How Common Are Mages in the Military?, Kind of an off-shoot Options

[Ascalaphus]

I propose that mages are used by the military in two ways:

"Square" mages, are the mages who take orders well, have a "straight" style of magic that the top brass doesn't get uncomfortable about. These are assigned to army units to provide magical protection and assistance; they're considered fit for fraternizing with the troops.
In the UCAS/CAS, these are Hermetic, Psionic, Christian Theurgy (double as souped-up chaplain), relaxed Qabbalists and Hedge Wizards. In Japan, Shinto and Wuxing wizards. In the UK, NDM Druids are deeply in bed with the government still, including the army. In the NAN, Shamans, Wiccans and Hedge Wizards replace Christian Theurgists and Qabbalists, and Hermetics are rare but still welcome.
These mages can become pretty popular, like a unit's mascot. They're often in it to serve their country (because the corps would pay a lot more). The military probably sponsors initiatory groups for them.

"Trouble" mages , are mages that don't fit into regular military units. Some have Mentor spirits that essentially make them Lone Hero types, which is still pretty okay. Others have Mentor spirits with subversive tendencies or widely mistrusted traditions. These mages ill often have a custom unit assigned to support them, rather then the mage being assigned to something. The military sees a brilliant but troublesome person, and finds a use for them, rather than trying to fit them into an existing structure that won't work. (Of course, if a shaman in the UCAS army starts behaving really oddly, and the brass thinks he's a spy for the NAN, he'll still be terminated. That's another part of what that custom unit is for; keep an eye on the troublemage.)
These guys are kept at a distance from the troops, because they're essentially untrusted and creepy. They'd undemine morale and discipline, but they can be spectacular black ops.

[Brainpiercing7.6...]

I dig that.

It's too bad Shadowrun 4e went the opposite way, and allows you to add the chanting etc. back in as an experienced mage (via Centering).

Heh, just like SR3 it made real sense to take a geas like Gesturing, if you got to keep your magic up with it, and now the Geas is just a stupid negative quality.