Operations FAQ

Part 3 - Ground Operations Company

Ground Ops Company Chain of Command

Tier 1 - Ground Operations CO
Tier 2 - Ground Operations XO
Tier 3 - Platoon Commander
Tier 3a - Platoon Sergeant (Platoon XO)
Tier 4 - Squad Leader
Tier 4a - Assistant Squad Leader
Tier 5 - Squad Member

Reporting follows the chain of command. Details are in the Position Descriptions below.

Ground Ops Company Positions

Tier 1 - Ground Operations Company CO (GOC CO)
Rank: O2, O3 or O4 i.e. 1st Lieutenant, Captain or Major (typically a Captain or Major)
The Ground Operations Commander is in charge of the ISOC Ground Operations Company (short GOC or SOC). He will organize activates for the Ground Forces, promote the Ground Forces NCO’s and take care of the Squad assignments. He typically has a Ground Forces XO and Platoon Commanders appointed who report to him. The Ground Operations CO makes sure the Platoons under his command perform efficiently and successfully. The Ground Ops CO is answerable to the Chief of Staff and his Adjutant. He also approves and forwards all medal awards and promotion request nominations to the Chief of Staff and Operations from the Platoon Commanders or Squad Leaders. As a member of the High Command the GOC CO is expected to be very active and in full command of the subordinate Platoons.

Tier 2 - Ground Operations Company XO (GOC XO)
Rank: O1, O2 or O3 i.e. 2st Lieutenant, 1st Lieutenant or Captain (typically 1st Lieutenant or Captain)
The Ground Operations XO is the left hand of the Ground Operations Commander and will help in all activates and in the organisation of the ISOC Ground Ops Company. The GOC XO assists the CO with the daily operations of the Company. He encourages participation among the enlisted personal and do other tasks that may be assigned to him by the CO such as writing up Platoon activity reports. The GOC XO also takes command in the event the GOC CO is on LOA. He is also part of the High Command of ISOC. The GOC XO may also hold a Platoon Commander position in the Ground Ops Company.

Tier 3 - Platoon Commander (PC)
Rank: 2nd Lieutenant, 1st Lieutenant or Captain
A Platoon Commander is put in charge of a Special Ops Platoon if required. He reports to the Ground Operations Commander and his XO as part of his staff. As the Platoon Commander is a commissioned officer the appointment must be performed and authorised by the Chief of Staff or the 2IC in his absence. A Platoon Commander commands 2-6 Squads of NCOs and enlisted Troopers. It is his duty to see that all his troopers are active and productive in ISOC activities. He manages the day to day operations of a Platoon; this includes maintaining continuous contact with squad Leaders and enlisted members and making all sorts of internal decisions on Squad positions. The PC also must review battle and mission performance of his personal and make recommendations to the GOC CO and XO for Medal awards and/or Rank/Position promotions. It should be noted that the High Command allows PC a great deal of latitude in customizing a Platoon to its own particular talents. However, assigned roles, names and objectives may not be altered. PC may select Banners and Mottoes of their Platoon, reporting directly to the GOC CO and XO. The PC is assisted by the Platoon Sergeant and the Squad Leaders. The PC may choose on of the Squad Leaders as his Platoon Sergeant however, it is up to the GOC CO and XO to appoint and promote squad Leaders.

Tier 3a - Platoon Sergeant (PSG) (Platoon XO)
Rank: Sergeant First Class, Master Sergeant or Sergeant Major (2nd Lieutenant only in case of Platoon XO)
The PSG is the assistant to the Platoon Commander. He attends to duties that the PC may assign to him. It is his task to encourage participation among all Squad members in teh Platoon. He is also in charge of Platoon activities when the Platoon Commander is not available. Typically the Platoon Sergeant also doubles as a Squad Leader of one of the Squads within the Platoon and as such also has all task, duties, rights and responsibilities of the Squad Leader position. The Platoon Sergeant is a high ranking NCO, but never an Officer. In the rare case that a Platoon is lead by a Captain it is possible that a 2nd Lieutenant may be appointed as Platoon XO.

Tier 4 - Squad Leader (SL)
Rank: Sergeant First Class or Master Sergeant
A Squad Leader is a NCO of the Ground Ops Company. He reports to his Platoon Commander and the Platoon Sergeant if appointed. He is in charge of a Squad of 4-8 Troopers. The Squad Leader should be contacted with problems, questions or comments by his Squad Members. The Squad Leader serves an important role in maintaining communication and order within a particular Squad in a Platoon. He maintains contact with his Squad Members and makes recommendations to the Platoon Commander regarding individual Squad Member performance. In addition, the SL is the first person a Squad Member should go with a request or question. As a Squad Leader one must be also a skilled Trooper and lead by example. All Squad Leaders will support the Training Officer to help new recruits in learning their profession and skills required to become a fully trained ISOC Trooper. The SL does not have any authority to promote or demote personal. It may be noted that a Squad Leader is not a commissioned officer but an NCO. The appointment is based on the recommendation of the Platoon Commander but must be performed and authorised by the Ground Ops CO or the GOC XO in his absence. All Squad Leaders will keep their PC updated on the activity and forward suggestions and ideas to improve ISOC operations.

Tier 4a - Assistant Squad Leader (ASL)
Rank: Staff Sergeant or Sergeant First Class
An Assistant Squad Leader is a NCO assigned to a Squad Leader. This is typically only the case if a former Squad Leader returns to active duty or a new Squad Leader is being tested. He reports to his Squad Leader unless the Squad Leader is not available, as the assistant will than have full Squad Leader duties until the Squad Leader returns. The Squad Leader and Assistant Squad Leader should be contacted with problems, questions or comments by his Squad Members. Smaller squads typically do not have any Assistant Squad Leaders.

Tier 5 - Squad Member (SM)
Rank: Corporal, Sergeant or Staff Sergeant
The Squad Member is a fully trained Sergeant and ground trooper whose primary duty is to stay active and informed by familiarizing themselves with ISOC missions or battles. Every Squad Member needs to report their status and any special achievements to the Squad Leader. Squad Members are encouraged to not only follow the call of duty as an active member of the ISOC Ground Ops, but also contact their Squad Leaders with suggestions and ideas. Squad Members will spend the majority of their on duty time on Army duty on the ground.

Ground Ops Unit Size

Squad
The typical Squad size is 4-8 members including the Squad Leader. Smaller Squads will be consolidated and if a squad grows larger it will be split. Active Special Combat Squads will typically be 4-6 Troopers strong.

Platoon
A Platoon typically consists of 2 - 6 Squads

Company
A Company typically consists of 2 - 8 Platoons

Ground Forces Enlisted and NCO Rank requirements

E5 Sergeant (SGT)
Minimal time before next promotion: 2 month
Position: Squad Member
All Sergeant must be CL 90 and show dedication in the service for the Empire. To advance from this rank you must not only continue and participate in the Ground Forces activities, but also show skills in leadership or extraordinary combat skills so that your fellow officers see you a an example for the troops.

E6 Staff Sergeant (SSG)
Minimal time before next promotion: 2 month
Position: Assistant Squad Leader or Squad Member
All Staff Sergeants show skills in leadership or are extraordinary combatants and special forces members. As SSG you can also be nominated as Assistant Squad Leader by the current Squad leader. To advance further you must prove yourself as a leader and help organize events and activities within the Ground Forces, the Training office or take on an Assistant Position.

E7 Sergeant First Class (SFC)
Minimal time before next promotion: 2 month
Position: Assistant Squad Leader or Squad Leader
All Sergeant First class have leader qualities, they can give clear instructions and actively organize activities. This is also the minimal rank required to be appointed as Squad Leader. To advance further in rank you must have a leading position in a Squad and continue to organize events.

E8 Master Sergeant (MSG)
Minimal time before next promotion: 3 month
Position: Squad Leader
Master Sergeant is a well training leader of a Squad who has proven his skills many times. This rank is also often the step into the Officer academy if other important command positions are available. To advance from this rank you have to show dedication to the cause of the Empire for a long time and without any longer leave periods.

E9 Sergeant Major (CSM)
Minimal time before next promotion: 3 month
Position: Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge
Sergeant Major is the highest rank a Non-Commissioned Officer can achieve after a long time on service. After this rank there are only promotions possible if you take assignments for one of the Officers or get Warranted for a special duty (outside of the normal NCO line duty of the Ground Forces). Note: No alt character of a Ground Forces member can gain any rank above this one.

Ground Forces Warrant Ranks requirements

WO1 Warrant Officer (WO)
Minimal time before next promotion: 2 month
Position: Special Assignment
Warrant Officer is a special rank given when appointed to positions outside of the normal NCO line assignments. This rank can be giving to a ”main“ character in the ground forces in case the player also has another “main” character in another division.

WO2 Master Warrant Officer (MWO)
Minimal time before next promotion: 2 month
Position: Special Assignment
Very dedicated Warrant Officers may be promoted to Master Warrant Officer if they have proven themselves in their assignment and can not join the Officer academy due to character limitations (one officer per player).

WO3 Chief Warrant Officer (CWO)
Minimal time before next promotion: 2 month
Position: Special Assignment
Dedicated Master Warrant Officers can be promoted to Chief Warrant Officer Officer if they have proven themselves in their assignment and can not join the Officer academy due to character limitations (one officer per player).

Ground Forces Junior Officer requirements

O1 2nd Lieutenant (2LT)
Minimal time before next promotion: 3 month
Position: Platoon Commander (or in rare cases Platoon XO). It is the duty of the PC to see that all his troopers are active and productive in ISOC activities. He manages the day to day operations of a Platoon; this includes maintaining continuous contact with squad Leaders and enlisted members and making all sorts of internal decisions on Squad positions.


O2 1st Lieutenant (1LT)
Minimal time before next promotion: 3 month
Position: Platoon Commander. It is the duty of the PC to see that all his troopers are active and productive in ISOC activities. He manages the day to day operations of a Platoon; this includes maintaining continuous contact with squad Leaders and enlisted members and making all sorts of internal