Today's Prefect Report will include the following: Last meeting's notes (awards/promotions), Quality Writing Method (QWM): updates and clarifications, new rank "limitations", and some future happenings for several of our Assistant Squad Leaders.

2.8.2009 Meeting Notes

We have some great updates, so be sure to read down this list and look for your Callsign!

Promotions
Private Alucard-Hex --> Private First Class
Private First Class Tyrantis --> Lance Corporal
Private Beta40 --> Private First Class
Corporal Ron --> Sergeant

Medals
Lance Corporal Tyrantis --> Emperor's Will 2nd Class [EW2]

Quote:Emperor's Will 2nd Class [EW2]

Awarded to members who have shown dedication, loyalty, and outstanding activity in his/her platoon. This award has two classes; 1st Class, 2nd Class. The first is higher than the second. It may be awarded by Platoon Commanders and above.

Gold Cross Recipients
Awarded to members who have posted over 250+ storynet posts. It is awarded by the Executive Officer.

1st Lieutenant Riqimo
Sergeant First Class Angel
First Sergeant AlanRJ
Sergeant First Class Aeos
Platoon Sergeant Dante
First Sergeant Sniping101
First Sergeant Luckystar

Silver Cross Recipients
Given to members who have posted over 175 storynet posts. It is awarded by the Executive Officer.

Senior Sergeant Saphira Striker
First Sergeant Kanderin
Platoon Sergeant Rogueboy
Sergeant Major Arnaut
Senior Sergeant RK
Sergeant Major Kairo
Platoon Sergeant Giovanni
Sergeant First Class Zafo
Platoon Sergeant Kurioishi
Major Raziel
Sergeant Major Argon Viper
Corporal Zeshaun
Gunnery Sergeant Garet Daimun

Bronze Cross Recipients
Presented to stormtroopers who have posted over 75 storynet posts. It is awarded by the Executive Officer.

Sergeant Major Ramon Stonefish
Cyanus (DJO-Only now)
Senior Sergeant TK-112
Sergeant First Class Sam
Senior Sergeant Leon
Lance Corporal Nick
Gunnery Sergeant Garryl Gates
Gunnery Sergeant Orobos

OOC:

"NOTE: These tallies DO NOT Include the Old Comnet....any entities that might include their posts on there are NOT in this list (or it wont make a difference) I have the info I need to award the medals today...but for record's sake i want to go and get the rest of them." - Lieutenant General Rizzit

Commendations
Private Njall: Recruiting Commendation {RCRT}: Awarded for each active recruit you bring into the corps.  This is typically given after the recruit has been active in a squad for a month. This commendation may be awarded by the Commander of Training (and above).


Quality Writing Method (QWM)

As most of you know, your Platoon Commanders/Platoon Adjutants and Squad Leaders/Assistant Squad Leaders have begun their "training" in the Quality Writing Method.

For those who do not know what the Quality Writing Method (QWM) is, here is a brief description: The Vast Empire is primarily a Play-By-Post (forum-based) Star Wars club. If writing is our primary form of participation and activity, should we not be fluent and skilled writers to back up our beloved club? We (the Command Staff) are not looking for perfection or "amazing novelists/writers". All that we're working toward is to have people add more detail into their writing: elaborating on character's emotions, thoughts, actions, environment, creating logical/reasonable story plots, etc. That's it! Nothing more. The QWM Training Sessions your superiors are going through are to help them along with how to add more detail to their writing.

What comes next?: Once they've completed their "training", they will then apply what they've learned to the rest of the squad - therefore hopefully getting everyone oriented and writing with the QWM in mind (in other words: getting people to write with more detail and using logical/reasonable story plots).

We're currently in the middle of evaluating people, so (Squad members) be sure to try and up your detail as well!


Squad Ranking System Amendment

Something crossed my mind the other day, and I went to Talon for advice on the matter. Basically, I realized that we have quite a few squad members with the rank of "Sergeant" or above. The reality of having a squad full of Captains and Colonels soon slapped me upside the head. So, to prevent this, a new "rank limitation" will be enforced:

- Squad Members cannot go beyond the rank of Sergeant Major (unless they've taken an Officer's Exam).
- Squad Leaders cannot go beyond the rank of Captain.
- And as a NOTE: Army High Command Adjutants will not be able to go beyond the rank of High Colonel unless they become Advisors.

This actually works out well for story puroses as well.


Assistant Squad Leaders Update

Raider's Squad Leader position is open, and so the Army High Command is looking at it's current list of Assistant Squad Leaders to fill that position. To determine who will fill that position, we're going to have an ASL Write-Off competition. Details are as follows:

Participating ASLs: Garryll Gates, Gaz, Ron

*Dante is not on that list because he is unsure of his Internet access reliability.

Competition Details
The Write-Off competition will be composed of a multi-section evaluation. All participating ASLs will be submitting the following parts of the test to a specified group of individuals:

Part 1: Character Development - if you don't know your own character, you will not be able to efficiently and effectively lead other people's characters. (For the ASLs that have submitted QWM Character Development stories - you may either continue to use those or you may create entirely new background histories).

Part 2: A new 'Opening Squad Story post' - in this section, you will write the introductory post for a fictitious squad story. This section will be used to evaluate your ability to write a comprehensive post including clearly-defined mission objectives and story plot line (in other words, we're testing your ability to set clear squad objectives and to see if you can come up with a plot line that ain't stupid. :P)

Part 3: Written Exam - this section will include hypothetical scenario questions for the following topics: Leadership, plot line development, and a few more topics that may be included that have yet to be determined.

The Army High Command (AHC) and Wild Card Platoon Commander will be evaluating these stories/tests.


Important! ASLs - Read!
It has come to my attention that the ASLs not listed in "Participating ASLs" have stated their reason as being "Preferring not to be in another squad if not required/Waiting to be SL of their current squad/Unwilling to move up-move out of the squad..." I think I've covered most of the explanations.

I will reiterate the definition of Assistant Squad Leader: The ASL has been defined as a "Squad Leader In Training", and has been given the privilege of being in temporary command of the squad in the event the Squad Leader is unable to perform his/her duties. It has also been "added"/implied/stated that the individuals in those ASL positions are there because they want to become leaders in the Stormtrooper Corps, and are individuals who are willing to move up and accept the privileged position of "Squad Leader" if the need arises.

This may not please some of you, but this is what's going to happen: those ASL positions are there to help train the people that want leadership experience and that want/are willing to move into any necessary Squad Leader positions. They are the first line of candidates the AHC looks at when considering potential SL candidates. If you are not willing to become a Squad Leader (of another squad) should the need arise, you should consider stepping down from your position of Assistant Squad Leader. If you are seated in the ASL position and are not willing to move up, you are holding back an opportunity for someone else to excel and move up the ladder.

***IMPORTANT NOTE!: Keep in mind that being an ASL does not guarantee your position as Squad Leader. Being an ASL helps you become a future Squad Leader because you'd be viewed as having more experience in leadership and running a squad. However, there are others that we may deem more "capable" than any current ASL, and that individual will be selected as Squad Leader. Remember: these positions are positions of power, and the command staff will choose whomever they think is capable to lead the squad in question. In other words, being in a squad for a long time will not guarantee your elevation in position to SL in that squad. If the command staff deems you capable of the SL position in that squad, then you will be chosen.

All Squad Leaders will be spoken to regarding this matter, and PCs will then assist SLs in choosing an ASL that is willing and ready to be promoted to Squad Leader (in any squad) should the need arise. If anyone has any questions, concerns, or comments about this, please send me a message via ComNet Message Center, and I can provide further explanation.



That is all for today's Prefect's Report.


All hail the Vast Empire!