicty to potentially develop rudimentary chemical weapons.

Nuclear
There is no evidence the Defense Forces have operation nuclear weapons. Any such weapons prior to Doomsday were held at military installations, none of which are within the present borders. Susquehanna Steam Electric Station was a partially operational nuclear power plant on Doomsday, and has not been operational since. The government has investigated restarting the facility, though any international assistance would likely require any weapons grade fissile materials be transported out of the country. Presently, it may be possible for the Defense Forces to operate a couple of dirty bombs, however they would lack mobility and likely be of limited use.

Deployment
With the limited size of Susquehanna's military, it lacks virtually any means of deploying these weapons.

The Army National Guard's largest artillery piece is a 105 mm howitzer which would be the only means of deploying chemical or biological weapons, via modified artillery shells. Nuclear weapons would not be capable of being utilized by the artillery guns.

The Air National Guard would only be capable of deploying nuclear bombs via a drop out of the cargo aircraft. Given the small size and limited ceiling height, this severely restricts any operational capabilities as a makeshift bomber. The Air National Guard lacks any strike, attack, or bomber aircraft capable of deploying nuclear bombs or cruise missiles.

Being a landlocked nation, it is incapable of utilizing nuclear submarines or other oceangoing vessels.

Miscellaneous
Susquehanna has non-aggression pacts and military training deals with the Pennsylvanian survivor states as well as Canada. They purchase military hardware from Toledo and Superior as well, although Canada has pushed for Susquehanna to stop buying from Superior.

To support the small military, in times of war the State Police and local police are able to be conscripted as a reservist force. Their job would be to secure borders and captured territory as well as defend the territorial integrity of Susquehanna.

After discovering Canada and the Atlantic Defense Community, some wanted to request to join. The government knew it would be impossible to modernize the forces enough in order to allot troops to the ADC military structure.

Gettysburg approached Susquehanna in 2013 about requesting Virginia to join the Dixie Alliance, but Susquehanna declined that as well. They did not have the logistical capability to send units down that far south. Many were against it due to Virginia's government system and militaristic tendencies.

For now, they remain independent of any military alliance. That may change in the future as the military expands.

Due to the small size of the military, the armed forces have kept stockpiled old firearms, shotguns, revolvers, bow and arrows, and crossbows. These have been kept by individuals used in hunting since Doomsday and the military may force individuals armed with these weapons to serve in times of distress. This has only been planned to use as a last resort to hold off an enemy for the government to evacuate and move civilians to safer areas.

Issues
There is some criticism of the Defense Forces, mainly pointed at gender discrimination and bias, as well as the state of the equipment.

Gender Bias
Females are exempt from the draft, but may volunteer. Most are allowed in any role but are gender segregated on base and in the field. Top commanders in the Defense Forces are reluctant to allow the few female infantry squads into the field. The primary concern is that the male members of the military will put a mission in danger to defend the female soldiers.

Females are present in three squads, as well as being prominent in the logistics portion of the engineering and logistics company. There are two companies commanded by females, the motorized unit as well as the engineering and logistics unit.

Equipment
Most of the equipment operated by the military are relics of the Cold War or even World War Two. The newest equipment utilized by the military are the M2012, the M45, and the Jeep Raider. Some are concerned that the age of the equipment could lead to future reliability issues and a breakdown in military operational readiness.

The armed forces have denied this, but are looking to modernize as quickly as possible, with planned purchases of new infantry weapons, newer aircraft, dedicated river patrol boats, and an assortment of other alterations.

Future
There are several plans for the Defense Forces in the future. Many of them are unlikely to occur in the near future, but a few have been accomplished and met. The goal of the armed forces is to be able to secure the borders by 2020 and secure the rest of Luzerne and Sullivan County by the 2030's or 2040's.

Within the military, due to the aging M14 battle rifles, the government is looking at replacing it with a new rifle by 2020. The Army National Guard has begun firearms trials with plans to equip one platoon in 2021 and the rest of the armed forces by 2025. In 2017, the Senate invited firearms manufacturers from Susquehanna, Canada, Niagara Falls, North Pennsylvania, Reading, and Virginia, to provide three demonstration rifles.

Army National Guard
The Commonwealth of Susquehanna has been working on keeping a relatively well trained, strong military force. On paper there should be five active infantry companies, three reserve infantry companies, one artillery company, one motorized infantry company, one armor company, one air defense company, one engineering company, and one logistics company.

In reality the Army National Guard is only at approximately one-half strength or less. There are only two active infantry units, one reserve infantry company, an undersized artillery company, one motorized infantry company, and a combined engineering and logistics company.

Much of the equipment has been scavenged from military bases or acquired from other survivor states. Some of the explosives and almost all of the ammunition is being produced in a factory in Berwick. Some foreign suppliers include North Pennsylvania, Virginia and Canada.

Recently, ten M113's have been acquired from various sources, and have been put into operation as infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, and indirect fire support vehicles. It was decided to scrap any procurement of tanks, or work on a domestic vehicle for the time being. Instead, the factory and ordinance supplies, have been retrofitting the vehicles to meet Susquehanna's standards.

Some officials are looking into purchasing more air defense systems, including 40 mm anti-aircraft guns, and possibly one anti-aircraft missile platform. Most military experts outside of the nation believe that this is necessary as there is little threat of attacking aircraft from other nations.

Eight new Jeeps have been purchased and were delivered on March 31st, 2016 after one month of trials in North Pennsylvania. An additional 52 personnel were hired by the military, 32 for operational procedures, and another 20 mechanics to operate on the vehicles.

Army Future Combat Weapon
In 2018, the Defense Forces received submissions domestically from Appalachian Firearms (the maker of the M2012 rifle and M45 revolver), as well as Canada, Reading, Virginia, and a joint effort between Niagara Falls and North Pennsylvania. The request included three models, firing the same cartridge, a carbine, a marksman rifle, and a squad automatic rifle, with the following specifications:


 * Carbine
 * Cartridge: NATO 7.62x51 mm
 * Barrel Length: 18 inches
 * Minimum Weight: 6.5 pounds
 * Maximun Weight: 8.5 pounds
 * Firing Options: 3 round burst, semiautomatic, single shot
 * Sights: Iron, optional scopes
 * Additional Requirements: Compatible with M203, three Picatinny rails (bottom, left, right), composite stock, bayonet lug


 * Marksman Rifle
 * Cartidge: NATO 7.62x51 mm
 * Barrel Length: 22 inches
 * Minimum Weight: 7.5 pounds
 * Maximum Weight: 11.5 pounds
 * Firing Options: semiautomatic, single shot
 * Sights: Iron, optional scopes
 * Additional Requirements: Two Picatinny rails (left, right), folding bipod, composite stock


 * Squad Automatic Weapon
 * Cartridge: NATO 7.62x51 mm
 * Barrel Length: 22 inches
 * Minimum Weight: 12 pounds
 * Maximum Weight: 16 pounds
 * Firing Options: automatic, semiautomatic
 * Sights: Iron, optional scopes
 * Additional Requirements: Three Picatinny rails (bottom, left, right), flash suppressor, collapsible composite stock, mounting equipment for: bipod, tripod, or vehicle mounted


 * Entries
 * Appalachian Firearms: M18
 * M14/M2012 hybrid
 * Requirements not met: C- 20 inch barrel, wooden stock, two Picatinny rails (left, right), incompatible with M203; MR- wooden stock; SAW- fixed wooden stock, two Picatinny rails (left, right)
 * Canada: L3A1/2/3
 * Derivative of L1A1
 * Requirements not met: C- No single shot; MR- No single shot; SAW- No collapsible stock
 * Niagara Falls/North Pennsylvania: M16B1
 * Derivative of M16
 * Requirements not met: C- 5.56x45 mm, one Picatinny rail (bottom); MR- 5.56x45 mm, one Picatinny rail (bottom); SAW- 5.56x45 mm, fixed stock, 10 pounds
 * Reading: M16SQ
 * Derivative of M16, reconfigured to fire NATO 7.62x51 mm
 * Requirements not met: C- collapsible metal stock, 20 inch barrel; MR- wooden stock; SAW- collapsible metal stock, 24 inch barrel, 18 pounds
 * Virginia: M14-EBR
 * Derivative of M14
 * Requirements not met: C- incomparable with M203, no bayonet lug; MR- N/A; SAW- No automatic fire

Trials began in June, 2018, and wrapped up in January, 2019. This permitted testing in various weather conditions and seasons. Additional testing occurred at firing ranges for accuracy, reliability, and ergonomics as well as bayonet testing and duration testing at an indoor facility.

FIRST ROUND

The first round evaluated

Waterway Guard
The Commonwealth of Susquehanna Army National Guard has orders in for three light patrol boats from Canada. They will replace most of the existing modified pleasure craft, with all three being placed in Sunbury. All three boats are due for delivery in mid 2020 after testing. Each boat will be equip with a single forward mounted M2 Browning heavy machine gun and two M60 general purpose machine guns, one mounted on the port and one on the starboard.

It has been decided to remove any plans for heavy weapons as initially planned. This will help keep the draught of the boats lower and will permit operation when the Susquehanna drops during the summer.

Two of the newest patrol boats will be kept in service, one in White Haven to patrol the Lehigh River, and the other in Bloomsburg for security around the military installations near the river. With the raiders being pushed far rnough back, it was decided to strip most of the armament off the boats, leaving a forward mounted M2 Browning and a stern mounted M1919.

Air National Guard
The Air National Guard is underdeveloped and lacks proper training. At the time of its founding, there were five Cessna 172 basic trainers and three Piper PA-28 Cherokee light attack planes. Due to age, three Cessna's were retired as well as one of the Piper aircraft were. Two cargo planes were purchased from Canada as well as a VIP aircraft.

Between late 2018 and early 2019, both attack aircraft and one of the two cargo aircraft were written off due to age. Currently there are three aircraft in operation. One is a basic trainer, one cargo aircraft, and one VIP aircraft.

On paper the Air National Guard should operate one fighter flight, one ground attack flight, one training flight, a logistics flight, a helicopter utility flight,and a VIP transport flight. The goal would be to operate 18 fixed wing aircraft, and three rotary wing aircraft.

There were talks of repairing the three Bell 47 light helicopters which had been within Susquehanna's borders prior to Doomsday. They had been used as crop dusters before, but were damaged from the EMP blast and were never repaired due to costs and operating costs. After shipping all three aircraft to Canada, it was discovered that the helicopters were in too poor of shape to salvage. Instead, they were dismantled and sold for scrap.

Susquehanna has placed on order from Kentucky, four P-51 Mustang aircraft, equipped for ground attack missions and limited air defense.

Modernization
Susquehanna's armed forces are the weakest in the former state. The only reason it is able to defeat the raiders is because it has more organization and air support. If a foreign power were to attack, the military would not stand a chance.

Susquehanna has a goal to modernize the forces by 2050 to full strength and update equipment. In some cases the State Police are better equipped than the military is. There are talks of dissolving the armed forces into the Susquehanna Guard as VIP protection and special forces, and a heavily armed State Police as a military force.

They are looking to purchase a few snow plow trucks and heavy vehicles for emergencies and humanitarian purposes.

Since the end of the raider war, Susquehanna has captured equipment and materiel. The government is currently inventorying, storing and transferring equipment. Some will be sent to active units, some reserve and the rest either put in storage or destroyed.

Military Alliances
Susquehanna has strong ties with the rest of former Pennsylvania and Canada. It is believed that at a certain point, the military may form an alliance with State College, Reading and North Pennsylvania. Gettysburg could be admitted as well.

There is some interest in joining the ADC in some capacity.

Missions

 * Operation Comfort
 * Operation Freedom Wind: (Security)
 * Operation Laporte
 * Operation Tamaqua