The South Alliance

[Thor]

From: The Office of the Admiralty / South Alliance Headquarters-Richmond Station VA
To: All South Alliance personnel
-Advancement Protocol-

In order to assure that the South Alliance can meet and defeat any threat we must be able to field the best Fleet in all of Sirius. Not only in terms of ships and weapons but also in terms of the best pilots. In the past the Liberty Government has provided virtually unlimited funding to the unit, to aid in its formation and survivability. And while the South Alliance funding has increased since the units inception, it has failed to keep pace with the growth of the South Alliance. Due to this fact, the South Alliance Command must institute a series of protocols to preserve and strengthen the unit.

Article 1: Because the South Alliance operates outside of the normal operational parameters of the Liberty Navy, the Command Authority has placed a limit on the size of the unit and the jurisdiction in which it is allowed to operate. All new officers wishing to join the South Alliance will be subjected to a screening process and must be accepted by a joint agreement of the SA-DOD and its Flag Officers. Also the unit shall not exceed twelve members with provisions for an additional three members at the discretion of the SA-DOD.

Article 2: All new officers accepted into the South Alliance will be placed on probation for a period of up to two weeks. The unit charter calls for participation in the unit as well the discovery forums. After these requirements have been satisfied to the satisfaction of the SA Command, the new officer shall be granted full status as an officer of the South Alliance.

Article 3: Officers in good standing with the SA shall enjoy all the benefits of membership in the best that Liberty has to offer. One of those benefits is advancement. The following will provide guidance to the promotion and advancement of Officers in the South Alliance. For this guide the abbreviations TIS and TIG will refer to time in service and time in grade respectively. Please note that TIS/TIG requirements are minimums but can be waived with proper DOD and Flag Officer approval.

Ensign: This is the probationary rank of the SA given to all new officers accepted into the unit, without regard to previous rank in the Liberty Navy.

Lieutenant (Junior Grade): This rank is granted to officers once they have passed the probationary period. Officers of this rank are given Guardian class fighters and assigned to a fighter squadron. There are no TIS or TIG requirements.

Lieutenant: This rank is granted to officers who have distinguished themselves and gained the respect of their peers. Officers of this grade are given Avenger class fighters and assigned to fighter squadrons. TIS: 1 week. TIG: N/A

Lieutenant Commander: This rank is granted to officers who have demonstrated command ability. Officers of this rank are given command of fighter squadrons or Gunboat class capitol ships. TIS: 3 weeks. TIG: 2 weeks.

Commander: This rank is granted to officers who have demonstrated advanced command ability. Officers of this rank are given command of Gunboat or Cruiser class capitol ships. TIS: 1 month 2 weeks. TIG: 1 month.

Captain: This rank is granted to officers who have demonstrated exceptional command ability. Officers of this rank are given command of Cruiser or Frigate class capitol ships. Special dispensation for Dreadnaught class ships is attainable by DOD or Flag officer approval. TIS: 2 months 2 weeks. TIG: 1 month 1 weeks.

Commodore: This rank is granted to Captains who have been given the additional duties of command of battle groups. Officers of this rank are given command of Frigate or Dreadnaught class capitol ships. This rank is lateral to Captain and carries the same requirements. Commodores are considered Flag Officers.

Admiral (All Ranks): This rank is only granted to Officers who have demonstrated the highest level of Command ability. Officers of this rank are given the command of any ship they deem appropriate to the mission. TIS: 3 months, 2 weeks, TIG: 3 months.

These are only guidelines and can be bypassed by proper DOD and command level approval.

Article 4: The number of Officers who have attained a certain rank shall not exceed these numbers.

Ensign: Unlimited
LT(JG): Unlimited
LT: Ten
LtCmdr: Seven
Commander: Six
Captain: Five
Commodore: Three
Admiral: Three

The preceding articles are guidelines to the formation of the SA. They are mean to be as solid or as fluid as the mission dictates. The first and foremost duty of all Officers of the SA is the protection of Liberty and the defeat of her enemies. Strength and Honor gentlemen. That is all.

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<span style="color:#CCCCCC">&quot;BOLT FROM THE HEAVENS&quot;

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&quot;Nobody ever won a war by dying for his country, you win wars by making the sorry SOB's die for theirs!&quot;