BRIGADES, BATTALIONS, AND UNITS

(OR HOW DOES ANY OF THIS WORK ANYWAYS?)

During your time in the STARFLEET Marine Corps, you will hear about brigades, battalions, Marine Strike Groups (MSG), and Marine Exploratory Units (MEU).  In some places, you may come across a group known as a Marine Training Unit (MTU).  These are the organizational basics that make up SFMC.  From the bottom to the top, the organization is as follows:  the individual Marine, the unit (MSG/MEU/MTU), Battalion, Brigade, Division, Corps.

• Marine Strike Group -  The smallest of units within the SFMC, the Marine Strike group or MSG can vary in its size based on size and location.  An MSG can consist of a singular Marine or dozens.  The Marine in command of the MSG is referred to as the Officer in Charge (OIC).  Their second in command is termed as the Deputy Officer in Charge (DOIC).
• Marine Expeditionary Unit - Equivalent in organization size to the strike groups, the Marine Expeditionary Units or MEUs are formed by Marines who are not assigned to a STARFLEET Chapter.  If a STARFLEET Chapter decides to leave SFI, but the Strike Group wishes to remain within the SFMC, they are able to become an MEU but may be required to change their unit number.  Like the MSG, the Marine in command of the MEU is referred to as the Officer in Charge, and their second is termed as the Deputy Officer in Charge.  One important thing to note is that the OIC of an MEU cannot be a member of any STARFLEET Chapter, though members of the unity may come from anywhere in the STARFLEET Marine Corps.
• Marine Training Unit -  Marine Training Units are subgroups of established MSGs, designed for the development of young Marines that are known as Cadets.  A MTU is known by the same designation number as their parent MSG (for example: MSG 292 would have MTU 292).  The MTU is able to create their own motto and logo if they desire, but are subject to the same verification process by the SFMC Heraldry Office.  MTUs report their activities in conjunction with the bi-monthly reports submitted by their parent MSG.  To be activated, a parent MSG's OIC requests it of the Brigade OIC after the approval is given by COFORCECOM.
• Battalions - Within a Brigade, there are often either states or geographical subdivisions.  These are considered Battalions for the purpose of division within the SFMC.  Battalions are numbered in relation to the other states in their region, and usually by alphabetical order.  In the case of 12BDE, 1BN (First Battalion) is Arkansas, 2BN is Illinois, 3BN is Kansas, 4BN is Missouri, and 5BN is Oklahoma.
• Brigade - Much like STARFLEET, the SFMC utilizes the same regional geographical divisions to separate areas into Brigades.  For example, Region 12 in STARFLEET is known as Twelfth Brigade or 12BDE.
• Division - Above Brigade level, there are seven Divisions, utilized for paperwork purposes and unmanned.  It exists to accommodate future expansion as the SFMC grows.  The First Division (1DIV) covers the eastern United States.  The Second Division (2DIV) covers the central US.  The Third Division (3DIV) covers the western US.  The Fourth Division (4DIV) covers all of Canada, Alaska, and Michigan.  The Fifth Division (5DIV) covers all of Europe.  The Sixth Division (6DIV) covers Asia, Australia, and the South Pacific.  The Seventh Division (7DIV) covers Africa, Central and South America.