Ordo NCO Academies Meeting 6/1/09

[Mizar Korobase]

[16:03] Mizar Korobase: Alright. Afraid Dascede may not be here. Lestat is very sick and will be unable to advise. Rei is at work. Shortcomings aside, we'll proceed.

[16:05] Mizar Korobase: The purpose of this meeting today is to go over our options for the NCO academies as well as come up with an outline of what to do in the future with the information we've gathered.

[16:07] Mizar Korobase: So far we have several notecards outlining previous plans for the NCO academies. Personally I beleve we should use these to help formulate the basis of the academies.

[16:10] Mizar Korobase: Lets start with the basics. How do you all beleve that the NCO academies should be structure as far as training goes? I've heard some suggestions already, but I'd like to hear everyone's input. Should they be Individually based? Group based? Some combination of the two?

[16:11] Ayn Audion: The best training is hands-on. If we want NCOs to step up above normal enlisted and lead, we need to put them in that situation.

[16:11] Ayn Audion: Through carefully planned training excersizes much like the ones done by alpha squads.

[16:12] Ayn Audion: (end)

[16:12] Mizar Korobase: Jason, please.

[16:13] Jason Backer: I think assigning a personal mentor would work well, an officer or at very least a senior NCO to aid the person and develop their abilities. This should be combined with group training and perhaps roleplay scenarios where a NCO could be tested to see what their responses could be in a variety of scenarios.

[16:14] Jason Backer: Perhaps even put an alt in the hub and have a scenario that way, feedback can be given and the person can develop.

[16:15] Jason Backer: I think personally that sitting down in a class and copy/pasting line of text would be awfully innefective. I'd like to think this would be more of an apprenticeship than a lesson taught to people

[16:15] Jason Backer: And thats aboot it.

[16:16] Mizar Korobase: I too agree the careful direction and observation will be necessary. From your suggestions I take it that you beleve the more direct combat/leadeship training should take place on the battlefield. Perhaps with an Officer observing the operation and acting as a sort of mentor to the potential NCO and his squad?

[16:16] Ayn Audion raises hand.

[16:17] Mizar Korobase: Ayn, please.

[16:17] Jason Backer raises hand.

[16:17] Ayn Audion: To best survey the efficiency of the trainee in situations like having them lead a battle, it may be best to put the observer in the position of a soldier.

[16:18] Ayn Audion: Have him be led so he can see where he should have been directed better or more.

[16:18] Ayn Audion: End.

[16:18] Mizar Korobase: Jason.

[16:21] Jason Backer: I believe the officer should be the person managing the squads. During random raids with the MBC the OIC of the raid can manage individuals, but when you have a 'Total War' type scenario (Which we don't have at the moment, but is a possibility... We should always train to fight the most powerful group apart from ourselves) you'll need to split into squads to manage things effectively. From what I can see is that theres no real leadership going on within the ranks, it's pretty much the OIC controls everyone under him/her

[16:21] Jason Backer: Micromanagement of say a 30 person+ fight is awfully hard.

[16:22] Jason Backer: People need to learn how to take command of a squad say to relieve some pressure and create more time for the OIC

[16:22] Jason Backer: And i'm done.

[16:22] Ayn Audion raises hand.

[16:22] Mizar Korobase: Ayn, please.

[16:23] Ayn Audion: I understand what Jason is saying, but those situations are kind of rare. Typically a training excersize, battle, or defense consists of only about 10 actively participating members.

[16:23] Ayn Audion: That's all.

[16:23] Jason Backer raises hand

[16:24] Mizar Korobase: Jason, then I have something to say.

[16:26] Jason Backer: If you do not plan for unforseen situations then one day it'l bite you in the backside. It would be rather arrogant to believe the Ordo will be the best of the best for the rest of time. During my time on the grid i've sween the 'alpha' group switch a couple of times. We've got a very good group here, lets keep it that way.

[16:27] Jason Backer: Sorry, i'm done.

[16:29] Mizar Korobase: Both of you make very valid points. It's important to train our NCO's in harsh, demanding situations, but it is also important to train them in situtations they will often face. Personally, I think the best way of delegating this is to break these options into two separate phases of training. That way during one phase we can see how the NCO acts in the case of managing a squad under officer control, and again in a particularly grueling situation. From the sound of it the latter of these two excecises will be less a demonstation of combat fitness and more a test of psychological readiness for the NCO position.

[16:30] Trevor Russell raises hand

[16:30] Mizar Korobase: Trevor.

[16:31] Jason Backer raises his hand too

[16:31] Xayvien Rau raises hand.

[16:34] Trevor Russell: Lets be honest here. being an NCO is not about combat, just as ordo is not about combat, 95% of the time. To focus so much on combat leadership is being to narrow. Basically, and NCO is serveral things. 1) he volunteers (for things like this meeting :D), 2) he does grunt work (tedious paperwork, like octet reports), 3) he is an example to the enlisted for how to act (something that isn't nearly done enough, i am afraid) 4) he is a goto guy for the lower enlisted. Basically, we need to train people how to be exemplary ordo members, and the exemplary ordo member is someone who tends to wind up as an NCO. Command in squads is something, that, I don't know about you guys, but, except in armatura, NCOs get none of WHATSOEVER. Aryte always handles Raid command.

[16:37] Mizar Korobase: I beleve at present we are concentrating only on a single section of potential NCO training. I was about to move on to the other pressing issues. Lets wrap up on the combat side. Jason?

[16:38] Jason Backer: I was talking about combat. I wasn't saying 'Lets focus on this and this only'. Trevor your points are important to be an NCO, and I was not saying lets focus on the big stuff only.

[16:39] Jason Backer: If aryte always handles the raid stuff theres going to come a time where he's disconnected, unable to get to his PC or whatever. This doesn't always apply to raids, in reference to squads you could have a squad headed up by an NCO makign sure the south side is covered... etc.

[16:39] Jason Backer: I'm done.

[16:40] Mizar Korobase: Xayvien, please.

[16:43] Xayvien Rau: I just wanted to add a little myself about this whole thing. It seems my main focus in my random notecards have been more focused on the training. I agree with a lot that has been said here, and there is some I'd discuss further, but we can't forget the purpose of the Academy. A lot of it is based heavily on the training and making them who they are. Right now the NCO Academy seems to be like a far more advanced version of Schola, but requests things in the handbook already covered in their first test. Since I'm under the impression that NCO status begins at E-4, let's be honest, an E-4 of moderate intelligence gets that rank rather quickly. E-2 is usually spread a week from E-1 if the person makes a little of themselves. If it's not planned right, training wise, it can just be two huge books tossed into the people. We don't want to make the teaching harder then being an NCO E-4 is going to be (If I'm correct that's the rank from reading over all the old cards I compiled together).

[16:45] Xayvien Rau: I also will be handing out the random notecards I wrote in just a moment, keep in mind these were thoughts written before this meeting.

[16:45] Xayvien Rau: And that's it.

[16:46] Xayvien Rau: (These were written before Mizar picked on me and I didn't make the book. :<)

[16:46] Trevor Russell raises hand again

[16:46] Mizar Korobase: Trevor, please.

[16:50] Trevor Russell: the idea that it is just one training seminar etc is a bit impractical. You cannot teach someone this material in a class, or even field setting. I really do like the idea of mentors; what's more i think that being a better NCO is a constant thing. After being in OI over a year, and mercz a total of 6 months, I can honestly say that every day i still look for ways to improve. Training should focus on basics in the actual class/field setting, and then pair the person with a long time vet who can help them and guide them as they progress. That way, the student gets really indepth experience, and continues to suceeed and improve.

[16:54] Mizar Korobase: Let's hold a vote now so that we can get training finalized. I'm going to offer two options. One, like the method Trevor mentioned where the majority of training takes place in a class/field setting and then offers mentor support. The second option being that we have part of our training conducted in a classroom and the other part conducted on the field, either observed by or maintained by an officer. I'll present each option aloud, and only vote myself in the event of a tie.

[16:56] Mizar Korobase: Who would like to vote for the class/field/mentor option?

[16:56] Ayn Audion: I

[16:56] Trevor Russell: me

[16:56] Jason Backer: Myself

[16:57] Xayvien Rau: I'll vote for that.

[16:58] Mizar Korobase: We have a majority then. We'll structure classes so that we first train potential NCOs in a class or field setting, then have a seasoned mentor paired with them for final trainig.

[16:59] Mizar Korobase: On to the next question. This will be the last for the evening before the next meeting. How should we divvy up the classes, once they have been created? That is to say, what phases and key concepts need to be covered?

[17:00] Ayn Audion raises hand.

[17:00] Trevor Russell raises hand as well

[17:00] Mizar Korobase: Ayn

[17:01] Jason Backer raises his hand aswell

[17:02] Ayn Audion: I don't have the specific classes, because we haven't exactly planned that fully yet, but I think we should keep it progressive.

[17:02] Ayn Audion: For example, go into instruction, then our next step (say squad training), then field training.

[17:02] Ayn Audion: Instead of jumping all around.

[17:03] Ayn Audion: That's all.

[17:03] Mizar Korobase: Trevor, please.

[17:03] Trevor Russell: 1) dealing with drama, 2) setting an example, 3) handling SoG, 4) writing reports, 5) contributing with initiative, 6) being decisive while listening to advice, 7) squad-based tactics, 8) assisting officer, 9) et cetera.

[17:03] Trevor Russell: just my thoughts, not a complete exclusive or inclusive list

[17:04] Mizar Korobase: I agree that writing reports and being active in that way needs it's own special place in the NCO Academies. Jason.

[17:04] Jason Backer: ... What Trevor said.

[17:05] Jason Backer: Pretty much is the nail on the head.

[17:08] Mizar Korobase: Alright then. Trevor, I'd like you to make that into a more specific, refined list for the next meeting. We'll then have the basic outline for what phases to utilize. The topics of the next meeting will include which individuals will be best to conduct training, as well as the specifics of the individual classes (how they will be conducted, and such.)

[17:08] Trevor Russell: D:>

[17:08] Mizar Korobase: Any final statements, inquiries, et cetera?

[17:08] Xayvien Rau: I could also help with that if Trevor needs it.

[17:09] Mizar Korobase: That would be great. I may offer some input as well.

[17:10] Mizar Korobase: Anything else?

[17:11] Mizar Korobase: Alright then, meeting adjurned!

[Dascede]

I'm sorry I couldn't make it. I got dragged off to something IRL with no choice in the matter. ): I just got back a minute or two ago.