Starfleet Rangers
Divisions and Personnel Assignments |
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COMMAND DIVISION | OPERATIONS DIVISION | SCIENCES DIVISION | MARINE CORPS | CIVILIAN CONTINGENT |
Starfleet Rangers have the status of a special branch of Starfleet Security. The Rangers emphasise planetary survival skills and the ability to work alone for long periods of time to explore, patrol, and protect the borders of Federation space. Starfleet officers from any department can serve in the Rangers under the aegis of the Security Branch. Some remain with the Rangers for many years, even devoting their entire career, while others serve only a single tour of duty before accepting a new assignment elsewhere. OrganisationThe Starfleet Rangers operate with the best Starfleet qualities, to protect and to serve where general Starfleet crews cannot for one reason or another. They are not commanders, but supporters of colonies or outposts on the outreaches of Federation space, patrolling and exploring these areas whilst working with non-Starfleet institutions. As such, a Ranger gives advice for these parties to review or implement - only in emergency situations do Rangers issue orders to civilians or other Starfleet personnel, placing an emphasis not on working for, but working together. Depending on the nature of the area, Rangers may be placed within a platoon, or as single officer deployments (regional support officers). They can be temporarily or semi-permanently assigned to a starship or other Starfleet installation, reporting to their new assignments' commanding officer - when not involved in specific Ranger assignments, they are generally fully integrated into the crew, providing assistance where their commanding officer deems necessary, though more often than not, they are placed under the purview of the vessel's security department. Training and SkillsDivided into two divisions (platoon and regional support) during the 2390s, platoon training is rigorous and encompasses a core set of skills including helm and navigation, medical services, operations and communications, and a variety of combat specialist training. Some rangers cross-train between these two specialties, providing a redundancy of skills of which allowed a platoon of rangers to complete a mission even if some members are injured. Regional support officers must be evaluated by Starfleet counselor and a public diplomatic officer before they are considered. Local knowledge of or experience within the area may also influence placement. Rangers deployed alone explore, patrol, and protect Federation borders where Starfleet presence is minimal. From planetary placements to working within entire regions of space, they are not known to operate by themselves in well-established Federation territory, and rarely operate in more than teams of three or four when placed on such borders. These rangers will often be required to report to civilian services, as they are without an immediate Starfleet commanding officer. Because of this, they must uphold Starfleet regulation to its highest standard at all times. When placed aboard, or within the vicinity of a Starfleet vessel, officers must always report to that vessel's command staff. OperationsRangers act primarily in a support role for civilians on border planets, assigned to colonies where Starfleet simply do not have the resources to provide full crews. Their duties can be broken down into four categories. ExplorationExploration duties include scouting and exploring newly discovered planets (in preparation for a full-scale planetary survey), investigating unusual planetary phenomena, and assisting Federation scientists in establishing research stations, particularly "duck blinds" for anthropological study of other species. ColonizationColonization duties include assisting in the transportation of colonists and the establishment of new colonies, including site planning and development, establishing vital colony systems, mapping and survey expeditions, and similar operations. ReliefRelief efforts involve Rangers rendering aid and assistance to Federation and allied worlds that are threatened or struck by natural disasters. Rangers may plan and coordinate evacuations, deliver vital supplies and equipment, offer medical assistance, and help in rescue and rebuilding efforts following a disaster. SecurityFinally, the Rangers act to protect the security of the Federation, particularly its borders and colonies. Here they act closely with Federation Security or other civilian services, providing a Starfleet point of reference to a large-scale civilian operation.
Standard equipmentWorking alone on the outskirts of Federation space often provides a sense of uneasiness when there is no back-up or Starfleet installation to report to. As such, officers within the Starfleet Rangers are allowed whatever equipment they see fit, within reason. The specific use of these pieces of equipment is ultimately up to the institution the ranger is working closest with, or to themselves if there is no one to report to at all. Most rangers keep such equipment light and easy to pack away or lock up, as there are no replacements within arms reach if an item is lost or damaged beyond repair. Rangers can generally be met carrying standard Starfleet equipment and devices. Their choice of weapon, if so required, varies on place to place. For example, officers posted out in the Shoals generally use phasers only capable of the stun setting, as the likelihood of their ground equipment being stolen is unusually high. Platoons and special forcesThough no longer common, Starfleet Rangers once included organized platoons, deployed where Starfleet are unable to, or where it is impractical or unwise to send starships and crews, where they acted as special forces. Often they worked closely and coordinated with Starfleet Marine Corps and Starfleet Intelligence to protect the more densely populated borders of Federation space, proactively seeking out threats against Federation citizens. Each Ranger Division was commanded by an officer with a minimum rank of Commander, from headquarters which were often located on quiet, out of the way planets. It had a number of operational platoons, as well as additional administrative, intelligence, logistics and medical support. Each platoon consisted of approximately 20 officers and enlisted, and could be divided into individual squads of 4-10 depending on the requirements of a mission. Platoons could also be temporarily or semi-permanently assigned to a starship or other installation, at which point they were removed from their division's chain of command and instead reported to the commanding officer of their new assignment. In these circumstances, when not involved in training exercises or specific Ranger assignments, the platoon members are fully integrated into crew, serving in appropriate departments and on away teams. There were incredibly rare occasions where these platoons even acted covertly in conjunction with Starfleet Intelligence. This would ultimately prove problematic when they came across Starfleet crews coincidentally, unable to effectively coordinate with these crews due to the limitations imposed by the restrictions of covert operations. In mid-2395, the Rangers began to phase out platoons to focus on their primary mantra, and officers were reassigned to crew Starfleet vessels or operate with the Starfleet Marines. |
Mission Specialist | Helm/Com/Ops | Engineer | Science Officer | Medical Officer | Nurse |
Intelligence Officer | Security Officer | Tactical Officer | Marine | Counselor | Civilian |
Duty Posts |
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