Militant Unions

When the Imperium was reformed at the beginning of the second era, one of the powerful forces at the time was a powerful group named the Militant Unions. They were made up of the generations of soldiers that had risen to local power after the Imperial collapse. These forces were reorganized as a significant portion of the newly founded Imperium's army. It would be one of the pillars of Imperial governance alongside the High Council, Emperor, lesser councils, and the Faith of the Eight.
The Militant Unions have remained an essential pillar to the Imperium since the second refounding. Unions have a presence on nearly all Imperial worlds: acting as defenders, peacekeepers, and the keeping of Imperial control. The Militant Unions have at least one representative on all Imperial functioned Councils and are an important part of many Imperial governances.
The Imperial legions were eventually founded out of them in the fourth age as a powerful veteran force specialized in spreading of Imperial control, defeating large scale threats, defending high threat worlds, and protecting important Imperial locations. The Militant Unions have become large scale general protection and defense across imperial worlds. With veteran members of certain Unions becoming Legionaries. 
Becoming a member of the Militant Unions is an often used branch to rising in the Imperial hierarchy in governance. Those who rise high or show aptitude in the Unions can lead to potential positions in the Imperium as a member of the Militant Union block. The Militant Unions take nearly all applicants and your position in the organization is solely based on merit and your performance.

Type

Military Order

Training Level

Professional

Veterancy Level

Experienced

Subsidiary Organizations

• Imperial Legions