Pilots attend,

BGCOM Report for February 12, 2001

ASF and TC News.

• If you have not heard, AD Priyum Patel is now the Flight Officer.  He has been doing a splendid job of staying on top of all the various requests sent his way.
• CMDR Fondor has stepped down from Python CMDR/XV.  More on that in a bit.
• CMDR Raxis Kreiger has stepped down from Odin CMDR/XIII.  RL issues have caught up with him.  For his faithful service, he has been promoted to CPT and awarded a Bronze Star.
• CMDR Xura Verr has also stumbled upon RL, forcing him to step down from Phoenix CMDR.  That position is still open.
• February XvT WoW begins on Friday!  I am submitting Vengeance Comp registration to the TO.
• Stars will come to any who rank among the Top Ten WoW pilots.  Brighter stars will adorn those honored few if EH earns a club WoW medal from BSC.
• Pilot who accumulates the most Game Wins (XvT combined with XWA) will win an IS-GW.  Second and third place prizes will also be awarded.
• ASF Flag Officers (VA Cyric, VA Pel, MAJ Brakka, RA Ender_mBind, MAJ Khadgar, MAJ Death) are cordially invited to participate in this month's WoWs.  The ASF Flag Officer who scores highest, as long as he is higher than me, in this XvT WoW will earn an IS-BW (approval pending).
• The squad with the highest percentage of participation will recieve IS-CRs (or IS-BWs) to all participating pilots (50% minimum participation required).
• I have challenged COM/RA Samuel Shadd III/DGN Lichtor V (Prae Squadron) to a personal FCHG race.  SureFire Entry and quit messages are at stake.  Any good suggestions for the Weasel's SF lines when he loses?

Notes about ASF MP requirements:

    While Fondor's stepping down from Python CMDR has brought ASF CMDR MP policy into the limelight, there are three things I have asked from my CMDRs in the past and that I ask my COMs to ask of their CMDRs now.

• Good communication with squadron, through on-time and meaningful reports and communication tools such as IRC, ICQ, AIM, FireTalk, RogerWilco or whatever works between a CMDR and his pilot.
• The goal here is to make the pilot feel a part of the squad and ship.
• Prompt submissions of plt files sent up for BSFs.  Ideally, all BSFs will be done within 48 hours.  The CMDR should do them within the first 24 hours.  If he foresees that he can not, he should forward the BSF to the WC.  If the WC foresees that he will be unable to do them, the WC should forward the plt file(s) to the COM.
• The goal here is to help the pilot see that his work is noticed and important.
• Flying
• Completion of approximately 75% of all of the ship's primary platform SP battles (TC, IW, and DB).  This not only provides a more impressive profile for the CMDR, but it also helps the CMDR determine if he will assign a battle as a squad comp.  The CMDR will know how to assist new pilots with installation of EH Custom battles.  The CMDR may also be able to help his pilots with tactical problems of a battle (what needs to be done to meet mission objectives) and with general problems of a battle (how to fly in a minefield, et. al.)
• The CMDR becomes some one in the squad who is helping build squadron citations.
• The CMDR can better relate to his pilots when they come to him with problems.
• Pilots can be prepared for CMDR slots by encouraging them to fly as many battles of the ship's primary platform as they can.
• MP flying: we are ASF!  Supposedly, we are the home of the TC's multiplayer pilots.  My general rule of thumb for CMDR participation is: Participation in one MP comp each week throughout the interval inbetween promotions.  Those looking for promotions to LC and COL should fly in two MP comps each week they are not on leave.  Regular WoW participation (ranking in WoW when searching for higher TC ranks) is also encouraged.
• The goal is to help the pilot become familiar with the times and places of various MP comps as well as with battlestats and the MS Zone.
• Another part of the goal is to help the pilot learn how to host and how to join MP games.
• Interaction between CMDR and pilot will increase, especially when they fly with each other in EH comps and at WoW.
• Note: Participation is far more important than wins.  While everyone would like to have perfect records when they fly MP (99 wins in 99 matches), that is not a practical goal for anyone.  Skill, lag and other factors combine to make such a high record improbable.  When I look at a profile when promotion time is near, I ask myself these questions: How often does this pilot fly MP?  How many matches in each comp?  Does this pilot only fly a select few pilots?

While piloting skill may not determine good leadership skills, good teamwork is a prime attribute of leadership.  A pilot who knows his role on the team, flies his assigned SP missions - and more - as well as setting aside time to fly MP on a regular basis demonstrates that teamwork.  He is helping to build squadron citations, which is a strong indicator of squadron teamwork and squadron stability.  He is also likely to be encouraging his squadmates and his wingmates to fly with and against him.

When all is said, MP is for most a rather difficult task.  This is precisely the reason why ASF CMDRs should be MP pilots. If an ASF CMDR is successful in getting his pilots to fly MP yet doesn't fly himself, the MP pilots quickly realize just how much work MP is. The MP pilots also realize just how insignificant MP is to their future ASF and TC careers, which in turn encourages many to drop away from MP.

ASF! Com hear our TIEs howl! :)

BGCOM/VA Chrusos Ichthys/Aggressor Strike Force SSx3/BSx3/PCx6/ISMx10/MoI-BC/MoT-1rh1gh/LoC-PSx150/DFCx3/CoS/CoL/CoB/OV [EXCR] {IWATS-SM/2-M/1/2-IIC/1/2/3-XTT-XTM-GFX} http://www.emperorshammer.ca/asf