Well, I’ll be so bold to say thing directly: no, you all are freelancers on the service of very limited part of SAF, not an actual military.
How so? Can Commander Kim with her rank request and command a combat group of Navy vessels? Can she at all interact with Black Rise Wing of CalNav? And of course — I don’t believe that I repeat what was said by freaking goon — do you all get a salary each month like in military?
Mind you, there’s nothing wrong with being a mercenary — after all SAF itself see nothing wrong in hiring PMCs if need arise. And Commander Kim have good combat skills. It’s just about how it works.