Talk:Condensed structure

Taking a look a the new Squadron structure (is this flying only?) gives me a better idea of what Licah had proposed on RSHC. I really wasn't having much luck visualizing it.

This raises a few of questions for how it plays out (new structure) and how the old info/records are folded in:

1. Can any pilot fly any mission? If so, we need to make it VERY clear to folks that there is no longer a game-based distinction for Squad placement.

2. How will Merit be tracked and who will be responsible for multiple reports on various ITODs (this must cover posting scores, awarding Merit, Medals, etcetera).

3. Do we lose the current "Fleet-based" Medals? If so, what will replace them. If not, will we just rename them to reflect the various games?

4. With multiple ITODs, how will we measure/reward Squadrons?

I may have more later, but I'm certain that we will need ready answers for these issues.

~Spokes

A rough draft

Spokes,

I've largely updated the Common ITOD page in response to your questions. Of particular note is the merit system, and my thoughts on it on the discussion page. As this is a very tricky issue, I'd welcome lots of input.

And indeed, it's flying units only.

- Licah

What about our fleet "history"?

My main concern on this whole thing of merging the fleets, lies in what to do about our history, and by that I mean the things Spokes mention.

To make one thing clear right away: I'm not out to "defend" my own position as fleet CO and member of the HC. I'll gladly give that up if it serves the club and the fleet I serve.

The reason for me to focus on the fleet history...well, I guess it has something to do with my own time in here. I've been active in the IBG for 3,5 years, and have met quite a number of people during this time. A number of these are still around, some were here when I joined, some joined about the same time as myself, and some came later. I've flown for Dagger all the time. I've fought and done what I could to make my squad the best one in the fleet. I've achieved all I want to when it comes to flying. This is reflected in our rankings; the merit ranking and the cummulative ITOD ranking. I'm proud of those two lists. Not only because I'm up there at the top, but because in a way they're the only real documentation of what's happened in the fleet for the last four years.

Almost two years back we remade the merit system in the IBG. Vender was CO at the time. It gave us a much better merit system, but it ruined the fun for some of the veterans, as much of their effort and hard work suddenly was "nullified". I fear the same might happen if we suddenly were to start from scratch. Also, remember what happened when Rahj suddenly got that idea about messing with the rankings. So, either we have to make a new structure that will continue the traditions, or we'll have to start preparing the members on what will happen, and then wait a few months, so that they'll get used to the idea, and at the same time start an open discussion on the bbs, where all the members can state their opinions. Personally, if we start over, I know I'll simply no longer care for the merits and medals; I'll probably dedicate myself to making missions, and solving missions other makes.

I tend to think a model where the existing fleets are placed in wings, and where they can continue the activity they have as they want to, is the best. But I admit this is because I care most for the IBG. I need more time.

The structure drawn up looks nice enough, though, even if it's an early version, and a number of things need to be looked at more closely. What about new cadets? Is the idea to get the academy back? Or will our model be the one followed? With that many squads and pilots under one CO, we'd need some kind of Personell Officer to take care of the contact with the members.

It's getting late, so I'll have to stop. Only one more things that got into my head right now. If, and only if, we decide to do this, then we can make a two or three missions minitour for each fleet, fix it in time to Thrawn's victorious period, and let our fleets be beaten and partly destroyed. We will loose the ships that belongs to the decomissioned squads. We will loose our bases. We will be forced to regroup - and restructure.

Himm

Histories: the biggest problem

History is always a problem when one makes changes of this size. However, we are preserving most squadron pride, and many people are tied to their squadrons. What of all the individual honors a pilot has earned? I can think of two things:

• Keep the individual fleets' merit systems going (complicated, preserves history)
• Respectfully bring the merit systems to an end, and continue to display them as history.

I kind of prefer ending them. The IBG had an uproar because the old merit system was deleted, but ours will be kept so no one will lose their hard work. They'll just look back and smile fondly, remembering when they got all those awards. In the meantime, the excitement of everyone starting over may make people want to be more active again.

That's what happened with the ranks too - and please remember that it was HC that unanimously approved the ranks change to happen immediately, something Rahj actually didn't want. Sorry, that issue is a little touchy because the blame fell and still falls on Rahj, when it was really HC's fault, and they never did really apologize to him about it. Anyways, the ranks, like the IBG merits, created problems because they erased history. We won't ever erase history; we'll just salute it and gently retire it, keeping it on display.

Personnel Officer? I know you wanted to get rid of Wings, but they fill that purpose right now, so I think it would be useful to keep them. It would also lessen the shock of the new system.

Anyways, I'd prefer to leave it up to the membership on whether they want to keep Fleet merits and medals active, or retire them. We won't ever remove them from anyone. It really depends on how the willing the membership is to go with our plan.

I'm starting to get worried about having written too much text for people to come in and read, so I'm going to stop now ;-) I am going to add a couple more possibilities to the Structure changes page though based on a couple things you said.

--Licah Fox