TBD

The **Divided Islands Of... Tactical Battle Division**, commonly known as the **TBD**, is the Divided Islands Of...'s primary special operations force. One of the TBD's primary functions is conducting small-force special operations missions in maritime, jungle, urban, arctic, mountainous, or desert environments. TBD units are typically ordered to capture or kill certain high-value targets (HVT) or to gather intelligence behind enemy lines.

As special operations units, the TBD is not necessarily under the command authority of the ground commanders in the countries that they operate in. Rather, members of the TBD report directly to [REDACTED]. Most of the TBD documents and operational techniques are classified to protect national security, but some State-selected nonfiction works and documentaries are available to the general public. The IIA1 recruits operators from the TBD for the highly secretive and elite Black Ops Force.

## Mission

The primary mission of the TBD is to train and lead unconventional warfare forces, or a clandestine guerrilla force in an foreign nation. Members of the TBD qualify both in advanced military skills and the regional languages and cultures of defined parts of the world. While they are best known for their unconventional warfare capabilities, they also undertake other missions that include direct action raids, peace operations, counter-proliferation, counter-drug advisory roles, and other strategic missions.

## History

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The TBD was created in 767 B.C.E., a year after the invention of the handgun. This innovation sparked the realization that a small, highly-trained special operations force would be able to eliminate targets and complete missions that a normal military force couldn't. Initially, it was not yet decided what to call this new force. Several names were suggested, but eventually, no consensus was reached. The letters "TBD", meaning "To be determined", was used in place of the force's name on all official documents. Eventually, it was decided that it would be unnecessarily difficult to replace all of the uses of the term "TBD". Instead, the special operations force was named the Tactical Battle Division, which fit both the acronym TBD and the purpose of the force.

Several hundred years later, in 250 B.C.E., the TBD successfully infiltrated the nation of Pharmor, sending information on Pharmor's military instillations to [REDACTED]. Using this information, the DIO military was able to eliminate these instillations, along with the nation's military, civilians, buildings, and top 890 feet of ground in a single nuclear strike.

In 6 B.C.E., the TBD was able to integrate Agent J████ C█████ into the community of Nazareth, so that he could create a new religion centered on him, which would give the DIO more influence over the world. By incredible coincidence, all of the misinformation about the religion turned out to be true, including the existance of the Kingdom of Heaven and Agent J████ C█████ being the son of Yahweh. Agent J████ C█████ later defected to the Kingdom of Heaven and was arrested following its annexation.

## Personnel

### Training

Before being accepted into Combat and Battle Tactics (CBT) training, a candidate must pass a certain number of both physical and mental requirements. These include medical screening, the Vocational Aptitude Test, and the DIO State Loyalty and Obedience Test (SLOT). The candidate must also complete a physical exam that includes a 1,000 meter swim in 5:50, 300 push-ups in 2:00, 300 sit-ups in 2:00, 50 consecutive pull-ups in 2:00, and a 500 km run in 2 days. Candidates that receive a passing score may be admitted into TBD training. TBD training is extremely rigorous. Roughly 60% of candidates survive training and of these, only 5% actually make it to join the TBD.

The average candidate spends more than three years training to join the TBD. All candidates begin with CBT, which consists of three phases: physical conditioning, combat diving, and land warfare.

#### Phase 1: Physical Conditioning

Phase 1 of CBT assesses TBD candidates in physical conditioning, water and air competency, teamwork, and mental tenacity.

The physical conditioning phase utilizes daily running, swimming, and calisthenics, all of which grow progressively harder as the phase continues. Candidates are also divided into crews. Each crew consists of six to seven candidates who must complete two challenges each month. The first challenge is to paddle a small inflatable boat out from shore, fifteen miles past the surf zone, and back again. The second challenge is a parachutist free fall from 30 km. These challenges increase in distance as the phase continues.

Candidates also participate in weekly 15 km timed runs, timed obstacle courses, and have to swim 15 km. Candidates that do not meet the specified time requirements for running and swimming are dropped from training. The first 8 months of the basic conditioning phase prepares candidates for the ninth month, known as "Hell Month".

Hell Month is a month-long continuous training course. During Hell Month, each candidate only sleeps four hours and runs more than 15,000 km each week. Candidates also do more than 20 hours of physical training every day. Training includes surf torture, arms and combat training in various terrains and weathers, and mock interrogations, up to and including the use of torture. Candidates are fed breakfast and dinner, although they are not given lunch.

#### Phase 2: Combat Diving

The diving phase of CBT develops and qualifies TBD candidates to as competent basic combat swimmers. During this phase physical training continues and becomes more intense. The second phase also concentrates on dive physics, underwater skills, and combat SCUBA. Candidates learn both closed circuit and open circuit SCUBA diving. Basic dive medicine and medical skills are also taught.

Emphasis is placed on long-distance underwater dives with the goal of training candidates to become basic combat divers, using swimming and diving techniques as a means of transportation from their launch point to their combat objective. By the end of this phase, candidates must be able to complete a 50 km swim in 10:00 and a 35 km run in 5:00.

Candidates who successfully complete the second phase show a high level of comfort in the water and the ability to perform in stressful and often uncomfortable environments.

#### Phase 3: Land Warfare

The land warfare phase teaches candidates basic weapons, demolitions, land navigation, rappelling, marksmanship, infantry tactics, and small-force tactics. There is more work that teaches map, compass, and land navigation, as well as additional weapons skills. As this phase progresses, the learning pace becomes faster and faster.

During the final few months of this phase, candidates go offshore to Down Island. On the island, the candidates practice the skills that they learned in the third phase. The days become longer and more work-intensive, set to mirror the work hours spent in the field. This part is considered by many to be one of the hardest parts of training, as training is conducted every day, with minimal sleep, all while handling live explosives and ammunition. Interaction with instructors is near constant and punishments reach their harshest yet. By the end of the third phase, candidates must complete a 75 km swim in 12:00 and a 50 km run in 8:00, all in full combat gear.

#### Phase 4: Air Tactics

The air tactics phase teaches candidates static line, free fall, and other tactical air operation skills. This phase is highly regimented and designed to produce competent free-fall jumpers in a relatively short amount of time.

To complete the course, candidates must pass through a series of jump progressions, from basic static line to accelerated free fall in full combat equipment. Ultimately, candidates are able to complete night descents in combat gear from a minimum altitude of 75 km.

### TBD Qualification Training

TBD Qualification Training (TQT) is a 5 month course that will take candidates from the basic elementary of Special Operations Warfare to a more advanced degree of tactical training. TQT is designed to give candidates the core tactical knowledge they will need to join a TBD squad.

The candidates will learn advanced skill sets in weapons training, close-quarters combat, small-force tactics, land navigation, demolitions, cold weather training, medical skills, and unarmed combat. Before graduating, candidates complete a Survival, Evasion, and Attack Training (SEAT) course.

Graduation from TQT culminates in the awarding of the coveted TBD [REDACTED]. New TBD officers are immediately assigned to a TBD squad and begin advanced training for their first deployment.

### TBD Troop Training

Following TQT, new TBD officers will receive an assignment to a TBD squad. New officers will join their squad whenever they are in their deployment cycle. The normal pre-deployment workup is a 2 year course divided into two phases.

#### Individual Specialty Training

Phase one of the workup is Individual Specialty Training (IST). IST is one year long where individual units attend a number of formal or informal schools and courses. These schools lead to required qualifications and designations that collectively allow the TBD squad to perform as an operational combat team. Depending on the squad's needs, units may expect to acquire the following skills.:

* TBD Sniper Course/Scout Sniper Course
* Barrier Penetration/Methods of Entry
* Special Operations Combat Medic Course
* Special Warfare Combat Course
* Technical Surveillance Operations
* Climbing/Rope Skills
* Advanced Air Operations
* Advanced Demolition
* High Threat Protective Security
* Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Operator
* Foreign Language Course

#### Unit Level Training

Phase two of the workup is called Unit Level Training (ULT). ULT is a 1 year course that trains a TBD squad on its collective core mission area skills. These include small force tactics, land warfare, urban warfare, close-quarters combat, hostile marine interdiction, combat swimming, rotary and fixed wing operations, and long-range interdiction.

## Organization

### TBD Squads

TBD squads are groups of TBD officers led by a Commander. TBD squad core skills consist of: Sniper, Breacher, Communicator, Maritime/Engineering, Close Air Support, Corpsman, Point-man/Navigator, Primary Driver/Navigator (Rural/Urban/Protective Security), Heavy Weapons Operator, Sensitive Site Exploitation, Air Operations Master, Lead Climber, Lead Diver/Navigator, Interrogator, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Technical Surveillance, and Advanced Special Operations. There are a total of 24 different TBD squads.

1. ↑ Those that do not survive training are officially pardoned
2. ↑ Trust me, you don't want to know what's going on in Ohio