Greetings, pilot. So, you've been with the TIE Corps for a while now. You've seen what we have to offer. You have visited strange, exotic locales. You've met interesting people - then killed them. You think now, perhaps, you are ready for something different? You want to lead our brave men and women into combat? Very well then. By studying and passing this exam, you will have shown the Emperor's Hammer that you are ready. And it's mandatory anyway, so shut up and listen! Quiet back there!

It is my hope that when you pass this exam, you will have a clearer idea of the expectations placed upon Squadron Commanders and whether or not it's a job you really want to do. It's certainly not for everyone. My goal is to teach you to not only be a Squadron Commander, but be a good one. In the course notes you will find what I believe are the keys to success as a Squadron Commander.

I suppose you could just skim the notes and pass the test. It's certainly possible. But your squadron will suffer as a result and it will never achieve its full potential. You'll probably be dead by the next rotation anyway because your pilots won't like you enough to risk it all in combat to save you, and then we'll have to replace you. TIE Fighters are expensive, but we can replace them. We can't always replace commanders.

1. Becoming a Squadron Commander

So if you want more, first you will have to figure out where to find it. Basically, any of your superiors should be able to tell you. Contacting your Squadron Commander or Commodore would be a good first step. Also keep an eye out and read not just your own squadron's reports but the reports of other squadrons and ships too. Lastly, contacting the TIE Corps Commander directly to express your interest would be a good idea. If anyone knows of available squadrons, it would be him.

If nothing is available, don't worry! The TIE Corps is ever-expanding and commanders resign from time to time. Your time will come. Keep up your activity and a positive reputation and it will happen sooner or later.

2. Your tour of duty and your expectations

If you do not already hold an equivalent rank or higher, you will automatically be promoted to the rank of Commander. This is, of course, assuming you have also passed the TC Core exam. This is a requirement in addition to passing this course. It is the expectation that you hold your position as Squadron Commander for a minimum of four months. We, of course, all understand that life unexpectedly gets in the way from time to time, and it is inevitable that commanders will resign. If you do not hold your position for a minimum of four months, however, you will be reduced to the prior rank you held.

You will, obviously, need an unrestricted, preferably high speed internet connection. It's also a good idea to own and be familiar with our major platforms (TIE Fighter, X-wing vs. TIE Fighter/Balance of Power, and X-wing Alliance, plus Star Conflict, Battlefront, and Squadrons). Preferably all. The ability to communicate effectively in the English language is also a requirement.

While not necessarily requirements, they are many intangibles that separate a good Squadron Commander from a great one. The two keys to success - communication and engagement - will be covered in further detail. A high level of activity serves as an excellent role model for your pilots, and commanders are generally expected to medal every month. This is, of course, just a general suggestion, as we all know and understand that real life can come into play, causing your activity to taper off from time to time. Creativity in designing and running different competitions is always good, as well as the ability to motivate and inspire your pilots.

There are numerous expectations of you when you ascend to the position of Squadron Commander. You will be expected to maintain a certain consistent level of activity. You should generally have a positive reputation and be known to act with discretion and tact, representing the honorable conduct of an Imperial officer at all times. It is expected for you to be familiar with the Articles of War and the Code of Conduct.

3. Getting started

Well, it's your lucky day! They've given you command of your own squadron. You have eleven other fresh faces looking at you, waiting for orders. So what do you do?

Ideally, as soon as you apply for the position, you'll want to have some ideas in mind for when you take over. This is where the creativity in you ought to shine; even something as simple as some flying competitions for you to hit the ground running with would be a great idea.

But before anything, make contact with your pilots! DM them through Discord or send them a direct email, preferably both. Introduce yourself and let them know how they can reach you. It is vital to keep an open door policy with your pilots at all times. If you have not already met them, you will want to introduce yourself to your Wing Commander and Commodore; DM them personally on Discord or send them an email.

4. Maintaining records

Back in the old days of the TIE Corps, being a Squadron Commander was a whole lot of busy work. We used to have to manually keep track of your activity - I had a Notepad file for each pilot. MSEs (monthly squadron evaluations, which we will cover later in the course) were also done by hand. There was no set system for rewarding pilots, it was just whatever you felt they earned and your Wing Commander concurred with.

Now, everything is tracked automatically. We have spreadsheets for evaluations. Everything is as simple as clicking on your pilot's Activity Tracking Record (ATR) from their database profile and noting everything, then using the kill boards to track their flying activity is as simple as entering a number.

However, I would still recommend that you keep some records by hand just to make your job easier. Google Docs is great for this. If you haven't already, get a dedicated, TIE Corps-only email address, because your email load is about to go way up. Make sure your TC name is registered to it so your pilots know that the messages you send them are coming from you.

You'll only want to store a few things here, but it makes keeping track of competitions very easy, even if it's as simple as logging scores from your pilots. I also habitually keep my pilots' email addresses in a Google Doc so I can simply paste and go when I need to contact them and them only; this way you are not clogging up the TIE Corps mailing list. Less is more, when you're a Squadron Commander. You should be constantly seeking ways to make your job easier and more efficient.

Consider bookmarking frequently-used sites like the Imperial University (IU) and the Competitions Center and keeping a copy of the TIE Corps Pilot Manual ready at all times. Staying organized and keeping your tasks as efficient as possible will help you settle into your role as Squadron Commander.

Continue to III. Communication: One of the Two Keys to Success