Introduction

In the last couple of months we've seen a great wealth of activity, and, though the stories have not been completed, we (higher-ups I suppose) have decided that many of our members have reached the proper point in time for a promotion.  A promotion, mind you, is given on the basis of activity; thus, active duty.  Despite high activity, if a member doesn't receive a promotion, they shouldn't be alarmed or dismayed in any way; chances are, if he or she is active and continues to be active, a promotion is on its way.  However, there are various factors considered when we discuss our pilots' activity, such as time, difficulty and intensity of activity.  With those considerations in mind, your squadron commanders and I have seen fit to reward the following people with an increase in rank and all of the perks that come with it (greater availability to testing, programs, an increase in Imperial Credit Income, and free drinks for little or no reason at all.)  Furthermore, below the list of promotions, is a list of position changes.  Position changes are generally decided on the basis of function and also have their own associated benefits; for our purposes, various members have been switched to achieve more articulate and logical leadership.  SCs, for instance, have been put into the Flight Member (FM) position so that members can take their Flight Lead (FL) position and begin to gain experience in the field of leadership.  While SCs may remain the FL position in story format, these new FLs will handle the actual day-to-day activities of the flight and ensure its success.  This is part of a Naval wide plan to increase the number of our members with command experience so that we might call on more of our men and women to lead us in the advent of new positions and groups.  Now that I've spoken quite enough, let's take a look.  These are the Imperial Navy changes in position and rank:

Promotions

Nazgul Squadron:

  -Leading Crewman Gshlecc is promoted to the rank of Senior Crewman (SCRW)
  -Leading Crewman Lamel Evas is promoted to the rank of Senior Crewman (SCRW)

Note:  Many of the members of Nazgul Squadron are new recruits and have been very recently promoted while yet others are high enough on the scale that either greater time or other factors are considered before promotions are given.

Viper Squadron:

Flight One'
  -Senior Crewman Aleia Dreycon is promoted to the rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class (PO2)
  -Senior Crewman Anden Beliam promoted to the rank of Petty Officer 1st Class (PO1)
  -Leading Crewman Sicario promoted to the rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class (PO2)
Flight Two'
  -Senior Crewman Fulfiller promoted to the rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class (PO2)
  -Petty Officer 2nd Class Mira O'Riley to the rank of Petty Officer 1st Class (PO1)
Flight Three'
  -Petty Officer 1st Class Ibram Tyrol promoted to the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer (SCPO)
  -Leading Crewman Zane ZyCrusis promoted to the rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class (PO2)

Position Changes

1.  Jegora Fal has been moved from FM of Flight One in Nazgul Squadron to FL of Flight One. 
2.  Gshlecc has been moved from FM of Flight Three in Nazgul Squadron to FL of Flight Three. 
3.  Max Fagron has been moved from FL of Flight Three in Nazgul Squadron to Nazgul 11.
4.  Anden Beliam has been moved from FM of Flight One in Viper Squadron to FL of Flight One.
5.  Tomas has been moved from FL of Flight One in Viper Squadron to Viper 3.

-Than Sion has been moved from Viper 12 to Wing Adjutant.  He will serve in an advisory seat for the next week or so, and continue to help squadrons in what capacities he can.

Closing

Note, now, that other rewards have not been given at this time; I suppose we'd kind of like to sneak up on you with this type of information.  Also, since some people were not promoted today, it's possible they will be in the near future, so keep your eyes and your ears open.  Understand that these increases in rank are rewards for your fantastic activity throughout your time here, but know also that they represent an increase in a pilot's overall maturity, the growth of a pilot's writing, leadership and community skills, and that it is synonymous with integrity.  As you grow in rank, position and stature throughout the VEN, so to should you grow in integrity.  Thank you all for putting such a great deal of time and effort into your squadrons, the VE community and your own characters: it shows.  I'm intrigued to see what our pilots have in store for the Navy next, but seeings how they all seem to exhibit a great deal of guts and personal motivation, I'm not overly fearful.  Note also that your current SCs and FLs have done a great deal to hold your groups together, often putting in long hours of supporting posts to ensure success.  Also- SCs: if I've made an errors: inform me and they'll be corrected.  The VENA Portal and roster will also be updated this evening.  Until next time, pilots, keep rockin' and avoid flying in straight lines whenever possible.  PEACE.

-LCP Shazam (Commander of Phoenix Wing and Training)

=) I think we are all just trying process everything.

But, yes, I would like to extend my congratulations to everyone who received a promotion. Keep up all the hard work and I think we will be able to reach new heights in the stories, as members of the VE, as friends.

Let's do this!

All I can say is..wow. Thank you to Trevor for his help getting things going, and to all of the good folks in in VEN. I will do my utmost to not let anyone down. Once again, Thank you.

I also offer a hearty congrats to all of those who received promotions and new jobs. Keep up the good work.

Congratulations everyone, and well done.

If i may, I'd just like to ask a question for clarification:

- The Squadron Commanders are still the Squadron commanders, but are not flight Leaders - correct?

Does this mean the SC just flies with the flight, or is one flight going to be a man down?

Sorry, as Anden said, still trying to process this lol

OK....Still slightly confused, but i'll live lol.

Don't mean to nit-pick here, but wouldn't it be better just to split the Squadron up by 3's instead of 4's? That way there's an extra position for a Flight leader.

Not that i don't think this will work, it's just that not having the Squadron Commander as {squadron name} 1 seems a bit alien to me.

So, in terms of administration, the new "Flight 1" leader is responsible for the members of Flight one (excecpt the SC) ?

In terms of Stories....the SC is still in the #1 spot?

Is that correct?

Lol- that's about right on.  Especially the "SC has a big job" part.  Often we accept what we see from the surface as "Oh- that's what an SC does."  But I disagree a little bit.  Let me give you what is, in my opinion, the job of an SC: to manage the FLs and teach them to better teach their FMs, to decide on medals, promotions and other fines/rewards, to discuss and plan stories with the XO and to help guide the squadron to bigger and better things, not to mention managing the morale; lol- I just gave this speech to Tom.  As of right now- I'm not sure how effectively that's really happening- the SC is supposed to be monitoring and managing his FMs just as closely as his FLs: he's watching five people while trying to carry out his other duties.  I was telling this to one of our pilots a little while ago, but my biggest concern is that I'm going to burn my SCs out: 90 percent of them or more eventually have to take some time off or end up disappearing entirely because the job can be so overwhelming.  While we may be succeeding, I'd like to give some of our SCs some wiggle room.  I could go into detail, but it does have far reaching implications (keeping SCs from carrying the story, allowing SCs, who are usually the oldest and busiest, to have more time to spend on planning than writing/stabilizing at bad times of the year for activity, etc.)- on paper at least.  We'll find out soon enough if it actually works; if it doesn't, again: we can scrap it.

But, again, for folks like Tom who are actually engaged in multiple positions, he's also the TX in case you boys forgot- whoa: that's a lot of responsibility.  He can maintain, yes, but to grow is a difficult avenue to take; you have to kill yourself to do it.  I've been there, lol- it was always a game of priorities when I was TO, WC and SC all at one time; I chose to pursue the Academy and my squadron as well as the rest of the wing suffered for it.  And the SCs might not think this will make much difference, but if they've got freed up time, provided they have the drive, they can become incredible facilitators of their own imaginations.  It's also possible that we'll find that our SCs don't like the job of being an SC, lol, and that, rather, they'd like to be an FM again; anything's possible.

Either way, Ibram, we're trying to split up the roles so that the squadron staff can act more effectively.  As to the positioning on the roster- I really don't mind how it's done as long as the FL is managing the group and the SC is being an SC.  Also, making four flights with the SC leading one of the flights is still kind of carrying on the same premise- he'd end up managing the same number of people anyway.  But everything Than said is certainly true and, if I must say so myself- more brief, lol.  Also- don't thank me, thank your SCs: they're the ones who promoted and shifted you- I just control the roster and pump out theoretical junk like the above   If I have anything to do with it, provided I have more time to decide next time, the XOs will also play a much more significant role.

I thought I'd make everyone aware that Darkhawk has stepped down from his Tactical Officer position and intends on retiring; Arturus has also decided to retire from active duty indefinitely: 2 extremely important members behind the development of the Navy as you see it today- check the meeting log for further information and give the proper respect when you see these gentlemen around.

Aye.

But there are plans to get a somewhat similar system in place with different members..