Ranger Militia

The following information is excerpted from the Territorial Rangers Handbook, compiled by Ranger sergeant Tyrell Bodica in 2940.

General Organization of the Ranger Militia

Any military organization needs a clear chain of command to insure effective coordination of smaller units. At the same time, units must be capable of responding to the immediate circumstances without having to ask higher authorities for permission to perform necessary or mundane tasks. Such loyalty to authority but capability to respond individually is essential to the Ranger Militia.

However, the necessity for personal and small-group freedom and initiative is compounded by several factors. First, the potential enemy may be superior in numbers, meaning that Militia units could be cut off and isolated from other units. Second, the potential enemy will probably be technologically superior, either eavesdropping on or jamming our communications, leading to a different kind of isolation. Third, Ranger Militia commanders of necessity will have some public exposure as a result of living their private lives.

Even with wise precautions, this endangers command elements by exposing them to possible arrest or attack leading to "decapitation" of combat elements. In any of these situations, combat units of the Ranger Militia must be capable of carrying on the fight without support from above or beside.

The fundamental rule guiding the organization of the Ranger Militia is centralized principles and planning but decentralized tactics and action.

What is meant by this key statement is that the whole Militia must be committed to the same cause and coordinated in their joint defense of the community. Thus, there must be allegiance to a higher command. But specific tactics should be left up to the individual elements so that the compromise of a part does not compromise the whole. Furthermore, all training and combat actions should be up to the smaller elements, again so that isolation or decapitation does not render the smaller units inept.

The way a balance between these competing concerns is achieved in the Ranger Militia is to organize all elements into "cells."

A cell is a group of eight men who train and work together to accomplish a particular goal or task important to the broader purposes of the Militia.

Military operations depend on teamwork. But the teams that comprise the larger organization must be small for several reasons:

• The small size facilitates camaraderie. For the most part, the men who train, work and fight together in a cell will stick together and the cell will remain intact, even though the cell as a whole may be transferred from unit to unit. This will develop personal closeness, trust and loyalty among its members that is critical to effectiveness.

• The small size allows for personalized training. By knowing and having frequent personal contact with each member, a cell leader can train each man at his level and pace simultaneously with developing a strong cohesiveness among the team.

• The small size is conducive to secrecy. Since each man knows and trusts everyone else in his group, they can communicate freely and openly while shrouding the particulars of their tactics, positions and signals to everyone outside the group.

• The small size means manageable communication and coordination. The cell leader easily conveys clear orders to a small group of men. The higher command elements can give orders to the whole Militia through the chain of command without direct contact with the individual soldier.

Cell Organization

Cells ideally consist of eight men (plus or including their leader), because eight men can effectively and independently accomplish a wide range of military tasks, whether defensive or offensive, rural or urban.

• Rural defense. Eight men can occupy four two-man foxholes. With four foxholes, all four directions to a position can be covered. With two men in each foxhole, morale is increased in combat due to a buddy system and each approach remains covered even when some casualties are sustained.

• Urban defense. Eight men can occupy a house or small building. Again, all four sides of the house can be covered by two men, allowing for good morale under stress and the integrity of defenses when a casualty is sustained.

• Rural offense. Eight men can form an eight-man patrol. A very effective combat or reconnaissance patrol formation is the diamond- shaped patrol. Two men take the point, two are at each flank and two are in the rear. At each corner, one observes the ground and the other for tree snipers. This maintains all-around security as the patrol moves in formation.

• Urban offense. Eight men make an effective house assault team. While four men give suppression fire, the other four can advance on and enter a house or small building. Once inside, two men may enter and clear rooms while the other two provide security in the hallway or open areas.

Diversification of Cells

While the cell is the basic building block of the Ranger Militia, there is, of necessity, diversity among the cells just as there is in the human body. One kind of diversity is found in a cell's specialty. For instance, although each combat cell receives basic training for general tasks, each one emphasizes and perfects particular skills needed for different scenarios. (The range of these specialties must remain confidential until you formally join the Ranger Militia.)

A second kind of diversity is found in the function for which the particular cell is designed. There are four types or functions of cells in the Ranger Militia: (1) command, (2) combat, (3) support, and (4) communiqué.

Putting it in human terms, some cells in the human body serve the function of a muscle while others form bones, skin and organs. But among those cells dedicated to making muscles, some are specialized as arm muscles, some as leg muscles and others as chest muscles. They do basically the same thing but in somewhat different ways and different places. So, also, Ranger Militia cells may function in four different ways and specialize in several ways within their function.

Again, there are four types or functions of cells in the Ranger Militia: (1) command, (2) combat, (3) support, and (4) communiqué.

• Command cells. Command cells consist of the leadership of the Ranger Militia and provide the plans and orders to be implemented or carried out by all other elements. As a headquarters unit, they include their own minimal combat element for self-defense and move frequently to undisclosed locations, often secret even to other command cells. They provide training for future cell and platoon leaders. They are the "mind" of the Ranger Militia.

• Combat cells. Combat cells provide the patrolling and fighting capability of the Ranger Militia. Each cell consists of about eight able-bodied "minutemen" with its own leader, communications, rendezvous points, staging areas, and standing orders. They execute the orders of their command cells and do all their own training within the combat cell itself. They are the "arms" of the Ranger Militia.

• Support cells. Support cells consist of sympathetic men and/or women who are unable, unwilling, or ill-equipped for combat. Their task is to provide whatever non-combatant support is needed by the combat cells. Supply cells acquire ammunition and provisions for other cells. Medical cells set up aid stations for companies and/or battalions. Vehicle maintenance, messengers, construction, etc. are provided by support cells. They are the "arteries" of the Ranger Militia.

• Communiqué cells. Communiqué cells consist of bright, capable, and convincing men and women who communicate with and influence the public. Their duties include rhetoric to and fostering resistance, reconnaissance and recruiting among the community. They are the "mouth" of the Ranger Militia.

Company Organization

The cell is the smallest unit of organization within the Ranger Militia. All larger units consist of cells organized together under the same command. For instance, four cells comprise a platoon and are led by a lieutenant. Four platoons comprise a company and are led by a captain. This system is illustrated in the following organizational chart.

Organization chart of Ranger Militia.

This chart shows the ideal strengths and organization of units. While all units must be organized into cells, the number of men in any particular cell or platoon may be more or less than the ideal, depending on how many men have joined the Ranger Militia at any point in time. Indeed, whenever a new militia is established, it is very unlikely that it will have the strength of a company or even of a platoon. Perhaps only one cell will exist at first. As new recruits join up, seasoned men will be promoted and new cells formed. Eventually platoons, companies, or even battalions (four companies), will form.

Explanation of Company Organization

Combat elements

The command cell is the "mind" of the company. Its responsibilities include:

• Dissemination of principles and the ideology of the Ranger Militia to its rank and file members within the combat cells.

• Development and dissemination of training materials and methods to be used within the individual combat cells.

• Development and security of tactical (as well as strategic if this is the highest level of command)contingency plans for implementation by the combat cells when the need arises.

• Coordination of the various combat, supply and medical cells during actual combat.

• If this is the highest level of command, guide the development and operation of communiqué cells within the community.

Within the command cell (company headquarters) the company's second in command oversees the radio and intelligence unit. The radio team maintains contact with the platoon leaders. The mapping team registers the positions and movements of friendly and enemy forces. The intelligence team gathers and distributes information received from civilian spotters, observers and so on.

The company's third in command oversees the security cell for company headquarters. This unit provides the mobile self-defense capability for the company command post. It is also a pool of promising men who are trained and groomed to lead their own combat cells or platoons whenever there is a large influx of fresh recruits that the existing combat cells cannot absorb.

All basic training is done within and by the combat cells with oversight from their platoon lieutenant. This includes training in ideology, individual combat skills and team combat skills. Particular orders or instructions are conveyed through the chain of command and are carried out by the combat cells. In the event the combat cell is isolated from the main group, it is designed to continue to fight on its own, using guerilla tactics.

Non-combatant elements

• The supply cell supports the company by procuring and delivering needed equipment and supplies. They may also be used as messengers between the command and combat units in certain circumstances.

• The medical cell supports combat operations by setting up a combat aid station to receive and care for wounded in the event of combat.

• Communiqué cells will be isolated and independent of combat companies. It will be the responsibility of the "high command" to develop and control these units. They will serve as the liaison with the civilian population of our community.

The Chain of Command

To avoid complication, the Ranger Militia does away with "sub-ranks" or ranks within ranks. Thus, there are not privates and privates first class, just privates. There are no first and second lieutenants, just lieutenants. There are no lieutenant colonels and colonels, just colonels.

Militia Rank	Militia Role	Unit Commanded	Men Commanded
General	Commander	Division	10701-12238
Colonel	Commander	Regiment	2670-3054
Major	Commander	Battalion	662-758
Captain	Commander	Company	160-184
Lieutenant	Platoon leader	Platoon	32-36
Sergeant	Cell Leader	Cell/squad	7-8
Corporal	Minuteman	Team	4*
Private	Minuteman	Himself	1

(A corporal does not lead a particular group. Instead, he is from time to time assigned a part of the cell by the cell leader when it is necessary to split up the cell's assigned duties or location.)

Promotions are made by superior officers. Any officer may promote men in his unit from two levels to one level of rank below him, provided there is a genuine leadership need for the promotion. Thus a sergeant may select one of his privates to be his corporal and a new captain may promote as many sergeants to lieutenants as he needs to command platoons.