Squadron Management 5

While being a Squadron Commander will earn you the respect and admiration of personnel all across the TIE Corps, it is not always fun. It is a bit of tedium and requires some outside-the-box thinking. You will mediate conflicts and manage personalities. Sometimes it can be fun--and rewarding when your squadron experiences enormous success--but not always. Below we will cover common issues Squadron Commanders experience and how to best approach the situation with a solution.

1. Problem pilots

It is inevitable that you will have difficulties with a pilot at some point. There are, after all, 11 other personalities in your squadron, and you must figure out how to work with them all. However, at times a pilot can be so disruptive that they disrupt squadron-, ship-, or even fleet-wide morale. How to approach the pilot depends on the severity of the disruptive behavior.

Are they just being obnoxious in Discord or over the email group? Are they visibly annoying someone? We have probably all annoyed someone else in the TIE Corps from time to time without even realizing it. What you want to notice is if your pilot being disruptive is becoming a pattern. That is when it becomes a problem. You may want to DM them or fire off a direct email discussing the matter as politely and professionally as possible. Make your Wing Commander or Commodore, or both, aware of what you are doing as well. Often they may not even realize they are disruptive, and this will hopefully be the end of it. Again, communication is key here.

However, you may have a pilot that is truly a bad apple. This can be a sticky situation. They may be talking about taboo subjects over comms, such as race, religion, politics, or sexuality. Since we cater to all ages in the TIE Corps, we will certainly have some minors viewing this discussion. The best thing to do would be to tell your pilot to stop--immediately. Make your chain of command aware of the issue as well.

We are all here in the TIE Corps of our own volition, and we're all here to have a good time. This type of conduct really detracts from the great experience that is being in the TIE Corps, and it should not be, will not be, and is not tolerated under any circumstances. If your pilot continues with this type of behavior, make the TC Command Staff directly aware of the issue while notifying your chain of command. Go directly to the Fleet Commander if you must to resolve the issue. Possible punishment for this type of behavior includes demotion, probation, a formal reprimand, or even expulsion from the fleet.

2. The "I'm here" pilot

Every single Squadron Commander has experienced a pilot like this at some point, and for some it is often a perpetual issue. We all have these pilots. Pilots that have not been active or earned a Merit Award in months, many having not earned a single point on their MSEs in over a year. But they respond to every single AWOL check, so your hands are tied and you can't bounce them over to the Reserves if you want.

If you have a pilot like this, you may try to gently suggest they move to the Reserves at first. Make sure they understand that the Reserves isn't being kicked out of the fleet by any means. They are still more than welcome on Discord and on the mailing list and to complete in fleet-wide competitions. They just can't earn medals or be promoted unless they are on active duty. It is essentially putting your TIE Corps career on hold until you have more time but still being part of the fun.

However, if your pilot does not like this idea and continues to be woefully inactive, you do have another option here. If a pilot does not earn a single point on their MSE for two consecutive months, you have the option to request their transfer to the Reserves.

I would recommend giving it more than two months, personally, but the decision is up to you. I would only feel comfortable exercising this rule when all methods of communication and engagement have been exhausted with your pilot. As we covered above, everyone experiences the TIE Corps differently. Some pilots may just not know how to approach it, or how to be active, and require communication and engagement to truly make a difference.

3. AWOL pilots

Sadly, every commander experiences this at some point, too. Some pilots simply disappear for one reason or another or lose interest. Rather than request a transfer to the Reserves, they simply go poof. If you do not hear from your pilot for 30 days or more despite repeated attempts to reach them, please note this on their MSE and the TIE Corps Commander will remove them from active duty and deactivate their profile.

4. Leaves of absence

It is common from time to time for your pilots to go on leaves of absence. They may be dealing with personal issues in real life but not willing to resign just yet, or going on vacation and know that they won't be in contact. As part of communicating with and engaging your pilots, you always want them to tell you when they may go through prolonged stretches of inactivity so you are not concerned.

You may even need to take a leave of absence yourself, and that is perfectly fine. This is the purpose of the executive officer. Make sure you notify your Wing Commander and Commodore, and delegate responsibilities to your executive officer. Prepare them and answer any questions before you begin your leave and, when you return, it will be like you never left!

5. Resources to help you

Any Squadron Commander who says he hasn't needed help or has never had any questions is unquestionably lying to you. The key lies in knowing where to find the answers you need. Here, we will cover all the resources that can help you run your squadron smoothly.

a. Current and former Squadron Commanders

As soon as you become a Squadron Commander, start introducing yourself to other commanders. There might even be a former commander in your squadron. You can bounce ideas off each other, start competitions amongst your squadrons, help each other with projects, and any number of things. Any Squadron Commander will understand and empathize with issues you might be having; they have likely had the same problems. They will surely be more than willing to answer any questions or help you in any way possible.

b. Your Wing Commander and Commodore

These are your immediate superior officers and likely who you would turn to to deal with personnel issues or immediate questions about your ship, wing, or squadron. Especially if you are on a new ship and in a new squadron with lots of unfamiliar faces looking to you for leadership, they may best be able to provide perspective and guidance on how to engage your pilots. It is worth mentioning that, as of the time of this writing, the position of wing commander is currently being filled by NPCs. However, it may be reactivated at a later date.

c. The TC Command Staff

The TIE Corps Command staff (consisting of the TIE Corps Commander, Strategic Operations Officer, and Combat Operations Officer) keep the TIE Corps' daily operations running smoothly. They can help guide you with more technical questions about the TIE Corps--where to find manuals, multiplayer submission guidelines, and instruction in the latest policies of squadron management are all areas of their expertise.

d. The EH Command Staff

While a separate unit distinct from the TIE Corps, they are no less important. The Command Staff of the Emperor's Hammer, led by the Fleet Commander, is what gives our organization structure and keeps it running. They may be able to help you with problems that affect the EH as a whole--website issues, emails not working, taking courses through Imperial University, and any number of Fleet-wide issues can be addressed with them.

6. How do I measure success?

Well now you have taken this course and applied what you know to being a Squadron Commander. Were you successful? I sure hope you were.

But how do you know? In much the same way as we all experience the TIE Corps differently, we all experience success as a Squadron Commander differently. It isn't the same to everyone. Success can be defined any number of ways: winning competitions, pilots being communicative and engaged, or having your pilots earning merit medals every month. There's no set way to determine success.

However, I find the best way to really measure success is to think about one question: did you and your pilots have fun during your tenure as a Squadron Commander? If your answer is yes, then it sounds like a resounding success!

	« start « updates « course notes « course test


: VI. Issues you may face as a Squadron Commander :



While being a Squadron Commander will earn you the respect and admiration of personnel all across the TIE Corps, it is not always fun. It is a bit of tedium and requires some outside-the-box thinking. You will mediate conflicts and manage personalities. Sometimes it can be fun--and rewarding when your squadron experiences enormous success--but not always. Below we will cover common issues Squadron Commanders experience and how to best approach the situation with a solution. 1. Problem pilots It is inevitable that you will have difficulties with a pilot at some point. There are, after all, 11 other personalities in your squadron, and you must figure out how to work with them all. However, at times a pilot can be so disruptive that they disrupt squadron-, ship-, or even fleet-wide morale. How to approach the pilot depends on the severity of the disruptive behavior. Are they just being obnoxious in Discord or over the email group? Are they visibly annoying someone? We have probably all annoyed someone else in the TIE Corps from time to time without even realizing it. What you want to notice is if your pilot being disruptive is becoming a pattern. That is when it becomes a problem. You may want to DM them or fire off a direct email discussing the matter as politely and professionally as possible. Make your Wing Commander or Commodore, or both, aware of what you are doing as well. Often they may not even realize they are disruptive, and this will hopefully be the end of it. Again, communication is key here. However, you may have a pilot that is truly a bad apple. This can be a sticky situation. They may be talking about taboo subjects over comms, such as race, religion, politics, or sexuality. Since we cater to all ages in the TIE Corps, we will certainly have some minors viewing this discussion. The best thing to do would be to tell your pilot to stop--immediately. Make your chain of command aware of the issue as well. We are all here in the TIE Corps of our own volition, and we're all here to have a good time. This type of conduct really detracts from the great experience that is being in the TIE Corps, and it should not be, will not be, and is not tolerated under any circumstances. If your pilot continues with this type of behavior, make the TC Command Staff directly aware of the issue while notifying your chain of command. Go directly to the Fleet Commander if you must to resolve the issue. Possible punishment for this type of behavior includes demotion, probation, a formal reprimand, or even expulsion from the fleet. 2. The "I'm here" pilot Every single Squadron Commander has experienced a pilot like this at some point, and for some it is often a perpetual issue. We all have these pilots. Pilots that have not been active or earned a Merit Award in months, many having not earned a single point on their MSEs in over a year. But they respond to every single AWOL check, so your hands are tied and you can't bounce them over to the Reserves if you want. If you have a pilot like this, you may try to gently suggest they move to the Reserves at first. Make sure they understand that the Reserves isn't being kicked out of the fleet by any means. They are still more than welcome on Discord and on the mailing list and to complete in fleet-wide competitions. They just can't earn medals or be promoted unless they are on active duty. It is essentially putting your TIE Corps career on hold until you have more time but still being part of the fun. However, if your pilot does not like this idea and continues to be woefully inactive, you do have another option here. If a pilot does not earn a single point on their MSE for two consecutive months, you have the option to request their transfer to the Reserves. I would recommend giving it more than two months, personally, but the decision is up to you. I would only feel comfortable exercising this rule when all methods of communication and engagement have been exhausted with your pilot. As we covered above, everyone experiences the TIE Corps differently. Some pilots may just not know how to approach it, or how to be active, and require communication and engagement to truly make a difference. 3. AWOL pilots Sadly, every commander experiences this at some point, too. Some pilots simply disappear for one reason or another or lose interest. Rather than request a transfer to the Reserves, they simply go poof. If you do not hear from your pilot for 30 days or more despite repeated attempts to reach them, please note this on their MSE and the TIE Corps Commander will remove them from active duty and deactivate their profile. 4. Leaves of absence It is common from time to time for your pilots to go on leaves of absence. They may be dealing with personal issues in real life but not willing to resign just yet, or going on vacation and know that they won't be in contact. As part of communicating with and engaging your pilots, you always want them to tell you when they may go through prolonged stretches of inactivity so you are not concerned. You may even need to take a leave of absence yourself, and that is perfectly fine. This is the purpose of the executive officer. Make sure you notify your Wing Commander and Commodore, and delegate responsibilities to your executive officer. Prepare them and answer any questions before you begin your leave and, when you return, it will be like you never left! 5. Resources to help you Any Squadron Commander who says he hasn't needed help or has never had any questions is unquestionably lying to you. The key lies in knowing where to find the answers you need. Here, we will cover all the resources that can help you run your squadron smoothly. a. Current and former Squadron Commanders As soon as you become a Squadron Commander, start introducing yourself to other commanders. There might even be a former commander in your squadron. You can bounce ideas off each other, start competitions amongst your squadrons, help each other with projects, and any number of things. Any Squadron Commander will understand and empathize with issues you might be having; they have likely had the same problems. They will surely be more than willing to answer any questions or help you in any way possible. b. Your Wing Commander and Commodore These are your immediate superior officers and likely who you would turn to to deal with personnel issues or immediate questions about your ship, wing, or squadron. Especially if you are on a new ship and in a new squadron with lots of unfamiliar faces looking to you for leadership, they may best be able to provide perspective and guidance on how to engage your pilots. It is worth mentioning that, as of the time of this writing, the position of wing commander is currently being filled by NPCs. However, it may be reactivated at a later date. c. The TC Command Staff The TIE Corps Command staff (consisting of the TIE Corps Commander, Strategic Operations Officer, and Combat Operations Officer) keep the TIE Corps' daily operations running smoothly. They can help guide you with more technical questions about the TIE Corps--where to find manuals, multiplayer submission guidelines, and instruction in the latest policies of squadron management are all areas of their expertise. d. The EH Command Staff While a separate unit distinct from the TIE Corps, they are no less important. The Command Staff of the Emperor's Hammer, led by the Fleet Commander, is what gives our organization structure and keeps it running. They may be able to help you with problems that affect the EH as a whole--website issues, emails not working, taking courses through Imperial University, and any number of Fleet-wide issues can be addressed with them. 6. How do I measure success? Well now you have taken this course and applied what you know to being a Squadron Commander. Were you successful? I sure hope you were. But how do you know? In much the same way as we all experience the TIE Corps differently, we all experience success as a Squadron Commander differently. It isn't the same to everyone. Success can be defined any number of ways: winning competitions, pilots being communicative and engaged, or having your pilots earning merit medals every month. There's no set way to determine success. However, I find the best way to really measure success is to think about one question: did you and your pilots have fun during your tenure as a Squadron Commander? If your answer is yes, then it sounds like a resounding success! Continue to VII. Conclusion


Emperor's Hammer TIE Corps - Layout created by Drako