Mika Silo

Mika Silo (14th of October 993 - 10th of February 1049) was a Savorian Career Officer and the first Supreme Commander of the Savorian Strike and Defence Force. He was killed by forces of the Royal Savorian Army during the Invasion of Malden in 1049.

## Life and Career

### Early Life

Mika Silo was born into a poor family in the Island State of Malden in Savoria. His father was a factory worker who could only work part time because of his health conditions. His mother was unemployed since she was taking care of him and his 4 siblings. His family barely had enough money for their most essential needs. His mother and his father were eating less food than they needed so that their children could have enough. In 1002 when Mika Silo was just 9 years old his father had a stroke on his way home from work and died a few days later in the hopital. Now left without any financial income his family was lucky as his uncle had built up a successful business in the past years. After he learned of the death of his brother in law he decided to help his sister to grow up the kids. Mika moved to his Uncle´s place together with his mother and his siblings. There his family had enough to eat and a warm place to stay allowing him and his siblings to enjoy their childhood without worries. Mika Silo finished school in 1011.

### Career in the Air Force and SNA

Right after school he was drafted into the Savorian Air Force at age of 17. Even though legally the military couldn´t draft anyone below 18 years of age Mika Silo agreed to start his Mandatory Military Service before his 18th Birthday in October 1011 which made it possible and legal. In the Savorian Air Force he became a guard soldier responsible for the protection of air bases. He did not see any combat action at all and after serving in this position for 4 years reaching the rank equal to Specialist he decided to switch branches and joined the Savorian National Army in 1015 at the age of 21. He successfully applied for an Officer Position and began Officer Training right away. He finished Officer Training in 1019 at the age of 25 and his new rank was equal to 2nd Lieutenant. He was put in charge of an Artillery Section. He commanded this Artillery Section for 2 years until 1021 and in this time his Artillery Section was used in combat zones for fire support 92 times. But they did not see any direct combat action.

In 1021 at the age of 27 he was promoted to the rank equal to 1st Lieutenant and put in command of a Motorized Infantry Platoon. He commanded this Platoon until 1023. In this 2 years his Platoon saw combat action 12 times and Mika Silo gained a good repuation as a reliable and competent Officer. The casualties of his Platoon during certain combat situations were below average while his Platoon was among the most successful units at the same time. In 1023 at the age of 29 he was promoted to the rank equal to Captain and became the Commander of a Mechanized Infantry Company. He stayed in command of this Company for 2 years and during this time his Company saw combat action 35 times. He continued to be very successful as an Officer. In June 1025 at the age of 31 he was severly injured when the FOB he was located in at the time was hit by artillery. He had to be relieved from command. He recovered in late 1026 and was shortly after promoted to the rank equal to Major.

Between 1026 and 1028 he was commanding and organizing the logistics of an entire Corps. In 1028 he was assigned as the commander of combat units once again. This time he was put in charge of an Infantry Company. This Company did not see any combat action under his command. In 1030 at the age of 36 he was promoted to the rank equal to Lieutenant Colonel. He was assigned as the commander of an Infantry Battalion. Even though in this position he was often in a safe distance from any combat he had a talent for keeping an overview of the battlefield. He always had a good idea of the current situation and was able to act accordingly.

In 1034 at the age 40 he was promoted to the rank equal to Colonel and took command of an entire Regiment replacing a Brigadier General. He stayed in command of this Regiment for 5 years and was promoted to the rank equal to Brigadier General in 1037 at the age of 43. In 1045 at the age of 51 he was promoted to the rank equal to Major General.

## Career in the SSDF

Mika Silo was involved into the creation of the SSDF as early as 1044 and is one of the few SNA Officers that encouraged and actively supported the creation of the SSDF. By 1045 the decision was made to make Mika Silo the Supreme Commander of the SSDF as soon as the new branch was created. When the SSDF was created in 1047 Mika Silo switched branches immediately and became a Command Major in the SSDF the highest possible rank at the time. Later on when General Rank were introduced Mika Silo gained the rank of General of the SSDF the highest possible Rank in the Savorian Strike and Defence Force. Mika Silo played a key role in making the SSDF earn the respect of the Government and the other military branches. While initially the SSDF was still under the high command of an SNA Officer even though on the paper Mika Silo was the Supreme Commander he was the one to achieved the total independence of the SSDF from other branches and allowed them to operate independently.

Mika Silo was very popular among the SSDF Soldiers as he was considered a reliable and competent officer who just knew what he was doing. Additionally Mika Silo was a loyal officer but during rough times he wasn´t afraid of making decisions that were not 100 % in line with what the Savorian Government wanted from him and the SSDF.

Silo played a major role in the SSDF taking on the BWD prior to the Savorian Civil War. He encouraged his men specifically Malden Company to stay on the BWD and gain more intel despite the pressure of the Savorian Government to not do that.

Command Major Mika Silo was the commander of the Savorian Strike and Defence Force from its inception in the year 1044, up until it was disbanded in early 1049, following the start of the civil war in Savoria, largely attributed to the actions of Specialist Class 1 Frank Dormont, also known as "White Rabbit". CMAJ Silo was killed on Malden some time around mid-February, 1049. After the SSDF was disbanded following the collapse of the government, Silo remained neutral, not choosing to join either of the newly formed factions, the Royal Savorian Armed Forces, and the armed forces of the Free Republic of Savoria.