Hey folks. I'm working with a few people to finalize an Academy Training system.

The current idea is as such:

1) To NOT have the recruits write a Character Biography right from the get-go. I've had a few comments so far requesting that the biography be postponed until the recruits can flesh out their characters - see who they want to be. I like how Mako put it: having the recruits submit a biography right from the beginning was like handing over the money without trying out the product first. The Character Biography thing could be left to the SL of the recruit's new squad once the recruit figures out who they want their character to be. We may even be able to create a medal/pin for it (accomplishment pins).

2) Have the new recruits jump into some action right away. The four Echelon squads will be treated like normal squads, each headed by a Drill Instructor. The Drill Instructor would create a very short story (capture the flag, capture the bunker, destroy this facility, etc. - basically any other small simulation). This would get the new recruits posting as a group right from the start - the perfect means of allowing them to taste for what's about to come.

Right now, I'd like to get your ideas (mainly from the new guys) about what you would have liked to have seen once you joined the Stormtrooper Corps.

What were you expecting to see from the Academy Training System, and what would you like to see added to the system?

I think the first story idea is a great one. We can see what a recruit is capable of putting out within the first week instead of going through this process where they write a bio and wait to be placed in a squad. If they're thrown right into the action, i think they're more likely to stick around.

I'm hardly a new guy, hell, I don't even know what it's like to join these days.

Still, The first story idea is good, but if you remember Drill stories they invariable died. This is what I suggest: At the end of each week get all the recruits from that week and start a simulation story with them, make it last a week whether it's finished or not, if it's not finished delete it, if they actually do finish it leave it up. Give them something shiny if they finish it. Don't let people join in the middle of it, that will only confuse the new kids. It's confusing enough when it happens to a full squad of people who have been here awhile and have had to try and write people in. Instead make them wait until the next simulation begins. Even if there's only one or two new troopers in it it should still probably be started. Now for the people who join mid-week you can have them keep up on the on-going story so they know how the system works, they can work on a bio, or get familiarized with the site/mIRC/Wiki that sort of thing.

[Edit: Dunno how many recruits we get these days but it might work better to have two different stories running, one that gets started on Wednesday and another on Sunday for example.]

I fully support old Snipes's idea. The training stories however, must be staggered, following a weekly cycle, with a total of four simulation stories in a week. However, to lead these drill squads, I believe that there must be a dedicated cadre of a minimum of two full-time Drill Instructors. For the sake of my explanation, I will call them Alpha and Bravo.

Forthnightly cycle :

Week 1 : First Drill Story, led by DI Alpha.

Recruits for the squad story to be gathered from the last week of the previous month.

Like Snipes mentioned, recruit who joined within this week will not post on the squad story, but instead work on their basic orientation of the VE's functions (mIRC, Comnet, biography outline) as well as the briefing for their squad story.

Week 2 : Second Drill Story, led by DI Bravo.

The second drill story is then initiated at the conclusion of the first story, and is exclusively for recruits who have signed up during the first week of the cycle. If the recruit intake is too low for the first week etc less than 2 recruits, make them wait for the next story.

The cycle is then repeated indefinitely.

Before such a program is launched, there has to be alot resources planned. These include the establishment of several standardized mission templates so that Drill Instructors do not have to come up with something novel everytime; there's too many time constraints.

Secondly, there has to be an evaluation system put in place to determine how well recruits have done.

Thirdly, the assignment and selection of Drill Instructors is key. For my proposal, I have put down the number to two DIs. I believe that the DI has to be a full-time position as I strongly doubt that "part-time" DIs will be able to find time to post on squad stories etc. Perhaps there may be Auxilliary DIs assigned in the event that a full-time DI is on leave or resigns.

The Drill Instructor also has to be a seasoned veteran and not any tom, dick or harry with proven leadership skills. He has to be disciplined as he has to lead his Drill Squad in a story that is solely for the purposes of training and has to follow a strict mission template. The last thing you want is a DI who goes overboard with twists and turns in a story and it fails not because of the recruits but because of their DI.

I see where this idea may die too, but I'm going to throw it out here.

Some sort of study test. I know in the past we have pointed to example writings, but take aside a squad perhaps, one that works well together, and have them write a short story on a simple subject, nothing too complicated, and then give the recruits a short exam on in. Just 10-20 questions on basic plot lines, recoginising the flow of a story and how some things contributed to it, or not even that complicated.

This is based off something I've noticed in a lot of new writers, and I did myself and that is the brash bull rush towards one thing, often disrupting or ignoring the rest of the squad. Subtley is often key in a good writing peace. I know that skill comes with practice, and we can't expect new recruits to know these things right off the bat, but if we atleast give them something to chew over, maybe as a final exam that doesn't really get graded, then we can point them in the right direction for future writings and give our higher ups and their SL to come a helping hand on where they need guidance. The school system has been doing this with mixed results for...well a loooooooong time.

-smirk-

Go for the walk :P