Jedi-Military Training Act

[Rekali the Hutt]

The Arkanian Senator Ardak Serifen sent a file to the rest of the Senate, containing the official write-up of his bill, and rose to address the Senate and describe the bill's contents.

"Ladies and Gentleman of the Republican Senate. As you are all well aware there are several organizations in the Government that have a healthy supply of Force-Users, most notably the Sith Empire. As a precautionary motion I have written up a Bill that mandates Jedi who are in the military will weekly training sessions to train normal members of the military how to deal with opposing Force Users. Other Jedi may volunteer in the assist in the efforts at their discretion, but it will not be required. This training includes but is not limited to: Teaching the mechanics and limitations of Blaster Deflection, how to deal with Telekinesis, and how to best combat Force Lightning. This training may be increased in frequency at the discretion of the Jedi heading the training as well and the leading officer of the unit being trained."

 

[Darren Brunswick]

The Senator of Kuat observed the file that had been sent to him. The bill was as follows:

The Jedi-Military Training Act
- mandates Jedi who are in the military will weekly training sessions to train normal members of the military how to deal with opposing Force Users.
- This training includes but is not limited to: Teaching the mechanics and limitations of Blaster Deflection, how to deal with Telekinesis, and how to best combat Force Lightning.
- This training may be increased in frequency at the discretion of the Jedi heading the training as well and the leading officer of the unit being trained.

Senator Brunswick nodded in approval. This would significantly help soldiers in the military combat against Force-Users. He did have a question though. He pressed a button, and a microphone appeared on his pod. He leaned forward and spoke into the microphone.
"Senator Ardak Serifen, it says here that the bill mandates the 'Jedi who are in the military" will be in weekly training sessions. As I'm aware, senator, all Jedi are part of the Galactic Republic's military, are they not?"

 

[Rekali the Hutt]

Ardak's face kept a stoic look, a product of his long military career. Inwardly he didn't think the question was one to be asked by a senator, but it was something that should be addressed, if only for the press and the public. Ardak stood up and altered his mic, in preparation to speak.

"As it stands currently members of the Jedi Order are encouraged, but not required to join the Military. They take similar posts as non-Force users and are rationed across the military so there is no "Jedi Squad" and so the appearance of special treatment is not given. It is my personal stance that the Jedi should not be required to serve in the Military, as like the common citizen they are not all warriors, nor should we make them. There a great many healers, ambassadors, teachers, and other professions taken by Jedi, and many of these men and women would be lost on a battlefield. This act, while allowing Jedi not in the military to volunteer to assist in the training, does not further alter the arrangement between the Military and the Jedi Order."

 

[Darren Brunswick]

Senator Brunswick nodded, glad that the Arkanian Senator had clarified the point.
"Thank you for the clarification, senator. So all Jedi that hold a military, if the bill is passed, will be mandated by law to give weekly training sessions. I'd like to let you know, senator, that Kuat whole-heartedly supports this proposed legislation."

As Brunswick looked around, he could tell that this legislation would easily pass through the Senate. He still had one more thing to ask. "Senator Serifen, it would serve to be beneficial if the Senate could know the names of the Jedi that currently hold a military rank. Do you happen to know the names of the Jedi who hold military ranks or where this information could be gained?"

 

[Rekali the Hutt]

Ardak stood a bit surprised, that the Kuat Senator wished for him to present a list of Jedi in the military on the spot, but luckily he was prepared for such an event. Ardak touched the holoscreen on his senatorial pod and sent the another file to Senator Brunswick, as well all of the other Senators in attendance.

"I do not have the names of every Jedi who volunteered for the military, as it currently stands there are around 400 or so Jedi serving the Republic in a military fashion. I have just sent you a list of all of the names, but I can tell you that some of the more significant names are Darron Wraith, the Grandmaster who also serves as a General, Master Ben Watts, Jedi Knights Jaxton Ravos, Selena Halcyon, and Seroth Ur-Rahn."

 

[Darren Brunswick]

Senator Brunswick listened then gave a nod of approval as he looked at the file with the list.
"Excellent. Thank you, senator. And uh, one last question if you don't mind... Where do you propose we hold this training between our military and the Jedi?"
The only reason Brunswick was asking these questions, ofcourse, was to make sure there were no loopholes in the law. He wanted to pass this legislation as quickly. After all, it was a great idea to give the military a chance to train to combat Force-Users.

 

[Rekali the Hutt]

Ardak held back a laugh. Brunswick obviously never served in the military.

"There is no set location for training, as their not set location for our military. It will be conducted in whatever base or ship the military happens to be on at the time, in whatever combat training facility is most accessible by the unit conducting the training." Ardak stated plainly. Members of the military were used to changing homes, living on ships, and doing whatever was required of them, and in a way were effectively nomads. A fluid system was much better than putting a few big posts for people to train on. Becoming slightly more impatient he raised his voice again, this time addressing the entire Senate.

"Are there any further questions, or shall we put this to a vote?"

 

[Darren Brunswick]

((I think we have to wait for Aurelia / the Chancellor to put it into a vote)

 

[Rekali the Hutt]

(Which is why I asked if anybody had questions.)

 

[Aurelia Saelari]

Aurelia listened to the views set forth on both sides and finally rose.

"The motion has been tabled. If there are no further questions, this will be put to the vote. I agree with this legislation, and my party will back it."

With the support of the Galactic Republican Party and support from whoever Ardak worked with, the vote would be passed swiftly....

 

[Rekali the Hutt]

Ardak sent his vote in support of his bill and waited for the rest of the votes to tallied.

 

[Aurelia Saelari]

It did not take long.

"The final result is 867 for, 144 against and 13 abstentions. The motion is carried. Thank you, Senators. We will recess for a quarter hour now."

 

[Darren Brunswick]

Brunswick, along with all other senators in the chamber, clapped as the Chancellor officially announced the voting results and declared that the bill was passed.

 

[Rekali the Hutt]

*In a later meeting*
Ardak was a bit upset with himself. His intentions were merely to foster relations between the force-using and non-force using members of the military. He had missed many issues however, and was not one to simply sweep away his mistakes. Now he came to the Senate to own his misdoings, and propose changes that made his system more acceptable.
"Ladies and Gentleman of the Senate, I must admit that I have neglected to spot several issues with my bill that I know have caused a bit of controversy. In light of this, I would to propose that my passed Jedi-Military Training Act be amended to state

-A small portion of Military Funding be allocated to the training of non-force using military to be trained by Jedi in the military on how to deal with possible Force-using opposition.
-This training is completely voluntary, both for non-force using and force using members of the military.
-Allocated funding not utilized will be put in a collective pool, and at the end of the fiscal year this money shall be used to make improvements in the equipment of the entire Republic Military, with which unit getting what and how much to be decided by the Admirals and Generals of the military.
-This training is recommended to be conducted no more than once a month, so that it does not exhaust the Jedi Members of the military nor detract from the primary training of the non-force using military members.

In short the training will occur less often, not be mandatory by either party, and funding provided that was not used will be used in the procuring and maintaining of equipment of equipment for the Military at the discretion of an official 'board' or the highest ranking members in the military of all branches."

 

[Aurelia Saelari]

Aurelia read the proposed amendment in silence.

"Tell me, Senator, while taking blame for your mistakes is admirable, why did you not think of this before you submitted this bill? Pressure from the Jedi Council? I know there have been some...vocal...members of the Jedi who have spoken against you. Are not the Jedi in the military supposed to follow military orders and discipline? An hourly session once a week would not seem to be an overtaxing burden, especially as the Jedi themselves train every day. Consider also that the Republic military is very large, and we want as many soldiers as possible to learn from our Jedi allies."

She paused, then stuck the knife in. "That is of course if you still stand by your desire to do what is necessary to defend the Republic...."