Will the Empire of Charis introduce military awards & decs?

"Men will fight long and hard for a bit of colored ribbon" - Napoleon


Will Charis create gallantry decorations and service medals to reward those troops who have fought so well on its behalf?

Right now, Cayleb is in the position of Great Britain when the only reward for military heroism was ennoblement or a membership in the various knightly orders of chivalry.

How do Cayleb and Sharleyan ensure that the heroes of battles are rewarded in a visible and tangible way? Creation of gallantry decorations could be one answer.

Certainly, there are also good troops that have served loyally in campaigns, but who have not distinguished themselves enough to warrant gallantry decorations. Should there be campaign and service medals created to show that the recipients served on hazardous duty? Of course, politically, there are some minefields to cross in naming them. There might be some difficulties if Charis were to create a Corisande Expeditionary Medal, or a Tarot Blockade Service Medal.

Hank Plantagenet wrote: Of course, politically, there are some minefields to cross in naming them. There might be some difficulties if Charis were to create a Corisande Expeditionary Medal, or a Tarot Blockade Service Medal.

Maybe not as much if they award them to soldiers who were on both sides of those conflicts.

Going along with that idea, Corisandians who join the Imperial Charisian Army and had fought well earlier against the Charisian invasion might get a different award than those who were part of the invasion force.

For that matter, Cayleb or Sharleyan might suggest that Prince Daivyn might give a Corisande award to former soldiers who fought well against the Charisian invasion.

Starsaber wrote:

Hank Plantagenet wrote: Of course, politically, there are some minefields to cross in naming them. There might be some difficulties if Charis were to create a Corisande Expeditionary Medal, or a Tarot Blockade Service Medal.

Maybe not as much if they award them to soldiers who were on both sides of those conflicts.

Interesting precept. Right now, they do have an award for soldiers and sailors who fight hard.

Their country and their family survives.

AClone wrote:Interesting precept. Right now, they do have an award for soldiers and sailors who fight hard.

Their country and their family survives.

To be fair, that also applies to the slackers. They just need the majority to keep on excelling. I'm sure it reflects in their rank and pay but hey, there are always slackers and shirkers.


But yea that is a good question would Corsidian soldiers who join up with the Imperial Army get a Corsidian campaign medal if they were veterans of the war?

AClone wrote:Interesting precept. Right now, they do have an award for soldiers and sailors who fight hard.

Their country and their family survives.

I don't disagree with your assessment. Yes, the soldier or sailor's participation in battle keeps their families safe from the evils of the Group of Four.

Yet, countries in this modern era of decorations have rewarded their troops who have fought gallantly on their behalfs (with few exceptions, of course, like countries that have lost wars too quickly to do so).

Why do countries do this? To show symbolically that they appreciate the sacrifices the troops have made.

To inspire the troops to acts of heroism and to inspire civilian men to enlist. For a fictional example, how would a returning veteran of Army of Cliff Peak's 2nd Corps be received back in his home village? Let's say that he had been wounded and is back on convalescent leave, with a fancy uniform and a chest full of medals and badges. Who gets the attention from the townspeople, an especially interest from the young ladies? Would this not inspire the other young men of the village to want to join up? I would say yes.

Too many villages are going to get only death notices for their men instead of a return visit. Charis needs to counteract this with recognition, and even posthumous awards so that families have more than the Empire's regrets.

Starsaber wrote:

Hank Plantagenet wrote: Of course, politically, there are some minefields to cross in naming them. There might be some difficulties if Charis were to create a Corisande Expeditionary Medal, or a Tarot Blockade Service Medal.

Maybe not as much if they award them to soldiers who were on both sides of those conflicts.

I would agree with those that have suggested giving recognition to defeated foes that have now been incoporated into the Empire. This way, it shows that the men who fought for Corisande, or Emerald, or Tarot, were good and honorable and brave men, who now have a better cause to serve.

I suppose that it would help cement ties between the newer member states and old Charis if the past heroic deeds were recognized. It would be easy enough to get a list of heroes from General Gahrvai, for example, then have Prince Daivyn present Empire of Charis awards to his subjects.

Even the idea of campaign credit awarding has merit for those Corisandians now in Charisian service. Certainly, it is not unprecedented. Take, for instance, US Army units and their campaign credits. Some of the older units still are authorized credit for battles dating back to the American Revolution. In a few instances, though, the US Army has granted campaign credits for units which fought against the US. Yes, there are some National Guard units in states of the Old South that have official recognition for battles that they fought while they were in the service of the Confederacy.

That is a rather neat way to sidestep the political minefields--- award the campaign medal to both sides. Create a Corisande Campaign Medal, with bars for Dairos, Haryl's Crossing, Talbor Pass, Green Valley, Siege of Manchyr, and Coastal Blockade. What an elegant way to tell the Corisandians: you are brave men, worthy opponents, and we're glad you are on our side now.

Hi Hank Plantagenet,

Guys, please remember the Order of Queen Zhessyka awarded to the privateer captain in BSRA.

While his name was added to the list, how do you think that was represented in public?

"I'm on the list 'cause I said so"?

I suspect visible awards that could be worn and recognised have been given by the archangels and CoGA since to their mortal heroes as they deserved 9+ centuries ago, then copied by all other nations, so I don't think this is something RFC has overlooked, given some textev of the awards and orders described elsewhere.

If you wish to suggest some designs please feel free.

L

Hank Plantagenet wrote:

Starsaber wrote:*quote="Hank Plantagenet"* Of course, politically, there are some minefields to cross in naming them. There might be some difficulties if Charis were to create a Corisande Expeditionary Medal, or a Tarot Blockade Service Medal.*quote*

Maybe not as much if they award them to soldiers who were on both sides of those conflicts.

I would agree with those that have suggested giving recognition to defeated foes that have now been incoporated into the Empire. This way, it shows that the men who fought for Corisande, or Emerald, or Tarot, were good and honorable and brave men, who now have a better cause to serve.

I suppose that it would help cement ties between the newer member states and old Charis if the past heroic deeds were recognized. It would be easy enough to get a list of heroes from General Gahrvai, for example, then have Prince Daivyn present Empire of Charis awards to his subjects.

Even the idea of campaign credit awarding has merit for those Corisandians now in Charisian service. Certainly, it is not unprecedented. Take, for instance, US Army units and their campaign credits. Some of the older units still are authorized credit for battles dating back to the American Revolution. In a few instances, though, the US Army has granted campaign credits for units which fought against the US. Yes, there are some National Guard units in states of the Old South that have official recognition for battles that they fought while they were in the service of the Confederacy.

That is a rather neat way to sidestep the political minefields--- award the campaign medal to both sides. Create a Corisande Campaign Medal, with bars for Dairos, Haryl's Crossing, Talbor Pass, Green Valley, Siege of Manchyr, and Coastal Blockade. What an elegant way to tell the Corisandians: you are brave men, worthy opponents, and we're glad you are on our side now.

Guys, please remember the Order of Queen Zhessyka awarded to the privateer captain in BSRA.

I might be mistaken, but to me that sounds like the Order of the Garter, or Order of Merit - something of restricted membership and fundamentally feudal in origin.

While I'm sure it's useful, I would think Charis should add an equivalent of the VC. The key difference to me is that the VC can be earned by a fuzzy number of people for specific achievements, whereas the Order of the Garter is available to a specific number of people for fuzzy achievements; the former is more Charis' attitude, whereas the latter is more like Harchong and the other CoGA aligned states.

I mention the VC specifically for two things relating to it:
1) it was the first honour that the UK gave out consistently. There had occasionally been "medals" for specific actions or campaigns before then, but never as part of an ongoing system.
2) it is made from the material of captured cannon. Charis should be able to come up with a few of those!
Of course as the VC has become harder and harder to win, other lesser decorations have been created, and equally campaign medals, and all of that can and should follow over time, but it is best to start with one decoration.
You want it to both be recognisable and respected before other medals are awarded, to establish that this little bit of ribbon means something really important.

One other thing I'd really like to see is the people of Glacierheart (or possibly somewhere else, but I think they've had as tough a war as anyone) awarded it en masse. The George Cross on the Maltese flag is a lovely bit of history, and one I think it would be appropriate to reflect on Safehold.

Ah yes, and finally a name. The Haarald Medal would seem appropriate, though an appealing alternative is the St. Zherneau medal which would really tweak the nose when the truth about the CoGA comes outt.

Incognitia wrote:

Guys, please remember the Order of Queen Zhessyka awarded to the privateer captain in BSRA.

I might be mistaken, but to me that sounds like the Order of the Garter, or Order of Merit - something of restricted membership and fundamentally feudal in origin.

While I'm sure it's useful, I would think Charis should add an equivalent of the VC. The key difference to me is that the VC can be earned by a fuzzy number of people for specific achievements, whereas the Order of the Garter is available to a specific number of people for fuzzy achievements; the former is more Charis' attitude, whereas the latter is more like Harchong and the other CoGA aligned states.

I mention the VC specifically for two things relating to it:
1) it was the first honour that the UK gave out consistently. There had occasionally been "medals" for specific actions or campaigns before then, but never as part of an ongoing system.
2) it is made from the material of captured cannon. Charis should be able to come up with a few of those!
Of course as the VC has become harder and harder to win, other lesser decorations have been created, and equally campaign medals, and all of that can and should follow over time, but it is best to start with one decoration.
You want it to both be recognisable and respected before other medals are awarded, to establish that this little bit of ribbon means something really important.

One other thing I'd really like to see is the people of Glacierheart (or possibly somewhere else, but I think they've had as tough a war as anyone) awarded it en masse. The George Cross on the Maltese flag is a lovely bit of history, and one I think it would be appropriate to reflect on Safehold.

Ah yes, and finally a name. The Haarald Medal would seem appropriate, though an appealing alternative is the St. Zherneau medal which would really tweak the nose when the truth about the CoGA comes outt.

I can see your points about establishing the value of the medal right away, but that may leave Charis in the same position as the UK when the VC was the only valor award, or the same with US and the Medal of Honor. It leaves the possibilities wide open that either worthy acts will not be recognized, or that the value of the medal would be cheapened if all acts resulted in its award.

I think your naming convention is clever, though I would personally try to make things more generic. That way, when the battle is won and the planet united to fight the Gbaba, you can keep the same award structure. I would suggest something like the Safehold Cross as the top award, with other generic names such as Conspicious Gallantry Cross, or Bravery Medal, or Cross of War, and even the old standby of Mention in Despatches.