[Mohoender]

The American Legion : The American Legion (AL) is an integral and somewhat controversial part of the Canadian Army that provides manning for a strong infantry brigade group. The AL, as its named suggests, is mostly recruited from the American states but also includes recruits from throughout Europe and further a field. Some native Canadian citizens are also found in its ranks, normally seconded from other regiments. The AL is a highly professional and integrated force that includes many veterans of the Twilight War and as such is probably has the most experience of any Canadian force in manoeuvre warfare. It is equipped, trained and organised on Canadian lines, and but has not proved itself in combat.

The 1st Legion: American citizens began serving in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) as early as September 1914, by joining an already existing Militia or Regular Force unit. This changed in the autumn of 1915, after some offers made by prominent American citizens living in Canada to the Militia Minister, Sir Sam Hughes to fund and sponsor an "American Legion". Hughes responded by, allowing the recruitment of two battalions, approximately 800 - 1,000 men each to be raised. In reality, the planning and recruitment drove the number to a total of five battalions, or a reinforced brigade of 6,000 men. By spring of 1915 Americans still continued to join the CEF, but now they had all American choice, Americans recruits could still join a Militia or Regular Force units or they could now; opted for one of the five "American Legion" battalions. These were the 97th, 211th, 212th, 213th and the 237th Battalions. However each of these units was eventually disbanded and its soldiers were sent to other units.

The 2nd Legion: The end of the Twilight War, brought exhaustion and collapse of many nations. However the chaos brought about by both the physical damage of the war and the collapse of the global economy was widespread and only Canada and several other nations had the resources left to try and start a recovery. However all this required troops, and the Canadian people soon tired of sending their sons to the shattered lands to fight bands of warlords. Instead the American Legion was created once more. In June of 1997 the American Legion formed the Washington's Own Battalion in the occupied Alaska. The battalion was composed of soldiers and ex-marauders from throughout the US who had travelled to Canada, tiring of the struggle to survive in US. The Legion quickly attracted some of the best soldiers and officers from former US units, although several regular Canadian Army NCO's and Officers were transferred into the unit. Yet there were also some highly skilled soldiers amongst them, with a strong representation of former US paratroopers.

Training: The AL conducts most of its training at Washington Barracks at CFB Suffield, Alberta. Basic training in the AL takes two forms, the Short and Long courses. Recruits with previous military experience in certain militaries ("first rate forces") will be placed on the three month Short Course.

The Short Course commences with an initial test week, to make sure all the recruits are up to a basic standard of fitness and soldierly abilities. Those failing are passed onto the Long Course or discharged immediately. The Short Course then starts in earnest covering weapons, equipment and tactics in detail all interspersed with intensive physical training. Also covered in the course is some foot drill on the parade square and the history of the Legion . The final three weeks of the course are spent in the field on exercise which takes place at the CFB Wainwright; Land Force Training Area. After the exercise the course returns to CFB Suffield to pass off the parade square before passing on to their battalions or more advanced training.

The Long Course is a more traditional basic military induction course where civilians with little or no military experience are turned into soldiers. The Long Course takes the recruit right from square one, and the first eight weeks are very much "basic training" with foot drill, physical training and mindless chores to the fore. Recruits at this stage have almost no privacy or time to themselves. If a recruit successfully negotiates the first ten weeks the remaining 16 weeks more resemble the Short Course with the emphasis on practical military skills. The main difference between the Short and Long Courses is discipline. Recruits on the Short Course are expected to show self discipline and are more harshly judged for infractions than the more closely supervised recruits on the Long Course.

All soldiers passing through the AL depot are considered to be qualified Combat Infantrymen whatever specialisation they later go on to pursue. This combined with the toughness of the training has meant that there are very few females in the AL, and these are mainly concentrated in the Signals and Logistics establishments.

Training at the AL depot is carried out by both AL personnel and men on secondment from other regiments of the Canadian Army on an even 50/50 ratio. This might change when more AL personnel become available at suitable points in their career. After passing out from the depot infantrymen go to one of the Line Battalions, and can later transfer to one of the Light Companies after passing the appropriate courses. Other members of the Legion go on to Canadian Army training establishments to conduct their Phase 2 training in armour, artillery, logistics or signals. Throughout his career the Legionnaire will attend specialist courses run by the Canadian Army to further his skills. AL personnel are just beginning to join the training teams on these courses, but will remain firmly in a minority.

AL officers undertake either the Short or Long Courses and must attend an Officer Selection Board either before or after signing up. They then go on to attend the Royal Canadian Military Collage; Kingston, Ontario.

Training in the AL, as with the Canadian Army as a whole, is continuous and never ending. Tactical exercises are conducted regularly. The AL has a reputation for "tactical" excellence whilst on training, conducting all operations on a war footing. They are perhaps the ultimate embodiment of the concept of "train hard, fight easy".

Nationalities: Although "American" by title the AL is not American exclusively, and accepts recruits from around the world. Nevertheless Americans are by far the majority in the Legion. Many others come from the North American Southwest or the Caribbean; including a large group of Mexicans. There are few recruits from outside North American however, although some Japanese’s of American descent can be found in the ranks. The Canada gives citizenship to AL men who complete at least five years service, an important spur too many from Caribbean Islands. An impressive proportion of the AL has had service in other militaries, usually as conscripts. And many join the AL to pursue a full time military career. The AL's burgeoning reputation has reinforced this trend, and led to the caustic troopers comment that: "Romantics join the French Foreign Legion. Professionals join the AL"

Order of Battle: The American Legion is currently organised as a brigade formation, similar to the 1 Canadian Mechanised Brigade Group. The AL has one tank regiment, four armoured infantry battalions (in which all of its strength is concentrated) and the AL Depot at CFB Suffield, Alberta.

AL Headquarters and Signals Squadron: This Squadron exists to allow the Legion Commander to control and fight the legion. It includes his staff and intelligence cells in addition to enough signallers to maintain links both down and up the chain of command as well as "out" to any orbital support assigned to the brigade. It also has a small Defence Platoon to protect it. It has a strength of around 150 personnel, about 30% of whom are seconded Canadian specialists.

American Dragoons: The Dragoons are a relatively new regiment formed from the armoured squadrons attached to the original OPFOR Battle Group. The regiment is named after the King's American Dragoons of the American Revolution who were commanded by Benjamin Thompson (later Count Rumford). They were in South Carolina; went into winter quarters at Huntington, Long Island, in the fall of 1782. They were evacuated from New York and resettled in St. John, New Brunswick, where they were disbanded in 1783. The Dragoons have three sabre squadrons an HQ and a Support Squadron, and are equipped with the Burns C3 (M-1A2 Abrams IIIE - Export; Main Battle Tank). They normally operate as Battle Group Lincoln with one sabre squadron and two armoured infantry companies (one from each of the battalions). Most of the Dragoons are ex-2nd Battalion - 34th Armour Regiment men with a smattering of other nationalities. They have perhaps the oldest average age of any front line Canadian Army unit, but are also some of the most experienced.

97th Battalion (Toronto's Americans): The 97th Battalion is an armoured infantry battalion organised identically to its Canadian counterparts and equipped with Rifleman ACV’s. The 97th Battalion is actually the oldest AL unit originally organised as the 1st "Washington" Battalion, and now operates as 97th Battalion. As a armoured infantry battalion it has two armoured infantry companies, a Support Company and an armoured troop from the Royal Canadian Dragoons. The battalion’s C Company is normally attached to the Royal Canadian Dragoons. The battalion is mainly American, but has a large proportion of other nationalities as well, including an American second in command. The NCO’s and officers are mostly ex-3rd Armoured Cavalry Regiment and veterans of the Twilight War, including several men who have also served with the USMC's 1st Tank Battalion. The rank and file are mostly young American’s who have finished their compulsory service and have joined the AL.

211th Battalion (Alberta's Americans): The 211th Battalion originally served in the Opposing Force role, however the battalion has recently been converted armoured infantry battalion. The 211th Battalion is now taking most of the new recruits of the Legion and its more experienced men have moved on, especially to the 211th Battalion as NCO’s. Known as "Ghost Battalion" the battalion has an armoured troop, four armoured infantry companies, and a light armoured recce troop.

212th Battalion (Winnipeg's Americans): The 212th Battalion is one of the most recently organised of the AL armoured infantry and has never seen combat. 212th Battalion is organised similarly to the 97th Battalion and usually has its A Company deployed to the Royal Canadian Dragoons. The 212th Battalion were recruited mostly from the ranks of the 97th and 211th Battalions. The 212th Battalion are a tough, hard bitten unit. Almost all of the soldiers are veterans of the long fighting in Europe during the Twilight War, they are self-reliant, self-motivated and with a passionate hatred of their enemies. There has been some problem getting the unit to accept the conventional military discipline of the AL, but the unit is gradually accepting the need for this.

213th Battalion (Toronto's Americans): The 213th Battalion is the other most recently raised AL unit, being formed in December 2002. During the fighting on the Alaska front the armoured infantrymen of the Canadian Army, sometimes lacked the numbers for all the tasks that were assigned to them. To remedy this the Canadian/US Raider Battalion (irregular troops raised from American refugees who had fled to Canada) were often attached to the 3 Canadian Mechanised Brigade Group. However in after the conflict all but 3 companies of the Raider Battalion were disbanded, and the remainder regularised. Consequently the need for an light mechanised battalion arose and was pursued by the American Legion commanders, and was quickly agreed by the Area Commander and eventually by the Ministry of National Defence. The battalion has 3 rifle companies, a recce company and a support company.

237th Battalion (New Brunswick's Americans): The 237th Battalion is not an operational formation, instead it is a holding unit for soldiers just out of training or returning from injury or assignment. The 237th Battalion currently has three companies, "Able" Company is at CFB London, Ontario; "Baker" Company is at CFB Petawawa, Ontario; "Charlie" Company is at CFB Downsview, Ontario. Each company has a Command and Control Section and a three holding platoons. The holding companies conduct frequent training exercises to the same standards as the armoured infantry battalions, which the newly soldiers joined must undertake until passed on to an operational battalion.

American Legion Artillery Regiment: Formerly just at battery strength this unit has recently expanded greatly. It now has two batteries of M109A4 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer and an Air Defence Battery. Many of the regiment's soldiers are Canadian Royal Artillery gunners on secondment, although there has been a recent influx of frustrated ex-American Army conscript gunners.

-84th Field Battery, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery
-116th Field Battery, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery
-29th Air Defence Battery, Royal Canadian Air Defence Artillery

AL Engineer Squadron: The squadron of "pioniere" combat engineers is equipped with LAV "Husky" (Armoured Vehicle General Purpose) and provides the usual array of combat support to the brigade. Including minefield laying and removal, bridge building and the like. The "pioniere" are mostly all veterans of the US 1st Division, Engineer Brigade; and have a reputation as the most "difficult" troops of the AL and being distrustful of outsiders. Nevertheless the "pioniere" are extremely effective in their normal role and have often been used as extra infantry during exercises surprising the enemy.

AL Service Battalion: The Service Battalion is organised along the same lines as a Logistics Branch, Service Battalion. As such it works in close co-operation with the AL Headquarters and Signals Squadron from just behind the front line and up to 200 kilometres to the rear providing Combat Service Support. As a brigade can consume up to 500 tonnes of supplies in 24 hours, even when out of direct contact with the enemy this is an considerable task. The Service Battalion is responsible for supplying everything the legion needs, from food to fuel to ammunition plus the small comforts that make front-line soldiering bearable. The regiment also works closely with Canadian Engineering assets who supply such things as fuel pipelines and port facilities.

AL Depot: The AL Depot is co-located at CFB Suffield, Alberta was conducts its basic and advanced training and CFB London, Ontario, were all of its administration is done.