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With the onset of the Clone Wars the Republic was forced to rapidly expand its forces. Though it had a minimum of several billion clone troopers, they still were not enough to fight a galaxy wide total war. The systems in the Republic had their own forces due to long standing deals with the galactic government – the Republic would pay for half of the planet’s army, the planet the other half – but these armies were smaller, received inferior training, and had poorer equipment. (The Imperial Sourcebook) Thus they could not compete with the army of the Confederacy. Even Alderaan, a core world with a strong military at this time (X-Wing: The Bacta War) could not repel Confederate forces from its system without Republic help. (General Grievous) These planetary armies were apparently used for local defense, being augmented by rapidly responding regiments of clone troops. (Revenge of the Sith; Republic Commando; Evasive Action: Reversal of Fortune) After the incident at Rendili, these armies, along with the planets’ naval forces, where centralized under the Supreme Chancellor. (Clone Wars: On the Fields of Battle) Following the coronation of Lord Sidious, they received surplus equipment for the Grand Army of the Republic, and were reorganized into the Imperial Army, with the clones of the Grand Army of the Republic forming the Stormtrooper Corps, which served as the Imperial Marines. (The Imperial Sourcebook) But this does not account for actions during the war itself. We know that the Republic enacted the draft, and that many more volunteered. (The New Essential Chronology) But where did they go? The doctors serving at RMSU’s were all conscripts (Jedi Healer), and we see non-clones serving as quartermasters (Jedi Trial) and logistics managers. (Republic Commando: Triple Zero) We also know the Jedi were not above pressing people with no choice into serving e.g. defeated officers (Shatterpoint) and prisoners. (Clone Wars: Victories and Sacrifices) We know that an increasing number of starfighter squadrons are formed of volunteers (Revenge of the Sith Incredible Cross Sections) and we see that the command crews of Republic warships are non-clones. (Revenge of the Sith) A large number of officers also appear to be non-clones (Jedi Trial; Battle Surgeon; Jedi Healer; Revenge of the Sith novel; Clone Wars: The Best Blades), though there was apparently some non-clone enlisted as well. (Jedi Trial) These seem to be a minority however. It appears that most of them were directed to the support and logistics branch, naval service, starfighter corps, and made officers in the Grand Army of the Republic. |
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