NationStates Jolt Archive


Military Stats

25-10-2003, 00:25
This is just a poll to see how you guys calculate your nations' military strength. As you may know, some people say that you should account for 50% of your army, 75% of your navy, and 2/3 of your air force being officers and support personnel as opposed to actual Enlisted. Some say that officers and support personnel can be counted outside this figure, and thus that, if 2% of your population is your military, that figure only includes the Enlisted (and your officers are outside of that number). Which do you guys use?

Option A = X% of my population is my military, and then a certain percentage of THAT equals my officers and support personnel.

Option B = X% of my population is my Enlisted military, and officers/personnel are not counted in that number.

Option C = Other, please explain.
Vrak
25-10-2003, 00:31
I think some of the problems arise when, particularily in war threads, people don't state their support staff. I tend to favour option A myself.
Omz222
25-10-2003, 00:34
I, myself, mostly uses the "every 3.5 soldiers there's one support" form for my Army.
Santa Barbara
25-10-2003, 00:35
Option A, although I start with the military budget, and operating costs of units as a whole, rather than percentage of population (I tend to figure I'd run out of money before running out of personnel.)
25-10-2003, 00:35
At one time I actually kept track, but I never RP'd, so I forgot what it was.
Trailers
25-10-2003, 00:38
My military is mostly that of grunts witht he occasional ranking officer.I allow some 5% of the population to military status.(7% when in a draft).
I currently have 14,000 low-ranking officers,and 83 Generals.12 High Admirals to preside over my navy and space navy.
Omz222
25-10-2003, 00:38
I use only 0.3% previously, and now 0.25% in my military, since I hadn't had a war in 2 RL months (about... 12 NS years).
Trailers
25-10-2003, 00:40
I use only 0.3% previously, and now 0.25% in my military, since I hadn't had a war in 2 RL months (about... 12 NS years).

Meh,my nation is just psychotically hostile.
Omz222
25-10-2003, 00:41
I use only 0.3% previously, and now 0.25% in my military, since I hadn't had a war in 2 RL months (about... 12 NS years).

Meh,my nation is just psychotically hostile.
5% is really going to suck up your economy though...
Trailers
25-10-2003, 00:51
I use only 0.3% previously, and now 0.25% in my military, since I hadn't had a war in 2 RL months (about... 12 NS years).

Meh,my nation is just psychotically hostile.
5% is really going to suck up your economy though...

Noted.Soldiers are only required to serve a limited amount of time,so there is a varying margin in our military.
Nianacio
25-10-2003, 01:03
I did it this way until I decided to downsize my army and never make it bigger again:
"Lessee...the US has x active duty divisions.
Hmmm...Nianacio's population is y...the US's is z...y/z=a...
a times x = b...Gotta go post that the military is getting bigger..."
Repeat for the special forces.

I didn't bother with support personnel, because I didn't list the total number of soldiers, anyway - just those who would actually fight. Each division would get various support units that I didn't bother posting.
Omz222
25-10-2003, 01:05
I did it this way until I decided to downsize my army and never make it bigger again:
"Lessee...the US has x active duty divisions.
Hmmm...Nianacio's population is y...the US's is z...y/z=a...
a times x = b...Gotta go post that the military is getting bigger..."
Repeat for the special forces.

I didn't bother with support personnel, because I didn't list the total number of soldiers, anyway - just those who would actually fight. Each division would get various support units that I didn't bother posting.
Support is much important in war RPs than people think...
Nianacio
25-10-2003, 01:05
Support is much important in war RPs than people think...Of course it's important, but it automatically follows the divisions wherever needed.
Santa Barbara
25-10-2003, 01:06
In war, there are always peons. The peons make the best targets.