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Beta Squadron - Violent Order
Re-Energized and Re-Mobilized
I think I'm going to continue on my new trend of using this space to speak what's on my mind, rather than writing up some fiction or leaving my thoughts to the end. Whether or not I keep this going in coming months is yet to be determined, but this month I'm also going to continue talking a little about mental health.
For those of us in the nothern hemisphere - which is all of Beta, I believe - summer is nearly here. It's a great time to get outdoors and soak up some sun (if you can) and get moving.
It has always aggravated me when I see or hear things like, "exercise is the cure for depression" or other trite/dismissive buzz phrases, but there's a kernel of truth to the idea that getting out and getting active can be very good for you. It doesn't really matter whether you just find a shady spot to read, or prepare for running a marathon; there is a ton of legitmate evidence that getting outside, "touching grass," and getting away from the various screens that dominate our lives is very good for your health, from the physical aspect to emotional and psychological health. So get out there and recharge your batteries when needed, it does help!
Now on the surface, it almost appears that I'm telling you to NOT participate in all the gaming and other challenges presented to us as part of the Squadron ReMobilization event that's going on this month.
That couldn't be further from the truth!
I'm quite chuffed to see activity ramping up in the squadron over the last month. The Monthly Squadron Evaluations and GONK info might show a slow month for us, but it doesn't show the complete story, with new blood pumping some excitement into the group, and old blood returning to the fold. More on that below in the Squadron News section, but I just want to share my optimism that Beta is seeing a bit of a renaissance when it comes to activity, with a bright future ahead of us!
I still struggle to find the motivation to engage, and I know sometimes you do too. I've been much less active on Discord than usual, but I want to make sure you all know that it isn't a reflection of how I feel about Beta Squadron, the Hammer Battlegroup, or the EHTC more broadly; it's not something I'm going to deep dive into here, but trust that things are looking up and I appreciate any and all participation you can offer or manage.
And remember, if you're struggling, this remains as true today is was the last time I shared it:
Burdens shared are always lighter than burdens carried alone.
Squadron News
Beta Squadron has made some seriously solid pick-ups since last month, and I think these new people - new and old - will help breathe some life back into the squad.
Lieutenant Colonel Honsou has joined us all the way from Tempest Squadron in Battlegroup III to take over the SQXO position from Captain Wildfire, whose IRL responsibilities have increased considerably. Please give a warm welcome to LC Honsou and look forward to using his knowledge and experience, which will be great assets to the squadron.
Lieutenant Commander Decoy Tango graciously accepted his overdue promotion, which should have happened last month and is currently in the pipeline. I'm sure BGCOM has your back pay in the works, if repairing the Hammer hasn't eaten up all his discretionary cash.
Congratulations, Lieutenant Commander!
Captain Xye, former Beta Squadron Commander and steadfast pilot, has returned in a big way, making moves in the SWTOR comps and Discord channels after a long absence. Just want to take this opportunity to welcome the good Captain back to the squad!
Lieutenant Milo Becker has already made serious waves in our Tail-End Charlie spot (Beta 3-4), giving us some great backstory in his INPR, flying a number of matches in SWS, writing fiction for ReMob, and in general just showing a lot of promise when it comes to gaming activity and broader participation in the squad/BG/TC.
Welcome aboard, LT Becker, very glad to have ya!
Fleet News
Squadron ReMobilization 23
Squadron ReMobilization (ReMob) is here! Many of you have already put in some time, played a game or two, written a few words of fiction or worked on a wiki entry. I know it's been discussed in the Beta channel, but I want to officially encourage you all to coordinate and try to find a time that works for us all to hop on together to knock out some games. The way the points and tiers are set up, we can accomplish a lot gaming individually, but I think it's important for us all to make some time to hang out together in VC and get to know each other as we kick some ReMob @$$. Certainly can't hurt to earn a boatload of Legions (of Skirmish AND Conflict, no doubt both will be in heavy demand!), or write some fiction, or otherwise contribute to the squadron and Battlegroup effort.
Don't forget that we also have a goal of competing IU courses and creating or updating wiki articles for the EHTC, both of which are relatively solo tasks. Please please please let me know when you complete courses and especially when you create or update a wiki article. Yes, I do get notifications and emails, but I also want a DM. Just in case.
NOTE: In case you missed the announcement from the BGCOM: If you are creating a new Wiki account, make sure you DM VA Jaxx "Hijacker" Nassin to enable your account, otherwise you won't get much done.
Squadron Management 6
That's right, the venerable SM/5's heavy review and updating is nearly complete, and we should soon see the 6th edition hitting the Imperial Univeristy soon. Big shout out to the Training Officer corps for the extra effort they've put into this, bravo zulu!
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That's right, the Emperor's Hammer TIE Corps now has added Elite Dangerous to our "Primary Games" list, which is not only eligible for competitions, but will also allow pilots to earn Legions of Skirmish (PvE) & Legions of Conflict (PvP)! Many people were involved in doing the research for feasibility, and due to their outstanding work you may now earn credit within the TIE Corps for playing a game you were likely playing anyway. You won't see me playing it, but I want to encourage you all to check it out anyway and see if it's something you want to get involved in. And don't forget, you can start dreaming up competitions involving Elite Dangerous to submit up the chain. Feel free to DM me if you need help figuring out the submission requirements.
And of course, for reporting requirements you'll want to double check the COO Manual to ensure you get proper credit for the games you play.
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Other News
The Training Office has announced the activation of a new, higher-level qualification you may earn from the Imperial University. The Graduate of Starfighter Operations qualification has a much stricter set of requirements and will really help you stand out from your fellow pilots, if you should choose to pursue it. Also, Lieutenant Colonel Honsou is one of the very first people to earn this particular qualification, so if it's something you want to do, feel free to ask his advice. The Training Office is currently working up other Graduate-level courses as well, so stay tuned!
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Important Note:
If you believe that anyone in Beta Squadron, Battlegroup I, or the TIE Corps is behaving in an inappropriate manner, please bring it to my attention, or the attention of your direct superior. If the person misbehaving is your direct superior, report it to their immediate superior.
EHTC Leadership, myself included, has a zero tolerance policy for harassment or otherwise inappropriate conduct. This includes but is not limited to DMs, voice channels, email, or any other form of communication.
Using your chain of command is the best option for handling matters.
There is virtually always a member of the senior leadership (Rear Admiral and above) online, so if quick action is necessary don't be afraid to "ping" or DM them directly.
If you have ANY questions about the above, please DM me or BGCOM.
Squadron Activity (1st - 31st May)
1-1 CMDR/CM neurotictim/Beta/Wing I/ISDII Hammer/Battlegroup I
MEDALS AWARDED:
* ORA x 6
* BS x 1
* IAR x 1
* OV x 1
* IS-BW x 1
Discord Comms
1-3 COL Aticus Jade/Beta 1-3/Wing I/ISDII Hammer/Battlegroup IDiscord Comms
1-4 FM/CPT Xye/Beta 1-4/Wing I/ISDII Hammer/Battlegroup I
MEDALS AWARDED:
* LoS x 23
* ORA x 2
* IAR x 1
* IS-CW x 1
NEW COMBAT RATING:
*New Combat Rating (MP PvE) rank achieved: Gunner's Mate 1st
MEDALS AWARDED:
* LoC x 1
* LoS x 26
* IAR x 1
CERTIFICATE AWARDED:
* Graduate of Starfighter Operations from the Imperial Weapons and Tactics School 2-2 FM/LT Decoy Tango/Beta 2-2/Wing I/ISDII Hammer/Battlegroup I
Discord Comms
2-3 FM/LT Kyle Nooneman/Beta 2-3/Wing I/ISDII Hammer/Battlegroup IDiscord Comms
2-4 FM/CPT Wildfire/Beta 2-1/Wing I/ISDII Hammer/Battlegroup IDiscord Comms
3-1 FL/CPT KEBLAOMEGA/Beta 3-1/Wing I/ISDII Hammer/Battlegroup I
MEDALS AWARDED:
* LoC x 2
* LoS x 2
* IS-GR x 1
COURSES PASSED:
* History of the Mandalorians Part Two
* Vehicle Course - Stage 2 3-3 FM/LT Hunter Wilson/Beta 3-3/Wing I/ISDII Hammer/Battlegroup I
NEW UNIFORM APPROVED:
* New uniform image approved for display on record (uploaded on 2023-05-01)
Welcome Aboard!
Competitions
Make sure to check out the competitions in the Competition Center, the hub for activities in the Emperor's Hammer. You are eligible to participate in any comp for Beta Squadron, Battlegroup I, or TIE Corps.
There are plenty of competitions, notably Season Six of TIE Corps in Battle (TCiB), which ends very soon, and the long-run SWTOR Conquest and SWTOR: Galactic Seasons being run by MAJ "Pops" Gytheran. There are even a couple of Elite Dangerous comps going on, if that's more your speed or you're looking for the latest primary game.
There are also some non-gaming comps to get involved with, from the Sausage Challenge (which ends in just a few days!) to TO's "Moving Day 2" fiction comp, the Imperial News Network EH promotional video comp, along with jigsaws, crossword puzzles, and others! Check the Competition Center (link above) and find something that piques your interest.
Interested in creating and running a competition? Talk to me and I'll help walk you through the process!
Closing Comments
I'm still playing Star Wars: The Old Republic (SWTOR) when I'm feeling up to it. I would LOVE to see more Beta pilots in the game, and I'd be happy to help you through the beginning, as I was helped. So if you have any interest in playing, let me know when and I'll be there (if I can, of course).
You can also reach out to MAJ Gytheran or LC Solohan50 if I'm not around. Keep in mind, it's a free-to-play game and runs on older computers pretty well, so no reason not to give it a go! If you play for a while and decide you want to subscribe for the benefits, it's super straightforward. Or you can just play it at no cost, either way is fine by me.
I fully expect Legions of Skirmish and Conflict (LoS & LoC, respectively) to factor heavily in scoring for the upcoming ReMob event, which means now is a good time to familiarize yourself with Star Conflict, the game famous for quick Legions. I learned how it works, and while it definitely can be a grind, you know what makes it much more fun? Having squadmates fly with you! It's also free to play, and doesn't require a whole lot of brain cells, so if you're looking to up your gaming participation without investing a ton of time, this might be the game for you. If Beta can squad up once or twice during ReMob, we can earn a lot of Legions very quickly and establish ourselves.
Referring back to my opening remarks, I'd definitely like to see your names in any of the various competitions going on, or in my MSE reports, but at the end of the day we can only do what we can manage. So manage yourselves and your real life in such a way that gaming with us is something you want to make time for, and if that isn't possible right now, just know that it's okay. We'll catch up another time. Stay safe, stay healthy.
If you have any questions, comments, moans, groans, or complaints, feel free to DM me or catch me in VC. I look forward to seeing you all getting it done in the coming month!
Respectfully,
CMDR/CM neurotictim/Beta/Wing I/ISDII Hammer
SS/BSx7/PCx2/ISM/IAR/MoI/MoC--poc-goc-soc-8boc/MUA/IS-5SW-4BW-3CW-PR-7GR-2SR-7BR-CR/ORA-2C/LoC-TS/LoS-RS/CoB
[Marksman1st][Gunner'sMate1st]{TCCORE-SM/5}
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