Rim Royal Guard Act
Sarna News
The Rim Royal Guard Act was a new form of training program that permitted a rapid expansion of the Rim Worlds Republic military on short notice.[1]
Overview
In 2650, Tadeo Amaris, Minister of Military Affairs and acting regent of the Rim Worlds Republic while President Selanta Amaris was ill, began expanding the RWR military at an alarming rate. Concerned over the massive buildup along the Lyran Commonwealth, Archon Sarah Steiner-Dinesen protested to the Star League, who sent five BattleMech regiments on extensive, well-publicized maneuvers complete with infantry, aerospace, and artillery support in early 2651.[2] Faced with the Star League's show of superior force, Tadeo backed down and began to dismantle the extra forces beyond what was permitted by the Council Edict of 2650.[3]
Shortly after Tadeo's humiliation, the commander of the Rim Royal Army, Fiona Amaris, came up with a solution for the how to handle the drastic cut in the size of the army. Modeling the Prussian "Krumper" system of Terra's Napoleonic era, huge numbers of recruits received advanced military training during a standard three-year tour of duty, after which they returned to civilian life but were subject to periodic recalls for additional training and refresher courses. While still in compliance with the Edict, these reservists could swell the ranks of the military when needed.[1]
Legally, the total armed forces of the Rim Royal Army could be no more than twelve BattleMech regiments and eight conventional regiments in 2650. Gradually, these limits were loosened over time; in 2760, the Rim Worlds Republic fielded thirty BattleMech regiments and ten conventional regiments, though the Rim Royal Guard Act allowed the Republic to expand its military secretly in the midst of a crisis, more than tripling this figure by the start of the Amaris Civil War.[1]