United Nations Marine Corps

The **United Nations Marine Corps (UNMC)** is the naval infantry branch of the United Nations military. Well-trained and well-equipped, they serve on Earth as military police and guards, aboard UNN ships as their troop complements and shipboard security, and occasionally in the colonies and stations of the system as peacekeeping forces. Together with the United Nations Navy it is the dominant military force of the Sol system.

UN Marines use powered, vacuum-rated and radiation shielded armour and cybernetics, enabling them to operate effectively in a variety of combat environments, and utilize a variety of weapons and tactics. They also work in tandem with contracted paramilitary corporations enlisted by the United Nations, which often have more technologically advanced equipment but cannot match the UNMC for sheer numbers. The United Nations Marine Corps can place up to 100 million troops throughout the Sol system at any given time, far outnumbering any other army.

## Structure

The Secretary-General of the United Nations is the commander-in-chief of the UNMC, and issues orders to the corps at large. Aboard ships, marines tend to be subordinate to the ship captains and senior officers. From there, the rank structure (in descending order) of the United Nations Marine Corps is as follows:

* **General:** In control of the corps as a whole, second in command only to the Secretary-General. Usually only designated in wartime or during larger scale operations that involve multiple contingents of marines.
* **Brigadier General:** In charge of the corps for a single fleet. Has the responsibility of managing contingents aboard multiple ships and controlling the shipboard security of the fleet, as well as coordinating large-scale boarding or invasion procedures.
* **Colonel:** The most senior field grade military officer rank, typically in direct field command of several combined contingents tasked with large-scale boarding operations or invasions.
* **Lieutenant Colonel:** Second in command to a Colonel, assisting with administrative tasks and serving as a deputy and general assistant in the management of the combined contingents, both in combat and out.
* **Lieutenant:** Serves as an executive officer for the marine contingent on larger capital ships, generally reporting directly to the captain of the ship.
* **Gunnery Sergeant:** A sergeant with additional duties and training, usually highly capable of taking over and coordinating fire control and preparing firing solutions for the ship to alleviate responsibility for navy officers on the bridge.
* **Sergeant:** A smaller scale officer that is in charge of a single contingent (or sub-contingent on larger ships). Responsible for the training, upkeep, and leadership of his assigned team, both in combat and out.
* **Corporal:** A graduated marine that holds regular tours aboard ships. Should generally be self-sufficient leaders and are typically tasked with mentoring junior marines and sailors.
* **Private:** The lowest rank for a marine, generally just out of training and tasked with smaller scale security aboard a ship. Usually have specialties that they were trained in during basic training.