Battlegroups Report 14

[taps the com button] Testing…testing…is this thing on? Greetings! Welcome to yet another edition of the Battlegroups Report! Lots going on this week, so let’s get right to it.

You all may know that the Security Officer has resigned from the EH. His resignation, and GA Ronin’s reply, can be found on the EH Message Board.

NEWS FROM THE BGS

You’re all also well aware that Mairin Astoris has been removed from her position as ChalCOM due to the sentence imposed by the HCI. As a result, we have a COM opening. See the TIE Corps News page (http://www.emperorshammer.net/news.asp) for the requirements. This position closes on the 5th of this month, so write fast if you want to apply. MAJ Astoris has also been banned from the MBs and IRC for a time, and is no longer authorized to act on behalf of the Challenge in any way. If any of you have any questions about this, e-mail me and I’ll do my best to explain.

Activity in the BGs remains good, although things to seem to be slowing down a bit. The Colossus has started a large and wide-ranging competition, and the Relentless is as usual in the midst of a number of comps. As for the discussed BG-wide comp…I’m still waiting on some mission corrections. The price we must pay for using original missions, but it’s worth the wait.

STANDING ORDERS AND PROCEDURES

I expect to see MSEs from my COMs (or A-COMs in the case of the Challenge) by the 5th of this month.

RANT FROM THE RANKS

I’ll take the silence on this front as being all happiness and light in the wonderful world of the BGs. If that’s not the case, take advantage of this forum and sound off!

CLOSING THOUGHTS

No real thoughts for here this time around. OK…I take that back. There are.

There are some activities taking place that I find quite reprehensible, although they do not involve current BGs members. They will be investigated, and the proper steps taken. When ego or malice leads individuals to act in a way that is contrary to the well-being of the Battlegroups, which we have all worked so hard to build and maintain, I get angry. And so should you all. One of the most difficult things to accept about a military organization is that it’s built on the principle of the group and not the individual. This is not to say that the individual does not matter – clearly he does – but the individual must be prepared to take a back seat to the greater good and needs of the group. When the group functions well, the individual is rewarded (through promotion, medals, or the accolades of his fellows). But when the individual ceases to contribute, or takes actions that undermine the health or morale of the group, the group must act to remove that individual. Behind the individual pilot lurks the huge support group that provides his fighter, keeps it armed and fueled, and provides the uniform that allows him to fly in the first place. Something we should all reflect on and take to heart when we make our decisions here. “A commander is only as good as his weakest subordinate.” It’s how you work with that weakest subordinate that is the true test of the individual within the group.

Obscure? Perhaps. Maybe it’s too much coffee before the weekly report. Or too much reflection based on things happening both here in RL. But it’s worth remembering that every individual here is only as good as those who support him. A good commander attracts subordinates he’s proud to lead. A bad commander attracts only those who would support his every thought and whim and possess more skill at licking boots than they do leading pilots. We’ve seen both here. But I’d also like to take this moment to publicly praise the outstanding job that’s being done by the remaining flag officers in the TIE Corps Battlegroups. I happen to think they’re the strongest team we’ve seen in those positions for some time. Gentlemen, you have my salute!

That’s all for now. Keep flying and having fun!

BGCOM/VA Krax Tarnisar/TIE Corps Battlegroups