IST Academy

[Mark Skarr]

You should really look into the USCG before you make statements about it. They've been in every major military action since their formation. They're the US military force that has been in the longest, sustained, combat situation (the US War on Drugs). They're just as strict as the other armed forces. Technically, knowing a number of sailor and the like, as they rank it: USN, USCG, UNMC, USA, USAF. USN and USCG have to be careful and alert all the time they're on duty. That is taught to them in basic and maintained throughout their career. USMC training is just tough because they're destroying who you were and making you someone new. For the Navy and Coast Guard, if you screw off, just a little, on a boat, a lot of people can die. So, very high discipline. The USCG is lucky that, every night, they get to go home to their families and they can relax easier and more fully than the other armed forces. At the end of the day, the USCG is still a member of the United States Armed Forces and held to the same standard of conduct and professionalism as the other branches.

Also, keep in mind that I'm not the one comparing them to anything except a, generic, military; that's always been you. Until Bob used the SFA, I hadn't compared them to anything. I would have compared them to the Air Force as that's a branch of the military I have extensive, personal experience with. The book says that IST has hired hated USMC drill instructors, not me. If they weren't looking for the instructor’s sparkling personality . . . why did they hire them?

I mean, seriously, Rob, the section is called "IST Basic Training." And, granted, it looks like the editor didn't notice a slight error between two paragraphs (one says 12 weeks for basic training, one says eight), but that's as maybe.

COPPF and IST Command run several training camps around the globe for new and old IST members alike. They are often placed in locations that suffer from weather extremes or particularly unpleasant terrain, in order to further harden new members. To make matters worse (for new recruits, that is), IST Command has managed to obtain the services of the six most-hated drill sergeants in the United States Marines! For eight weeks recruits are pressed to their limits — and beyond — before being assigned to stations around the world.

Do you think there out there making macaroni pictures? (MCP optional) It's pretty obvious that it's supposed to represent the world's most brutal, military/USMC-style, basic training. After all, they're super heroes they can take it.

OTL is much different that IST. The IST UN is willing to resort to violence, economic blackmail and underhanded (and likely illegal) politics to achieve its goals. The IST UN has a standing army (Permanent Peacekeeping Forces). It's going to have less of an "international" mindest and more of a "UN" mindset--and the two don't have to be very similar. They're not the shining beacon of goodness,j honesty and hope you want them to be. They're likely better than they are in OTL, but that's neither a given nor is it spelled out.