"Proposed BEER Replacement," by Françal Ian Lux

The military institution of any nation is a symbol of pride and fortitude to the masses who aspire to its cause, and this fact should not be truer than here, in our Kingdom of Talossa. The spirit of Talossa is reflected in our countrymen’s thoughts, actions, and ideas - an aspect of our citizenry that forms the very backbone of what it means to be Talossan. Yet in this boisterous display, it seems like the Talossan military has been sorely neglected. A quick inquiry will tell you that, as of this year, only a handful of individuals bothered to enlist into service. That combined with the absence of a naval admiral, suggests that the military was essentially in hiatus for the better part of the year... and probably much longer. Scrolling through the Wittenburg provides little help either since the interests of Talossa's political and social leaders dominate the threads. The civic institutions of our kingdom are numerous, and its officials, diverse. But can we say the same about our military?

S:reu Cresti da Ion Nouacastra (Formerly styled Cresti Newton) recently tackled the question and has proceeded to draft a new vision in an attempt to renew civilian interest in the military. He pondered on the various ways he could lend his strength in assisting the military’s interests for a great many nights until finally, he had an epiphany. He realized that the prestige of military service in the Kingdom has lagged behind that of other government institutions like the Ziu or the Cabinet ministries, and his own great ambition of a better Talossan military may not be very well entertained. He, therefore, resolved to form a private organization that would create an environment to facilitate an interest in space travel, aeronautics, and air power.

Nouacastra has long been eager to contribute to the success of the Talossan military. He shares, "I believe that the military could be a lot better. I personally have military experience growing up in a military family. The [proposed agency] could boost some of the Talossans' interests (concerning aeronautics and space) and [it] could actually be a great learning experience." Nouacastra further defines his proposed agency by saying, "It would be an organization like NASA. It would be primarily responsible for aerospace and aeronautics research. It [could] also serve as Talossa's national Air Force [but] that would be up to the national government of course."

Nouacastra and his proposed Aeronautics and Space Corps (ASC) would not only provide more attention to his cause, it would also initiate reform in the military’s organizational structure. As a private institution wishing to form intimate bonds with the Talossan military, Mr. Nouacastra requests the immediate dismantlement of both the Bureau of Space Exploration and Rocketry and the Naval Air Force in his effort to simultaneously establish the ASC’s credibility while requesting the government's good faith.

What could this mean for the military?
The proposed dismantling of these two agencies will surely garner attention from the public. The Naval Air Force is Talossa's symbol of aerial military strength, while the Bureau of Space Exploration and Rocketry (BEER) is Talossa's official space agency, and since its inception, both institutions have done an outstanding job of expanding Talossa's interests.

Would the proposed ASC succeed in supplementing the institutions it's poised to replace?
When asked about the type of relationship his "Corps" will pursue with the Talossan military, Nouacastra states "I think that the ASC could work alongside the military. If Talossans with actual military knowledge and/or experience ran the military, it'd be way better than it is now."

Nouacastra has also entertained the idea of this agency "becoming a branch of the military." to which he states "if this does take off (as a military branch), then I wouldn't be able to get commissioned as an officer in my own organization." The best way, in Nouacastra's opinion, is to establish the agency as a private sector vassal of the military. When asked for an official statement, Minister of Interior Carlüs Xheraltescu

states: "The government is more than happy to discuss proposals with any citizen of Talossa; talking about new and innovative ideas should be encouraged... I hope S:reu [Nouacastra] continues to discuss his idea with us." Which begs the question: will the Talossan Government allow such an agency to exist, given that it would shift from a public air force to a private one, headed by a figure of questionable reknown as S:reu Nouacastra (who once purported to secede from the country)?

In response to future criticism against such drastic requests, Nouacastra assures the public that the Aeronautics and Space Corps will “faithfully and objectively execute its duties” and promote the interests and authority of the Talossan military. He assures his critics that the agency will exeedingly provide for the demands formerly fulfilled by the BEER and the Air Force... a bold promise that will not only define his legacy, but those who join his cause.

This suggestion for reform may do some good. Change is never an easy topic to discuss, but considering the languishing state of the military, citizens with ideas like Nouacastra should be entertained with some thought. The great thing about this kingdom is its ability to cater to all of its citizen’s strengths and interests. There’s always room for participation and improvement.