Ming's restructure

Fourfold Restructure


This document proposes a restructure of the Fourfold Army, approaching a change in hierarchy without changing its current ranks as per the latest received report. It includes descriptive analysis of military fields and what each rank represents.

The new structure puts an emphasis of the colony's current situation of survival and this document will emphasize a formal structure and the changes of assignments for each rank, considering the duties of a soldier to the Fourfold as well as from the Fourfold to each soldier.

Section 1. Military Fields

1.1. Operational

Those that belong to the operational field are the ones that will go out and perform the assigned duties themselves. As the most direct aspect of the Army, it also composes its bulk. It's expected that those within the operational field will follow their orders and have their mission to come before personal matters regarding time management.

1.2. Tactical

Less in numbers compared to the operational field, those within the tactical will be concerned with organization and logistics. They are responsible to know the Army's needs in terms of resources and infrastructure, informing the necessary assignments for operational command to carry out.

1.3. Strategic

This field is occupied only by the Fourfold Commander. Its within his duties to make the management and diplomatical aspect of the Fourfold Army, working as a liaison between the Fourfold Army and the commander-in-chief. The strategic field will provide the Army with its necessary tools to function, including contact with blacksmiths and runescribes to provide soldiers with quality equipment, as well as have the foresight to know what resources will be lacking regarding the Army and the colony to inform those within the tactical field.

Section 2. Ranks

2.1. Trainee (Operational)

Made of those that have recently joined, this rank serves as a probation period which will determine whether the recruit has what it takes to be a soldier or not. Combat experience and personal power are irrelevant regarding advancement, as analysis should be of one's ability to follow orders, to properly separate their military duties from their personal lives and the commitment to their missions.

2.2. Soldier (Operational)

Those deemed fit to serve in the Fourfold Army are promoted to soldiers. Their duties are the same of a trainee, but with the acknowledgement of being full-fledged soldiers. Commitment and following orders are considered requirements for a soldier, and one that doesn't abide by them can be put under formal review, a temporary demotion to prove themselves worthy of their rank.

2.3. Officer (Operational)

Considered operational command, an officer's duties is to organize and command their assigned soldiers to perform missions for the army and the colony, be that of gathering resources, scouting, ambushes or any others dictated by their superiors.

It's his responsibility to plan required missions beforehand, make sure the soldiers will be present and lead them into action. As they will be alongside their unit, officers are considered part of the operational field.

Officers will also be in charge of reviewing and training their soldiers, improving their combat experience by organizing sparring matches and making sure they have the discipline to be in the Army. Promotions and demotions of their unit are his responsibility, as well as marking potential future officers within his unit.

2.4. War Captain (Tactical)

War Captains will work directly with the officers that command brigades under him, making sure that they have the necessary tools to work and making sure the officers are aware of what are the Army's and the Colony's needs in terms of resources, infrastructure or specific missions.

War Captains should always be aware of what's happening in the colony regarding the safety of the territory and bounties placed so that officers will be aware when planning missions. They should make sure that officers are able to keep their soldiers safe and active.

Should an officer under him fail to provide through negligence or failure to keep soldiers busy, it's within the War Captain's power to put officers formally under review - although this will not result in a temporary demotion, as is the case with soldiers - and demote them.

2.5. Fourfold Commander (Strategic)

Additional to his military field duties, as described in Section 1.3, it's the Fourfold Commander's responsibility to periodically have meetings with his War Captains to hear their complaints and needs, making sure the Army as a whole can function as it should.

Section 3. Chain of Command

3.1. Brigade

Made of those that have recently joined, this rank serves as a probation period which will determine whether the recruit has what it takes to be a soldier or not. Combat experience and personal power are irrelevant regarding advancement, as analysis should be of one's ability to follow orders, to properly separate their military duties from their personal lives and the commitment to their missions.

2.2. Soldier (Operational)

Those deemed fit to serve in the Fourfold Army are promoted to soldiers. Their duties are the same of a trainee, but with the acknowledgement of being full-fledged soldiers. Commitment and following orders are considered requirements for a soldier, and one that doesn't abide by them can be put under formal review, a temporary demotion to prove themselves worthy of their rank.

2.3. Officer (Operational)

Considered operational command, an officer's duty is to organize and command their assigned soldiers to perform missions for the army and the colony, be that of gathering resources, scouting, ambushes or any others dictated by their superiors.

It's his responsibility to plan required missions beforehand, make sure the soldiers will be present and lead them into action. As they will be alongside their unit, officers are considered part of the operational field.

Officers will also be in charge of reviewing and training their soldiers, improving their combat experience by organizing sparring matches and making sure they have the discipline to be in the Army. Promotions and demotions of their unit are his responsibility, as well as marking potential future officers within his unit.

2.4. War Captain (Tactical)

War Captains will work directly with the officers that command soldiers under him, making sure that they have the necessary tools to work and making sure the officers are aware of what are the Army's and the Colony's needs in terms of resources, infrastructure or specific missions.

War Captains should always be aware of what's happening in the colony regarding the safety of the territory and bounties placed so that officers will be aware when planning missions. They should make sure that officers are able to keep their soldiers safe and active.

Should an officer under him fail to provide through negligence or failure to keep soldiers busy, it's within the War Captain's power to put officers formally under review - although this will not result in a temporary demotion, as is the case with soldiers - and demote them if needed be.

2.5. Fourfold Commander (Strategic)

Additional to his military field duties, as described in Section 1.3, it's the Fourfold Commander's responsibility to periodically have meetings with his War Captains to hear their complaints and needs, making sure the Army as a whole can function as it should.

Section 3. Chain of Command

3.1. Brigade

Officers will command Brigades. A Brigade is made up of soldiers and trainees, and its direct commander is referred to as Brigade Commander (e.g. 1st Brigade Commander).

As their direct superior, it is the Brigade Commander that will give and enforce orders to any given brigade. Unless in situations of extreme necessity, an officer that commands one brigade cannot order a different brigade, as that would be a breach in the Chain of Command.

3.2. Legion

War Captains will command the Legions. A Legion is made up of multiple brigades, and its direct commander is referred to as the Legion Commander (e.g. 1st Legion Commander).

Typically, the Legion Commander will only deal with the Brigade Commanders that are under him, rather than directly ordering the soldiers within said Brigade, making sure that micromanagement isn't required and the Legion is organized, with soldiers clearly knowing who they directly answer to. This can be overruled in cases of extreme necessity.

3.3. Fourfold Army

The Army is the larger body, which has all the Legions and Brigades, and what the Fourfold Commander will oversee. Typically, the Fourfold Commander will only deal with his Legion Commanders, making up a small council, so that time management for meetings isn't an issue and everyone can still be brought up to speed as to what's required.

In cases of extreme necessity, the Fourfold Commander can directly lead the Army.


Zheng Island, 1477 AC

Ming Xiao
Emperor's Chosen