Corps Directive 02-2204

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Corps Directive 02-2204 was issued 27 April 2022 under the authority of the Marshal of the Corps.

Order Text

To:	All Officers and Enlisted in the Royal Manticoran Marine Corps
From:	Marshal of the Corps Sean Niemeyer, Commandant of the RMMC
Re:	RMMC Unit Policies & Procedures (Corps Directive 02-2204)

The Royal Manticoran Navy: The Official Honor Harrington Fan Association, Inc. has experienced phenomenal growth over the past several years. This, of course, has led to the growth of the RMMC. With that growth, it has become painfully obvious that policies and procedures instituted five years ago are no longer working as intended and need to be adjusted. This Corps Directive is an attempt to better streamline the RMMC and address issues that have arisen. Consequently, this Corps Directive makes major changes to the way the RMMC operates.

As of the date of this Order, by my hand, and by the authority of the Sovereign, Queen of Manticore Elizabeth III, I hereby institute the following RMMC Unit Policies and Procedures.

Units in the RMMC:

Units in the RMMC are divided into two types;

1. Those that are based on chapters and are comprised of the membership of just that chapter. These units are called Marine Detachments or MARDET. Examples of this type of unit are a section, squad, platoon, company, and battalion. A chapter may only have one MARDET assigned to it at any given time.

2. Those that are comprised of multiple MARDETs. Examples are regiment, expeditionary force, and corps.

Each unit has a specific size and leadership requirement. These requirements are detailed in the latest revision of the RMMC Echelon Table. That table details both role-playing and real word unit size from the smallest unit to the largest unit in the RMMC. The table also illustrates the basic command structure for each of those elements.

Starting a MARDET

To establish a basic chain of command, a MARDET needs a commanding officer, executive officer, and senior non-commissioned officer. Therefore three (3) Marines are the minimum number of marines required to start a MARDET. Once a chapter has met the minimum of three (3) Marines, the senior-most Marine determined by rank and/or time in grade may fill out an RMMC MARDET Activation Request Form. The completed form is then submitted to COMFORCECOM and copied to the chapter’s commanding officer.

COMFORCECOM shall review the request and then shall act appropriately. If activation is denied, COMFORCECOM shall work with the applicant to resolve any issues that caused the denial. Upon approval, COMFORCECOM shall appoint a commanding officer, executive officer, and senior non-commissioned officer. Brevet promotions may be necessary to fill the three required roles. Those brevet promotions shall be done following the various Admiralty Orders and Corps Directive which may govern. Approval paperwork and brevet promotions shall be sent to the MARDET commanding officer and copied to their chapter’s commanding officer.

Please note that only units that are stationed onboard chapters may be requested for activation. These include platoons, companies, battalions, and single-ship regiments. Multi-ship regiments, expeditionary forces, and corps are ad-hoc and are created from aggregating MARDETs together. These units are created as needed by COMFORCECOM or by the direction of the Commandant RMMC.

The type of MARDET constituted will be determined by the hull type assigned to the chapter on which the MARDET is based. This is regardless of the number of Marines assigned to a chapter. For example, if five (5) Marines are on a Dreadnought when a MARDET is constituted, the MARDET will be constituted as a Battalion. Please see the chart in the Starting/Maximum MARDET Size sub-section below for more information.

Single Marines

If a chapter has less than three (3) marines on board, they may not form a MARDET until there are three (3) Marines. Until such time that three (3) Marines are present, the Marines on the chapter are on detached duty. However, while they may not be members of a MARDET they are considered to be part of any regiments, expeditionary forces, and corps that are in existence and that operate in their geographical location.

Unit Nomenclature

Units are not numbered and take the name of the ship on which they are deployed. For instance, a MARDET deployed on the HMS Manticore would be known as either the Manticore MARDET or HMS Manticore MARDET.

Starting/Maximum MARDET Size

Starting/maximum MARDET sizes are determined by the hull type that is assigned to the chapter on which the MARDET is based. The chart below illustrates the hull type and the corresponding MARDET size

Hull Type	Starting/Maximum MARDET Size
Pinnace	None
RMMC Assault Shuttle	No Maximum Size
Light Attack Craft (LAC)	None
Destroyer (DD)	1 Platoon (10 Marines; 1 Officer, 9 Enlisted)
Light Cruiser (CL)	1 Company (16 Marines; 3 Officers, 13 Enlisted)
Heavy Cruiser (CA)	1 Company and 1 Platoon (26 Marines; 4 Officers, 22 Enlisted)
Battlecruiser (BC)	1 Battalion (26 Marines; 5 Officers, 21 Enlisted)
Battlecruiser-Pods (BC-P)	1 Company and 1 Platoon (26 Marines; 4 Officers, 22 Enlisted)
Dreadnought (DN)	1 Battalion (26 Marines; 5 Officers, 21 Enlisted)
Superdreadnought (SD)	1 Battalion (26 Marines; 5 Officers, 21 Enlisted)
Superdreadnought-Pods (SD-P)	1 Company and 1 Platoon (26 Marines; 4 Officers, 22 Enlisted)
LAC Carrier (CLAC)	1 Company and 1 Platoon (26 Marines; 4 Officers, 22 Enlisted)
Broadsword-class/Kamerling-class Marine Transports	1 Regiment (54 Marines; 11 Officers, 43 Enlisted)
LPX Marine Transport	1 Brigade (162 Marines; 33 Officers, 129 Enlisted)

A chapter does not have to switch to a larger hull if their MARDET exceeds the recommended maximum MARDET size for their current hull. However, for accurate role-play it is recommended that a chapter CO request a larger hull that is appropriate for their MARDET size.

Changes in MARDET Echelon Size

Any MARDET that gains enough members that it meets the minimum membership requirement for a larger unit, shall at the discretion of COMFORCECOM, be reclassified up to the appropriate unit size. COMFORCECOM shall then notify the CO of the MARDET and CO of the ship on which the MARDET is stationed of the change.

MARDETs can only change echelon size under three circumstances. The first is when the chapter hull to which the MARDET is attached is upgraded to a larger size that also has a larger corresponding MARDET size. The other is if the chapter has lost enough members that the hull type is downgraded and the corresponding MARDET size is lower. The second only occurs the number of Marines has also decreased to a point where the smaller MARDET is more appropriate. Lastly, if a MARDET outgrows its hull, the MARDET Commanding Officer may petition COMFORCECOM to be upgraded to the next largest MARDET size. Such a petition may only occur once every three (3) months.

If a chapter changes hulls, either up or down, the RMMC will consider that to be a transfer. In that case, other than a name change, there are NO other changes made to the MARDET. MARDET COs on those ships which have applied for a larger hull size should contact COMFORECOM as soon as possible and let them know that a hull upgrade will be occurring sometime shortly. An application for the "new" MARDET does not have to be submitted. Applications should be submitted for an upgrade in MARDET size which would be occurring at the same time as the hull upgrade and then only if the corresponding MARDET size is larger. By informing COMFORCECOM of the pending hull upgrade, the transfer can be coordinated to occur at the time when the new hull is commissioned. In this scenario, a MARDET may keep its unofficial heraldry, albeit modifying it as necessary for the new name.

In the case where a ship is constituted from members of another ship and a portion of the MARDET leaves for the newly constituted ship, the RMMC will consider the MARDET on the new ship to be a wholly new entity. In that case, an application for a new MARDET must be submitted and the new MARDET will start from scratch. The MARDET that remains on the original ship retains all the unit's unofficial heraldry. The new MARDET must create its own.

MARDET Command Triad

Being the commanding officer, executive officer, and senior non-commissioned officer, henceforth known as the MARDET Command Triad, a MARDET is a very important part of the RMMC organization and serves as a vital part of the chain of command. This section outlines how MARDET leadership is chosen and removed in the RMMC. However, it is vitally important to remember that COMFORCECOM in most cases chooses MARDET leadership in the RMMC and as such serves at the leisure of COMFORCECOM.

Selection MARDET Command Triad

1. MARDET leadership at levels at and below the Corps level is chosen by COMFORCECOM. COMFORCECOM may consult with the Commandant, the commanding officer of a ship-based MARDET, and/or other echelon commanders within the MARDET’s chain of command if they so desire with regards to filling the billets.
2. MARDET leadership is chosen by whatever process that COMFORCECOM deems appropriate for the echelon leadership billet being filled.
3. Irrespective of billet COMFORCECOM shall consider the following when selecting commanding officers; 1) rank, 2) time-in-grade, 3) recommendations from members of the chain-of-command, 4) any other recommendations submitted by the membership at large, 5) any Admiralty Orders and Corps Directives which may govern with regards to leadership within tRMN and the RMMC.
4. When new members of the Command Triad are chosen for a ship-based MARDET COMFORCECOM shall contact the commanding officer of the ship to which the MARDET is attached and inform them of the change in leadership.

Removal of Members of MARDET Command Triad

As mentioned above members of the MARDET Command Triad at every echelon serve at the leisure of COMFORCECOM. As such, they can be removed at any time. However, the removal of a commanding officer of a MARDET is an extremely disruptive action and as such should only be used as a last resort.

1. Removal of MARDET commanding officers can be only for cause. These causes include, but are not limited to; 1) criminal acts as defined by local law against The Royal Manticoran Navy: The Official Honor Harrington Fan Association, Inc. and its subgroups, affiliates, and/or members, 2) participating in any action/inaction that could bring discredit to The Royal Manticoran Navy: The Official Honor Harrington Fan Association, Inc. and any of its divisions, 3) failure to perform the duties to which are assigned to them, 4) any action/inaction that causes harm to unit morale, 5) and/or any action/inaction that causes harm to the general functioning of the unit.

a. Before removal of a MARDET commanding officer for causes other than felonious acts, COMFORCECOM must present to the member the reasons for the removal at which time the member will have seven (7) calendar days from the time of receipt to submit a rebuttal. COMFORCECOM shall then present the rebuttal as well as the reasons for their removal to the Deputy Commandant RMMC who then will have seven (7) calendar days to review the rebuttal and supporting material and either uphold the removal or reverse it. The Deputy Commandant RMMC shall contact the member and COMFORCECOM with regards to their decision and shall also direct COMFORCECOM to take the appropriate action based on the Deputy Commandant’s decision as soon as possible.

If the original decision is upheld, then the member may present his/her case to the Commandant RMMC but must do so within seven (7) calendar days of receipt of the Deputy Commandant’s decision. The Commandant RMMC then has seven (7) calendar days to review the appeal and render a decision. The Commandant RMMC shall contact the member and COMFORCECOM with regards to their decision and shall also direct COMFORCECOM to take the appropriate action based on the Commandant’s decision as soon as possible. The decision of the Commandant RMMC is final and no further appeals may be made.

Any member removed as a commanding officer of a MARDET or other echelon shall not be eligible to serve as a commanding officer at any echelon of the RMMC for no less than two (2) years. During that time the member must make a genuine effort to understand the role of leadership in the RMMC and be prepared to demonstrate this knowledge when asked to be considered for a leadership position. However, if the removal was due to illegal activity against The Royal Manticoran Navy: The Official Honor Harrington Fan Association, Inc. and its subgroups, affiliates, and/or members, the member shall be permanently banned from holding a leadership position at any echelon of the RMMC.

2. In addition to the reasons for removal as listed in item one (1) above, a MARDET or echelon commanding officer may also leave the position of their own volition at any time for any reason. The member must give COMFORCECOM a two (2) week notice, if possible, informing them that they are stepping down

Duties MARDET Command Triad

The members of the MARDET Command Triad have various duties that include and are not limited to; submitting reports to COMFORCECOM and their chapter’s Commanding Officer, recruiting, and looking out for the general welfare of the members of the MARDET, overseeing promotions and awards, etc… These duties may be amended by various Admiralty Orders and/or Corps Directives.

Promotion and Awards Authority for MARDET Commanding Officers

Promotion and Awards Authority for MARDET Commanding Officers vary depending on the echelon which they command.

Please note that the Marshal of the Corps, Deputy Marshal of the Corps, COFORCECOM, and Deputy COFORCECOM retain supreme promotion and awards authority within the RMMC and can promote and confer awards to any member of the RMMC up to the limits as dictated by the various Admiralty Orders, Corps Directives, and awards manuals.

Single-ship MARDETs and Multi-ship Regiments: Commanding Officers of these MARDETs shall have the same promotion and awards authority as Royal Navy Chapter Commanding Officers. This general authority is outlined in the various Admiralty Orders and may be amended by various Corps Directives. Any promotions and awards shall be coordinated, if possible, with the chapter’s commanding officer. Courtesy copies of all paperwork shall be presented to the chapter’s commanding officer for their records

Expeditionary Force and Corps: Commanding Officers of these MARDETs shall have the same promotion and awards authority as Royal Navy Fleet Commanding Officers. This general authority is outlined in the various Admiralty Orders and may be amended by various Corps Directive. Any promotions and awards shall be coordinated, if possible, with a chapter’s commanding officer and MARDET commanding officer. Courtesy copies of all paperwork shall be presented to the chapter’s and MARDET’s commanding officers for their records.

MARDET Personnel

COMFORCECOM only establishes a MARDETs echelon size and determines which members shall constitute the MARDET Command Triad. All other lower echelons within a single-ship MARDET shall be constituted from the other Marine members on the chapter and it shall be the responsibility of the MARDET Commanding Officer to place those members within the various lower echelons and billets. MARDET Commanding Officers will now make all the necessary personnel decisions as to placement and, if necessary, any breveting, of MARDET personnel. MARDET Commanding Officers may as COMFORCECOM for assistance

Multi-ship MARDET Commanding Officers may only appoint staff. They may not meddle with the staffing and personnel of the MARDETs from which their multi-ship MARDET is constituted. They may, however, offer guidance and assistance to those MARDET Commanding Officers.

MARDET Staffing

MARDET Commanding Officers are responsible for their staffing. The size of the staff depends on the size of the MARDET. Please see any Corps Directives which specifically address MARDET staffing for more information.

Assault Shuttles

Please see the latest Corps Directive about assault shuttles for more information.

This Corps Directive supersedes Corps Directive 03-1903.

Effective 27-APR-22

In Honour of the Queen!

Issued by:

Marshal of the Corps

Lord Sir Sean Niemeyer, KSK, OM, KDE, KCR, GS

Commandant

Royal Manticoran Marine Corps

Duke, New Ulyanovsk

External Links

• Order as posted to TRMN Forums
• pdf text of Corps Directive 02-2204

References

Issued by:

Marshal of the Corps

Lord Sir Sean Niemeyer, KSK, OM, KDE, KCR, GS

Commandant

Royal Manticoran Marine Corps

Duke, New Ulyanovsk