Editing Kilbourne Periphery March Militia

{{infoBoxMilitaryCommand
| image          = [[File:Periphery March Militia -Brigade logo.png|150px|Brigade Insignia of the Periphery March Militia]]
| Designation    = Kilbourne Periphery March Militia
| formed         = [[2754]]<ref name="FR2765:FSp21">''Field Report 2765: AFFS'', p. 21: "Federated Suns March Militias"</ref>
| Disbanded      = 
| Previous Designation = Kilbourne Draconis March Militia
| Nickname       = 
| Affiliation    = [[Federated Suns]]
| Parent Command = [[Periphery March Militia]]
| Sub-Command    = 
}}
The Kilbourne Draconis March Militia was responsible for defending the worlds of the Kilbourne Combat Region and Kilbourne Polymorphous Defense Zone.

==History==

=== Formation ===
In common with the other March Militias found across the [[Federated Suns]], the '''Kilbourne Draconis March Militia''' or Kilbourne DMM was formed in [[2754]] as a result of the [[Preparedness Act]] enacted by [[First Prince]] [[Richard Davion]] in [[2735]].<ref name="FR2765:FSp3">''Field Report 2765: AFFS'', p. 3: "Strategic Update"</ref> Richard established a formal training program aimed at increasing the general readiness level of the [[Armed Forces of the Federated Suns]] reserve forces and formalized the structure of the March Militias, bringing the planetary militias into a common structure.<ref name="FR2765:FSp21"/>

Richard established a system whereby each of the Marches within the Federated Suns conducted internal wargames every two years, with those wargames being inspired by the [[Martial Olympiad]] conducted by the [[Star League Defense Force]] every four years. Each March Militia was formed as an ad hoc [[brigade]] drawing on the winners from each planetary militia across each Combat Region. These ad hoc brigades then competed against each other at a March level to earn the title of "Best Prepared" March Militia within each of the three Marches.<ref name="FR2765:FSp21"/>

The wargames proved to be very popular and by [[2750]] the prestige that was associated with the "Best Prepared" title inspired troops in every combat region to give their best effort, with some commands making plans years in advance to try and ensure that they were ready. After the close of the 2754 games First Prince [[John Davion]] activated all of the combat region commands as federal troops and formed them into the March Militias; while this move was controversial and provoked a flurry of judicial cases opposing the creation of the commands, it also added twenty [[BattleMech]]-equipped combat commands to the AFFS in a single stroke. Many of the planets that provided troops for the games were resentful of having their best militia troops pressed into federal service, and it would be [[2763]] before the last of the cases worked its way through the courts. With the final ruling going in favor of Prince John, he then moved to allay many of the fears expressed by the planets involved by laying down specific instructions that the March Militias wouldn't be deployed outside their home combat regions except under a small number of very rare and clearly-defined exceptions.<ref name="FR2765:FSp21"/>

Firmly established, the Kilbourne DMM acted as a mobile reserve for the Kilbourne Combat Region and a staging ground through which planetary militia soldiers could move on into the AFFS, while retiring AFFS personnel moved into the March Militia to pass on their knowledge and experience.<ref name="FR2765:FSp21"/> The Kilbourne DMM was one of six March Militia brigades founded within the Capellan March in 2754, with the other five being the [[Clovis Draconis March Militia|Clovis]], [[Dahar Draconis March Militia|Dahar]], [[Fairfax Draconis March Militia|Fairfax]], [[Robinson Draconis March Militia|Robinson]] and [[Woodbine Draconis March Militia]]s.<ref name="FR2765:FSp22A"/>

=== First Succession War ===
On the 1st of May [[2787]] the [[Draconis Combine]] launched a massive invasion of the Federated Suns, with the [[Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery]] troops under the command of [[Jinjiro Kurita]], son of the [[Coordinator]]. Jinjiro had learned from the battles on [[Towne]] earlier in the [[First Succession War]], and had recognized that interservice cooperation between the different branches of the Federated Suns military had largely been replaced by rivalry, and that the various Combat Regions across the Federated Suns had become dangerously parochial, with units being very protective of worlds within their Combat Region but the staff of the various Combat Regions rarely coordinating or cooperating with each other. Jinjiro's forces took full advantage of that; his first wave attacked worlds along the border, overwhelming many before they had a chance to call for help. Each of the Combat Region commanding officers attempted to deal with the attacks on their own, focused completely on the defense of their own Combat Region with little exchange of information between Regions. Jinjiro's second wave capitalized on this, striking in force against the Clovis Combat Region; despite a dogged, fierce defense by [[Field Marshal]] Simons and forces directly under his command such as the [[1st Clovis Guards Regiment|First Clovis Guards Regiment]] on [[Clovis]] he was cut off and, after a week, killed when his [[DropShip]] attempted to retreat from the planet. The loss of Smith caused organized resistance in the Clovis Combat Region to collapse, and before the other senior officers within the AFFS had realized what happened, DCMS forces poured through the Clovis Combat Region and deep into the heart of the Federated Suns.<ref name="HD(TFS)p62">''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 62: "The Storm Breaks (PDF edition)"</ref>

It would be thirty years before the AFFS had finally recovered and fought its way back to something approximating the prewar border;<ref name="HD(TFS)p67">''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 67: "March Militia and Planetary Guard Units (PDF edition)"</ref> the risk posed to the Federated Suns as a result of the entrenched parochialism and separation between Combat Regions highlighted the weaknesses of the system within the Capellan and Draconis Marches, leading the [[Marshal (rank)|Marshal]]s of the AFFS to restructure both Marches, replacing the Combat Regions with a number of smaller Polymorphous Defensive Zones (PDZs), each with its own March Militia.<ref name="HD(TFS)p135">''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 135: "Deployment of AFFS Forces (PDF edition)"</ref>

=== Third Succession War ===
A pirate raid in [[3021]] on the world of [[Inner End]] was repelled by the planetary militia and elements of the Kilbourne DMM.<ref>''Technical Readout: 3039'', p. 56</ref>

=== Clan Invasion Era ===
The Kilbourne Draconis March Militia oversees the Draconis March's border with the "wild" [[Periphery]]. As a result, the troops of this command are skilled in antipiracy operations. Their high operational tempo has seen them fight on many worlds in their area of responsibility, and the protected worlds populations love the troops of the Kilbourne DMM for their protection. Unfortunately this high operational tempo means that the Kilbourne DMM suffered from the largest casualty rate of any DMM command.<ref name="fmfs122"/>

In addition, several notable failures to drive off raiding pirates led to some people leveling charges of colluding with the enemy against the unit. Several internal investigations in the mid-3060's returned no evidence of such behavior, but the investigations did cause the morale of the unit to drop.<ref name="fmfs122"/>

=== FedCom Civil War ===
During the [[FedCom Civil War]] the Kilbourne DMM was quickly assaulted and disarmed by the [[1st Crucis Lancers|First Crucis Lancers]]. This swift attack prevented the unit from supporting [[Katherine Steiner-Davion]]. The Lancers left the Kilbourne DMM with enough weapons to defend their world, but no transport assets to support other Loyalist forces.<ref>''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 135</ref>

===Jihad===
During the [[Jihad]] the Kilbourne DMM faced off against a combined [[Clan Snow Raven]]/[[Outworlds Alliance]] task force. The Kilbourne DMM set up such a ferocious defense that the Snow Ravens and Alliance forces sued for peace.<ref name="frfs18">''Field Report: AFFS'', p. 18</ref>

With the formation of the [[Periphery March (Federated Suns)|Periphery March]] the Kilbourne DMM was renamed the '''Kilbourne Periphery March Militia'''. The unit remains ready to repulse any more Snow Raven forces, but the unit is slightly understrength after losing several units during pirate hunting actions.<ref>''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 67</ref>

==Officers==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Rank
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Name
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Command
|-
| colspan="4" style="background: #efefef;" | '''Commanding Officers of the Kilbourne Draconis March Militia'''
|-
| [[Major General]]||[[Wesley French]]||[[3025]]<ref name=HD137>''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 137 (PDF version): "Kilbourne PDZ"</ref>
|-
| [[Leftenant General]]||[[Mariva Kelly]]||[[3050]]-[[3062]]<ref name=20Yp20>''20 Year Update'', p. 20: "AFFC Deployment Table - 3050"</ref><ref name=ORp14>''Objective Raids'', p. 14: "AFFC Deployment Table - 3054"</ref><ref name="fmfs122">''Field Manual: Federated Suns'', p. 122: "Kilbourne Draconis March Militia Profile"</ref>
|-
| Major General||[[E. J. Hannah]]||[[3067]]<ref name=FMUp141>''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 141: "AFFS Deployment Table - 3067"</ref>
|-
| colspan="4" style="background: #efefef;" | '''Commanding Officers of the Kilbourne Periphery March Militia'''
|-
| Leftenant General||[[Frederick Eiler]]||[[3085]]<ref name=FM3085p72>''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 72: "AFFS Deployment Table - 3085"</ref>
|-
| Leftenant General||[[Deniss Sona II]]||[[3145]]<ref name=FM3145p92>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 92</ref>
|-
|}

==Tactics==
With the unit's focus on defending against raiding pirates, it is adept in small-unit operations. This specialization has a downside however as a High Command evaluation indicated that the Kilbourne DMM would have severe problems operating in any formation larger than a battalion.<ref name="fmfs122"/>

==Composition History==
=== 2765 ===
'''Kilbourne Draconis March Militia''' (Regular/Reliable)<ref name="FR2765:FSp22A">''Field Report 2765: AFFS'', p. 22: "Regimental Status"</ref>
:- One BattleMech regiment<ref name="FR2765:FSp21"/>
:- Two armor regiments<ref name="FR2765:FSp21"/>
:- Three infantry regiments<ref name="FR2765:FSp21"/>
:- One mobile artillery battalion<ref name="FR2765:FSp21"/>
:- Two aerospace wings, each of eighteen [[aerospace fighter]]s<ref name="FR2765:FSp21"/>
:- The Kilbourne DMM was stationed on [[Delos IV]] at this point in time.<ref name="FR2765:FSp22A"/><ref name="FR2765:FSp29">''Field Report 2765: AFFS'', p. 29: "Armed Forces Federated Suns Deployment Map 2765"</ref>

=== 2786 - 2821 ===
'''Kilbourne Draconis March Militia''' (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)<ref name="FSWp134">''First Succession War'', p. 134: "Armed Forces of the Federated Suns (AFFS)"</ref>
:- At this point in time the Militia was a medium-weight unit operating at full regimental strength, and was based on Delos IV.<ref name="FSWp134"/>In 2821 the unit was operating at between one-third and half-strength.<ref name="FSWp134"/>
=== 2830 ===
'''Kilbourne DMM''' (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)<ref name=2ndSSp95>''Second Succession War'', p. 95</ref>
: Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on [[Delos IV]] with an operational readiness of 93 percent.<ref name=2ndSSp95/>
=== 2864 ===
'''Kilbourne DMM''' (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)<ref name=2ndSSp95/>
: Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on [[Delos IV]] with an operational readiness of 51 percent.<ref name=2ndSSp95/>

===3025===
'''Kilbourne Draconis March Militia''' (Regiment/Green/Reliable)<ref name=HD137/>
:* CO: Major General Wesley French
:Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on [[Kilbourne]].

===3040===
'''Kilbourne Draconis March Militia''' (Regiment/Green/Reliable)<ref name=HWo3039p137/>
:Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on [[Kilbourne]].<ref name=HWo3039p137>''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 137</ref>

===3050===
'''Kilbourne Draconis March Militia''' (Regiment/Green/Reliable)<ref name=20yup20/>
:* CO: Leftenant General [[Mariva Kelly]]<ref name=20yup20/>
:Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on [[Kilbourne]].<ref name=20yup20>''20 Year Update'', p. 20</ref>

===3054===
'''Kilbourne Draconis March Militia''' (Regiment/Green/Reliable)  <ref name = OpjRp14/>
:* CO: Leftenant General Mariva Kelly <ref name = OpjRp14/>
:Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on [[Kilbourne]].  <ref name = OpjRp14>''Objective Raids'', p. 14</ref>

===3062===
'''Kilbourne Draconis March Militia''' (1 [[Regiment]]/Green/Reliable)<ref name="fmfs122"/>
* CO: [[Leftenant General]] Mariva Kelly

'''Kilbourne DMM Aerospace [[Brigade]]''' (2 [[Wing]]s/Regular/Questionable)<ref name="fmfs122"/>
* CO: Leftenant General [[Cerice May]]

'''Kilbourne DMM Armor Brigade''' (2 Regiments/Regular/Reliable)<ref name="fmfs122"/>
* CO: Leftenant General [[Kolino Black]]

'''Kilbourne DMM Infantry Brigade''' (5 Regiments/Green/Reliable)<ref name="fmfs122"/>
* CO: Leftenant General [[Andrea James]]

===3067===
'''Kilbourne Draconis March Militia''' (Regular/Reliable)<ref name=FMUp141/>
* CO: Major General [[E. J. Hannah]]

'''Kilbourne DMM Aerospace Brigade (Regular/Questionable)<ref name=FMUp141/>
* CO: Leftenant General [[Omar Grund]]

'''Kilbourne DMM Armor Brigade''' (Regular/Reliable)<ref name=FMUp141/>
* CO: Leftenant General [[George Sian]]

'''Kilbourne DMM Infantry Brigade''' (Green/Reliable)<ref name=FMUp141/>
* CO: Leftenant General [[Wilin Popina]]

===3079===
'''Kilbourne Draconis March Militia RCT ''' (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=“fraffs17“>''Field Report: AFFS'', p. 17</ref>
: Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on [[Inner End]].<ref name=“fraffs17“/> The Kilbourne DMM was reduced to 65% of its pre-[[Jihad]] strength. It was also undergoing a reorganization into a [[Light Combat Team]].<ref name="frfs18"/>

===3085===
'''Kilbourne PMM LCT''' (Regular/Reliable)<ref name=FM3085p72/>
* CO: Leftenant General [[Frederick Eiler]]

'''Kilbourne PMM Aerospace Brigade''' (Green/Reliable)<ref name=FM3085p72/>
* CO: Leftenant General [[Ilya Kuznetsov]]

'''Kilbourne PMM Armor Brigade''' (Regular/Reliable)<ref name=FM3085p72/>
* CO: Leftenant General [[Astin Bonnet]]

'''Kilbourne PMM Infantry Brigade''' (Green/Reliable)<ref name=FM3085p72/>
* CO: Leftenant General [[Dorcas Chapman]]

===3145===
'''Kilbourne PMM''' (1 Battalion/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=FM3145p92/>
* CO: Leftenant General [[Deniss Sona II]]

'''Aerospace Wing''' (Regular/Reliable)<ref name=FM3145p92/>
* CO: Commodore [[Allena Jamison]]

'''Armor Brigade''' (Regular/Questionable)<ref name=FM3145p92/>
* CO: Leftenant General [[Vashti Clifford]]

'''Infantry Brigade''' (Veteran/Reliable)<ref name=FM3145p92/>
* CO: Leftenant General [[Claud Maxey]]

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
Draconis March Militia -Brigade logo.png|Brigade Insignia of the Draconis March Militia
</gallery>

==Notes==
* ''Field Report 2765: AFFS'' attributes the Preparedness Act of 2735 to both [[Richard Davion]]<ref name="FR2765:FSp3"/> and [[Roger Davion (27th c.)|Roger Davion]].<ref name="FR2765:FSp21"/> Because other sources indicate that Richard Davion was First Prince in 2735, and that Roger Davion died in 2703, the latter attribution is probably an error.

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[20 Year Update]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: 3145]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: 3085]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Federated Suns]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Updates]]''
* ''[[Field Report: AFFS]]''
* ''[[Field Report 2765: AFFS]]''
* ''[[First Succession War (sourcebook)]]''
* ''[[House Davion (The Federated Suns)]]''
* ''[[Historical: War of 3039]]''
* ''[[Objective Raids]]''
* ''[[Second Succession War (sourcebook)]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3039]]''

[[Category: Federated Suns Militia Commands|Periphery March Militia, Kilbourne]]