Mandatory Service Commitment

Background

The Mandatory Service Commitment (MSC) is a legal requirement in the Kingdom of Jod for all able-bodied males (alien or human), ages 18 to 43, to both serve a mandatory 3 1/2 year service commitment to the Jod Military Forces upon their 18th birthday and be eligible to be drafted in times of war up until their 43rd birthday. All Jod citizens are required to start their MSC term by their 21st birthday. Once released from their MSC, Jod citizens are required to be part of either the Army Reserve Force, Navy Reserve Force, or Starfighter Reserve Force for up to 2 years. The MSC is managed and overseen by the Office of Mandatory Service Commitment & Regulatory Agency (MSC Office).

A MSC recruit serves their first 6 months in a combination of Army Boot Camp (3 months) or Navy Basic Training (3 months), followed up by at least 3 months in a Army Specialty Training School or Navy Specialty Training School. Since Med Force Medics are trained for upwards to a year in a Army Specialty Training School, they must complete an additional year of service or 4 1/2 years.

Citizens who serve out their MSC are granted rights beyond the citizen that doesn't serve. However, Continued Service Beyond MSC is very hard to achieve, as the Military Office of Inspector General to Personnel Usage & Accountability thins out military personnel not performing to standards, those with disciplinary issues on military record, or those wishing to leave early. Because of this "thinning out" of the ranks, those who do achieve Continued Service Beyond MSC are typically very good at their selected specialty within the military.

It is a requirement to achieve a Honorable Discharge from the Jod Military Forces in order to receive Benefits of Service in the MSC and military retirement benefits after 20 years of service. Those who are discharged otherwise---including a General Discharge, Other Than Honorable Discharge, Dishonorable Discharge, or under a Intent to Withdraw from Military Service Notice---are prevented from receiving even the most basic benefits from their MSC or a military retirement (no matter how many years served).

Yearly Recruit Class Percentages

• Overall, roughly 75% of all MSC personnel within every "yearly class" of recruits in their first 3 1/2 years reach a Honorable Discharge in some way.
• Of the 100% of yearly class recruits, around 40% reenlist for another 4 years (or 7 1/2 years total). Of that 40% (in 100% terms), roughly 60% reach an Honorable Discharge after a reenlist with continued service beyond MSC, most notably the Intent to Withdraw from Military Service Notice being the primary culprit for a General Discharge.
• Of the 40% (in 100% terms) that decide to reenlist to the 7 1/2 years, roughly 30% of those (that have not yet been hit with the Intent to Withdraw from Military Service Notice yet or not yet decided to get a Honorable Discharge) continue on to 11 1/2 years.
• Of the personnel that reach 11 1/2 years, roughly 10% reach 20 years and are eligible to retire.

Social-Economic Problems for General Discharge, Other Than Honorable Discharge, and Dishonorable Discharge

Personnel that do not reach an Honorable Discharge are oftentimes troubled with social & economic problems throughout the rest of their lives, as the social stigma associated with one not completing their Mandatory Service Commitment is one of shame, laziness, and lack of skills. This stigma affects higher education financial assistance and the ability to qualify for auto & house loans, which a Honorable Discharge is mandatory for all of them listed above. Furthermore, employment is oftentimes affected as well, although this isn't always the case.

Functionality

The MSC spans all four branches of the JMF: King's Army, Kingdom's Navy, Starfighter Corps, and Reserve Command; the Mandatory Service Commitment does not specify which branch someone will be assigned to, however, roughly 50% of all MSC's are placed within the King's Army by the Office of Mandatory Service Commitment & Regulatory Agency (35% in the Kingdom's Navy & 15% in the Starfighter Corps), although this can vary year-by-year based on needs of the Jod Military Forces.

Benefits of Service in the MSC

Completed service of a individual's MSC allows them to do many things in civilian life. This also includes the Civilian Exemption Program. While MSC does not grant higher education, home loans, or other perks with one's standard service commitment, such perks become available with Continued Service Beyond MSC. However, roughly only 40% of Jod Military Forces personnel qualify for continued service beyond their MSC.

Women, most notably, may serve in political office at will, since the MSC is not a requirement for their gender. However, service in the Jod Military Forces is a requirement if women want to have more then 2 children and/or qualify for government assistance programs.

Males

• Service in political office
• Able to reproduce more then 1 child
• Qualify for government assistance programs
  • Single parenthood, low income, or simply having children does not qualify a male or a woman & his or her children for government assistance programs. If a parent (s) cannot care for their children without government aid for more then 3 years, then the children become a ward of the state automatically. Parent(s) may only regain rights back to their children if they meet certain qualifying criteria. Adults (mostly criminals) & parents who are deemed unfit for parenthood are permanently sterilized.

Females

• Able to reproduce more then 2 children
• Qualify for government assistance programs
  • Single parenthood, low income, or simply having children does not qualify a male or a woman & his or her children for government assistance programs. If a parent (s) cannot care for their children without government aid for more then 3 years, then the children become a ward of the state automatically. Parent(s) may only regain rights back to their children if they meet certain qualifying criteria. Adults (mostly criminals) & parents who are deemed unfit for parenthood are permanently sterilized.

Continued Service Beyond MSC

All government positions required military service to either the King's Army, Kingdom's Navy, or Starfighter Corps.

Army Perks

While many Jod citizens didn't stay in the King's Army past the 3 1/2 years because of the hard life style, it was mandatory for all former service men and women to be part of the Army Reserve Force for up to 2 more years after they leave the military. A King's Army soldier's pay was low, but considering everything the government provided from soap to food was free, the low pay was justified. Living conditions were typically hard in the field and on-base barracks weren't nothing to brag about.

• Pay (Enlisted Ranks): 700 to 1,150 (upwards of 1,450) credits a month; 50 credits extra every month for every promotion through the Enlisted Ranks---for a max of 450 credits or 1,250 credits. Good conduct & service medals can add another 300 credits max (or 1,550 credits) a month.
• Pay (Non-Commissioned Officers): 1,000 to 1,600 (upwards of 2,000) credits a month; 100 credits extra every month for every promotion through the Non-Commissioned Ranks---for a max of 600 credits or 1,700 credits. Good conduct, good leadership quality reviews, & service medals can add another 400 credits max (or 2,000 credits) a month.
• Pay (Commissioned Officers): 1,400 to 2,500 (upwards of 3,000) credits a month; 75 credits extra every month for every promotion through the Non-Commissioned Ranks---for a max of 600 credits or 1,700 credits. Good conduct, good leadership quality reviews, good command reviews, and service medals can add another 500 credits max (or 3,000 credits) a month.

7 1/2 Years

If personnel within the King's Army would enlist for up to at least 7 1/2 years (renew for 4 more years after their first 3 1/2 years), then the government would grant them a free 2 year undergraduate college education, free health insurance costs for life, priority listings for buying new homes or vehicles & starships, and a upfront 50,000 thousand credit bonus (pending any severe disciplinary marks on their service record and a honorable discharge from the service). Personnel also qualify for auto and home loans.

11 1/2 Years

If personnel served 11 1/2 years or more (another reenlistment for 4 years) and retained a relatively clean service record and honorable discharge, then personnel could get a free 4 year undergraduate college education, free health insurance for life, priority listings for buying new homes or vehicles & starships, and a upfront 100,000 thousand credit bonus. Personnel also qualify for auto and home loans.

20 Year Retirement

If personnel served 20 years or more (another reenlistment for 8 1/2 years) and retained a relatively clean service record and honorable discharge, then personnel could get a free 4 year undergraduate college education, free health insurance for life, priority listings for buying new homes or vehicles & starships, a upfront 100,000 thousand credit bonus, and a guaranteed life-pension plan of 2,500 credits a month upon retirement. Personnel also qualify for auto and home loans.

Navy Perks

Life in the Kingdom's Navy was far better then that in the King's Army and because of the better pay, better living conditions, and less hazardous situations to one's health & life, most Jod citizens stayed in the Kingdom's Navy, on average, for at least 7 1/2 years. Because of this, perks to stay in the Navy were far less appealing.

• Pay (Enlisted Ranks): 900 to 1,350 (upwards of 1,650) credits a month; 75 credits extra every month for every promotion through the Enlisted Ranks---for a max of 450 credits or 1,350 credits. Good conduct & service medals can add another 300 credits max (or 1,650 credits) a month.
• Pay (Non-Commissioned Officers): 1,200 to 1,950 (upwards of 2,350) credits a month; 125 credits extra every month for every promotion through the Non-Commissioned Ranks---for a max of 750 credits or 1,950 credits. Good conduct, good leadership quality reviews, & service medals can add another 400 credits max (or 2,350 credits) a month.
• Pay (Commissioned Officers): (START HERE) 1,400 to 2,500 (upwards of 3,000) credits a month; 75 credits extra every month for every promotion through the Non-Commissioned Ranks---for a max of 600 credits or 1,700 credits. Good conduct, good leadership quality reviews, good command reviews, and service medals can add another 500 credits max (or 3,000 credits) a month.

7 1/2 Years

If personnel within the Kingdom's Navy would enlist for up to at least 7 1/2 years (renew for 4 more years after their first 2 1/2 years), then the government would grant them a free 2 year undergraduate college education and a upfront 25,000 thousand credit bonus (pending any severe disciplinary marks on their service record and a honorable discharge from the service). Unlike King's Army personnel, however, they only got 30% reduced health insurance for life. Personnel also qualify for auto and home loans.

11 1/2 Years

If personnel served 11 1/2 years or more (another reenlistment for 4 years) and retained a relatively clean service record and honorable discharge, then personnel could get a free 4 year undergraduate college education, free health insurance for life, priority listings for buying new homes or vehicles & starships, and a upfront 50,000 thousand credit bonus. Personnel also qualify for auto and home loans.

20 Year Retirement

If personnel served 20 years or more (another reenlistment for 8 1/2 years) and retained a relatively clean service record and honorable discharge, then personnel could get a free 4 year undergraduate college education, free health insurance for life, priority listings for buying new homes or vehicles & starships, a upfront 100,000 thousand credit bonus, and a guaranteed life-pension plan of 2,500 credits a month upon retirement. Personnel also qualify for auto and home loans.

Starfighter Perks

Life was a vacation in the Starfighter Corps compared to the King's Army and the pay & living conditions bested that of the Kingdom's Navy. With that said, however, Fighter Pilots, Bomber Pilots, Radar Intercept Officers, & Shuttle Pilots were committed to 11 1/4 years of service after Flight School (1 year) & Pilot Officer's Training School (3 months), verses the traditional 3 years for other branches. Because of the much better base pay and living conditions, pilots were offered only two perk plans.

All auxiliary positions in the Starfighter Corps fall under the Navy Perks.

15 1/4 Years

If personnel served 15 1/4 years or more (another reenlistment for 4 years) and retained a relatively clean service record and honorable discharge, then personnel could get a free 4 year undergraduate college education, free health insurance for life, priority listings for buying new homes or vehicles & starships, and a upfront 50,000 thousand credit bonus. Personnel also qualify for auto and home loans.

20 Year Retirement Plan

If personnel served 20 years or more (another reenlistment for 10 years) and retained a relatively clean service record and honorable discharge, then personnel could get a free 4 year undergraduate college education, free health insurance for life, priority listings for buying new homes or vehicles & starships, a upfront 100,000 thousand credit bonus, and a guaranteed life-pension plan of 2,000 credits a month upon retirement. Personnel also qualify for auto and home loans.

Programs (other then Mandatory Service Commitment)

Deferred Military Commitment Program (DMCP)

For those who fail the MSC's physical, educational, or mental requirements, they are enrolled into the Deferred Military Commitment Program (DMCP). Unlike the MSC, the DMCP is a 6 year mandatory commitment; the program puts personnel through necessary physical, educational, and mental training for the MSC (this prevents people from dodging the MSC service). While enrolled in the DMCP, personnel are barred from obtaining a college loan (or attending college), attaining a bank loan, buying a new vehicle or starship, buying a house, or serving in political office. It also prevents them from owning a business or working in above minimal wage jobs (or earning more then minimal wage in a whole year). Finally, it also prevents all government assistance programs for the individual and prevents them from receiving a family inheritance or financial trust account.

While enrolled into the DMCP, personnel must serve in the Army Reserve Force or Navy Reserve Force as a civilian employee 1 week out of every 2 months, working various clerk and laborer positions in the Jod Military Forces.

Deferred Lifestyle Program (DLP)

If a person fails out of the 6 year mandatory commitment (fails to make the MSC cut), they are enrolled into the Deferred Lifestyle Program (DLP). The DLP tacks on another 4 years of limited restrictions from the DMCP, including the inability to attend college, buy a house, or receive a bank loan. It also prevents for life service in political office and from ever receiving government assistance programs for life.

The DLP is generally considered a punishment for citizens unwilling to motivate themselves to the MSC and it affects everything in a person's life from professional to social to lifestyle.

Civilian Exemption Program (CEP)

The Civilian Exemption Program (CEP) exempts people from the MSC entirely, based on health, mental, or physical disabilities. There are no restrictions (like the DMCP) because of the program and people enrolled into CEP may seek political office, have children, and qualify for government assistance programs.