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October 2014 State of the Rebel Squadrons Address
October 2, 2014
State of the Rebel Squadrons
I. Foreword
II. Personnel and Project Updates
III.Activities and Events
IV. Promotions & Awards
V. Conclusion
I. Foreword
Hello, everyone! My apologies for releasing this a bit late tonight; as Kirghy can attest, I was wrestling with a few coding changes and a lot of llamas. It's a long story.
In any case: put down your pumpkin spice cafs and pick up your datapads - the October 2014 State of the Rebel Squadrons is here! The weather in my part of the United States is cooling, but the fight for peace is going to be heating up. Read on for more details!
II. Personnel and Project Updates
Internet Officer - After many years within the Internet Office, Admiral Joshua Hawkins has decided to step down as the Internet Officer. Josh has been a member of the club for many years and a long-time member of the High Command. He has held numerous roles, including Rebel Squadrons Fleet Commander, Rebel Squadrons Executive Officer, Patriot Battle Fleet Commanding Officer, and of course several tours as the Rebel Squadrons Internet Officer.
As I generally do, I am going to break with my normal flow to directly address Josh's departure and present him with a small token of appreciation from both myself and the club. The Tatooine Suns is one of our most cherished decorations, having been earned by only 32 people in the history of the club. It is awarded to members who "have displayed consistent loyalty and dedication over years of service" and who have "shown exceptional and innovative service in their position".
Such is Josh's dedication to the club that, despite resigning as internet Officer, he has told me he intends to continue working on the site redesign in his spare time, simply because he wants to learn, and wants to help the RS have a better future. I can think of no better testament to his long service and dedication than that simple fact.
Accordingly, it is my great pleasure to present to Josh the Tatooine Suns, in recognition of his long and distinguished service to the club and his numerous contributions to the Rebel Squadrons. Congratulations, Josh!
With Josh's departure, I am formally soliciting applications from the club for the role of Rebel Squadrons Internet Officer. To learn more about the role and how to apply, see below.
What does the Internet Officer do?
The Internet Officer is responsible for all our information technology and infrastructure - the server, our website, our Roster database, and the custom applications that we've created like the leaderboard and the historical mission archive. The Internet Officer will also need to supervise other members they recruit into the Internet Office, and train and develop new talent for the club.
For whom does the Internet Officer work?
The Internet Officer reports directly to the Fleet Commander and sits as a non-voting member of High Command.
Why should I be Internet Officer?
If you have a knack for web design or programming and want to use that for the club, the role of Internet Officer will make you pretty happy. If you are technically-minded and want to learn a lot about web development very quickly, you'll have a ball as the Internet Officer. And if you are organized and able to manage a lot of complex development projects at the same time, you'll probably enjoy being the Internet Officer.
Why should I NOT be the Internet Officer?
If you are a programmer in your day job and you absolutely DO NOT want to program in your spare time, steer clear of this role. If you know nothing about programming or web design, you'd probably struggle as the Internet Officer. And if you know "a little bit" about the subject, but you're not able to take charge, learn independently, and master a subject through self-teaching, you're probably better off assisting the Internet Officer, rather than being the Internet Officer.
How do I apply?
To apply, send an email to myself (fc@rebelsquadrons.org), Rear Admiral Kirghy Lommax (kirghylommax@gmail.com), and Colonel Teu Veld (teuveld@gmail.com), with the subject line "Internet Officer Application".
Your application should include some background about you (both in the RS and in real life), as well as your plans and ideas for what you would bring to the role if you were selected. Submit your application by Monday, October 15, 2014 at 11:59PM EDT.
Operations Officer - As discussed last month, Fleet Admiral Sconn has stepped down from his role as Operations Officer. I have been serving as Acting Operations Officer with the assistance of our Executive Officer, Rear Admiral Kirghy Lommax. At this time, I would like to formally solicit applications from the club for this role.
What does the Operations Officer do?
Broadly, the Operations Officer coordinates all of the activities that make up our monthly sessions. He or she oversees the Platform Coordinators, appoints and removes Task Force Leaders (with input from the applicable Platform Coordinator), and is responsible for the scoring system. Finally, the Operations Officer works hand-in-hand with the Logistics Officer to ensure that our fictional storyline is aligned with our monthly activities.
For whom does the Operations Officer work?
The Operations Officer reports directly to the Fleet Commander and sits as a non-voting member of High Command.
Why should I be Operations Officer?
If you enjoy participating in almost everything the club offers, being the Operations Officer gives you a chance to contribute to a lot of different areas. If you're excited about bringing new activities into the club, being the Operations Officer gives you a ton of leeway to do that. If you enjoy the idea of working on a dozen different things at once, being Operations Officer will be a great fit for you. And if you enjoy going through the nitty-gritty details of the scoring system, and relish the idea of rebalancing it and then solving it like a system of equations, then you'll love being the Operations Officer.
Why should I NOT be the Operations Officer?
If you're not really interested in learning about and participating in every activity we do, you'd find being the Operations Officer tedious. If you don't like math, or don't want to deal with the scoring system, you'll hate the job of Operations Officer. And if you don't have the time or enthusiasm to handle a lot of projects at once, you'll be overwhelmed pretty quickly as the Operations Officer.
How do I apply?
To apply, send an email to myself (fc@rebelsquadrons.org), Rear Admiral Kirghy Lommax (kirghylommax@gmail.com), and Colonel Teu Veld (teuveld@gmail.com), with the subject line "Operations Officer Application".
Your application should include some background about you (both in the RS and in real life), as well as your plans and ideas for what you would bring to the role if you were selected. Submit your application by Monday, October 15, 2014 at 11:59PM EDT.
Scoring System Update - As a reminder, the scoring system can be found at the link below. This month, we are making some changes to our existing scoring system:
Please review the scoring page and forward any questions to the appropriate chain of command.
http://wiki.rebelsquadrons.org/index.php?title=Scoring_System
Quarterly Reports - Squadron Commanders and Task Force Leaders, this is a heads-up that I requested some reports from various members of High Command about a week ago. If you haven't already heard from the XO or your Platform Coordinator, you likely will soon - so just know that it is coming!
III. Activities and Events
Special Events for this Session - The following special events are in effect for this session:
IV. Promotions and Awards
As is usual, I have a big stack of awards and promotions to give out for the last session. To start, I would like First Lieutenant Wayne77177, front and center! First Lieutenant Wayne77177 scored the highest score on the X-Wing, TIE Fighter, X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter, and X-Wing: Alliance missions this month, making it a clean sweep of the legacy systems. Accordingly, it is my great pleasure to present you with FOUR Citations of Victory! Well done, Lieutenant!
Based on my review, this brings Wayne77177 up to no less than ten Citations of Victory since he became a member of the club in June. I am very impressed by your record to date, and therefore, I am pleased to present you with the Combat Citation in recognition of your performance. Congratulations!
Finally, Lieutenant, I have some words from your Commanding Officer. "I have been monitoring this young pilot's progress and he has exceeded my expectations. He has contributed greatly since he joined the Rebel Squadrons in June 2014 and he has put in some stunning performances across platforms and historical missions. This includes the multiple first places he has scored on ITODs. It is my honour to recommend him for a further promotion to Captain."
I find your CO's arguments to be quite persuasive, Mr. Wayne, and so it is my great pleasure to promote you to the grade of Captain, with all the rights and responsibilities that entails. Congratulations!!
Moving on, can I please have Admiral Tyrell "Spokes" Borran, front and center? Spokes put in a truly commanding performance in the multiplayer arena this month, logging 69 (!!) Warframe matches a few days ago to race to the top of the leaderboard. With 41.4 points, Spokes is our Multiplayer Top Gun for Operation Renegade Star. Congratulations, Spokes!
In addition, Spokes provided me with some very valuable professional advice this month regarding a matter that was under discussion in High Command. His real-life expertise and background was invaluable in helping me navigate a complex question, and he provided it freely because of his love for the club. I know that he invested time and research into his answer for me, and I wish to recognize his hard work. Spokes, I am pleased to present you with the Dagger of Courage, in recognition of your help!
Next up, can I have Lieutenant Colonel jelf boom, front and center? jelf's performance this month on trivia and in the ITODs just barely edged out the competition in this month's singleplayer games, with 11.4 points to the 11.2 of Spokes and Jalen Ramz. Congratulations, jelf - you are our Singleplayer Top Gun for Operation Renegade Star!
Finally, can I have the members of Red Squadron please stand? Ladies and gentlemen, this month is an interesting example of how a team working together can beat out a few star performers. Neither of our Top Guns this month were from Red Squadron, but yet Red Squadron barely edged out the Red Dragons to earn the Top Squadron slot for Operation Renegade Star! Congratulations, Reds! It's great to see some competition between the units!
As long as he's already standing, can I have Captain Jaran "Gunsmoke" Farlance, front and center? Jaran, Colonel Veld brought to my attention that you went out of your way to edit our Wiki to provide people with good information on how to run some of our older legacy games on modern operating systems. That kind of initiative is deserving of recognition, and so I am very pleased to present you with the Alvace Star. Congratulations!
That concludes my awards and promotions for tonight. Congratulations to all of our awardees!
V. Conclusion
Have a safe and happy October, everyone, and get out there and play! Until next time, fly fast, shoot straight, and as always, may the Force be with you.
All the best,
Commodore Lamin Zykara
Rebel Squadrons Fleet Commander
fc@rebelsquadrons.org
State of the Rebel Squadrons
I. Foreword
II. Personnel and Project Updates
III.Activities and Events
IV. Promotions & Awards
V. Conclusion
I. Foreword
Hello, everyone! My apologies for releasing this a bit late tonight; as Kirghy can attest, I was wrestling with a few coding changes and a lot of llamas. It's a long story.
In any case: put down your pumpkin spice cafs and pick up your datapads - the October 2014 State of the Rebel Squadrons is here! The weather in my part of the United States is cooling, but the fight for peace is going to be heating up. Read on for more details!
II. Personnel and Project Updates
Internet Officer - After many years within the Internet Office, Admiral Joshua Hawkins has decided to step down as the Internet Officer. Josh has been a member of the club for many years and a long-time member of the High Command. He has held numerous roles, including Rebel Squadrons Fleet Commander, Rebel Squadrons Executive Officer, Patriot Battle Fleet Commanding Officer, and of course several tours as the Rebel Squadrons Internet Officer.
As I generally do, I am going to break with my normal flow to directly address Josh's departure and present him with a small token of appreciation from both myself and the club. The Tatooine Suns is one of our most cherished decorations, having been earned by only 32 people in the history of the club. It is awarded to members who "have displayed consistent loyalty and dedication over years of service" and who have "shown exceptional and innovative service in their position".
Such is Josh's dedication to the club that, despite resigning as internet Officer, he has told me he intends to continue working on the site redesign in his spare time, simply because he wants to learn, and wants to help the RS have a better future. I can think of no better testament to his long service and dedication than that simple fact.
Accordingly, it is my great pleasure to present to Josh the Tatooine Suns, in recognition of his long and distinguished service to the club and his numerous contributions to the Rebel Squadrons. Congratulations, Josh!
With Josh's departure, I am formally soliciting applications from the club for the role of Rebel Squadrons Internet Officer. To learn more about the role and how to apply, see below.
What does the Internet Officer do?
The Internet Officer is responsible for all our information technology and infrastructure - the server, our website, our Roster database, and the custom applications that we've created like the leaderboard and the historical mission archive. The Internet Officer will also need to supervise other members they recruit into the Internet Office, and train and develop new talent for the club.
For whom does the Internet Officer work?
The Internet Officer reports directly to the Fleet Commander and sits as a non-voting member of High Command.
Why should I be Internet Officer?
If you have a knack for web design or programming and want to use that for the club, the role of Internet Officer will make you pretty happy. If you are technically-minded and want to learn a lot about web development very quickly, you'll have a ball as the Internet Officer. And if you are organized and able to manage a lot of complex development projects at the same time, you'll probably enjoy being the Internet Officer.
Why should I NOT be the Internet Officer?
If you are a programmer in your day job and you absolutely DO NOT want to program in your spare time, steer clear of this role. If you know nothing about programming or web design, you'd probably struggle as the Internet Officer. And if you know "a little bit" about the subject, but you're not able to take charge, learn independently, and master a subject through self-teaching, you're probably better off assisting the Internet Officer, rather than being the Internet Officer.
How do I apply?
To apply, send an email to myself (fc@rebelsquadrons.org), Rear Admiral Kirghy Lommax (kirghylommax@gmail.com), and Colonel Teu Veld (teuveld@gmail.com), with the subject line "Internet Officer Application".
Your application should include some background about you (both in the RS and in real life), as well as your plans and ideas for what you would bring to the role if you were selected. Submit your application by Monday, October 15, 2014 at 11:59PM EDT.
Operations Officer - As discussed last month, Fleet Admiral Sconn has stepped down from his role as Operations Officer. I have been serving as Acting Operations Officer with the assistance of our Executive Officer, Rear Admiral Kirghy Lommax. At this time, I would like to formally solicit applications from the club for this role.
What does the Operations Officer do?
Broadly, the Operations Officer coordinates all of the activities that make up our monthly sessions. He or she oversees the Platform Coordinators, appoints and removes Task Force Leaders (with input from the applicable Platform Coordinator), and is responsible for the scoring system. Finally, the Operations Officer works hand-in-hand with the Logistics Officer to ensure that our fictional storyline is aligned with our monthly activities.
For whom does the Operations Officer work?
The Operations Officer reports directly to the Fleet Commander and sits as a non-voting member of High Command.
Why should I be Operations Officer?
If you enjoy participating in almost everything the club offers, being the Operations Officer gives you a chance to contribute to a lot of different areas. If you're excited about bringing new activities into the club, being the Operations Officer gives you a ton of leeway to do that. If you enjoy the idea of working on a dozen different things at once, being Operations Officer will be a great fit for you. And if you enjoy going through the nitty-gritty details of the scoring system, and relish the idea of rebalancing it and then solving it like a system of equations, then you'll love being the Operations Officer.
Why should I NOT be the Operations Officer?
If you're not really interested in learning about and participating in every activity we do, you'd find being the Operations Officer tedious. If you don't like math, or don't want to deal with the scoring system, you'll hate the job of Operations Officer. And if you don't have the time or enthusiasm to handle a lot of projects at once, you'll be overwhelmed pretty quickly as the Operations Officer.
How do I apply?
To apply, send an email to myself (fc@rebelsquadrons.org), Rear Admiral Kirghy Lommax (kirghylommax@gmail.com), and Colonel Teu Veld (teuveld@gmail.com), with the subject line "Operations Officer Application".
Your application should include some background about you (both in the RS and in real life), as well as your plans and ideas for what you would bring to the role if you were selected. Submit your application by Monday, October 15, 2014 at 11:59PM EDT.
Scoring System Update - As a reminder, the scoring system can be found at the link below. This month, we are making some changes to our existing scoring system:
- Warframe: Clarified that Warframe points will only be awarded for public matches, not matches in Solo mode. Number of points per match now scales to the number of participating RSers.
- TOR: Modified and clarified rules on TOR to allow for Flashpoints and Heroics to be reported by a single RSer who was playing with members of the public. Restricted reporting on Flashpoints and Heroics to those that are level-appropriate to your toon. The TOR reporter has been modified to permit reporting on Flashpoints and Heroics by single players.
Please review the scoring page and forward any questions to the appropriate chain of command.
http://wiki.rebelsquadrons.org/index.php?title=Scoring_System
Quarterly Reports - Squadron Commanders and Task Force Leaders, this is a heads-up that I requested some reports from various members of High Command about a week ago. If you haven't already heard from the XO or your Platform Coordinator, you likely will soon - so just know that it is coming!
III. Activities and Events
Special Events for this Session - The following special events are in effect for this session:
- Simming: Any member who puts in at least sixteen hours of simming during this session will receive ten bonus MP points. This is a one-time bonus, not cumulative (so, no logging 160 hours and getting 100 points).
- X-Wing Minis: Any member who logs eight or more X-Wing Minis sessions of at least an hour each will receive five bonus MP points. Again, this is a one-time bonus, not cumulative.
- Warframe: During this session, any member who installs Warframe and joins the RS Clan will receive 5 bonus MP points.
- Star Wars Commander: This is a mobile game that is now available on both Android and iOS, and it is actually quite fun. Anyone who is a member of the RS squads in the game at the end of the month will receive a bonus MP point.
IV. Promotions and Awards
As is usual, I have a big stack of awards and promotions to give out for the last session. To start, I would like First Lieutenant Wayne77177, front and center! First Lieutenant Wayne77177 scored the highest score on the X-Wing, TIE Fighter, X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter, and X-Wing: Alliance missions this month, making it a clean sweep of the legacy systems. Accordingly, it is my great pleasure to present you with FOUR Citations of Victory! Well done, Lieutenant!
Based on my review, this brings Wayne77177 up to no less than ten Citations of Victory since he became a member of the club in June. I am very impressed by your record to date, and therefore, I am pleased to present you with the Combat Citation in recognition of your performance. Congratulations!
Finally, Lieutenant, I have some words from your Commanding Officer. "I have been monitoring this young pilot's progress and he has exceeded my expectations. He has contributed greatly since he joined the Rebel Squadrons in June 2014 and he has put in some stunning performances across platforms and historical missions. This includes the multiple first places he has scored on ITODs. It is my honour to recommend him for a further promotion to Captain."
I find your CO's arguments to be quite persuasive, Mr. Wayne, and so it is my great pleasure to promote you to the grade of Captain, with all the rights and responsibilities that entails. Congratulations!!
Moving on, can I please have Admiral Tyrell "Spokes" Borran, front and center? Spokes put in a truly commanding performance in the multiplayer arena this month, logging 69 (!!) Warframe matches a few days ago to race to the top of the leaderboard. With 41.4 points, Spokes is our Multiplayer Top Gun for Operation Renegade Star. Congratulations, Spokes!
In addition, Spokes provided me with some very valuable professional advice this month regarding a matter that was under discussion in High Command. His real-life expertise and background was invaluable in helping me navigate a complex question, and he provided it freely because of his love for the club. I know that he invested time and research into his answer for me, and I wish to recognize his hard work. Spokes, I am pleased to present you with the Dagger of Courage, in recognition of your help!
Next up, can I have Lieutenant Colonel jelf boom, front and center? jelf's performance this month on trivia and in the ITODs just barely edged out the competition in this month's singleplayer games, with 11.4 points to the 11.2 of Spokes and Jalen Ramz. Congratulations, jelf - you are our Singleplayer Top Gun for Operation Renegade Star!
Finally, can I have the members of Red Squadron please stand? Ladies and gentlemen, this month is an interesting example of how a team working together can beat out a few star performers. Neither of our Top Guns this month were from Red Squadron, but yet Red Squadron barely edged out the Red Dragons to earn the Top Squadron slot for Operation Renegade Star! Congratulations, Reds! It's great to see some competition between the units!
As long as he's already standing, can I have Captain Jaran "Gunsmoke" Farlance, front and center? Jaran, Colonel Veld brought to my attention that you went out of your way to edit our Wiki to provide people with good information on how to run some of our older legacy games on modern operating systems. That kind of initiative is deserving of recognition, and so I am very pleased to present you with the Alvace Star. Congratulations!
That concludes my awards and promotions for tonight. Congratulations to all of our awardees!
V. Conclusion
Have a safe and happy October, everyone, and get out there and play! Until next time, fly fast, shoot straight, and as always, may the Force be with you.
All the best,
Commodore Lamin Zykara
Rebel Squadrons Fleet Commander
fc@rebelsquadrons.org