NationStates Jolt Archive

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.

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.

I, myself, mostly uses the "every 3.5 soldiers there's one support" form for my Army.

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.)

At one time I actually kept track, but I never RP'd, so I forgot what it was.

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.

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).

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.

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...

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.

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.

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...

Support is much important in war RPs than people think...Of course it's important, but it automatically follows the divisions wherever needed.

In war, there are always peons. The peons make the best targets.