Royal Army of Adwa

The Royal Army of Adwa, or officially the Royal Adwan Land Forces (RALF) is a land warfare service branch of the Armed Forces of Adwa. It is part of the Ministry of War, which is one of two military departments of the Government of Adwa, together with the Ministry for Internal Security. According to the World Concordat Institute for Martial Studies, the RALF has approximately 70,000 active duty personnel and 550,000 in reserve.

History
The modern Royal Army of Adwa has its roots in the Adwan monarchy, with the newly-crowned Emperor Zara enacting lengthy reforms during and after the nation’s revolution and civil war. As of 1545, Adwa’s ground forces were formally reestablished as a separate branch of the armed forces, considered the oldest of the Adwan Armed Forces’ branches. Conscription has remained since that time, meant to unify the various groups under the Adwan banner into one military power.

Other events that led to the expansion of the Adwan Army included the various postcolonial conflicts that occurred in Dihara, notably the Bleeding Sands crisis. Through the reigns of Emperors Zara and Merhanu Zara, the Adwan military (including the Royal Army) became designed around the objective of force projection throughout the region, and ensuring that governments friendly to Adwan and broader Diharan interests were in power. Since the assumption of power under Empress Meti Zara in 1582, Adwa has pursued a less aggressive foreign policy, reflected by a reduced but still large emphasis on military might.

Structure
The combat strength of the Royal Adwan Army consists of two combined arms brigades, five mechanized brigades, one airborne brigade, eight artillery battalions, and two light infantry brigades. Despite the addition of a number of units and increased mobility achieved during the 1570s and 1580s, the army’s personnel complement has expanded only moderately since a major buildup was launched in the late 1550s. Thanks to Adwa’s high population and conscription policies, its army has historically enjoyed no shortage of manpower. However, the military has in recent years developed issues of retaining experienced technicians and noncommissioned officers. The continued existence of the People’s Army as a separate national guard also tends to limit the pool of potential army and army reserve recruits.

Mechanized
A typical Adwan mechanized brigade has an armored reconnaissance company, one tank battalion with 40 tanks, three mechanized infantry battalions with AIFVs/APCs, and an artillery battalion with 18 self-propelled guns. It also has an army aviation company, an engineer company, a logistic battalion, a field workshop, and a medical company. It has 24 anti-tank guided weapons launchers and four mortar sections with a total of eight 81 mm mortars.

Armor
A typical Adwan armored brigade has an armored reconnaissance company, three tank battalions with 35 tanks each, a mechanized infantry battalion with AIFVs/APCs, and an artillery battalion with 18 self-propelled guns. It also has an army aviation company, an engineer company, a logistic battalion, a field workshop, and a medical company.

Infantry
Each infantry brigade consists of three motorized battalions, an artillery battalion, and a support battalion.

Airborne
The airborne brigade has two parachute battalions and three elite forces companies trained along with the Royal Guard. Adwa is currently expanding its elite forces and improving their equipment and training rather than relying on sheer numbers as in the past. The elite forces have been turned into independent fighting units to help deal with terrorists or perform precision strikes in combat zones.

Ranks
Enlisted: Officer:
 * Private
 * First class private
 * Corporal
 * Vice sergeant
 * Sergeant
 * Staff sergeant
 * Warrant officer
 * Officer cadet
 * Second lieutenant
 * First lieutenant
 * Captain
 * Major
 * Lieutenant colonel
 * Colonel
 * Brigadier General
 * Major General
 * Lieutenant General
 * General