SEHLATs

[Shamrock Holmes]

I've been bouncing around a few ideas for a less ambious Star Trek than the "Project Triangle" one that I floated a few months ago and a combination of a few bunnies from various threads (including some about the MACOs and the unit on AR-558) got me thinking about troubleshooters.

The basic concept could be seen as something of a precessor (or successor depending which would work better) of the Starfleet Corps of Engineers stories, but a slightly more "realistic" take focusing on a unit of mostly non-commissioned technical specialists (engineers, scientists) with some security support, that deal with challenges that can't be fixed with a few minutes/hours technobabble but rather take weeks or even months to resolve.

The PoV unit - the Starfleet Exploration Division - Hazardous Landing and Assistance Team or SEHLATs - would be approximately 150 strong (Unit CO (experienced LT or LT CMDR), HQ staff (Ops, Medical, Admin/Logistics), two Technical Detachments (LT commanding, 40 each mostly engineers/armory technicans, but also few "blue shirts" as needed), a Security Section (Junior LT or Ensign commanding, 20 personnel) and a Mobility Element (LT commanding, probably the "Number One", 1-3 runabouts or heavy shuttles designed for both transportation and defense).

 

[Nveid Jo'rek]

I was almost under the impression that Starfleet were using trained sehlats as they would K-9 units...

 

[Sgt_G]

approximately 150 strong (Unit CO (experienced LT or LT CMDR),

At least a LtCmdr / O4 if not a full Cmdr / O5, but probably not an O6, based on examples of modern-day military.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

Sounds like an interesting set up, any idea as to characters yet?

 

[Shamrock Holmes]

At least a LtCmdr / O4 if not a full Cmdr / O5, but probably not an O6, based on examples of modern-day military.

My revised concept - based more closely on the Green Berets (with other elements from USASOC at Division & Corps level, has a Lieutenant Commander as Company Commander (73-85 persons*), a full Commander as (demi-)Battalion** Commander and a Captain as Group Commander (roughly equivalent of a combined regiment or demi-brigade***).

Sounds like an interesting set up, any idea as to characters yet?

Not as yet. I'm still trying to figure out whether to set it in the Federation's "Early Years" or post-Nemesis/post-Hobus (in which case I'm considering having either Renee Picard or Natasha Riker-Troi as a PoV character).

* 6 or 7 x12-person team commanded by a Lieutenant either Operations or Support.
** 20-30 person HQ, three Field Companies, one Support Company (80-150 persons), total est. 300-400.
*** 150-300 person Group HQ, 4 Field Battalions, one Support Battalion, total est. 1650-2700.

 

[Mysterion]

FWIW, here's an excerpt from the Wikipedia article on US Navy SEALS that might be helpful:

Each SEAL Team is commanded by a Navy Commander (O-5), and has a number of operational SEAL platoons and a headquarters element.

A SEAL Team has a Staff Headquarters element and three 40-man Troops. Each Troop consists of a Headquarters element consisting of a Troop Commander, typically a Lieutenant Commander (O-4), a platoon Senior Enlisted (E-8), a Targeting/Operations Officer (O-2/3) and a Targeting/Operations Leading/Chief Petty Officer (E-6/7). Under the HQ element are two SEAL platoons of 16–20 men (two officers, 14–16 enlisted SEALs, and sometimes assigned non-NSW support personnel); a company-sized Combat Service Support (CSS) and/or Combat Support (CS) consisting of staff N-codes (the Army and Marine Corps use S-codes); N1 Administrative support, N2 Intelligence, N3 Operations, N4 Logistics, N5 Plans and Targeting, N6 Communications, N7 Training, and N8 Air/Medical.

Each platoon can be task organized for operational purposes into four squads, of eight 4–5 man fire teams/boat crews. The size of each SEAL "Team" with platoons and support staff is approximately 300 personnel. The typical SEAL platoon has an OIC (Officer in Charge, usually a Lieutenant (O-3), a Platoon chief (E-7/E-8), and two squads commanded by a LTJG (O-2) and a Squad Leader (E-6). The remaining members of the Squad are operators (E-4 to E-6) with their specialty skills in ordinance, communications, diving, medical. The core leadership in the Troop and Platoon are the Commander/OIC and the Senior Enlisted NCO (Senior Chief/Chief).

Platoon core skills consist of: Sniper, Breacher, Communicator, Maritime/Engineering, Close Air Support, Corpsman, Point-man/Navigator, Primary Driver/Navigator (Rural/Urban/Protective Security), Heavy Weapons Operator, Sensitive Site Exploitation, Air Operations Master, Lead Climber, Lead Diver/Navigator, Interrogator, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Technical Surveillance, and Advanced Special Operations.

Some of the job descriptions would need to be altered to fit the setting/era, but I think this is good basis to work from for a Starfleet Spec Ops type unit.

 

[SolarisOne]

Some of the job descriptions would need to be altered to fit the setting/era, but I think this is good basis to work from for a Starfleet Spec Ops type unit.

Agreed. Out of all the known U.S. special operations units one could use as a pattern for Starfleet, the SEALs seem to be the best fit. One would think there wouldn't be a whole bunch of different units, since Starfleet is a combined service, thus no need for a JSOC equivalent. I definitely wouldn't base them on the Army Rangers, like Jeri Taylor did in Mosaic.

Though, personally, I would call them "STARSOC (Starfleet Special Operations Command)" or something (even though the name is almost a direct copy of MARSOC), because that makes more sense and would be less tacky than "SEAL", in my opinion. Also, it rolls off the tongue.

 

[Shamrock Holmes]

I can see the appeal of the SEALs as a model for Starfleet Special Operations, but they seem a little too centered on combat operations to fit the "stay and play" extended away teams. It's possible that both exist though. perhaps the Command as a whole could be the Starfleet (Exploration Division) Pioneers and the Division-level Special Ops Team could be the SEHLATs.

As far as Jeri Taylor's Starfleet (Intelligence) Rangers, I'm not planning on using them, but I disagree that they are based on the US Army Rangers (a battalion-level light infantry "big stick"), as they are a covert unit designed for fireteam-level technical intel, recon and hostage rescue (so perhaps inspired by the Ranger School but not the Regiment). I'd put them as more of a Delta/ISA-hybrid (with the primary role of the CIA-SAD). Another possible inspiration might the the Irish Army Ranger Wing (broadly similar to Delta or the British SAS).