The Martial Families

Before the day you were born, it was determined that you shall be an officer in the Federal Armed Forces.

One or both of your parents were or are officers in the Federation's military. Likely, their parents were officers or soldiers for the pre-Federation countries, particularly within the United States, Europe, the Middle East, China, or Japan. You will most likely have many, many siblings, all facing the same fate as you, regardless of gender.

You will learn to march as soon as you begin walking. You will learn to shoot a man-sized target at 600 yards or even more, starting as soon as you're strong enough to hold a rifle properly. You will learn how to blend systems ranging from reconnaissance satellites to howitzers and main battle tanks, or aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines, into a massive, unstoppable testament of Federal Resolve. You will learn mathematical formulas invaluable to quickly making accurate decisions on the battlefield. You will learn the military history of mankind, from the Romans to the Allanean-Orderian War and Doomingsland-Haven War. You have been bred, and will be conditioned, to be the perfect leader within the Federal Armed Forces. Few of your studies don't have military strategy and leadership qualities integrated with them. You will be taught that you should not fear dying for the Federation.

Above all, you will prove that you and your family are worth more to the Federation than any other family.

If you cannot earn a military commission, you will be completely disowned and ostracized by your own parents and siblings. Maybe you'll go be a mercenary in some other country. Maybe you'll be a drug-addled homeless person on the streets of Magna Polis, a veritable landmine for any Civil Control officer looking to make you move on somewhere else.

The Martial Families of the Federation are a sort of "officer caste" devoted to churning out the best leaders they can, in a competition against other families. The ethnic backgrounds of the families vary significantly, providing for an interesting array of officer candidates. Most of these families have military histories far older than the Federation itself, though some are fairly new. These are high-pressure families that demand nothing short of perfection, creating their own image of "perfect little soldiers" for the vast Federal War Machine. Despite the fact that they exist, they are not officially sanctioned in any way.

Martial Families do -not- represent the majority of Orderian officers, but are still a significant demographic.

The Martial Families have an intense rivalry with the Mustangs (enlisted men who are selected as officer candidates) when it comes to officer commissions. The two groups of officers can barely stand each other.