Building a Military - Chapter 2 (Recruit Training)
Once the structure and basic systems of your clan are complete, you are now ready to start recruiting. The actual process of the selection and training of recruits has varied among different clans, due to the fact that some clans are much less disciplined or military-oriented than others. Again this is a guide to the "militarized" style of clan, so I will orient it as such.
Before I cover the details of training recruits, let it first be known that recruiting is one of the most vital processes a clan can perform. The initial training experience for a recruit is often the first real experience they have with the clan, and so sets the stage for the level of maturity and commitment expected from them. Recruit training or "boot camp" is where a recruit will find out weather they will stay in the clan or not, and depending on the harshness of the training, their overall quality and discipline. So with the objective of getting rid of the wrong kinds of people while indoctrinating a new person from a recruit into a member who can follow orders, has loyalty, and is motivated; here is the simplest and most standardized process I can possibly lay out:
NOTE: This system is designed to be run in LESS than 90 minutes by a someone who is stern enough to run it, and parts can be modified to meet specific needs of the clan. Individual branch training can be done following the boot camp, this is meant to be a means of selection.
The below system's training difficulty/quality outcome rating is Medium/Basic
**REMEMBER THE OBJECTIVE, boot camp is meant to rat out the type of recruits you DON'T WANT, It does not need to be overly complex.
1. INITIAL LOBBY RECEIVING
Once all recruits are first gathered in the pre-game lobby, they should there be informed of what process they are about to undertake. They should be made aware of the discipline required of them, and if a recruit is unwilling to meet those standards they should back out immediately. If your clan requires recruits to wear a uniform, have them change their appearance accordingly. Be sure not to be rude or demeaning UNTIL you have informed them that that is what they will expect while in the boot camp, (If you partake in those methods) then they all must confirm that they understand., and once in game you my proceed in that manner.
2. IN-GAME ARRIVAL
Assert your voice. Give legitimate commands. Line the recruits up where you have already planned to begin, any who fail to follow commands without hesitation or speed should be shouted at and killed. (They should return to the line immediately after respawn) Inform the recruits that they must respond to every command with a "Yes sir", and conduct every order with speed and intensity (If you choose to discipline in this manner). Surely some recruits will resent this, and when recruits talk back, make an example out of them through killing on the spot. Those that do not wish to accept the level of discipline will likely attempt to kill you (In which case you should kill them, and kick them), or they will quit on their own.
3. PRESSURE COURSES
A series of obstacle courses or activities that require much needed effort and seem impossible, are the easiest way to test the patience of a recruit under pressure. Having you (or multiple shooters) rain gunfire down on the recruits also while they undergo these courses can cause an impatient recruit to reveal themselves in about 10 minutes tops. For the best effect, be sure to inform the recruits of this rule:
-Every time you fall or die, you must return to the beginning of the course to try again
This will cause extreme frustration and assist in breaking a recruits motivation. Remember you want those who DO NOT give up, even after failure. (Remember to ease up on the pressure ONLY when you see EVERYONE breaking, use the last motivated person as an example to motivate the rest if there is only one remaining)
Also apply/understand these concepts while running the boot camp:
-Yelling commands constantly adds pressure, the more people yelling the harder it is for the recruit to function
-For the most part sarcastic negativity shouted works to break recruits, but remember you want members in the end, so it is OK to give positive motivation when appropriate.
-Add countdowns to cook up the pressure, with all recruits having to restart the course again if they do not all finish before the clock runs out.
-Reward those who finish the course with a character-assessing option: They can go back into the fray to assist teammates who have not made it yet (meaning they'd have to do the course again too) or they can wait for the rest to finish. (Someone who goes back for the team may be mark themselves out as a team oriented player or even a future officer).
4. FINISHING THE SESSION
Sessions may take an extended period of time to complete depending on how much you require your recruits to go through, so in order to shorten things up you need to decide how a recruit may pass or fail:
-If a recruit completes every obstacle and responds to orders correctly with discipline even after continual punishment, that recruit should pass.
-If a recruit is motivated and refuses to give up, yet is unable to complete the course themselves, that recruit should pass.
-If a recruit is unmotivated, is not willing to continue, yet able to follow orders, that recruit should not pass. (Removed on second offense)
-If a recruit is insubordinate or immature, yet able to complete every obstacle, that recruit should not pass. (Removed on second offense)
* Removals should not be conducted unless the infraction is repeated even after getting killed/given a warning
Once your decided group of recruits has made it to the finish, you should lose the rude attitude (but not the discipline) and congratulate them all on their achievement of making it into your clan and on their first promotion! They should then be admitted to further training after they either select or are assigned a branch as soon as possible. If there are no clan activities soon after boot camp, (an effect of inactivity) your new members will leave of boredom. Keep things alive.
In the next chapter, I will detail on actual tactical combat training drills for military style combat in clans...
Before I cover the details of training recruits, let it first be known that recruiting is one of the most vital processes a clan can perform. The initial training experience for a recruit is often the first real experience they have with the clan, and so sets the stage for the level of maturity and commitment expected from them. Recruit training or "boot camp" is where a recruit will find out weather they will stay in the clan or not, and depending on the harshness of the training, their overall quality and discipline. So with the objective of getting rid of the wrong kinds of people while indoctrinating a new person from a recruit into a member who can follow orders, has loyalty, and is motivated; here is the simplest and most standardized process I can possibly lay out:
NOTE: This system is designed to be run in LESS than 90 minutes by a someone who is stern enough to run it, and parts can be modified to meet specific needs of the clan. Individual branch training can be done following the boot camp, this is meant to be a means of selection.
The below system's training difficulty/quality outcome rating is Medium/Basic
**REMEMBER THE OBJECTIVE, boot camp is meant to rat out the type of recruits you DON'T WANT, It does not need to be overly complex.
1. INITIAL LOBBY RECEIVING
Once all recruits are first gathered in the pre-game lobby, they should there be informed of what process they are about to undertake. They should be made aware of the discipline required of them, and if a recruit is unwilling to meet those standards they should back out immediately. If your clan requires recruits to wear a uniform, have them change their appearance accordingly. Be sure not to be rude or demeaning UNTIL you have informed them that that is what they will expect while in the boot camp, (If you partake in those methods) then they all must confirm that they understand., and once in game you my proceed in that manner.
2. IN-GAME ARRIVAL
Assert your voice. Give legitimate commands. Line the recruits up where you have already planned to begin, any who fail to follow commands without hesitation or speed should be shouted at and killed. (They should return to the line immediately after respawn) Inform the recruits that they must respond to every command with a "Yes sir", and conduct every order with speed and intensity (If you choose to discipline in this manner). Surely some recruits will resent this, and when recruits talk back, make an example out of them through killing on the spot. Those that do not wish to accept the level of discipline will likely attempt to kill you (In which case you should kill them, and kick them), or they will quit on their own.
3. PRESSURE COURSES
A series of obstacle courses or activities that require much needed effort and seem impossible, are the easiest way to test the patience of a recruit under pressure. Having you (or multiple shooters) rain gunfire down on the recruits also while they undergo these courses can cause an impatient recruit to reveal themselves in about 10 minutes tops. For the best effect, be sure to inform the recruits of this rule:
-Every time you fall or die, you must return to the beginning of the course to try again
This will cause extreme frustration and assist in breaking a recruits motivation. Remember you want those who DO NOT give up, even after failure. (Remember to ease up on the pressure ONLY when you see EVERYONE breaking, use the last motivated person as an example to motivate the rest if there is only one remaining)
Also apply/understand these concepts while running the boot camp:
-Yelling commands constantly adds pressure, the more people yelling the harder it is for the recruit to function
-For the most part sarcastic negativity shouted works to break recruits, but remember you want members in the end, so it is OK to give positive motivation when appropriate.
-Add countdowns to cook up the pressure, with all recruits having to restart the course again if they do not all finish before the clock runs out.
-Reward those who finish the course with a character-assessing option: They can go back into the fray to assist teammates who have not made it yet (meaning they'd have to do the course again too) or they can wait for the rest to finish. (Someone who goes back for the team may be mark themselves out as a team oriented player or even a future officer).
4. FINISHING THE SESSION
Sessions may take an extended period of time to complete depending on how much you require your recruits to go through, so in order to shorten things up you need to decide how a recruit may pass or fail:
-If a recruit completes every obstacle and responds to orders correctly with discipline even after continual punishment, that recruit should pass.
-If a recruit is motivated and refuses to give up, yet is unable to complete the course themselves, that recruit should pass.
-If a recruit is unmotivated, is not willing to continue, yet able to follow orders, that recruit should not pass. (Removed on second offense)
-If a recruit is insubordinate or immature, yet able to complete every obstacle, that recruit should not pass. (Removed on second offense)
* Removals should not be conducted unless the infraction is repeated even after getting killed/given a warning
Once your decided group of recruits has made it to the finish, you should lose the rude attitude (but not the discipline) and congratulate them all on their achievement of making it into your clan and on their first promotion! They should then be admitted to further training after they either select or are assigned a branch as soon as possible. If there are no clan activities soon after boot camp, (an effect of inactivity) your new members will leave of boredom. Keep things alive.
In the next chapter, I will detail on actual tactical combat training drills for military style combat in clans...