El Mahdi
Muad'Dib of the Anauroch
I don't really know Nexus D20, so I'll use D20 Modern as a common frame of reference.
Class-wise and for game purposes, probably not much difference between basic trainee graduates between services, but here's some real world background. Make of it what you will as far as translating to game statistics/mechanics (if you want to go this in depth).
There is less of a difference between the branches basic trainings today, than there was in past years - but there is still a difference.
Army and Marine basic, as far as combat skills, are more or less equal.
Air Force and Navy, as far as combat skills, are more or less equal (but there are differences).
However, Air Force/Navy are not equal to Army/Marines right out of basic - though they are closer today, there is still a significant difference.
I would think that Air Force and Navy basic training are going to be mostly comparable as far as physical and combat skills go (education on branch history, customes and courtesies, uniform wear, etc., will obviously be different between the two - but they are probably quite similar physically - though I'm not absolutely certain about the Navy, just making an educated guess). However, Navy basic training would have the added element of basic ship board skills (what to do in general quarters, how to fight a fire, seal a leak, get out of a flooding compartment, etc.). Air Force basic training includes a 1 or 2 week section "in the field" (though not to the same extent as Marine or Army), where trainees learn how to set up a tent city, training with and performing chem warfare drills (donning and wearing chem gear, performing tasks while wearing chem gear, and decon procedures). Air Force basic training provides only very basic hand to hand combat (about what you'd get in a civilian self-defense class). Until the mid 2000's, Air Force basic training didn't include any hand-to-hand training...none. Arms training is also very basic. Air Force basic training would only include a basic course in how to clean and operate an M-16, along with firing only about 100 rounds (aproximately 50 for practice, 50 for qualifying) - basically a 1 day class with the first half devoted to how to take apart, clean, and put together an M-16 and including basic instruction in how to aim, fire, and basic range safety; followed by half a day of shooting and then cleaning the weapons. And that's it. The only addition to basic Air Force arms training in the last few decades (also added in the mid 2000's, in response to changes in the war environment due to 9/11) is the addition of firing some of those rounds while wearing a gas mask (for both practice and qualification). Unless ones specific career field includes more combat training (security forces, law enforcement, etc.), most Air Force personel will only shoot again maybe once every one or two years (for qualification, basically a repeat of the one day course from basic training - firing about 100 rounds). Although not a lot of combat or arms training, it's still more than what the Air Force had in basic training prior to 9/11. After 9/11, Air Force leaders realized there really wasn't any such thing as a "frontline" anymore. Due to the nature of modern warfare (with most engagements consisting of guerilla warfare), anyone in a specific theatre or AOR (Area of Responsibility), is in harms way.
By comparison, though I don't know exact numbers or information, the Army and Marines have much more involved hand-to-hand combat and arms training, starting with having an individual weapon issued to each trainee as early as the first week of training. This training extends throughout the training period, over multiple days and weeks, and probably results in firing more like a thousand rounds (or more) throughout the training period.
As far as physical training (push-ups, sit-ups, running, obstacle course, etc.), all of the branches are much more similar now than they have ever been in the past. Yes, in the past, Air Force basic physical training was considered a country club compared to the Army and Marines. However, over the last couple of decades, this has slowly changed to where they are more similar today (though the Army and Marines still do considerably more). For example, as late as 1990's, the Air Force did not have regular organized PT (physical training) outside of basic training (unlike the Army and Marines - again I don't know for sure about the Navy, but I doubt they did either). One simply exercised on your own in order to pass an annual physical fitness test - performed on an exercise cycle! (In the 1980's and earlier, it was a mile and a half run once a year, that had to be finished in less than 20 minutes - yes, you can almost walk a mile and a half in that time!) Today, during basic training, the Air Force does daily exercises (push-ups, sit-ups, etc.), with a daily formation run of probably 1.5 to 2 miles. Regular active duty Air Force units (outside of basic training) are now required to have organized unit PT three times a week (more like the Army and Marines have always been - this can vary between different types of physical exercise, from organized running and calisthenics to occasional fun days like playing a game of soccer or somesuch), with a yearly scored test involving timed push-ups, sit-ups, and a 1.5 mile run (for a passing score, wich varies by age, one needs to be able to perform approximately 50 push-ups in 1 minute, 50 sit-ups in 1 minute, and complete 1.5 miles in about a 7 to 8 minute/mile pace, and also have a waste measurement within a certain range - though there have been some recent changes making the test significantly more difficult - though I don't know the specifics as I'm now retired
).
However, though similar levels of physical conditioning, I'm certain that the Army and Marines still do significantly more running over the course of basic training than Air Force and Navy, with the Marines probably doing even more than the Army.
As far as MOS's, the different branches use different systems. The Army and Marines both use MOS's (which stands for Military Occupational Specialty), the Air Force uses AFSC's (Air Force Specialty Codes), and the Navy uses Ratings. In the end though, they all basically mean the same thing.
In general, the Army and Marines are more combat oriented, across the board, than are the Navy and Air Force (in this context I'm only talking about physical combat, not naval or air combat) - and the Air Force and Navy are more technically oriented, across the board, than are the Army and Marines. But, all branches have serious combat specialties, as well as all branches have serious tech specialties. In general, consider anyone in the Army or Marines, regardless of MOS, as capable of fulfilling a basic infantry role. Navy and Air Force, not so much.
In my opinion and in D20 Modern game terms (but necessarily the way they're actually portrayed in D20 Modern):
*enlisted basic training only, Officer Training is a very different animal.
Common to all US Military Basic Training Graduates (regardless of branch) - (in addition to basic knowledge education such as how pay works, how leave works, financial education, dog tag issuance, medical inprocessing and vaccinations, etc.)
Navy Basic Training Graduates - (8 week basic training at Great Lakes Naval Station)
Air Force Basic Training Graduate - (8 week basic training at Lackland AFB)
After all of that, "Combat" types then go on to learn even more stuff. Combat-wise, you have (incrementally from tough to absolute bad ass):
Officers go to a seperate Officer Training School, and do not attend basic training with enlisted members. There are Combat trained officers and heavily Tech trained officers - but with the exception of Pilots, Ship Officers, Tank Commanders, and Army/Marine company grade officers, (etc.), most officers careers are administrative in nature rather than combat oriented.
Class-wise and for game purposes, probably not much difference between basic trainee graduates between services, but here's some real world background. Make of it what you will as far as translating to game statistics/mechanics (if you want to go this in depth).
There is less of a difference between the branches basic trainings today, than there was in past years - but there is still a difference.
Army and Marine basic, as far as combat skills, are more or less equal.
Air Force and Navy, as far as combat skills, are more or less equal (but there are differences).
However, Air Force/Navy are not equal to Army/Marines right out of basic - though they are closer today, there is still a significant difference.
I would think that Air Force and Navy basic training are going to be mostly comparable as far as physical and combat skills go (education on branch history, customes and courtesies, uniform wear, etc., will obviously be different between the two - but they are probably quite similar physically - though I'm not absolutely certain about the Navy, just making an educated guess). However, Navy basic training would have the added element of basic ship board skills (what to do in general quarters, how to fight a fire, seal a leak, get out of a flooding compartment, etc.). Air Force basic training includes a 1 or 2 week section "in the field" (though not to the same extent as Marine or Army), where trainees learn how to set up a tent city, training with and performing chem warfare drills (donning and wearing chem gear, performing tasks while wearing chem gear, and decon procedures). Air Force basic training provides only very basic hand to hand combat (about what you'd get in a civilian self-defense class). Until the mid 2000's, Air Force basic training didn't include any hand-to-hand training...none. Arms training is also very basic. Air Force basic training would only include a basic course in how to clean and operate an M-16, along with firing only about 100 rounds (aproximately 50 for practice, 50 for qualifying) - basically a 1 day class with the first half devoted to how to take apart, clean, and put together an M-16 and including basic instruction in how to aim, fire, and basic range safety; followed by half a day of shooting and then cleaning the weapons. And that's it. The only addition to basic Air Force arms training in the last few decades (also added in the mid 2000's, in response to changes in the war environment due to 9/11) is the addition of firing some of those rounds while wearing a gas mask (for both practice and qualification). Unless ones specific career field includes more combat training (security forces, law enforcement, etc.), most Air Force personel will only shoot again maybe once every one or two years (for qualification, basically a repeat of the one day course from basic training - firing about 100 rounds). Although not a lot of combat or arms training, it's still more than what the Air Force had in basic training prior to 9/11. After 9/11, Air Force leaders realized there really wasn't any such thing as a "frontline" anymore. Due to the nature of modern warfare (with most engagements consisting of guerilla warfare), anyone in a specific theatre or AOR (Area of Responsibility), is in harms way.
By comparison, though I don't know exact numbers or information, the Army and Marines have much more involved hand-to-hand combat and arms training, starting with having an individual weapon issued to each trainee as early as the first week of training. This training extends throughout the training period, over multiple days and weeks, and probably results in firing more like a thousand rounds (or more) throughout the training period.
As far as physical training (push-ups, sit-ups, running, obstacle course, etc.), all of the branches are much more similar now than they have ever been in the past. Yes, in the past, Air Force basic physical training was considered a country club compared to the Army and Marines. However, over the last couple of decades, this has slowly changed to where they are more similar today (though the Army and Marines still do considerably more). For example, as late as 1990's, the Air Force did not have regular organized PT (physical training) outside of basic training (unlike the Army and Marines - again I don't know for sure about the Navy, but I doubt they did either). One simply exercised on your own in order to pass an annual physical fitness test - performed on an exercise cycle! (In the 1980's and earlier, it was a mile and a half run once a year, that had to be finished in less than 20 minutes - yes, you can almost walk a mile and a half in that time!) Today, during basic training, the Air Force does daily exercises (push-ups, sit-ups, etc.), with a daily formation run of probably 1.5 to 2 miles. Regular active duty Air Force units (outside of basic training) are now required to have organized unit PT three times a week (more like the Army and Marines have always been - this can vary between different types of physical exercise, from organized running and calisthenics to occasional fun days like playing a game of soccer or somesuch), with a yearly scored test involving timed push-ups, sit-ups, and a 1.5 mile run (for a passing score, wich varies by age, one needs to be able to perform approximately 50 push-ups in 1 minute, 50 sit-ups in 1 minute, and complete 1.5 miles in about a 7 to 8 minute/mile pace, and also have a waste measurement within a certain range - though there have been some recent changes making the test significantly more difficult - though I don't know the specifics as I'm now retired
).However, though similar levels of physical conditioning, I'm certain that the Army and Marines still do significantly more running over the course of basic training than Air Force and Navy, with the Marines probably doing even more than the Army.
As far as MOS's, the different branches use different systems. The Army and Marines both use MOS's (which stands for Military Occupational Specialty), the Air Force uses AFSC's (Air Force Specialty Codes), and the Navy uses Ratings. In the end though, they all basically mean the same thing.
In general, the Army and Marines are more combat oriented, across the board, than are the Navy and Air Force (in this context I'm only talking about physical combat, not naval or air combat) - and the Air Force and Navy are more technically oriented, across the board, than are the Army and Marines. But, all branches have serious combat specialties, as well as all branches have serious tech specialties. In general, consider anyone in the Army or Marines, regardless of MOS, as capable of fulfilling a basic infantry role. Navy and Air Force, not so much.
In my opinion and in D20 Modern game terms (but necessarily the way they're actually portrayed in D20 Modern):
*enlisted basic training only, Officer Training is a very different animal.
Common to all US Military Basic Training Graduates (regardless of branch) - (in addition to basic knowledge education such as how pay works, how leave works, financial education, dog tag issuance, medical inprocessing and vaccinations, etc.)
- Knowledge - Military Customs and Courtesies, and General Knowledge (Uniform Code of Military Justice-UCMJ, Law of Armed Conflict-LOAC, how and when to salute, wear of the uniform of their specific branch, rank structure of their specific branch, Military history or their specific branch, what to do during military ceremonies and events like Reveille or Retreat, how to march in formation and formation commands [attention, parade rest, about face,...],etc.)
- Basic Vehicle Operation (HMMWV or Humvee, M35 deuce-and-a-half)
- Navigate Skill (Trained)
- First Aid (what's called Self Aid and Buddy Care in the military) - essentially the Treat Injury skill (trained) minus the Surgery and Treat Disease portions.
- Chem Warfare Training (able to function in both combat and with regular tasks while wearing an NBC Suit with minimal or reduced penalty - I can tell you from experience, it's easier to function wearing body armor, than it is wearing an NBC Suit!)
- Combat Martial Arts Feat
- Defensive Martial Arts Feat
- Melee Weapon Proficiency (Combat Knife)
- Personal Firearms Proficiency (M-16, M-9 Barretta, and Thrown Grenades)
- Exotic Firearms Proficiency (M-203 Grenade Launcher, SAW-Squad Automatic Weapon, M-2 .50 Cal machine gun, and the M-30 or M-120 Mortar)
- Advanced Firearms Proficiency (Auto-Fire Proficient)
- Weapon Focus Feats (M-16, Combat Martial Arts, and Defensive Martial Arts)
- Body Armor (essentially the Armor Proficiency Feat (Medium) - Light-Duty vest, Tactical Vest; and Armor Proficiency Feat (Heavy) - Special Response Vest and Forced Entry Unit)
Navy Basic Training Graduates - (8 week basic training at Great Lakes Naval Station)
- First Aid (what's called Self Aid and Buddy Care in the military) - essentially the Treat Injury skill (trained) minus the Surgery and Treat Disease portions.
- Basic Seamanship (damage control, firefighting, survival at sea, naval vessel identification, etc.)
- Chem Warfare Training (able to function in both combat and with regular tasks while wearing an NBC Suit with minimal or reduced penalty)
- Personal Firearms Proficiency (M-9 Barretta, and Mossberg 500 Shotgun - Navy recruits are no longer taught the M-16 in basic training, though they may learn it later at another location if applicable to their specific career field or rating)
Air Force Basic Training Graduate - (8 week basic training at Lackland AFB)
- First Aid (what's called Self Aid and Buddy Care in the military) - essentially the Treat Injury skill (trained) minus the Surgery and Treat Disease portions.
- Chem Warfare Training (able to function in both combat and with regular tasks while wearing an NBC Suit with minimal or reduced penalty)
- Combat Martial Arts Feat
- Defensive Martial Arts Feat
- Personal Firearms Proficiency (M-16 only)
- Body Armor (essentially the Armor Proficiency Feat (Medium) - Light-Duty vest, Tactical Vest; and Armor Proficiency Feat (Heavy) - Special Response Vest and Forced Entry Unit)
After all of that, "Combat" types then go on to learn even more stuff. Combat-wise, you have (incrementally from tough to absolute bad ass):
- Basic Infantry or Marine (Air Force Security Forces may be included here also)
- Advanced Combat Units (usually Special Forces: Army Rangers, Army Green Berets, Marine Force Recon, Air Force Special Tactics, Air Force Pararescue, and Navy Seals)
- Black Units (Army Delta, Navy Seal Team 1, Air Force 24th Special Tactics Squadron)
Officers go to a seperate Officer Training School, and do not attend basic training with enlisted members. There are Combat trained officers and heavily Tech trained officers - but with the exception of Pilots, Ship Officers, Tank Commanders, and Army/Marine company grade officers, (etc.), most officers careers are administrative in nature rather than combat oriented.
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) It's very likely that the majority of 2nd Lt.'s troops are significantly older than him (or her). The most important thing a Lieutenant should remember is always, ALWAYS, ALWAYS listen to your NCO's (especially senior NCO's). They'll keep you out of trouble, and probably keep you alive. Gamewise, the difference between and officer and his troops would be a college degree in something (could be Phys Ed or Underwater Basket Weaving
), and a Leadership skill or feat.
). However, I don't think they necessarily need to be a significantly higher level (5th about does it for me). Yes, as part of training for special operation units, they do learn advanced skills over and above what the common soldier knows, as well as training for different types of tactics and missions, but the real difference is much more than just what they know. There was a recent study (link 
)
). But I'll enjoy looking over yours when you're done.
