[dragoon500ly]

The Free State is divided into seven Military Regions, each of which serves as the primary military headquarters for all elements of the Social Security Forces. The Free State does not maintain formal division-sized units, instead preferring to group various elements of its regiments into ad-hoc "operational groups" for specific missions. While some may consider this to be inefficient, the Free State has never faced a threat that requires more than three regiments at any time. Units assigned to an operational group usually serve for a limited duration, with units being withdrawn as needed as combat losses, operational tempos or changing situations develop.

Military Region Able runs roughly along the Ohio River from the pre-War Kentucky-Tennessee border to the town of West Point, Kentucky. The region maintains three enclaves across the river: one at Evansville, Indiana (conducting salvage operations and the construction of a new airstrip); the second is a salient into southern Illinois (conducting operations against several groups of river pirates); and the third is in the vicinity of Sikeston, Missouri (being opened as a new farming colony as well as securing the junction of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, part of an on-going operation to place a stranglehold on the river trade). The headquarters of MR-Able is at Madisonville, Kentucky. Forces assigned to the region include the 3rd Border Scout Regiment, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 7th and 16th Infantry Regiments, 23rd and 29th Reserve Infantry Regiments, 43rd and 44th Militia Infantry Regiments, 7th Volunteer Infantry Regiment, 1st Artillery Regiment and the 1st and 2nd Ranger Companies.

Military Region Baker runs along the Ohio River from West Point, Kentucky to Portsmouth, Kentucky. It maintains a salvage operation in Cincinnati, Ohio, but otherwise maintains a watch on the mostly deserted lands to the north. Patrols from this region have penetrated as far as eighty miles and several platoon-sized outposts are maintained along likely areas of traffic. The headquarters of MR-Baker is at Williamstown, Kentucky. Forces assigned to the region include the 5th Border Scout Regiment, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, 4th and 17th Infantry Regiments, 24th and 30th Reserve Infantry Regiments, 45th and 46th Militia Infantry Regiments, 8th Volunteer Infantry Regiment, 2nd Artillery Regiment and the 3rd and 4th Ranger Companies.

Military Region Charlie runs from Portsmouth, Kentucky along the Ohio River to the vicinity of Catlettsburg, Kentucky and then roughly along the line of old State Highway 23 to Prestonsburg, Kentucky where the border joins old State Highway 80 to Hazard, Kentucky. The border then runs southwest along the former Daniel Boone Parkway to London, Kentucky and then southerly along the old Interstate 75 to Williamsburg, Kentucky. This region has maintained a low-intensity conflict with the surviving hillbillies of eastern Kentucky for the last fifty years. Current plans are underway for a new campaign against the "Barbourville Salient" and advance the border up to the a line along the Red bird River. This campaign is to commence next spring. The headquarters of MR-C is at Salyersville, Kentucky. Forces assigned to the region include the 4th Border Scout Regiment, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 6th and 10th Infantry Regiments, 25th and 31st Reserve Infantry Regiments, 47th and 48th Militia Infantry Regiments, 9th Volunteer Infantry Regiment, 3rd Artillery Regiment and the 5th and 6th Ranger Companies.

Military Region Dog runs along the Mississippi River from the pre-war Kentucky-Tennessee border down to Millington, Tennessee, the border then curves inland around Memphis, Tennessee and ends at the pre-war Tennessee-Mississippi border. An enclave is maintained at Portageville, Missouri (a farming colony). For the last twenty years, a low to mid-level conflict has been waged with the remnants of the old Kingdom of Memphis. It is expected that this conflict will finally end within the next year. This region also maintains one of the two current operational groups within the Free State. Headquarters of MR-D is at Ripley, Tennessee. Forces assigned to the region include the 6th Border Scout Regiment, 8th Armored Cavalry Regiment, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd and 19th Infantry Regiments, 26th and 32nd Reserve Infantry Regiments, 49th and 50th Militia Infantry Regiments, 4th Artillery Regiment and the 7th and 8th Ranger Companies.

Operational Group Dog, conducting operations against the Kingdom of Memphis, is currently comprised of: 2nd & 3rd Squadrons, 6th Border Scouts; 1st, 2nd & 4th Squadrons, 8th Armored Cavalry; 3rd Squadron, 10th Cavalry; 2nd & 3rd Battalions, 3rd Infantry; 4th Battalion, 19th Infantry; 4th Battalion, 26th Reserve Infantry; 1st & 2nd Battalions, 32nd Reserve Infantry; 1st and 4th Volunteer Infantry Regiments; 1st, 3rd & 4th Battalions, 4th Artillery; 6th Volunteer Artillery Regiment and the 8th Ranger Company.

Military Region Easy runs roughly along the old Highway 78 from Byhalia, Mississippi to Hamilton, Alabama where it switches to follow the path of the old Highway 278 to Cullman, Alabama and then runs northward along the old Interstate 65 back to the Tennessee border at Ardmore. Due to the lack of an easily defended border, very aggressive patrols are maintained out to fifty miles from the official border and a very harsh "shoot first, shoot again and then question what's left" policy is in effect. In addition, constant skirmishing along the southern border of the Kingdom of Memphis has effectively shut down any land traffic and most river trade below the city. Headquarters of MR-E is at Savannah, Tennessee. Forces assigned to the region include the 2nd Border Scouts Regiment, 4th and 9th Cavalry Regiments, 2nd and 11th Infantry Regiments, 27th and 33rd Reserve Infantry Regiments, 51st and 52nd Militia Infantry Regiments, the 9th Artillery Regiment and the 9th and 10th Ranger Companies.

MR-E is home to the second of two operational groups currently in service. Forces currently assigned include: 1st and 3rd Battalions, 2nd Border Scouts; 1st, 2nd and 3rd Squadrons, 4th Cavalry; 2nd and 4th Battalions, 2nd Infantry; 1st and 4th Battalions, 11th Infantry, 3rd Battalion, 27th Reserve Infantry; 2nd and 4th Battalions, 33rd Reserve Infantry; 2nd and 5th Volunteer Infantry Regiments; 1st, 3rd and 4th Battalions, 9th Artillery, 7th Volunteer Artillery Regiment and the 10th Ranger Company.

The borders of Military Region Fox are not yet fixed in place due to its recent occupation (within the last five years). It runs roughly cross-country along the line Ardmore-Fayetteville-Winchester-Manchester-McMinnville-Cookeville-Wartburg-Caryville and along the line of the old Interstate 75 trace back into Kentucky. Plans are underway to recommence operations in this region after the fall of the Kingdom of Memphis with the intent of pushing the border forward to the more defensible line of Interstate 75 between Chattanooga and Knoxville. In support of this plan, the Social Security Service are maintaining an increased level of activity. Headquarters of MR-F is at Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Forces assigned to the region include the 1st Border Scout Regiment, 2nd and 11th Cavalry Regiments, 1st and 12th Infantry Regiments, 28th and 34th Reserve Infantry Regiments, 53rd and 54th Militia Infantry Regiments, 3rd and 6th Volunteer Infantry Regiments, 10th Artillery Regiment, and the 11th and 12th Ranger Companies.

Each Military Region is responsible for an area that runs from the current border back into the Free State for a distance of sixty miles. The area outside of this sixty-mile line is the responsibility of Military Region George. All training and supply needs of the SSF are administrated through this headquarters and its commander also serves as the SSF's Chief of Staff. It must be noted that no unit may exit its currently assigned region without the express written orders of the CoS. Any unit that does so is considered to be in armed rebellion against the Free State. The active units assigned to MR-G are the best equipped and most reliable units of the SSF-L. The headquarters of MR-G are located at Danville, Kentucky. Forces assigned to the region include, the 6th and 7th Armored Cavalry Regiments; 12th and 13th Reserve Armored Cavalry Regiments; 14th and 15th Militia Cavalry Regiments; 5th Mechanized Regiment; 8th Airborne Infantry Regiment; 13, 14th, 15th and 18th Motorized Infantry Regiments; 20th, 21st, and 22nd Reserve Motorized Infantry Regiments; 40th, 41st and 42nd Militia Motorized Infantry Regiments; 1st and 2nd Ranger Battalions; 5th and 8th Artillery Regiments; 11th, 12th, and 13th Reserve Artillery Regiments and the 14th, 15th and 16th Militia Artillery Regiments.

While the armed strength of the SSF-L may seem to be excessive, please remember that the Active regiments are made of those between 16-22 years old; the Reserves comprise the 23-30 year olds and the Militia comprise the 31-45 year olds. Activation of the Reserves and the Militia results in SEVERE economic disruption of the Free State. The eight battalions of the Reserve currently serving against the Kingdom of Memphis represent the largest call up in the last twenty years (it is more normal to have no more than 2-4 battalions called up). At no time of Free State history has the full strength of the Reserves and the Militia been called up.