The Advance Insertion Qualification is one of many Special Operations qualifications in the SFMC. Marines with this qualification are consider capable of inserting, disrupting and attacking enemy forces from all directions with little to no support. Their methods of operation allow them to conduct missions against targets that more conventional forces cannot approach undetected. Military personnel that are selected for the AIQ course usually come from the Special Operations Groups of every partner-nation of the Federation and of Starfleet. The course is a requirement for all SFMC Recon Marines.
Potential AIQ members are selected because of their performance in their chosen MOS; every AIQ candidate is a veteran from another Special Operations outfit and therefore has already gone through at least two layers of screening and months of intense training — not counting the years of training received before volunteering for the AIQ course. There are no age or gender restrictions — as long as the candidate meets the physical and mental requirements they are guaranteed the opportunity to try out for the AIQ course. Once in the AIQ course, a candidate's training continues - its entrance requirements serve as a third layer of screening upon two more, where applicants would have theoretically failed to pass. Candidates would, therefore, already have extensive experience in conducting the types of missions that the Advance Insertion Qualification marine would typically perform.
AIQ are embedded within conventional SFMC forces; they marines with an additional qualification and tend to be force multipliers - increasing the effectiveness and morale of those they fight alongside. Any members of a marine unit can be AIQ’ed and participate in combat to a highly effective level. If a commander has AIQ marines within their unit, they can be pulled together to form a team with any ranks included at the will of the unit commander.
The AIQ’ed marines perform highly specialized, small scale, high-risk operations including:
- Deep Ground Surveillance or Long Range Reconnaissance: Patrols in small groups, in uniform, usually far behind the enemy lines. While AIQ units may direct space or artillery strikes against enemy positions, they strive to be unobserved, and have only self-defense, not direct action, capability. Teams engaging in surveillance deep behind enemy lines, are commonly known as "Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols" or LRRP's.
Direct Action: Short-duration strikes and other small-scale offensive actions conducted as a special operation in hostile, denied, or politically sensitive environments and which employ specialized military capabilities to seize, destroy, capture, exploit, recover, or damage designated targets. Direct action differs from conventional offensive actions in the level of physical and political risk, operational techniques, and the degree of discriminate and precise use of force to achieve specific objectives.
Unconventional Warfare: Military and paramilitary operations, normally of long duration, predominantly conducted by indigenous or surrogate forces who are organized, trained, equipped, supported, and directed in varying degrees by an external source. It includes guerrilla warfare and other direct offensive, low visibility, covert, or clandestine operations, as well as the indirect activities of subversion, sabotage, intelligence gathering, escape and evasion.
Counter-Terrorism Operations: The response to terrorist threats and/or acts, both real and imputed.
Counter-Contraband Operations: Missions undertaking the recapturing of smuggled/stolen goods.
Personnel and Special Equipment Recovery/Capture: The recovery/medical treatment of friendly personnel in combat environments, as well as the capability of capturing high valued individuals and any equipment.
AIQ Pin (Graduation)
Senior AIQ Pin (5 Drops)
Master AIQ Pin (10 Drops)
