1. Giving your pilots things to do

As stated previously, you should definitely have some ideas about things you want to implement in your squadron before even applying to become a Squadron Commander. Different pilots engage with the TIE Corps in different ways. For some it is a social club and they participate a lot on Discord. Some do fiction. Some fly like maniacs. Some do a little bit of everything. That is why engaging your pilots and getting to know them is so important; if you understand what your pilots like to do, you can more easily come up with ways to keep them engaged. A weekly battle or mission flown, some trivia, or a way to determine the best (and most active!) pilot in your squadron will get them moving.

2. Giving your pilots a sense of purpose

It is helpful for pilots to have a sense of purpose as well. Since we all engage with the TIE Corps in a different manner, you need to understand what makes your pilots tick. Some want to move up and be a Commodore one day, others just enjoying having fun and are content with being an FM forever. But in all my experience as a CMDR, every pilot likes to win, and giving your pilots purpose within your squadron and the wider TIE Corps as a whole will always benefit your squadron. I would set individual mental goals for my pilots--I wanted to see this pilot earn this medal, or this pilot become a CMDR, or this pilot get promoted, and discuss it with them and do everything I could to help them get to that goal. After that, set a new one. As long as we are on the topic, it is helpful for the CMDR to have a sense of purpose too. What do you want to achieve as a Squadron Commander? Do you want to be a Wing Commander or Commodore one day? Do you want to be the fleet commander? Or are you happy seeing your 11 other pilots succeed? There is no right answer, but it's something you should consider as a commander.

3. Fostering a sense of identity: the rise of Sin Squadron

I want to share a little bit about some difficulties I encountered in being a first time CMDR and how I eventually made my squadron successful. As you read this, consider the difficulties you might experience as CMDR. It's not all fast ships and beautiful Twi'lek women. Some parts are more enjoyable than others.

In December 2019, I assumed command of Sin Squadron aboard the ISDII Warrior, under the command of then VA Hav Antiel. Before I accepted the job, I was determined to become a great CMDR. I looked to other squadrons that were enormously successful, using Epsilon Squadron aboard the ISDII Hammer as something to which I could aspire. I noticed a few problems at first--there were multiple people of high rank (I'm talking Major and higher) that hadn't been active in months. I had someone who had been a Sublieutenant for 9 months. As you may recall, it takes only a pulse to be promoted to full Lieutenant.

I noticed some good things right off the bat, too. We had a few pilots that were active and chatty. I also happened to have the most skilled pilot in the TIE Corps--a guy who was regularly setting high scores. You will likely not be this lucky. I set about immediately getting some competitions approved by the Combat Operations Office and personally introducing myself to every new pilot, whether through email or Discord. I also got to know my Commodore well. I spent the first week or two getting my feet wet and learning everything I needed to know as a CMDR and selecting an XO (more on selecting XO's later).

I was also fortunate that the former CMDR of Sin was electing to stay on as an FM. If the prior CMDR is staying or is at least still around, you want to get in touch with them for advice or any questions you may have. At the time, Sin looked to me like it was 12 people each doing their own thing without a true sense of purpose in making the squadron successful.

Once I got to know my pilots well, we began communicating well, and I was able to figure out what engaged them to be successful. The first chance for Sin to prove itself was in the 2020 Squadron (Re)Mobilization competition--a TIE Corps-wide competition amongst squadrons to complete different tasks during the months of March and April. It had just so happened that I was visiting family in Arizona for the first week of March and had left my XO in charge, so I missed an entire week.

By around 3 weeks into the competition, we were pretty solidly getting our butts kicked. Epsilon was way ahead. Out of 6 squadrons I believe we were in 4th. We got together, both on Discord and through email, to come up with a cohesive plan based on how each of us participated in the TIE Corps--some of us did single player and multiplayer flying, some of us did reviews and fiction writing, some of us did IU courses, some of us concentrated on setting high scores. Every pilot responds to success, and every Imperial pilot should want to be the best.

We ended up hitting the goal of 10 tasks completed a good week before any other squadron--even Epsilon. My squadron got a record number of medals that month and even two promotions, and not only that but we were respected across the TIE Corps. Sin Squadron later went on to play a huge role in helping the Warrior win Imperial Storm 2020. By then, there was no doubt that Sin Squadron was the pride of the TIE Corps and was unquestionably the finest squadron in the fleet.

It is my hope that by reading this success story you will understand how communication and engagement, more than just simple activity, are the keys to leading a successful squadron. By understanding what your pilots like to do within the TIE Corps, you can find a way to motivate them to great heights. This is the key to Sin's success, and if you follow these suggestions, it will be the key to yours as well.

Continue to V. Special guest lecture by General Gilbert H. Frown on the joys of paperwork and day-to-day squadron management