Re-routed to here. Continue on as before.

I wholeheartedly agree w/you on the 'roadblock' POV.  we need to diminish the barriers that get and keep folks in our grand Navy.

who among you saw the real reason for noob DiDreg's quick exit last week...i did, he took one look at the readings and tests and said, "thank you, no" and skeedaddled.

the quicker we throw these tests onto the dustheap of history the better.

I hated the exam system back when I was NTO. It has its purposes in ... certain other divisions in the VE ... but it's not necessary within the Navy. There are plenty of other factors the NHC can use to decide whether or not a pilot is worthy of promotion.

Glad you asked, Arturo, and this is where I was hoping we could get some suggestions going.  While the materials on leadership type things will probably be directed by commanders, other pieces of a more technical nature, like on the way a TIE fighter runs/operates, or on tactics, or whatever have you, could be (I thought) incentivized.  If people read them, then we could actually write short tests to show understanding, and then offer something in return for their efforts.  Perhaps after every exam, a certain monetary value is given, but after three, you're given, in addition to the ICs, something more substantial.  Not a medal, but perhaps an additional patch to the ID that signifies someone's knowledge, much like the ComNet gives titles to people according to their post number.  At the time, I thought we could also link it into the Skills/Proficiencies System, and offer people more points or a higher status for their 'education,' so to speak.  If nothing else, it could be something that, again, commanders could use as a benchmark in promotions.  We shouldn't guarentee that, but if mentioned in reports, commanders might take note and use that in combination with other factors to perhaps promote slightly earlier.  I'm kind of spit-ballin though: other thoughts?

Shaz and Gunnay,

take a look at the 'Imperial War College' section in my Academy proposal...i think this would be the place to put that 'higher level' portion you've talked about.

Here's another idea:

Create manuals and tests for:
-single fighter tactics
-wingman tactics
-flight tactics
-squadron tactics
-energy weapons
-missiles
-fighters
-frigates
-destroyers
etc etc etc

This will take time, but there is no downside to doing it over time.

Now, make each one of these specific tests graded on the following scale (for example, could be tweaked):

95-100%: Expert
85-95%: Superior
75-85%: Qualified
65-75%: Adequate
Below 65%: Failed

Say, for every test passed as an Expert, add 1k ICs to monthly pay. Superior 500, Qualified 250 and Adequate 100. Also, encourage people to add these to their ID lines, IE:
[INSERT/RANDOM/ID/LINE/HERE]
Rated Expert in: squadron tactics, fighters, frigates
Rated Superior in: energy weapons
Rated Qualified in: frigates
Rated Adequate in: destroyers


Also, have the tests be multiple-choice so theyre easy to grade and make them standard, too. Say 20 questions per test. 10 easy question, 7 difficult questons, and 3 hard questions (as advised by submittor of test to be accepted by NTO).


@Atrasin: Link to War College post? Couldnt find it :/

ID lines tend to get hellishly long already, so I'll pass on the additional tags. Instead, we could easily add a section to our wiki pages detailing what areas we've rated expert in.

I'm really excited about the idea to give points for the CPS upon completion of optional exams and/or for work to create guides. That's a great incentive and something that's easily done.

-Drac

Ah, sorry, yea adding to the Wiki pages is cool. I just meant throw them in your sig or something as a "hey look what Ive done" type of thing.

i'd say that when you pass your MAE to get into OCS you automatically become an Ensign, because you're now in training to become an officer, and an Ensign is essentially a officer in training rank.

The system will focus on defining what areas a character has developed skill in. One part of this for all current members will include taking a look at past missions and evaluating performance in them. If a said mission meets the requirements (4 posts that do something to develop the character in some way) points will be awarded for that mission.

The best way to describe it is to say that it's simply putting numbers to the weaknesses and strengths we all write into our characters.

(Note: I'll be writing up a guide on how to use the system, which will be posted in the VENA section.)

-Drac

/me scratches his head in confusion

That guide must be necessary Drac, cuz I can't figure out what exactly to to.  Is it that, or am I an idiot? 

Don't answer that...

I agree with Will- as our current situation proves, stagnation is our worst enemy.

(This is long- I appologize, but I'm ganna take this opportunity to not only comment on the previous point, but also lay a proposition for how I figure folks will be instructed, with or without exams.)

I'm actually with Ibram on this one: I'd like to get a better understanding of this system and 'test' it before making it a piece of the Navy's fabric. If we tried to integrate it wholesale, much like if we tried to simply pool recruits into a CSS program, the process would be messy, frustrating, and probably result in failure. Therefore- when it comes to the CPS- I suggest Drac and maybe a few others do a trial run for themselves, even if they think they really understand it. Try making one from scratch by yourselves and be objective with yourselves: Is it time-consuming? Is it potentially confusing? How much help will people need moving it along? And, perhaps over the course of a story- are points (like our problems with promotions) being assigned and allocated accordingly? I haven't read through the details, of course, so some of the above may not be necessary questions, but step outside your creation and really ask yourself if it's working in the Navy's interest. That being said, I have plenty of faith that you'd do so anyway. Don't be abashed if you find something wrong with it and it needs some serious reworking either: it takes time to make programs work effectively.

Den (welcome to the discussion) and Driver: I'm thinking that what you're promoting here is a series of tests that would cover technical materials, as well as more philosophic ones.  You've also included some reviews of writing samples.  All of these materials and exams are aimed at creating a sort of pre-requisite to command positions (SC and higher), right?.  Now, I've voiced my concerns about making tests so that you can promote off of them, but you've heard that spiel, so let me attack this from a different angle.  Hope I'm not sounding arrogant, lol, but hear me out:

Let's just say you get all of these materials together and everything is perfected: very well articulated.  Let's also say that we've got a pilot that's super active and has great potential for command. Assumedly, the pilot will ask the SC for a recommendation to take the MAE, because he assumes he's going to be eligable for officerhood/promotions, etc.  The SC gives the okay, and the pilot heads off to the war college.  While the pilot is enthused, his reaction is evident: "Holy crap- this is a lot of material," he says.  He'll dive through it of course, but it's hard work on top of his devotion to his squadron.  "It's a bitch," is often heard.

That comment, which I've heard many times before, is an indicator that we're missing something very important.  While our heads are in the right place (asking people to learn technical information improves their writing), we're actually shifting the focus from learning and fun, to a struggle over completing this exam.  You might say- "well the materials are shorter and cleaner," but then the test is hardly worth putting together: we don't want pilots to learn a minimum so that they can be worthy of officerhood.  The point is that the materials at the War College have to be gradually introduced, not dropped into someone's lap when they want to take the test. If you want the War College to work, you can't just spring it on them: they should have already read most of those materials by the time they're asked to test.

This means starting in the squadron: as a pilot shows activity and ambition, the SC's must recognize that pilot's efforts and reinforce them.  But how?  Usually, pilots showing promise are given positions like flight leader, graduating them to a higher level of responsibility and insight.  In addition to this, however, SCs should also begin to offer reading material to these members.  One page at a time of course, selected from a suggested list of links, so that the pilot is never overwhelmed; I suspect that pilots will also be more enthusiastic about the materials if they feel their commander is behind them.  As time goes on, and more materials are digested, that individual's writing will evolve and their level of detail will become greater.  At this point, the mission is accomplished: members are legitametly better read than they were before, and have a number of resources from which to develop ideas.  But what about the test?  Again, no test can show drive or enthusiasm, desire or leadership; what they can do is make measurements.  And, perhaps after six to seven months, an appropriate measurement should be taken.  So, the SC would suggest to the pilot that they take the Master Aviator's Exam, a test to examine how the pilot's technical understanding has grown.

Perhaps you've caught it, but I've already defined the MAE differently.  Instead of saying- "I want you to become a commander, so I'd like you to take this test," we're saying- "you've learned a lot: now let's see where you stand among peers."  You see, the test is a test of your knowledge: it's not a benchmark or means of promotion.  It provides an individual with an understanding of how they measure up: that's it.  Therefore, there is no expectation associated with taking the test: you won't be promoted and you won't be given a position.  Despite that, I'm confident most pilots would welcome the challenge of a knowledge/trivia based exam. 

Therefore, positions and promotions will not have pre-requesites like "MAE" or "FOCE" - they are still, primarilly, driven by activity and leadership skills.  Therefore, the integrity of the system (work hard and you will be rewarded) remains intact; simultaneously, our pilots are offered a way to show their superior knowledge, whilst becoming better writers and valuable resources to the Navy.

Again- the test means nothing to anyone except the individual- it's a mark of one's pursuit for self-knowledge. And perhaps we could offer more challenging exams beyond the MAE, like the FOCE, which could be over philosophical materials like Tzu's the Art of War, but again: it means nothing in regards to positions or promotions- it's for the individual.  If you choose to do the opposite: promote and position off of exams, you're asking for trouble, guys.  Take a glance at my previous posts to see the whirlwind of problems associated with said concept.

As you can see, the SC/XOs are playing a larger role in training, too: it's not the academy. Why? Because the squadron command staff is in the best position to determine who is ready for these materials, and can introduce them gradually without a massive layer of bureaucracy. Can the VENA-S do that? Hardly- they're completely disconnected and can see things only as they pop up.  The role of the VENA-S is to maintain and update the wiki, improve the wiki (graphics, better writing), supervise BT, and assist pilots and commanders in the locating of materials.  I can also see where the VENA-S could, potentially, open a small training group for individuals falling behind on their writing (though I can't see it as a core principle right now).

While I would encourage this approach if implemented correctly, I stress also that, by placing the role of trainer on SCs and XOs, we have to make sure that we're not overwhelming our commanders as well.  Instead, this has to be a culture change where the SCs and XOs, instinctivelly, view the progress of a pilot and say- "Hey, you should read this- it'll make you even better."  Anywho- That's my spiel: sorry for the long explanation, but it's my best laid plan at this point.

*Shrugs* I'm new to this group of people, so uh.. Hi.

Now that this has been effectively dug up from the grave, anybody want to continue discussion?