Post by August II "Mocny Sas" on Sept 30, 2016 13:28:45 GMT
With a brief lull in the war with Sweden, the King has the opportunity to look into the military organisation of the Commonwealth, which hasn't had substantial reform since the great King Stefan Bathory.
While the Sejm has proven admirable at the levee en masse (and indeed holds the unique power to do so), the recruitment of the Piechota Wybranieczna (the standing infantry army) remains old fashioned. The overall recruitment processes being still semi-feudal, and unsuitable for the increasing professionalism of armies.
The scope of this reform is purely for infantry, with the engineers and artillery already professionalised, and the cavalry operating to an as yet highly effective if different paradigm.
The reform will focus on Infantry Cantonments, and Regiments. The operations of the Cantons had historically been linked to the Wojewodzowie, but with the changing requirements and responsibilities, it is no longer appropriate. The Cantons will be handed to the Army for organisation, with specific Colonels responsible for recruitment in command. These Colonels will be responsible for managing recruitment, including maintaining up to date records on recruitable population, and the creation of local "support regiments" of recorded and trained individuals for the purposes of rapid replenishment of losses. Support regiments will be made up of discharged infantry, and willing signees during peace time, and can be conscripted to in times of war, this troops will be required to train for certain periods of the month, to maintain a respectable standard prior to potential call up.
To begin implementing the reform, the King budgets 20,000 ducats, with additional reviews of effectiveness to determine if additional funds will be required.
While the Sejm has proven admirable at the levee en masse (and indeed holds the unique power to do so), the recruitment of the Piechota Wybranieczna (the standing infantry army) remains old fashioned. The overall recruitment processes being still semi-feudal, and unsuitable for the increasing professionalism of armies.
The scope of this reform is purely for infantry, with the engineers and artillery already professionalised, and the cavalry operating to an as yet highly effective if different paradigm.
The reform will focus on Infantry Cantonments, and Regiments. The operations of the Cantons had historically been linked to the Wojewodzowie, but with the changing requirements and responsibilities, it is no longer appropriate. The Cantons will be handed to the Army for organisation, with specific Colonels responsible for recruitment in command. These Colonels will be responsible for managing recruitment, including maintaining up to date records on recruitable population, and the creation of local "support regiments" of recorded and trained individuals for the purposes of rapid replenishment of losses. Support regiments will be made up of discharged infantry, and willing signees during peace time, and can be conscripted to in times of war, this troops will be required to train for certain periods of the month, to maintain a respectable standard prior to potential call up.
To begin implementing the reform, the King budgets 20,000 ducats, with additional reviews of effectiveness to determine if additional funds will be required.
