Build an Army and We'll Guess What Military Rank You'll Achieve

By: Ian Fortey

5 Min Quiz

Image: DanielBendjy/E+/Getty Images

About This Quiz

The military has a long and rich history not just in America but around the world. Understanding the need for an armed force to protect the interests of the population has been an integral part of nations for thousands of years not only for those who wish to conquer but also for those who just want to defend. You can't rely on the kindness of your neighbors, unfortunately. But the military is so much more than fighting wars. Our armed forces have proven invaluable as peacekeepers, and in times of turmoil when disaster strikes, the military can step up to restore order.

Order, organization, and discipline are key to a functional military and to that end, the system of rank has proven to be a great way to organize soldiers and recognize the standouts by giving them responsibilities and duties that reflect their unique skills and abilities. Those who can rise in the ranks and offer what they can to help the military as a whole become a better, more efficient unit. It's a good system, and it works. But from the bottom of that ladder, it can be daunting. How far will you rise? If you help us right now answering some questions to design your own army, maybe we'll find out. Take the quiz and see!

Who's joining your army?

All citizens of age will be required to enlist.

Whoever volunteers can join.
Anyone who meets the proper physical requirements may enlist.

Whoever thinks they can handle it.

How many troops are you looking to have in your army?

We should have at least 20% of the population.

I guess we'll see how many we can get.
A reasonable number is about 1% of the population, I'd say.

I dunno, a million?

What's it going to take to get into your army's most elite unit?

A track record of excellence

Being the best
You'll have to demonstrate leadership qualities and a knack for thinking outside the box, plus exemplary training.

You need to be badass.

Is your army for national defense, peacekeeping or something else?

You need to be diverse.

Defense first and foremost
Whatever is required.

Whatever the brass says.

How many branches do you plan on having in the military?

We should have four.

At least three
There are five.

Do we need more than one?

Everyone needs to go through basic training, right? How long is basic?

I expect 16 weeks of basic.

Three months
Depends on your specialization. You'll need at least 10 weeks at a minimum.

Give me two months!

How many soldiers are going to make up a single platoon?

Depends on the kind of platoon we're talking about.

At least 40
39 well-trained men and women

43

What kind of budget should your army have?

10% of the GDP

A few billion
As much as the government can spare

A lot

How do you keep morale up for your troops?

Regular opportunities for R&R

Being able to go on leave
Effective use of propaganda and reminders of home

Beer and video games

How important is it to be researching new weapons and defense technology?

It's a cornerstone of what we do.

Cutting edge tech is what will give us the advantage.
It's as important as having well-trained soldiers on the ground.

Super important

What kind of combat training will your soldiers receive?

Hand-to-hand, small arms, marksmanship and basic warrior training

The best!
Enough to keep them alive

Small arms, bigger arms, biggest arms. We do it all.

Do you plan on having a Navy and an Air Force?

We should have different divisions to specialize in different methods of warfare.

Definitely
To be efficient we need to have every branch of the military.

Of course. Land, sea, and air.

How closely will you work with the armies of your allies?

We will work together as needs require us to.

Close by not too close
Strategic partnerships are of utmost importance.

We need to be able to back up our allies.

How many ranks do you think your army needs?

25

Four levels with four ranks each
First, we need to divide them up as officers and enlisted.

Ten seems like a good number.

How do you foresee a combat situation playing out?

Flawless execution of strategy

Air raids followed by ground forces.
It's never a good situation but you strive for minimal loss of life.

Drones in the air and troops on the ground.

What kind of missions are your special forces teams going on?

Unconventional warfare

Recon and covert ops
Counter-terrorism

The coolest ones

How many battalions would you commit to defending a foreign city from a mutual enemy?

Too many unknown variables to decide right now

At least 10
Depends on the terrain, the size of the city and the threat from the enemy.

One for every 10 square miles

Is your army going to be supplemented by tanks?

We'll use tanks when we need tanks.

And other machines, yes
Light armored vehicles and air support may be more effective.

You have to have tanks!

How important is cyber warfare going to be to your army?

That should be dealt with separately.

Very important
We can't ignore that our enemies are increasingly using this as a weapon, so we have to be ahead of the curve.

We'll definitely need some hackers in the back.

What sidearm are your troops going to be armed with?

Sig Sauer P226

Glock
Beretta M9

HK45

Your soldiers are going to need rifles. What's going to be the standard issue?

M16A4

HK417
M27 IAR

FN SCAR

Do you plan to use any combat robots?

They're useful for recon and targeted strikes, so yes.

Definitely
Ones that have been proven to be useful.

The more robots the merrier.

What will your largest force be?

Air Force

Navy
Infantry

We need marines!

How long will soldiers have to serve in your army after they enlist?

A five-year commitment

Three years active then a year inactive
Four years active

Two-year stints

How long will someone have to serve before they're eligible to become an officer?

Five years

Four years
At least five to eight years

However long it takes to prove yourself

The uniform is an important part of having an army and instilling that discipline and a sense of unity. What will yours be like?

We'll have different uniforms for different purposes.

Some kind of operational camo
Camo for combat, green for dress

We're going to need some space-age camouflage.

What's going to protect your soldiers in the field?

Ceramic plate armor

Steel plate armor
Advanced polymer body armor

Whatever high tech stuff the scientists are working on.

What is the command structure of your army going to be like?

I'll be the head of the military.

We'll have a panel of the highest ranking officials from each branch.
Civilian executive control and then a military command structure

We'll elect someone to run the show.

How will you convince people to join your army?

It's going to be mandatory.

Lots of perks plus appealing to patriotism
We'll offer advanced training and well-paying career options alongside a chance to serve your country.

Mostly the financial opportunity

What will your military be doing with most of its time when not at war?

Peacekeeping

Humanitarian missions
A wide range of domestic and foreign missions to ensure security and safety.

Counterdrug operations

5 Minute Quiz 5 Min

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