MechWarrior (Dalcour Military)

Mechwarrior in the Armed Forces of Dalcour

Mechwarrior training

Become a MechWarrior: AFD Career Guide

BattleMech Corps is a branch in the armed forces responsible for BattleMech warfare. MechWarriors pilot a variety of BattleMechs, including recon, fire support, assault and scout BattleMechs. Individuals become MechWarriors in the Armed Forces of Dalcour by extensive BattleMech training.

Note for applicants

Contrary to popular belief, the Armed Forces is not necessarily looking for someone who is at the top of the class academically or the sporting team super star. Instead, AFD seeks good all rounders - people who can adapt to new situations quickly, who can think logically and make decisions, and who have a broad range of interests and abilities.

Only a very few out of the many who want to pilot a 'Mech will make the cut. Every MechWarrior candidate in "undergraduate MechWarrior school" will not pass the course. Many will be eliminated because they can not take the G Forces that a MechWarrior must endure, or they cannot cope with the neural link created by the neurohelmet. Many will be eliminated because they can not pass all the academics of training program. And some will be eliminated because they fail to conform to the military life.

To apply to the training program you must accept the possibility that you will not become a MechWarrior and must accept some other military assignment. In such event you will be offered an NCO position in AFD or a place in on of the AFD officer training programs, depending on your qualification points at that moment. If you aim to become a MechWarrior and an officer in the AFD 'Mech Corps, you need to become a MechWarrior first. You need to graduate in the top 20% of the class to be able to apply to the Academy.

Phase 1: The Applicant

1st Step: Earn a MechTrainee licence
To apply to the MechWarrior training program the applicant must have a two-year college associate degree, a MechWarrior training stipend or a Covenant of Possession. Those aspiring to become officers in 'Mech Corps must have a full four-year college degree.

2nd Step: Meet MW Qualifications
Applicants must be 17-25 years old and have a citizenship in order to pursue MechWarrior training. Applicants take the MechWarrior Candidate Qualifying Test (MWCQT), and must receive a certain minimum score to pass. The MWCQT consists of instrument comprehension and math test, psychological evaluation and a physical test. Applicants must also pass background checks for a security clearance.

Phase 2: The Recruit

3rd Step: Attend Basic Military Training
The six-week long basic training is a an introductory phase to the military. Covering a multitude of subjects such as values & standards, physical training, basic firearms training, drill and fieldcraft.

4th Step: Attend Advanced Military Training
The eight-week long AMT program includes classroom lessons in a variety of topics, such as problem-solving, team-building, military customs and courtesies, standards and military history. Recruits also complete field exercises in land navigation, first aid, self-defense, tactical marches and base defense.

Phase 3: The Trainee

5th Step: Initial BattleMech Training
MW trainees begin 'Mech training by passing Initial Pilot Testing (ITS), which is a process that allows instructors to assess a trainee's ability and desire to learn piloting skills. During the four-week IBT the instructors use various training simulators to introduce MW trainees to basics prior to entering advanced training.

6th Step: Advanced BattleMech Training
This 8 month long program consists of classroom instruction on tactics, BattleMech systems, regulations, MechWarrior physiology, navigation, terrain and weather. Technical training in the 'Mech hangars include pre- and post-combat checks and the basic maintenance procedures. A number of long days are spent in the simulator hall, and basic piloting training uses the 10-ton Spike-1B-training BattleMech. At the end of ABT the trainees will take the Advanced Mechwarrior Testing (ATS) and the trainees will again be ranked in order of merit and that ranking is used to assign 'Mechs.

7th Step: Assigned Specialty Training
Following successful completion of ABT, the trainees are sent directly to the AFD BattleMech companies as secondary pilots to the 'Mechs they were assigned. The exact content of the 4 month long AST program varies from company to company, and is mostly "on-the-job"-training. Passing the AST final test will grant the trainee the MechWarrior status, and the rank of Mech Officer, Grade 1 (MO1).

Training Specialties

Light 'Mechs

Medium 'Mechs

Heavy 'Mechs

Assault 'Mechs

Artillery ops

Anti-Air ops

Recon ops

Amphibious ops

Non-atmospheric ops

Logistics ops

Airlift ops

MechWarrior service status

Ranks

MechWarrior Warrant Officer ranks

• Secondary Mech Officer, Grade 1 (SMO1) (The starting rank of a MechWarrior with a secondary pilot Mech assignment)
• Mech Officer, Grade 1 (MO1) (The starting rank of a MechWarrior with a primary pilot Mech assignment)
• Mech Officer, Grade 2 (MO2) (Requirements: 24 months in service, 1 service tour)
• Chief Mech Officer (CMO3) (Requirements: 60 months in service, 2 service tours, assigned as a COY chief)
• Master Chief Mech Officer (CMO4) (Requirements: 120 months in service, no conduct marks in service record, assigned as a BN chief)

MechWarrior Officer ranks

• Lieutenant, Junior Grade (The starting rank of a Mech Officer)
• Lieutenant (Requirements: 36 months in service, assigned as a lance leader)
• Captain (Requirements: 24 months since last promotion, assigned as COY XO/equivalent position)
• ForceCommander (Requirements: 24 months since last promotion, assigned as COY CO/equivalent position)