Pal Battalions

Pal Battalions are military units composed of conscripts from the same town. Used by Britain in WW1. Result was high morale as those soldiers were friends, relatives, brothers, collegues, workers from the same factories, but problem was - since they all participated in one battle, they could all die in one day thus leaving their town decimated in male population.

What you think about that, is it stupid idea, or good one? Or is it better to mix conscripts with soldiers from other part of the country? Can it be used today?

Napisano od Goblin, 22.04.2016 at 14:28

How good the moral gets.... when one of them dies

Feelings are different when your family or friend dies in the battle and when you are in unit with strangers and one of them dies.

Napisano od Skanderbeg, 22.04.2016 at 14:40

Feelings are different when your family or friend dies in the battle and when you are in unit with strangers and one of them dies.

You answered me like im a robot... and you are trying to explain to me humanity.

We are not all alike... someone might a loss of someone close transform into rage, others might lose it.
I would rather fight side by side with full face helmet wearing bots named with numbers... like stormtroopers

Napisano od Skanderbeg, 22.04.2016 at 14:19

Pal Battalions are military units composed of conscripts from the same town. Used by Britain in WW1. Result was high morale as those soldiers were friends, relatives, brothers, collegues, workers from the same factories, but problem was - since they all participated in one battle, they could all die in one day thus leaving their town decimated in male population.

What you think about that, is it stupid idea, or good one? Or is it better to mix conscripts with soldiers from other part of the country? Can it be used today?

There's a reason fraternization laws exist in most modern militaries.

Its to prevent soldiers from being compromised in the battlefield when their loved one is in danger/wounded/dead. They will most likely prioritize rescuing their loved ones over completing the mission/objective. This could lose the military skirmishes which could lose them battles which could lose them the war if it occurs during a particularly important op.

Its the same reason why previously (married) couples that join the military are not allowed to serve in the same unit/battalion in the army. In the case of the Navy, the same ship/task force, and in the Air Force, the same squadron.
Conscripts should be mixed the same as regular recruits are. With people they went through training with. Not family and other loved ones, but various strangers whom they've come to know and trust during their time in the military.

Napisano od Darth., 22.04.2016 at 15:00

There's a reason fraternization laws exist in most modern militaries.

Its to prevent soldiers from being compromised in the battlefield when their loved one is in danger/wounded/dead. They will most likely prioritize rescuing their loved ones over completing the mission/objective. This could lose the military skirmishes which could lose them battles which could lose them the war if it occurs during a particularly important op.

Its the same reason why previously (married) couples that join the military are not allowed to serve in the same unit/battalion in the army. In the case of the Navy, the same ship/task force, and in the Air Force, the same squadron.
Conscripts should be mixed the same as regular recruits are. With people they went through training with. Not family and other loved ones, but various strangers whom they've come to know and trust during their time in the military.

You told fact, not your opinion (tell us your opinion!)

What you wrote is most for specialized units, like special forces and special task units but they are what their name says - specialized, with different training from what mass conscripted men have. In WW1 no one had specialized units, but mass recruited infantry and mass produced artillery, so, UK tested Pal Battalions.

Even Prussia in the 19th century had military districts covering all their regions, where civilians sign for recruitment, and in the war, those military district became military corps and troops from that region was mobilized there, with officers who recruited them now becoming their military leaders. So those Germans fought with people they know, with whom they've been in school, town, workplace and served in same unit (military district) when they were conscripted in age of 18

I am still 50-50% on this issue, here is why: Russia dropped conscription into tanks, ships, subs, planes and missile forces, now conscripts only serve in the infantry while every other unit is 'professional' which mean they are volunteers who serve 2-5 years and get paid for that (they decide what military branch and and serving time they want in their contract). Professionals are paid while conscripts (Infantry) get pocket money (for soap, razor, beer, movies, snack etc). Thus, since conscripts are only infantry and not specialized units, i think Pal Battalions can serve its purpose in the future wars. Mass conscripted infantry would have high morale as they fight with people they know and love - for people they know and love. Professionals would still be surrounded by 'strangers' in combat and missions and do what they are paid to do.

Pal battalions are good for wartime emergency mobilization as there is a lesser administrative and infrastructural burden in arranging it so. On the other hand, 'professional' units should not use this as it might degrade discipline and morale.

While professional units need to be the elite forces and kept alive and victorious at all costs, conscripts and mobilized soldiers depend more on will to fight and morale since they get so hasty training anyway.

If you ask me,Pal Battalions are like Russian roulette.
Mixing people from same town can result bigger morale at the start,but when 1 die,half of battalion would be angry and won't think about next move just go to make revenge for his brother/collegue/friend,other half will be sad and lose morale.
Or on the other hand,they will work together perfectly,and be able to read each other's mind,and with high morale they have high chance to win if thing that i told earlier doesnt happen....
If you ask me,country that has real nationaity, not like USA, doesnt need to use so called "town-Patriotism"(people that like town and want to support it more than anything),because if you war for your country that has real nationality,you will war with real morale,in other situation,country like USA should use torn-patriotism for base if mobilization is really needed.

Bad idea, good way to depopulate whole cities of their male populations

Napisano od Viruslegion, 23.04.2016 at 17:07

Bad idea, good way to depopulate whole cities of their male populations

Actually what with all the female equality now that wasn't there during WW2, conscripts in a similar total war situation (WW3?) will likely include females (from families without children) too. This'll depopulate not just whole towns/villages/cities of their male population, but also their female population. This would lead to ghost towns/villages/cities(?)

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How can you have a Pal Battalion from a city anyways? A city is too big for a person in the battalion to know everybody else in the same battalion — the basis of the Pal Battalions. And I cannot believe how many times I said 'battalion' in that sentence

Napisano od Darth., 23.04.2016 at 22:37

Napisano od Viruslegion, 23.04.2016 at 17:07

Bad idea, good way to depopulate whole cities of their male populations

Actually what with all the female equality now that wasn't there during WW2, conscripts in a similar total war situation (WW3?) will likely include females (from families without children) too. This'll depopulate not just whole towns/villages/cities of their male population, but also their female population. This would lead to ghost towns/villages/cities(?)

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How can you have a Pal Battalion from a city anyways? A city is too big for a person in the battalion to know everybody else in the same battalion — the basis of the Pal Battalions. And I cannot believe how many times I said 'battalion' in that sentence

No women in the fucking military please, they will doom us all.

Napisano od Skittzophrenic, 23.04.2016 at 22:48

Napisano od Darth., 23.04.2016 at 22:37

Napisano od Viruslegion, 23.04.2016 at 17:07

Bad idea, good way to depopulate whole cities of their male populations

Actually what with all the female equality now that wasn't there during WW2, conscripts in a similar total war situation (WW3?) will likely include females (from families without children) too. This'll depopulate not just whole towns/villages/cities of their male population, but also their female population. This would lead to ghost towns/villages/cities(?)

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How can you have a Pal Battalion from a city anyways? A city is too big for a person in the battalion to know everybody else in the same battalion — the basis of the Pal Battalions. And I cannot believe how many times I said 'battalion' in that sentence

No women in the fucking military please, they will doom us all.

Instead of war, we'll have a whole lot of armies not talking to each other

Napisano od Darth., 23.04.2016 at 23:05

Napisano od Skittzophrenic, 23.04.2016 at 22:48

Napisano od Darth., 23.04.2016 at 22:37

Napisano od Viruslegion, 23.04.2016 at 17:07

Bad idea, good way to depopulate whole cities of their male populations

Actually what with all the female equality now that wasn't there during WW2, conscripts in a similar total war situation (WW3?) will likely include females (from families without children) too. This'll depopulate not just whole towns/villages/cities of their male population, but also their female population. This would lead to ghost towns/villages/cities(?)

---

How can you have a Pal Battalion from a city anyways? A city is too big for a person in the battalion to know everybody else in the same battalion — the basis of the Pal Battalions. And I cannot believe how many times I said 'battalion' in that sentence

No women in the fucking military please, they will doom us all.

Instead of war, we'll have a whole lot of armies not talking to each other

Yeah and feminist rights and all the good stuff. Fucking women.

Napisano od 5th SS Wiking, 23.04.2016 at 16:08

Pal battalions are good for wartime emergency mobilization as there is a lesser administrative and infrastructural burden in arranging it so. On the other hand, 'professional' units should not use this as it might degrade discipline and morale.

While professional units need to be the elite forces and kept alive and victorious at all costs, conscripts and mobilized soldiers depend more on will to fight and morale since they get so hasty training anyway.

Wait no, wait, British used pal battalions to raise morale and discipline, not vice-versa. That is the point right.

Professional units can't maintain morale while being surrounded by strangers, they need good food, technology, free time to be willing to fight.

Napisano od Skanderbeg, 24.04.2016 at 12:16

Napisano od 5th SS Wiking, 23.04.2016 at 16:08

Pal battalions are good for wartime emergency mobilization as there is a lesser administrative and infrastructural burden in arranging it so. On the other hand, 'professional' units should not use this as it might degrade discipline and morale.

While professional units need to be the elite forces and kept alive and victorious at all costs, conscripts and mobilized soldiers depend more on will to fight and morale since they get so hasty training anyway.

Wait no, wait, British used pal battalions to raise morale and discipline, not vice-versa. That is the point right.

Professional units can't maintain morale while being surrounded by strangers, they need good food, technology, free time to be willing to fight.

Sorry, I have to admit I mistyped or had a lapse of thought there. I meant it might degrade discipline, not morale.

Anyway, in most cases discipline+training>morale but with hastily assembled mobilization conscripts you should aim for a high morale. So yes, I support pal battalions when training time is limited.

Napisano od 5th SS Wiking, 24.04.2016 at 12:19

Napisano od Skanderbeg, 24.04.2016 at 12:16

Napisano od 5th SS Wiking, 23.04.2016 at 16:08

Pal battalions are good for wartime emergency mobilization as there is a lesser administrative and infrastructural burden in arranging it so. On the other hand, 'professional' units should not use this as it might degrade discipline and morale.

While professional units need to be the elite forces and kept alive and victorious at all costs, conscripts and mobilized soldiers depend more on will to fight and morale since they get so hasty training anyway.

Wait no, wait, British used pal battalions to raise morale and discipline, not vice-versa. That is the point right.

Professional units can't maintain morale while being surrounded by strangers, they need good food, technology, free time to be willing to fight.

Sorry, I have to admit I mistyped or had a lapse of thought there. I meant it might degrade discipline, not morale.

Anyway, in most cases discipline+training>morale but with hastily assembled mobilization conscripts you should aim for a high morale. So yes, I support pal battalions when training time is limited.

That morale will last only as long as the first one dies.
Plus they're unwilling conscripts, marching off to die on a battlefield, without their loved ones. They'll be leaving behind underage sons and daughters, wives, parents...lets face it. How high is the morale going g to be in the first place???
Answer: Not much if any.