On Rank, Promotions, and Humility

[Lestat Umarov]

I felt compelled to write this, based on my own personal experience in the U.S. Army and my time in the Ordo from Cadet to where I stand now. Think of it as food for thought, something to read up on if you're new to ordo, or a seasoned veteran.

The first thing I want to bring up is the issue of rank. While rank plays a large role in the command and control of an SL military when it all comes down to it it's nothing more than a title and a texture on your chest. The lack of rank should be no excuse for your inability to do good in this organization. Even an E-1 can have a brilliant idea that could change the very foundations of the Ordo. I for example, started work on the Terra Handbook when I was an E-2. My compatriot Centurion Sosarin Demar started work to bring Astra to it's feet again, which was largely successful, when he was an E-1. Don't sell yourself short just because of your rank. Everyone is on equal ground in Ordo and all ideas are looked into.

The second topic I'd like to bring up is promotions. I've seen it time and time again where a former officer from either an allied or enemy army joins the Ordo and quits several weeks later because he "didn't rank up fast enough". It's ironic, because more often than not the person will return to thier former army and recieve a lesser rank than what they had before they left. In the real world gaining rank is somewhat of a competition in the Armed Forces. Those who show up to work on time, score the highest on thier PT tests, and kiss the most ass usually gets promoted faster than those who just meet the standard. This is not the case with SL militaries. While the kissing ass part might rampant in some militaries, this is not the case in Ordo. In fact, a majority of the Administratio despise people who kiss ass for favors, including myself. When you look at gaining rank as a competition you lose sight of the objective at hand. Which is, of course, to have fun. I myself was guilty in my earlier days in the Ordo of viewing the contructiveness of my peers as competition, which drove me to work harder but also caused me a lot of stress. When I stopped being focusing on others and solely on the work at hand I got a lot more done, and felt like a weight was lifted from my shoulders. Another thing to remember is to never ask for a promotion. For one, it's annoying, and it puts you on the fast track to not get promoted. So when promotion time comes around and Milites Bob gets promoted to Discens, and you're still a Milites, don't sit around and mope about it. Take a look in the mirror and ask yourself what you can do to better the Ordo, and yourself.

And last but not least, is the topic of Humility. While this is largely an unspoken character trait it's immensely important, especially if you're an officer. Do not flaunt your rank like a trophy. You were placed in the position you were as a loyal follower of the imperator. That should be enough in itself to tell you why you shouldn't try to throw your rank around like some sort of status symbol. Also, you should treat your subordinates with kindness and understanding. Show favoritism to noone and impartiality to all. If you treat your subordinates unfairly and cruely you're just hurting yourself. As the great Erwin Rommel once put it:

"Be an example to your men, in your duty and in private life. Never spare

yourself, and let the troops see that you don't in your endurance of fatigue

and privation. Always be tactful and well-mannered and teach your

subordinates to do the same. Avoid excessive sharpness or harshness of

voice, which usually indicates the man who has shortcomings of his own to

hide."

If you respect your men they'll respect you right back and follow you to the ends of the earth. In closing, I hope these thoughts are of some use to anyone reading this. If you have any questions, by all means feel free to contact me.

Glory to the Imperium. Pro patria.

[Aryte]

Very well written. I whole heartedly agree. Thank you for taking the time to write this. I am thinking this may need to be squeezed into Schola in a revised format.

[Trinity Heckroth]

well written :D enjoyed it. From one army vet to another, Hooah.

[Agares Tretiak]

Always good to see this sort of thing. Maybe a whole section on decorum and bearing?

[Kristian]

Lestat Umarov wrote:

"Be an example to your men, in your duty and in private life.

You want to spend all night with the fennecy?

Well written article. I agree on pretty much everything you said.

[Sekonda Huet]

Trinity Heckroth wrote:

well written :D enjoyed it. From one army vet to another, Hooah.

HUA XO ITS HUA XO HOOAH IS PHONETIC XO HeardUnderstoodAdknowledged XO

*Climbs to the top of a bell tower with a rifle and starts shooting postal workers*

[Sosarin Demar]

Well written, well thought. I admire the tidbits of wisdom within.

And thank you for the honorable mention. :)

[Arch Graves]

Aryte Vesperia wrote:

Very well written.

Trinity Heckroth wrote:

well written.

Kristian Kit wrote:

Well written article.

Sosarin Demar wrote:

Well written, well thought.

FOLLOW THE PIPER LADS!!! TO GLORY!!!!

[Lestat Umarov]

Bump. Considering including this in the new schola outline.

[Hunter Abrams]

Old thread is old :harhar:

[Krow Ames]

I'd drop the Rommel quote. People give him far too much credit. I don't want to start a debate on Rommel or anything, I just want to say that he abandoned his men in North Africa. Otherwise, oldy but a goody.

[Agares Tretiak]

*slaps Krow*

Logical fallacy, never discard information merely because of the source.

[RazorFox]

*slaps Krow*

Logical fallacy, never discard information (or a good peice of advice) merely because of the source. Unless it's Hitler.

Aye. Godwin's Law holds true.