Militaires Sans Frontières

Militaires Sans Frontières (French for Soldiers Without Borders; lit. Military Without Frontiers), abbreviated as MSF and also known as Outer Heaven, was a private military company in the early 1970s founded and led by Big Boss. Because of their mercenary status, their questionable tactics on the battlefield, and their usage of an off-shore forwarding base in the middle of the Caribbean Sea during the mid-to-late 1970s, they were frequently referred to by their enemies as pirates.

Origins
After leaving the Patriots in 1972, Naked Snake, a.k.a. Big Boss, formed the "Militaires Sans Frontières," so as to provide military force for anyone who needs them, regardless of nations or ideologies. As such, the MSF also specialized in providing the full range of military services, including combat, logistics, training, weapons, outfitting, and R&D. In addition, the MSF was also designed to merge the small footprint and exceptional performance of Special Forces groups and the full military might of a full regular army, as a means to fully break free of nation-states. Employed by the Colombian government sometime after 1972, Snake and the MSF fought an opposing mercenary unit led by Kazuhira Miller. After MSF defeated the enemy force, Snake offered Miller a place in the group, which he accepted, later becoming its second-in-command. During this time, Miller also viewed MSF as being a "new kind of business" regarding guns-for-hire, that is neither tied to mercenaries nor to a foreign legion, and also intended to help Big Boss succeed in his goals for MSF. In addition, between its founding and its employment under the Colombian government, it often relocated in order to avoid the CIA, should the CIA be coming near their base.

On November 4, 1974, the Militaires Sans Frontières were stationed in Colombia when they were first approached by Ramón Gálvez Mena and Paz Ortega Andrade, representing Costa Rica. The two requested that the group assist "the nation without a military" because of a mysterious security company that had recently invaded their country, presumably for the CIA. In return, Gálvez offered the group an offshore plant to use as a base off the coast of the Caribbean. Despite some rumors that it was a mercenary group, Snake did not seem to consider it as such, and protested at Gálvez's assumption that they were just a pack of "Dogs of War" when the latter attempted to hire them. After some persuasion from Miller, and curious as to The Boss's supposed involvement in the affair, Snake accepted the mission.

The MSF then commenced operations against the occupying force in Costa Rica, later identified as the Peace Sentinel, who were attempting to develop an unmanned nuclear weapon known as Peace Walker. The MSF's existence was threatened toward the end of their mission, when Peace Sentinel leader Hot Coldman, intended to launch a nuclear strike at Mother Base. The MSF considered evacuating, but Miller had some confidence that Snake would succeed in stopping Peace Walker's launch. Eventually, the MSF left Mother Base to aid Snake in stopping the Peace Sentinel, who had relocated to neighboring Nicaragua.

During their mission, the MSF also dispatched several of its forces into other war zones for income, in order to increase its numbers and resources (namely small arms, missiles and uniforms) as well as to feed its personnel, in the fight against the Peace Sentinel. In addition, after capturing territory from the enemy forces, the MSF temporarily used them as training grounds for their troops in various weapons and fighting styles.

Following Peace Walker's destruction, Paz came to stay aboard Mother Base. At some point during her stay, the Militaires Sans Frontières adopted a cat that they found on one of the missions, which Paz named "Nuke." Big Boss and Miller briefly discussed who their "queen bee" was within the MSF, in regards to Mother Base's hexagonal beehive-like structure. Unable to decide between either Paz, Cécile Cosima Caminades, Amanda Valenciano Libre, or Strangelove, they both agreed that they should instead have an "army of queen bees."

The MSF also completed development of the bipedal tank Metal Gear ZEKE, while later installing it with Peace Walker's nuclear warhead as a deterrent against enemies while establishing their nomadic nation, with Snake referring to the group as being "the real Peace Walkers." They had been able to do this undetected because both the KGB and the CIA were too busy trying to cover up the chaotic events at Nicaragua to notice. The MSF were later to be dispatched to Angola for their services, which Miller relayed to Cipher during a secret business telephone call (the latter party having earlier promised Miller with MSF's expansion in exchange for going along with Cipher's true plot of getting Big Boss to rejoin them). Cipher planned to have the MSF act as a deterrent for their new world order, with Paz issuing this demand to Snake, after revealing herself to be a triple agent. Having hijacked MSF's Metal Gear ZEKE on Mother Base, she intended to frame the group as being an extremist cult, following Snake's refusal, by launching a nuclear strike on the East Coast of America. However, that plan failed when the MSF defeated ZEKE, with Paz presumed dead after falling into the ocean. Miller also ended up admitting to his knowledge and involvement in Cipher's plot to Big Boss afterwards and apologized.

Side ops
On December 3, 1974 at 13:18 hours, the MSF was hired to take out an infamous sniper team active during America's involvement in the Laotian Civil War. They had been hired by KGB contacts that Miller had been acquainted with back from his days in Colombia prior to joining MSF. Miller specified that the KGB contacts were not affiliated with Zadornov. After completing the mission, MSF became suspicious of the naval facility in Cuba after it became apparent that their targets were more afraid of the base than of death, and did some investigating, and dispatched an Intel Team agent named Hideo to investigate.

On December 7, 1974 at 05:31 hours, Hideo requested extraction from his current assignment. Big Boss personally infiltrated the location to retrieve the agent and ensure his escape, as Hideo was considered an extremely valuable asset to MSF. The mission parameters originally intended for the Hind to rendezvous with Hideo after the latter stole a Jeep and disguised himself as a Shapka-wearing Russki. However, after his stolen jeep broke down with enemy soldiers, including an APC, closing in on him and his being knocked unconscious, Big Boss and MSF were forced to directly interfere to save the agent, also shooting down a Blackhawk chopper that was harrassing their Hind before successfully escaping.

On December 21, 1974 at 18:08 hours, one of the Joint Chiefs of Staff's moles, uncovered information relating to Cipher and recorded it on a cassette tape, with MSF being hired via a cut-out from the JCF to meet with Brian and secure the tape. MSF was hired because the JCS chairman owed Big Boss for his quelling the Peace Walker Incident earlier, as well as because of suspicions that the facility had been converted into a black site and MSF's prior experience with Cipher, the group suspected to be responsible for subverting the base personnel and converting the facility into a black site. Big Boss being dispatched to meet him. As neither one of them could risk meeting each other directly without blowing his cover, The agent stashed the tape away nearby and Big Boss had to interrogate Brian as if he were one of the enemy personnel to maintain cover. After deducing the location of the tape, Big Boss managed to retrieve the tape, although not without narrowly evading a trap set by the agent. After interrogating the agent (whose cover had been blown by Cipher), Big Boss proceeded to recover the real tape from a bald Marine, and escaped. On the tape was an interrogation being practiced by an unknown man, thus confirming that the base had been converted into a black site. The true tape also contained plans covering the extent of the conversion of the black site, including the purchasing of a fleet of transports.

On January 9, 1975 at 07:01 hours, the MSF had been hired by the United States Military's JCS to sabotage the facility's anti-aircraft emplacements to allow a MAGTF to do a heliborne assault to secure the base. Big Boss infiltrated the base to personally sabotage three of the AA units. He also rescued several prisoners, including one who was an Intel Team agent who ended up captured. After successfully sabotaging both the AA units and an APC with a cannon that would have threatened the MAGTF, Big Boss was about to undergo extraction, when he learned from Miller that two unidentified aircraft were enroute to the base and approaching at a speed exceeding the 500 mark, meaning they were attack aircraft. Their ETA was 3 minutes, with Miller becoming concerned by the timing, and also discovered they shot down the MAGTF's chopper, meaning they were hostile, and they were carrying bombs, meaning the aircraft were going to bomb the place. Big Boss and the prisoners narrowly managed to escape the place before it was bombed to bits. Upon returning, Miller debriefed them and revealed that the aircraft were of western origin, and that the one responsible for the bombing raid most likely wanted to eliminate the evidence of the black site, and that someone was most likely Cipher.

Operation Trojan Horse
Sometime later, Strangelove ended up resigning from MSF due to her purpose in creating ZEKE being complete, and their having no other use for an AI researcher, although Big Boss was on assignment at the time and thus had not been made aware of this. Despite Huey's crush on Strangelove, he accepted her resignation, feeling he had "bigger issues to deal with."

At least a week later, the IAEA ended up contacting the MSF to do an inspection for nukes, allegedly for the organization obtaining nuclear fuel from Uzbekistan authorities. Both Snake and Miller quickly realized that the entire thing was a ruse set up by Cipher to have an excuse to get at Metal Gear ZEKE, as revenge for Cipher's failure from Paz's leak, via the United Nations (as they have an untold amount of influence). Since MSF was not officially a nation, rather a private firm that never signed an agreement with the IAEA for peaceful nuclear use nor information on any nuclear facilities, Snake and Miller refused on these grounds with the IAEA having no authority to conduct such an inspection. Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes, Kojima Productions (2014) Info > Pre-mission Brief: Mission Background & Intel > Brief 1: Nuclear Inspection demand by the IAEA Kazuhira Miller: Snake, yesterday we received official communication from the IAEA. It says: “It has come to our attention that your organization recently purchased nuclear fuel from Uzbekistan authorities. We request permission to inspect your facilities.” // Naked Snake (Big Boss): What a load of bullshit… // Miller: Yeah. They’re after Metal Gear ZEKE’s nuclear warhead. I’m betting this is payback from Cipher after Paz’s leak. // Big Boss: Using the UN. // Miller: There’s no telling how much influence they have. But the IAEA can only do inspections in countries that are partied to the NPT. // Big Boss: And we’re not a country. // Miller: Exactly. We haven’t signed a safeguards agreement with the IAEA over peaceful nuclear use, and we’re not obligated to report any nuclear material we have, nor information about any nuclear facilities. The IAEA has no authority to inspect us. // Big Boss: But despite all that… // Miller: That nuke’s our last line of defense. We don’t want to announce we have it until the world is preparing to wipe us off the map. Until then, we let everyone think we’re just a private army with conventional firepower. // Big Boss: What’s Huey’s take? // Miller: That the problem’s how to hide the nuke and Metal Gear. But I gotta tell you, he was all for it. // Big Boss: I see. But there’s no way we can have the IAEA poking around here. // Miller: So what do we do? Ignore them? // Big Boss: Send them an official letter of refusal. Say we’re a private organization and we’ve done nothing to attract this suspicion. // Miller: You’ve got it. However Huey who supported an inspection sent another letter behind their backs claiming they had changed their minds. Although MSF had never been the subject or even mentioned by the IAEA's Board of Governors, Snake and Miller had no choice but to allow the inspection to happen as two major Western media networks would also be observing the proceedings. All AFVs minus ZEKE were transferred offshore along with any 'troublemakers' for mandatory rest and relaxation.Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes, Kojima Productions (2014) Info > Pre-mission Brief: Mission Background & Intel > Brief 2: Allowing the Nuclear Inspection Huey Emmerich: We’ve finished ZEKE’s waterproofing reinforcement yesterday. The day after tomorrow, we’ll be done installing the main depth control tank, the compressed air tank, and the attitude control propeller pod. // Kazuhira Miller: Huey… // Huey: If the underwater test goes well, next week we’ll try the 300 ft. seabed depth. // Miller: Drop the act, Huey. How did we end up agreeing to the nuclear inspection? // Huey: …Because after you sent that letter, I told them “after careful reconsideration, we’ve agreed to your request.” And frankly, we should be inspected. This is our chance. If they come and go without discovering the nuke, we can tell the world we’re clean. Of course, it’s risky, and we’ll have to make sure everything’s perfect, but it’ll be worth it. // Big Boss: Huey, can they do an inspection without going through the Board of Governors? // Miller: We contacted the IAEA’s admin branch, and they said there’s no record of us being brought up at any of the board’s meetings. Huey: I’d say they’d… probably do a preliminary inspection to determine whether we should be referred to the board. So it’s bound to be a small inspection team, and they won’t be here that long. Don’t worry, leave everything to me. // Big Boss: Has the media gotten wind of this? // Huey: Yeah. Two major western networks want to do stories on us. I planned on saying yes. // Miller: What?! You want to broadcast this place to the world?! // Huey: That’s why I agreed to the inspection. This is a golden opportunity. We can use the media to “prove” to the world we don’t have a nuke. Besides, even if we said “no,” it would just be delaying the inevitable. // Big Boss: (groans in irritation) Kaz, our hands are tied now. Start getting the place ready. // Huey: Thanks, boss. // Big Boss: Don’t get the wrong idea. You set it up so that any more changes of heart would arouse suspicion, that’s all. Heh. // Miller: ZEKE stays, but we’ll have to move all other AFVs to shore. Any potential troublemakers can go with them for some mandatory R-and-R. Sound good, boss? // Big Boss: Just do it. The remaining FSLN troopers rendezvoused with Amanda (who was in Cuba at the time) and all civilians including Cécile (sans Huey) were given documentation to return to their home countries.

Ten days later, MSF learnt of Paz's survival via leaked Cipher transmissions and Amanda, and that she had been incarcerated at a U.S. prison camp in Cuba known as Camp Omega due to suspicion of being a corrupted double agent. Seeing her as a VIP due to her being their one link to Cipher, especially with Cipher's suspected involvement in the UN inspection, possibly to corroborate Paz's leak, they decided to rescue her, and if she was unwilling to cooperate, they'll silence her. Rumors of her survival spread throughout their soldiers, with Miller telling Big Boss that they keep their focus on the inspection. They initially intended to wait until after the inspection to retrieve Paz from the facility due to the inspection taking top priority, and kept Paz's survival a secret from Chico (as they realized that Chico still felt guilty regarding being unable to stop Paz when he had the chance). To distract him he was to be sent to Cuba with his sister. Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes, Kojima Productions (2014). Info > Pre-mission Brief: Mission Background & Intel > Brief 4: Word of Paz's Survival Kazuhira Miller: Ten days ago, we got reports that Paz was still alive. // Big Boss: She survived… // Miller: She was rescued by Belizean fishermen who found her drifting in the Caribbean. Big Boss: So what’s the plan? Silence her before we’re compromised? // Miller: No, I’ve got something else in mind. Our “friends” at Cipher suspect Paz could be a double agent. She’s being held for interrogation at a camp on the southern tip of Cuba. // Big Boss: Black site. Nice. A slice of American pie on Communist soil. And out of U.S. legal jurisdiction. // Miller: The upcoming inspection of Mother Base has to be connected somehow. The timing’s too perfect. // Big Boss: The UN’s nuclear inspection… // Miller: My guess is they’re trying to corroborate Paz’s leak. // Big Boss: We’re an army without a nation. // Miller: Word of our capabilities gets out, and we’ll have the whole world out to shut us down. Having an American private intelligence agency involved is bad news. Cipher’s the ones who sent Paz to us in the first place. // Big Boss: She knows their true nature. // Miller: Right. Paz is our only link to Cipher. If she’s still alive, we need her on our side. If not us, who else is going to rescue that bitch?! // Big Boss: When do we do it? // Miller: The inspection comes first. We’ll deal with this afterwards. // Big Boss: Do the men know? // Miller: Word has started to spread. The information came from Cuba through Amanda. One of the base personnel used to belong to el Frente. I’ll tell everyone we don’t concern ourselves with the survival of enemy spies. We need them focused on the inspection. And if we get her back here and she isn’t… cooperative, there’s still plenty of room for her in the ocean. // Big Boss: Works for me. What about Chico. He had a chance to stop Paz from hijacking ZEKE and he blew it. He’s carried that guilt ever since. Kid really did care about her. // Miller: Chico… It’s hard to say how he’ll react. // Big Boss: Have Amanda call him out to Cuba. He shouldn’t be here right now. // Miller: Good idea. They haven’t seen each other in a while. A little time with big sis, and he’ll forget all about you-know-who.

Unfortunately, Chico somehow managed to learn about Paz's survival. Feeling that MSF abandoned her, managed to escape from the ship he was on and head towards the prison facility, due to the ship being forced to stop to refuel near Santiago, which was sixty miles away on mountainous terrain from the prison facility (necessitating a three-day hike). After they learned from Amanda Chico's AWOL status, Miller and Snake deduced from the stops what happened to Chico, and proceeded to dispatch the Intel Unit at Cuba to search for Chico. Sometime later, Chico was later captured by the group XOF, and was also imprisoned at the camp, although he managed to relay the location of both his and Paz's locations to MSF while in captivity and sent a SOS call to Mother Base. Although they realized it was likely to be a setup, they were left with no other options but to directly rescue him and potentially Paz, as otherwise Chico may end up revealing ZEKE's existence under torture. The Intel Unit then investigated the area to confirm the best infiltration spot, with at least sixteen hours being required for confirming a flight path and preparing an aerial vehicle for deployment to Cuba. Although it meant missing the inspection, Big Boss volunteered to personally go to Cuba as the operative to rescue them, knowing that he's the only one Chico and/or Paz would listen to anyways. However, as they can't take the Marines stationed at the prison facility head-on, it had to be a one-man infiltration mission. Miller held down Mother Base for the inspection. Two days later, the MSF arranged a rescue mission for the two, with Chico being the most necessary VIP, while Paz can be killed if she was too dangerous to take alive. Because of the politically sensitive nature of the mission, Big Boss infiltrated the facility alone while MSF contended to the inspection, with the knowledge that if Big Boss is caught, due to the base is "leased land" (in other words, technically not being on American soil, and thus not being subject to the United States Constitution), as well as the CIA a few years back making the base into a prison facility for "enemies of the state" due to Cipher's influence, Big Boss won't expect any "civil liberties." Miller also stated that Chico's survival is mandatory, while Paz can be killed if worse comes to worst, although he briefly implied that he only wanted to bring back Chico because he knew too much about MSF, causing Big Boss to rebuke him. In addition, because the surrounding area had mines set by both the Americans and the Cubans, escaping on foot was impossible, thus necessitating an air extraction via a single chopper. Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes, Kojima Productions (2014). Info > Pre-mission Brief: Mission Background & Intel > Mission Intel: US Military Base, Cuba Kazuhira Miller: Snake, you can forget about civil liberties where you’re headed. God only knows what they’d do to you if you get caught. Do not let that happen. The Cubans leased the land to the U.S. as a gesture for helping them gain independence from Spain. The deal remains in effect until both countries agree to dissolve it or the U.S. abandons the land. That’s why America still operates the base even after la revolucion. Problem is, it’s leased land. // Naked Snake (Big Boss): Meaning it isn’t American soil, so the U.S. constitution doesn’t apply there. That allows them to withhold its civil rights protections. // Miller: Yeah, that’s Uncle Sam’s excuse. The area was originally only for detaining refugees from countries like Cuba and Haiti. But a few years ago, the CIA and it’s like started using it as a black site. Enemies of the State are renditioned there and subjected to extreme forms of interrogation. You can bet Cipher had a hand in that. As you’d expect, American and other Western human rights organizations aren’t allowed anywhere near the place. What happens there disappears down the memory hole. // Big Boss: Who knows what they’re doing to Chico and Paz. // Miller: I’d like to interrogate her ourselves, but if worst comes to worst, make sure she’s dead! Chico on the other hand we have to bring back – fast! He knows too much about us… // Big Boss: Kaz! // Miller: The area’s surrounded by mines placed by both the U.S. and Cuba, making escape on foot impossible. You’re heading into the lion’s den, Snake. Don’t take this one lightly. Come back in one piece. // Big Boss: Yeah. As there as a storm occurring at the mission, Big Boss had some ease infiltrating the base. Miller also monitored the situation and gave advice to Big Boss when needed.

However, MSF and Mother Base ended up attacked by XOF, as the UN inspection was a smokescreen, resulting in several casualties. In addition, Paz sacrificed herself by throwing herself out of the chopper due to her possessing a second, undiscovered bomb in her body. The attack was enough to have smoke being seen from far away, leaving the media to blame MSF as being a bunch of "money-grabbing private militias," as well as causing a scandal among the United States and various other nations and groups when it became apparent they were among the clients list. However, the United States Secretary of Defense publicly denied that America or its allies had any involvement in the incident, with the UN and the IAEA making similar denials when reports came out that IAEA inspectors had visited the site, and the other countries avoiding any comment altogether. Officially, the casualty figure was uncertain other than there not being any known survivors, although military choppers had been sighted in the area both prior to and during the incident. The Diamond Dogs were ultimately formed as a result.

Logo and slogan
The MSF's emblem design was based on Pangaea, the supercontinent that is theorized to have existed 250 million years ago, before the component continents were separated into their current configuration. This could possibly represent Big Boss's take on The Boss's idea of a united world. The emblem also bears a resemblance to the one later used by Outer Heaven (it looks very much like a skull).

During their operations in Colombia, the Militaires Sans Frontières' slogan was "Libertad o Muerte", which is Spanish for "Freedom or Death." The slogan was made famous during the independence struggle of several countries, notably including Serbia, Brazil, the United States of America, Bulgaria, Greece, Ireland and Uruguay. Despite the logo, however, Big Boss initially believed that their revolution should result in neither their victory nor their death.

Personnel
Some of the personnel who joined up were former United States Army members who fought in Vietnam,  while others claimed to be former SAS. In addition, shortly after Zadornov's capture, the MSF managed to recruit several Soviet soldiers who were captured with Zadornov, and Miller considered having Zadornov join MSF to bolster the Soviet soldiers' morale. Some Finnish soldiers also joined MSF at an unknown point, which acted as part of the reason why Miller installed a Finnish-style sauna on Mother Base, despite Big Boss's hesitations.
 * Snake/Big Boss (founder/commander)
 * Kazuhira Miller (sub-commander)
 * Troops
 * At least sixteen servicemen (while in Colombia)
 * Drill instructor
 * At least 300 soldiers (1975)
 * Various volunteers
 * Various enemy defectors
 * Various rescued POWs
 * Armadillo
 * Gazelle
 * Swan
 * Dolphin
 * Elephant
 * Huey Emmerich (R&D scientist/bipedal weapon developer)
 * Strangelove (R&D/AI researcher, 1974-Late February/Early March 1975)
 * Paz Ortega Andrade  (guest/cook, 1974)
 * Cécile Cosima Caminades (scout, 1974-Late February/Early March 1975)
 * Amanda Valenciano Libre (commander of the Sandinistas, ally, 1974-Late February/Early March 1975)
 * Chico (ally, 1974-Late February/Early March 1975)
 * Morpho (helicopter pilot)
 * Unidentified Militaries Sans Frontières medic
 * Hideo (Intel Team agent)
 * Prisoner 12282 (Intel Team agent)

The Militaires Sans Frontières, during their missions in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, mostly fished to get their own food.

Every month, the MSF held birthday parties for the soldiers. It primarily consisted of drinking large amounts of alcohol and acting crudely, although any real fights were surprisingly rare.

Their clients included the KGB and the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff, with the latter also having one of their undercover agents, meet up with them. In addition, their client list was extensive enough that, after MSF's destruction on March 16, an international scandal for the United States and its allies, and the Warsaw Pact occurred, resulting in either public denials regarding their association with MSF (which had been discredited by the media as a "money hungry private militia") or otherwise not saying anything for or against the accusations.

Although the Sandinistas weren't technically members of MSF, they acted as allies. They were eventually relocated to Cuba to reconvene with Amanda (whose assignment had also been extended) in 1975, due to MSF being forced to host a UN inspection at Mother Base and preparing for it with little time allowed. In addition, several troublemakers had been relocated to the shore for some mandatory "R-to-R" alongside virtually all of MSF's arsenal. In addition, all civilians with the exception of Huey were returned to their home countries, and Strangelove had already left the group a week beforehand.

Base of operations


The MSF's camp on the Barranquilla Coast of Colombia was not their first encampment, as they had previously relocated several times, to avoid the CIA's presence. At least one of their camps also possessed an infirmary.

The Colombian camp included a one room cabin that functioned as its main office, given the fact that Big Boss and Gálvez discussed their business in there, and contained some large water containers due to the roof constantly leaking water during rain storms.

Shortly after being assigned to repel the armed forces out of Costa Rica, the MSF were provided with an offshore plant on the Caribbean to use as their base of operations. The plant, dubbed Mother Base, had three struts positioned in a way that resembled a triangle, as well as a tower in the center, although throughout the course of their operations in Costa Rica, and later Nicaragua, it was further expanded as its personnel and equipment grew. The Colombian camp was still used for entrance exams, however, which composed of the recruits wishing to join MSF wanting to fight Big Boss to see if he is the real deal. In addition, the Militaires Sans Frontières, after neutralizing the Peace Sentinel presence at Puerto del Alba, Rio del Jade's boathouse, Aldea Los Despiertos, the U.S. Missile Base in Nicaragua, and the Miner's residence near the Mine Base, temporarily used these locations as training locations for medium-range target shooting, long-range shooting, urban combat, medium-range target shooting, and long-range target shooting, respectively.

Unit divisions
There were five divisions within the Militaires Sans Frontières, at least during their time at the Mother Base:


 * Combat Unit: The main fighting/sneaking force of the Militaires Sans Frontières and source of income. Roster limit is 100.


 * R&D Team: Responsible for enhancing or otherwise creating weapons and equipment. Roster limit is 50.


 * Mess Hall Team: Responsible for providing the food for the Mother Base which affects morale. It was formed by Kazuhira Miller shortly after Big Boss encountered a LAV-typeG unit at Bananal Fruta de Oro as a precautionary means of provisions for the troops. Roster limit is 50.


 * Medical Team: Responsible for the healing of any personnel requiring medical attention due to sickness, injury or PTSD. They are also involved with R&D in regards to the development of weapons with various ways of knocking out personnel (e.g., emitting sleep gas or developing tranquilizers). The idea of a medical team for the Mother Base's Sick Bay was also planned by Kazuhira Miller after Amanda was airlifted to Mother Base wounded with a broken leg, although a Medical Team for MSF itself existed long before then. Roster limit is 50.


 * Intel Team: Responsible for providing intel for the Militaires Sans Frontières in regards to enemy activity or a weakness of the enemy that could be exploited as well as offering support from Mother Base for MSF soldiers on field missions. The Intel Team also often works with the R&D Team to develop various radars for MSF, and could also deliver supplies to allied mercenary units. It was brainstormed by Kazuhira Miller shortly after Chico ended up rescued. It was also implied that the Intel Team, or a similar unit called the MSF Intel Corps., were responsible for the recording/adapting of various old data files for the MSF. Roster limit is 50.


 * Besides the five divisions, the Mother Base has a Waiting Room, where new staff wait to be assigned to one of the divisions, a Sickbay for treatment, and a Brig for captured enemies. The Mother Base can hold a total of 350 members (351 with Snake).

Recruitment policy
The exact methods of recruitment during MSF's operations in Colombia and other countries prior to Costa Rica are unknown. During the MSF's mission in Costa Rica, it did recruitments via fulton recovery by capturing enemy soldiers or rescuing prisoners, with the military soldiers either being convinced immediately upon arriving at Mother Base, or having to spend time in the brig before they could decide to join. Some time afterwards, however, because of MSF's growing size making it similar to a corporation, a voluntary recruitment program was enacted, with several soldiers joining up. Many volunteers however, have very poor skills. Some of the joining soldiers will also take an entrance exam and find out if Big Boss was indeed how they heard of him by fighting him in a minute, with any soldiers who lose to Big Boss, having been convinced that his skills are accurate, joining up. Several soldiers will also sometimes join up after MSF completed a mission in operations outside Costa Rica, and several soldiers are also exchanged with allied mercenary units. Members that join include infantries, commandos, mechanics, nutritionists, doctors, scouts, actresses, and veteran voice actors.

Training regimen
As a military organization, the Militaires Sans Frontières adopted a training regimen for instructing new personnel. The training included, but was not limited to, mastering the use of the line of sight, changing stances, movement, rolling, unarmed combat, Stun Rod usage, and various forms of CQC. Doing 200 stomach crunches and running laps was also implied to be a required part of the MSF training. Also, the soldiers also can have the opportunity to have multiple CQC fights with Big Boss nearing the end of the training session as a special treat if he is present.

Uniform


The standard Militaires Sans Frontières uniform (during their missions in Colombia) included:


 * Two-eyed balaclava (Note: only the standard infantry wear this as part of the uniform)


 * Utility SPIE (Special Patrol Insertion/Extraction) Harness
 * 2x US LC-2 Individual Equipment Belt w/ QR (Quick-Release) Buckle
 * 3x US M1956 Universal Ammo Pouch
 * 2x US 1-Quart Plastic Canteen w/ LC-1 Canteen Cover
 * US M1967 Nylon Field Pack (Butt Pack)


 * Drop-leg flap holster (visually resembles the Bianchi M12 / UM84, a holster adopted by the U.S. military nearly a decade after the formation of MSF)


 * Jungle fatigues (olive drab fatigues customized with a black knee brace on the right side and brassards, the latter set adorned with the MSF logo on the left brassard, and in some cases, the FOX logo on the right brassard)

During their missions into Costa Rica, the Militaires Sans Frontières later procured other variants of the uniforms used for enhancing camouflage in the area. There are several that are aesthetically similar to the Jungle fatigues, although they emphasize certain elements of camouflage more than others, such as the Leaf camouflage increasing the camo index near jungle environments. "Naked" variants with a black muscleman shirt in the place of the regular top of a uniform exist (Big Boss usually forgoes a shirt of any variant when he uses it). They also procured a Battle Dress as well as a Sneaking Suit. In addition, some of the higher ups will sometimes loan soldiers their own uniforms.
 * Jungle boots

Fatigue/camouflage uniforms

 * Leaf


 * Tiger Stripe


 * Choco-chip


 * Auscam


 * Squares


 * Splitter


 * Snake

Naked uniforms

 * Leaf


 * Tiger Stripe


 * Choco-chip


 * Auscam


 * Squares


 * Splitter


 * Snake



Other

 * Sneaking Suit


 * Battle Dress
 * Battle Dress w/helmet


 * Tuxedo


 * T-shirt


 * Neo-Moss


 * Stench

Weaponry
MSF utilized a wide variety of weaponry, including various United States and Russian technologies, and those from the Western and Eastern Blocs, as well as antiquated weapons dating back to World War II.

Close-range weapons

 * Stun rod
 * Mock stun rods (training sessions only)
 * Combat knife  (post-Peace Walker)

Handguns

 * Mk.22 Mod 0 Hush Puppy (MSF standard issue)
 * Mauser C96
 * Semi-automatic Mauser C96
 * Full-auto Mauser C96
 * Smith and Wesson Model 19
 * Smith and Wesson Model 19 w/ laser sight
 * M1911 pistol
 * M1911A1
 * M1911A1 w/ suppressor
 * Customized M1911 pistol
 * Customized M1911 w/ suppressor
 * Walther Kampfpistole
 * Walther Kampfpistole with rifle stock
 * Support supply marker (gun)
 * Support strike marker (gun)
 * Banana
 * Makarov PM
 * Makarov PB/6P9
 * EZ gun
 * EZ gun (life recovery)
 * EZ gun (psyche recovery)
 * Wu Silent Pistol (post-Peace Walker)
 * AM D114 Pistol (post-Peace Walker)
 * Uragan-5 Pistol (post-Peace Walker)

Shotguns

 * Twin barrel shotgun
 * Twin barrel shotgun (rubber slug variant)
 * Ithaca M37 pump-action shotgun
 * Long Barrel Ithaca M37
 * Ithaca M37 accurized model
 * Heckler &amp; Koch CAWS
 * SPAS-12
 * S1000 Shotgun (post-Peace Walker)

Assault rifles

 * M16A1  (MSF standard issue)
 * RK-47 (AK-47)
 * RK-47 w/grenade launcher
 * RK-47 w/smoke grenade launcher
 * Heckler &amp; Koch G11
 * M653 Carbine
 * M653 Carbine w/grenade launcher
 * M653 Carbine w/shotgun
 * M653 Carbine w/smoke grenade launcher
 * ADM63 (Pistol Mitralieră model 1963/PM md. 1963/AMD63)
 * ADM65 (Pistol Mitralieră model 1965/PM md. 1965/AMD65)
 * RPK
 * FN FAL
 * SUG (Steyr AUG)
 * AM MRS-4 Rifle (post-Peace Walker)
 * AM MRS-4 Rifle (SL) post-Peace Walker)
 * AM Rifle Type 69 (post-Peace Walker)
 * AM-69 AAS Rifle (post-Peace Walker)

Submachine guns

 * Ingram MAC-10
 * Ingram MAC-10 w/suppressor
 * Ingram MAC-10 w/bullet jacket
 * Uz61 (Vz.61 Scorpion)
 * Uz61 w/suppressor (Vz.61 Scorpion with suppressor)
 * Heckler & Koch MP5
 * MP5A2
 * MP5SD2
 * Thompson M1928A1
 * Sz.-336 SMG  (post-Peace Walker)

Sniper rifles

 * SVD
 * High-capacity SVD
 * Night-vision SVD
 * Walther WA2000
 * M1C Garand
 * Psyche recovery M1C
 * M21
 * Remington M700
 * Life recovery M700
 * M700 bull barrel
 * Mosin Nagant
 * PTRD-41
 * PTRS-41
 * Stealth Gun
 * Rail gun/dynamo
 * M2000 Sniper D (post-Peace Walker)

Machine guns

 * M60
 * Stoner M63
 * PK/PKM machine gun
 * Rheinmetall MG 3
 * M134 gatling gun
 * Electromagnetic wave gun

Missiles

 * RPG-2
 * RPG-7
 * FIM-43 Redeye
 * XFIM-92A (FIM-92 Stinger prototype)
 * Carl Gustav M2 recoilless rifle
 * Multipurpose Carl Gustav M2 recoilless rifle
 * Fulton-ammo Carl Gustav M2 recoilless rifle
 * M47 Dragon
 * M72 LAW
 * M202A1 FLASH
 * FB MR R-Launcher (post-Peace Walker)

Throwing weapons

 * AN M18 smoke grenade
 * M67 fragmentation grenade
 * Chaff grenade
 * Sleep gas grenade
 * AN M18 colored smoke grenade (red, blue, green, yellow, black)
 * M116/A1 stun grenade
 * Empty magazine
 * Support strike marker (thrown)
 * Support supply marker (thrown)
 * Electromagnetic net
 * Flare grenade (post-Peace Walker)

Placeable weapons

 * C4
 * Support supply marker (set)
 * Support strike marker (set)
 * M18A1 Claymore mine
 * M15 anti-tank mine
 * Aerial mine
 * Decoy
 * Fulton mine
 * Cookbook
 * Magazine
 * Solid Magazine
 * Liquid Magazine
 * Solidus Magazine
 * Super Magazine
 * M21 D-Mine (post-Peace Walker)

Mother Base weapons

 * Surface-to-surface anti-ground missiles


 * Anti-ship missiles


 * Rockets

Food and recovery items

 * Rations
 * Curry
 * Spicy Curry
 * Great Curry
 * Future Curry
 * Tortilla chips
 * Mate
 * Lime soda
 * Zero-calorie soda
 * Men's cologne
 * Various Caribbean fish and other aquatic animals
 * Gallo Pinto
 * Costa Rican coffee
 * French '72 Wine (ordered by MSF subcommander Kazuhira Miller in a failed attempt at impressing Cécile)
 * Bacon

Other equipment

 * Fulton surface-to-air recovery system
 * NVG
 * Stealth mat
 * Cardboard box
 * Love Box
 * Box-Tank
 * Stun Box-Tank
 * Smoke Box-Tank
 * Box Bomb
 * Stun Box
 * Smoke Box
 * Assassin's Straw Box
 * Rescue Box
 * Analyzer
 * Shield
 * Colored shields
 * Sonic Eye
 * Binoculars
 * Rangefinder camera
 * Sony Walkman
 * TPS-L2
 * WM-2
 * WM-EX88
 * NWD-W202
 * Stealth Camouflage
 * Radio w/ a circuit to reverse the audio phase.
 * Unidirectional signal headset (Colombia)

Radars

 * Soliton Radar
 * Surround Indicator

Temporary equipment

 * ID Card
 * Huey Emmerich's ID Card
 * Guard ID Card
 * Jigsaw

Vehicles

 * Jeeps (at least one) (Colombia)
 * Motorcycles (at least one) (Colombia)
 * Destroyers (at least three) (Colombia)
 * PT boats (at least one)
 * Tarawa-class amphibious assault ship (one)
 * LVT-5 Amphibious Assault Vehicles (at least four)
 * UH-1H Iroquois (at least 13)
 * Mi-24D "Hind D" (at least 6 )*
 * T-72 Ural tanks*
 * T-72A tanks*
 * KPz 70 tanks*
 * MBTk 70 tanks*
 * LAV-TypeG (Armored Vehicle General Purpose (AVGP): Grizzly prototypes)*
 * LAV-TypeC (Armored Vehicle General Purpose (AVGP): Cougar prototypes)*
 * BTR-60PAs*
 * BTR-60PBs*
 * Mi-24A Hind As*
 * AH56A Bombers*
 * AH56A Raiders*
 * Metal Gear ZEKE

* Several of these were stolen from Peace Sentinel. Also, some of the vehicles in question were also customized, giving a black and red hue.

After recruiting enough personnel, Mother Base's hangar section was expanded to include a strut containing a runway strip, implying that the MSF intended to use fighter jets or similar aircraft.

In 1975, because of the impending inspection by the IAEA that the MSF were forced to contend with, virtually all of their arsenal had been relocated to the shore, the only exceptions being Metal Gear ZEKE and one Hind D, the latter of which was to act as an extraction chopper at the last minute when Chico ended up getting himself captured by XOF at Cuba.

Known weapons and equipment invented
Although the Militaires Sans Frontières procured much of their weapons and equipment, or their design specifications to create their own variants, there were a few weapons and equipment that they invented themselves.


 * Metal Gear ZEKE
 * Stealth Gun
 * Support Strike Marker (pistol)
 * Support Supply Marker (pistol)
 * Mother Base Hexagon model
 * iDroid

Codename system
Similar to FOXHOUND and its predecessor FOX, the Militaires Sans Frontières utilized an animal based codename system for its various members outside of the highest level personnel. Below is an incomplete list of the codenames.

Behind the scenes
The Militaires Sans Frontières appears in Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker as the protagonist group led by the main player character. Through the Mother Base hub, the player can completely customize the organization, expanding it via member recruitment, assigning soldiers to certain units, and even utilizing these soldiers during missions, with each possessing various levels of expertise for different job roles.

The name Militaires Sans Frontières is reminiscent of the Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), a secular humanitarian-aid non-governmental organization created in 1971, best known for its projects in war-torn regions and developing countries facing endemic disease. In a trailer for the HD version of Peace Walker, it is stated that the group is not in any way affiliated with or inspired by the real MSF, which is also included in the intro for the game.

It is possible that Snake utilized the resources for Army's Heaven in order to form the Militaires Sans Frontières, which he received from Gene during Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops.

According to the Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Official Art Works book, the MSF logo was originally going to be a shield with an eye-patched skull inside that has a knife in its mouth, in reference to both the FOXHOUND logo and the logo for the Outer Heaven mother company. In addition, the banner was originally going to have the motto "The choice is between loyalty to one's country, or loyalty to oneself," derived from a saying The Boss told Big Boss while he was Naked Snake. Storyboard concept art included in the same book also showed that the MSF camp in Barranquilla Coast was originally going to be destroyed in a fire, presumably caused by Zadornov, causing the MSF to then move by boat to Mother Base, to which Big Boss was then sent by a Huey helicopter to his arrival point at Playa del Alba. The last image also had him standing with several backpacks, implying that the story originally intended for Big Boss to be leading a group through Playa del Alba in order to investigate the shipping facility.

According to both concept art located in the Official Art Works book and Kutaka Negishi, the female MSF soldiers, when donning naked uniforms, were originally going to end up topless barring their equipment harness. However, it was edited to have them wearing a tank top instead due to various circumstances. He also stated that he was only allowed to show the back of one ripped render of the original concept, although he hoped to release the front in the future.

The balaclavas worn by the soldiers of MSF bear a resemblance to the FaceCamo mask from Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. Both appear to be made from a leather-like material with similar stitching, and feature attached components partially lining either side of the jaw, with the only major difference being the presence of eye holes for the MSF.

During GDC 2012, Kojima Productions did an engineer-recruitment event for their next Metal Gear Solid game and the FOX Engine. The event was named "Development Without Borders," a reference to the English translation of the MSF.

Notes and references
Militaires Sans Frontières