The (fictional) 27 (Polish) SAS

[Adm.Lee]

I can see them start the training process and what not, but would they be able to keep them together as a unit long enough to get them to the front before the unit would become to diluted

If they were recruited for a special-language commando unit, why would they then break it up

As for the Ukrainians pre-WW1, I sit corrected.

[Abbott Shaull]

If they were recruited for a special-language commando unit, why would they then break it up

As for the Ukrainians pre-WW1, I sit corrected.

If they were recruited for Commando type unit then they wouldn't break them up. Yet a lot of local raised units once they inducted would lose their local flavor real fast in military systems where they need to feed replacement to front line units.

[helbent4]

If they were recruited for Commando type unit then they wouldn't break them up. Yet a lot of local raised units once they inducted would lose their local flavor real fast in military systems where they need to feed replacement to front line units.

Abbott,

I understand this is not how they do things in the good ol' USA, but different countries adopt different practices. What you assume is universal may not always apply. Local regiments have all been effectively abolished in the US Army but have been retained in Canada and the UK to some degree. This didn't change in WWII, and at least might not happen in WWIII.

Canadian regular regiments ("Reg Force") recruit personnel from a wide(ish) general area, even the replacements will come from those areas. If you are from Quebec you are unlikely to be sent to an "Anglo" unit. In Canada: 2000 in Challenge magazine at least the Militia (reserve) regiments at least in Canada seem to have largely kept their regional and even local nature.

In this hypothetical case, a company or battalion of Ukrainian-Canadian volunteers could be sent to the Ukraine via Turkey sometime during the Twilight War. Or, assigned to the Canadian 5th MIB in western Europe.

Tony

[Abbott Shaull]

See that is one of the advantages that UK and Canada has over the US in my opinion. Then again it would really only work for National Guard units since those units were more or less local raised. Where a small depot detachment much like in the UK system would keep recruiting.

Again in practice with the US Army, once the National Guard were federalized, their local flavor would be lost quickly.

I don't know how much it would work in WWIII. Especially since so many replacement would be needed to send to the front to replace loses.

[helbent4]

See that is one of the advantages that UK and Canada has over the US in my opinion. Then again it would really only work for National Guard units since those units were more or less local raised. Where a small depot detachment much like in the UK system would keep recruiting.

Abbott,



You probably wouldn't see this in Europe in the US Army because there's a complete lack of institutionalised support and tradition. In the CF you'd still see replacements in Europe going to either the "Anglophone" (English) regiments or "Francophone" (French) units because that's built into the very structure of the 'Forces, but probably not much beyond that.

Such units in the CONUS might be possible and even inevitable, especially late-formed ones and ones formed for local defense and security. Basically, "ethnic" or "local" regular units are at best relics of the 19th century (like, the regiments of the US Civil War). Or at worst a product of non-PC and outright racist beliefs that were dismantled in the fifties. It's highly unlikely we'll see the same circumstances that produced the Tuskeegee Airmen or the famed 442nd "Nissei" Regiment. Except in New America, of course! (See "Urban Guerrilla".)

One such modern unit of interest was the 65th Regiment. An all-volunteer unit from Puerto Rico, where the enlisted all spoke Spanish but their officers were white and spoke English. This, however, was a side-effect of the origin of the troops and unit tradition, and not necessarily the segregationist policies of the day.

To go a little dark on this, I could see a kind of "Nissei effect" where, after the Mexican-Soviet invasion of the US, illegal aliens, dissidents and even legal Mexican-American immigrants of dubious patriotism are rounded up as a safeguard against subversive activity. Then, due to a shortage of manpower, all-volunteer units of "loyal" Hispanics are formed, to be used primarily as shock troops (or penal battalions, if you will) against Division Cuba.

I don't necessarily think this is likely, but it's not out of the question and there is historical precedence.

Tony

[James Langham]

Abbott,



You probably wouldn't see this in Europe in the US Army because there's a complete lack of institutionalised support and tradition. In the CF you'd still see replacements in Europe going to either the "Anglophone" (English) regiments or "Francophone" (French) units because that's built into the very structure of the 'Forces, but probably not much beyond that.

Such units in the CONUS might be possible and even inevitable, especially late-formed ones and ones formed for local defense and security. Basically, "ethnic" or "local" regular units are at best relics of the 19th century (like, the regiments of the US Civil War). Or at worst a product of non-PC and outright racist beliefs that were dismantled in the fifties. It's highly unlikely we'll see the same circumstances that produced the Tuskeegee Airmen or the famed 442nd "Nissei" Regiment. Except in New America, of course! (See "Urban Guerrilla".)

One such modern unit of interest was the 65th Regiment. An all-volunteer unit from Puerto Rico, where the enlisted all spoke Spanish but their officers were white and spoke English. This, however, was a side-effect of the origin of the troops and unit tradition, and not necessarily the segregationist policies of the day.

To go a little dark on this, I could see a kind of "Nissei effect" where, after the Mexican-Soviet invasion of the US, illegal aliens, dissidents and even legal Mexican-American immigrants of dubious patriotism are rounded up as a safeguard against subversive activity. Then, due to a shortage of manpower, all-volunteer units of "loyal" Hispanics are formed, to be used primarily as shock troops (or penal battalions, if you will) against Division Cuba.

I don't necessarily think this is likely, but it's not out of the question and there is historical precedence.

Tony

In my background I actually have this happen earlier with rioting against a number of ethnic backgrounds. There ends up being an Italian-American battalion of recently arrived imegrants that serves well, not fixed a location yet but probably Korea.

[Legbreaker]

Basically, "ethnic" or "local" regular units are at best relics of the 19th century (like, the regiments of the US Civil War).

I think you'll find argument (even offence) from those ex and currently serving soldiers from nations that still have such units. Take the British army for example with the centuries of tradition....

[helbent4]

I think you'll find argument (even offence) from those ex and currently serving soldiers from nations that still have such units.

Leg,

I doubt anyone would argue in defence of racial and segregationist policies and beliefs that largely no longer exist (except in New America).

Such units in Canada and the UK are another story and have different origins and traditions.

Tony