America’s Fictional Enemies

by on October 16, 2021 at 12:01 am
Posted In: Diaries

The United Republics of Donovia are one of the Big Bads in the Decisive Action Training Environment. They are an obvious stand in for modern Russia, right down to the fact that they used to be a world power and are working diligently to be a top tier power once again. They are an authoritarian state led by a small elite class with no political opposition who harness government and private sector corruption to increase their own power. They are perfectly willing to “support independence movements” in other nations, and “Donovian mercenaries” or advisors are common throughout the region. As I understand it, most training missions are not in Donovian territory, but Donovian interests are pervasive throughout all scenarios that may be conducted. They should never be dismissed.

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America’s Fictional Enemies

by on October 15, 2021 at 12:01 am
Posted In: Diaries

The Democratic Republic of Limaria is the Decisive Action Training Environment’s fictional autocratic, monocultural, violent, and aggressive little bundle of joy. Named Minaria in earlier versions, they have conquered part of neighboring Atropia because they wanted breathing room for the ethnic Limarians who lived there. They also had aggressive relations with neighboring Kalaria in previous exercises, but since Kalaria has been removed, only the Atropian foe remains to them now. Or the various political foes of the ruling powers. They tend to meet bad ends. Election violence and purges are normal. It’s not a very fun place to live if everything I’ve read is accurate. And did I mention they have friendly relations with Donovia and Ariana? They are a truly amazing little bundle of joy for just about any training exercise.

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America’s Fictional Enemies

by on October 14, 2021 at 12:01 am
Posted In: Diaries

The Democratic Republic of Gorgas is the Decisive Action Training Environment’s fictional emerging representative democracy trying to find itself in the modern world. A massive majority of the population is Orthodox Christian, though they maintain very friendly relations with neighboring Islamic Atropia, and Gorgas pipelines carry Atropian oil to the Black Sea. Gorgas wishes to insulate itself from Donovian influence by joining the West and NATO, and has sent military forces to join multiple US led coalitions in the last decade or two. Their wish to remain free of Donovian influence is hampered by the fact that two Gorgas provinces have declared independence with the aid of Donovian support. Military conflicts between Gorgas and breakaway provinces have caused massive civilian strife and large refugee populations, which destabilize local politics and life.

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America’s Fictional Enemies

by on October 13, 2021 at 12:01 am
Posted In: Diaries

The Republic of Atropia is the Decisive Action Training Environment’s fictional modern liberal Islamic nation. Though not too modern, or too liberal, you understand. A single family controls the nation and all the government organs that promote order. Sometimes it is represented as a classic dynastic dictatorship, while it is an oligarchy in later settings. They have a high standard of living and are rich thanks to oil revenues and other resources on the Caspian Sea, but their civil liberties are heavily restricted. Outright repression is limited, though censorship and corruption are perennial problems. The driving foreign and domestic issue confronting Atropia in most scenarios I’ve seen is the occupation of the Lower Janga province by neighboring Limaria. That gives American troops many opportunities for creating interesting training scenarios.

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Columbus Day

by on October 12, 2021 at 12:01 am
Posted In: Diaries

We just celebrated Columbus Day. We live in a world shaped by the voyage of discovery Columbus and so many others made in the last few hundred years. Our ancestors traveled the world, and brought new ideas and ways of living into existence. We traveled beneath the sea after we visited everything we could upon it, and then we went into space and set our feet upon the dust of another world. We live in a better world today than the one Columbus inhabited, filled with more knowledge and ability than any time in recorded history. We have made the world a better place by seeking out other places, peoples, and knowledge. By bringing home the best of them, and by sending forth the best of us, we have made all of us better. We should always seek that.

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