Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) of Deep Space Two Captain David E. Lowe, Commanding Officer Version 3.0 (January 17, 2008) PREAMBLE Let's be honest for a moment. We are not really on a space station. We dedicated fans of Star Trek and science fiction hereby establish an interactive online Star Trek and science fiction fan organization. The organization is devoted to the promotion of the ideals, philosophies, and concepts set forth by Gene Roddenberry in Star Trek television and movies. We do ordain and establish the following Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the formation of our organization. NAME The name of our organization shall be Deep Space Two, SFR-202. DEDICATION This organization is dedicated to the memory of Eugene Wesley Roddenberry (1921-1991). Without the vision of the Great Bird of the Galaxy, none of this would be possible. COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER Star Trek, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Enterprise, STARFLEET, STARFLEET ACADEMY all ® TM & © 2008 CBS Studios Inc. No Infringement Intended. ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT The Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) of Deep Space Two is a fluid, living document and may be amended or changed by the Command Staff. Ratification of major revisions of this document is made by a simple majority (50% + 1) of the Primary members. AFFILIATION Deep Space Two is a correspondence chapter of STARFLEET -The International Star Trek Fan Association , Inc. STARFLEET is a non-profit corporation in the State of NC, is not connected with CBS Studios or Star Trek: The Official Fan Club, and has been in existence since 1974. Deep Space Two, as a group, reserves the right to terminate its relationship with STARFLEET at any time. INTRODUCTION Membership of Deep Space Two shall be open to any being regardless of age, ethnic background, religious beliefs, gender, economic status, political views, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender orientation, species, or planet of origin. • We shall not discriminate for or against anyone for any reason, in any way, shape, form, or fashion. We don't play the hate game. • This organization will not accept invitations from or participate in any activities with any organization that discriminates on the bases noted above. • Members are diverse, yet share a common bond - an appreciation for Star Trek and science fiction. Membership in our organization has a common goal of providing fellowship and FUN. 1
Our focus is on providing a low-key chapter where those of us who wish to participate fully in STARFLEET, Regional or Deep Space Two activities may do so and where members are not required to participate unless they desire. This document assumes that the reader understands what a Star Trek fan club is. It is also assumed that the reader knows what we mean by Commanding Officer (CO) or Captain as President of the group, and Executive Officer (XO) or First Officer as Vice President. The group is a "space station" in the "fleet" and conducts its business as such. This is not a democracy, by any means. Read more under the General Administration section. Members who wish to be more involved can contribute time to creating and maintaining web pages, uploading and downloading files for the web site, contributing material for the mailing list, writing fiction for the Deep Space Two RPG, and participating during Deep Space Two or STARFLEET IRC sessions. Primary members of Deep Space Two and wishing to obtain a promotion in fictional rank, members must participate either with STARFLEET, Region Two, STARFLEET Marines (SFMC), STARFLEET Academy, or Deep Space Two. We do not grant promotions just for being a member of Deep Space Two. Charity work will always be a part of Deep Space Two. Deep Space Two supports the Overseas Coupon Program (OCP). Other charity causes may be added in the future at the discretion of the Command Staff. members are also encouraged to give to local charities in their area, donating time, resources, or money as they are able.
History and Heraldry Deep Space Two began it's existence in April of 2005 originally as USS MacArthur. The group started as what was left of the Tampa Bay Star Trek Meetup from meetup.com. The group also picked up members of other defunct Tampa Bay Star Trek clubs, also some other folks from around the country began to join as well. Later, the group formed as a chapter in training of STARFLEET, the International Star Trek Fan Association. The chapter decided to form as a "correspondence" chapter, meaning all business is conducted by remote, no "live" face-to-face meetings. The chapter is an online group, preferring to correspond by electronic means. The group is heavily active on the Internet, with an award winning web presence, and active electronic mailing lists. During the shakedown period, in November of 2005, the group adopted a fictional "mirror universe" persona, renaming to the more ominous ISS MacArthur, an Akira Class Starship of the Terran Empire. The Empire was in chaos, driven apart by a war with the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance. Remnants of the Empire, including the MacArthur were part of a rag-tag fleet bent on retaking the Empire one system at a time. It proved to be great fun. After a nine-month shakedown cruise, the chapter commissioned April 5, 2006. In September of 2007, the group decided to make a change from the "mirror universe" back to a more traditional fictional persona. The crew decided to adopt the moniker "Deep Space Two" and role play a Jupiter Class space station on the border of Tholian space in the far flung reaches of the Federation. This is the fictional persona of the chapter today. Members role play officers, crew, and civilian citizens of the space station, all while sharing in their chosen hobby, the enjoyment of Star Trek and over 40 years of fandom. The Deep Space Two logo was created by Darrell Morrison and Adam Balasis.
General Administration Introduction Membership in STARFLEET is not required to be a member of Deep Space Two though we do give priority to those Deep Space Two members who are Primary members of STARFLEET (that is, shown on the 2
STARFLEET records to be a member of Deep Space Two) -- this means non-primary members of Deep Space Two (Associate members) or members who are not members of STARFLEET can not hold Command Staff positions. Other than the above caveat, we welcome all members to the Deep Space Two. Anyone may apply for membership by contacting any member of the Command Staff. An application will be completed and a copy of the SOP will be made available to the applicant. Disclaimers Applicants shall understand and agree to the following disclaimers before membership in this organization will be granted. Deep Space Two is an online community and social club. At times, members names may be published on our website or online newsletter. This is usually to commend them on accomplishments, be listed in a crew roster, or other casual mention. If a member specifically wishes to be left out of all online publications, they must advise the Chapter Officers of their request. At no time, however, will photos of members be released online without their permission. Children of family memberships, for their protection, will never be listed. Deep Space Two does not have liability insurance. This organization will not participate in any high-risk activities. Neither Deep Space Two, its officers, nor its individual members, will be held liable, responsible, or accountable in any way, shape, or form in the event of personal loss or injury at a convention, social event, function, or activity. Membership Dues We charge no money. However, Deep Space Two will be self-sustaining. The treasury shall be the responsibility of the Commanding Officer. A spreadsheet will be maintained and a report presented upon request. Donations toward club expenses are accepted at anytime via cash, check, or PayPal. All donations will be placed in the general treasury. Any donations earmarked for special projects must be used for those projects. Membership Categories: Primary Membership: Members in good standing in STARFLEET International (that is, dues paid up to date) who has designated Deep Space Two. Primary members must be over the age of eighteen (18). Primary members hold fictional rank and position aboard the fictional "space station". Members who do not renew their membership with STARFLEET after thirty (30) days of their renewal date will have their status changed to Associate member. If/when that member renews, restoring the member's rank will be at the discretion of the Executive Officer and will be based on activity and time in grade. Associate Membership: An Associate member of Deep Space Two is one who is not a member of STARFLEET These are members wishing solely to socialize or correspond with the organization, not wishing to play an active part in the day-to-day operations of Deep Space Two. Associate members are considered "civilians" aboard the fictional "space station" and have no fictional rank. Associate members may not serve as members of the Command Staff. Visiting Officers: These are visiting members wishing solely to socialize or correspond with the organization who have chosen another STARFLEET chapter as their designated chapter of record. This also includes members from other organizations or independent groups as well. They continue to hold whatever fictional rank they have listed in the STARFLEET Database or other organization. They have absolutely no bearing on the day-to-day operations of Deep Space Two, either in real life or aboard the fictional "space station". Visiting Officers may not serve as members of the Command Staff. CHAPTER OFFICERS Chapter Officers are responsible for keeping the chapter up and running from seeing to the member's needs to ensuring that the chapter is in compliance with both Region Two, and STARFLEET rules and regulations. The Chapter Officers are: 3
• • • •
Commanding Officer (CO; Chapter President) Executive Officer (XO; Chapter Vice President) Second Officer (SO; Chapter Officer) Marine Commander (OIC; Chapter Officer)
COMMAND STAFF In the government of Deep Space Two, the Commanding Officer serves in a "strong mayor" capacity. The Command Staff serves as the "town council" of the chapter. All member services issues, event planning, website operation, newsletter production are all handled by the Command Staff. All chapter policy is also the purview of the Command Staff. This Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) document is also maintained by the Command Staff and amended as the current needs of the chapter change. The Command Staff includes the Chapter Officers. It also includes members appointed to the Command Staff to assist in the operation of the chapter. Optimally, the chapter will retain a ratio of one (1) Command Staff officer for every five (5) Primary members. These officers may assume "Department Head" positions and be appointed an increase in "rank" aboard the fictional "space station." If the number of Primary members fluctuates, and the ratio of the Command Staff falls below 1:5, the number of officers may be reduced by the Commanding Officer. The Command Staff will never fall below the four (4) officers defined in Chapter Officers. Commanding Officer (CO) The Commanding Officer serves as Chapter President of the Deep Space Two. The CO is ultimately responsible for all operations of the chapter. The Commanding Officer serves a two-year term. The Commanding Officer may be reached at co@deepspace2.com The CO's duties include: • • • •
Filing Monthly Status Report with STARFLEET Maintaining chapter funds Creation and maintenance of the Deep Space Two website Approving promotions to the rank of Commander or Lt. Colonel (O-5)
Executive Officer (XO) The Executive Officer serves as Chapter Vice President of Deep Space Two. The XO is appointed by the Commanding Officer. The Executive Officer may be reached at xo@deepspace2.com The XO's duties include: • • • • • • • •
Fulfill the duties of Commanding Officer in case of absence Coordinating activities with other chapters Relations with other Star Trek and science fiction fan clubs Approving promotions up to the rank of Lt. Commander or Major (O-4) Academy Reporting Officer for Vessel Readiness Certification Program (VRCP) Primary Channel Operator of the #ds2 IRC channel on FleetChat Moderator of all Deep Space Two mailing lists Oversight of Recruiting and Retention of Deep Space Two members
Second Officer (SO) The Second Officer (SO) serves as a Chapter Officer of Deep Space Two. The SO is appointed by the Commanding Officer. The SO is the Command Staff's liaison with Starfleet personnel.The Second Officer may be reached at so@deepspace2.com
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The SO's duties include: • Fulfill the duties of Executive Officer in case of absence • Primary point of contact with Starfleet Personnel of Deep Space Two • Appointing fictional positions for the "space station", such as Chief Medical Officer, Chief Engineer, etc. • Assisting Starfleet personnel with requests for promotion • Recommend promotions up to the rank of Lt. Commander (O-4) • Responsible for Awards for Starfleet personnel • Mediate any disputes among the membership • Handle any disruptive members on a case by case basis • Duties as assigned by the CO or XO Marine Commander (OIC) The Marine Commander (OIC) serves as a Chapter Officer of Deep Space Two. The OIC is appointed by the Commanding Officer. The OIC is responsible for the Marine contingent of the chapter. The Marine Commander may be reached at marines@deepspace2.com The OIC's duties include • Primary point of contact with Marine Personnel of Deep Space Two • Reporting to STARFLEET Marine Corps • Appointing Commanders, such as Company Commanders, Squadron Commanders, and other fictional positions • Assisting Marine personnel with requests for promotion • Recommend promotions up to the rank of Major (O-4) • Academy Reporting Officer for Marine Unit Readiness Program (MURP) • Responsible for Awards for Marine personnel EMERGENCY REPLACEMENT OF COMMANDING OFFICER Should the position of Commanding Officer ever become vacant, the Executive Officer would assume command and file the required documentation with STARFLEET Operations via the Database. The Executive Officer succeeding the Commanding Officer's post will complete their term of office. Should the Executive Officer not be available or not desire the Commanding Officer position, the next qualified Command Staff officer shall assume temporary command. The officer must be a Primary member of Deep Space Two, a member in good standing of STARFLEET, must be 18 years of age, and have passed OTS & OCC as offered by STARFLEET Academy's Institute of Leadership Studies (IOLS). The officer assuming command must be confirmed by a simple majority (50%+1) of Primary members. IMPEACHMENT OF COMMANDING OFFICER At any time during the Commanding Officer's term, two (2) Primary members of Deep Space Two can call for a vote to impeach the Commanding Officer. One of those members must have completed Officer's Command College (OCC) as offered by STARFLEET Academy's Institute of Leadership Studies (IOLS). The Executive Officer will administrate all voting procedures. A two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of Primary members is required to impeach a Commanding Officer. If the vote of impeachment should pass, the office of Commanding Officer is considered vacant and will be filled immediately using the procedures listed above. Note: Only Primary members at the time the vote of impeachment was called are eligible to vote. COMMANDING OFFICER ELECTION The Commanding Officer serves a two-year term of office. In January of even numbered years, an election for Commanding Officer shall be held. The Executive Officer will serve as election coordinator unless the
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XO wishes to run as a candidate, in that case the XO shall name a suitable third party as Election Coordinator. The election process will last fourteen (14) days. Candidates for the position must announce their candidacy within seven days on the Deep Space Two email list. After seven (7) days the election coordinator will have verified all candidates meet criteria and list the candidates. All candidates must be a Primary member of Deep Space Two, a member in good standing of STARFLEET, must be eighteen (18) years of age, and have passed OTS & OCC as offered by STARFLEET Academy's Institute of Leadership Studies (IOLS). Only Primary members in good standing at the time of vote declaration can vote in the Commanding Officer election. Members will email their top three (3) choices (in order of preference) to the election coordinator. Instant-runoff voting (IRV) rules will be used to eliminate the need for a runoff election. In an IRV election, if no candidate receives an overall majority of first preferences, the candidates with fewest votes are eliminated one by one, and their votes transferred according to their second and third preferences (and so on) and all votes re-tallied, until one candidate achieves a majority. After fourteen (14) days all votes will be tallied by the election coordinator. The voting period may be shortened if the election coordinator determines ballots have been received by all Primary members. The election coordinator will reveal the results to the membership. The new Commanding Officer will take over immediately in chapter operations. Executive Officer Confirmation An Executive Officer appointed by the Commanding Officer must be confirmed by a simple majority (50% +1) of the Primary members. Executive Officer and Command Staff Replacement The Commanding Officer reserves the right to remove and replace the Executive Officer and other Command Staff Officers as they see fit. However, removed officer retain their rights to call a vote of impeachment up to seven (7) days after removal.
Conducting Chapter Business Though the Command Staff runs the day-to-day operations of the chapter, at times they may wish to get a mandate or referendum from the Primary members on certain issues. Mailing Lists The primary method of conducting chapter business is by electronic mailing lists. All Primary members are required to maintain a subscription to the main business mailing list. Since subscription to the main business mailing list is mandatory, a quorum for conducting business is always assumed. Standard voting period is seven (7) days unless otherwise specified. Deadline for voting will be clearly stated on every call for vote. Failure to vote will be counted as an abstention. Decisions will carry on a simple majority (50%+1) of Primary members. Other mailing lists are provided for members as well, with purposes ranging from general chat, event planning, the creation of our RPG, and assistance with STARFLEET Academy courses. Other mailing lists may be created as needed. Online Meetings The secondary method of conducting chapter business is during our monthly online meetings. Our meetings are held using the Internet Relay Chat (IRC) protocol. IRC is almost as old as the Internet itself. It is a venerable old standard, established in 1988. It is extremely reliable, and clients are available for every known operating system. Deep Space Two holds regularly scheduled meetings every second Sunday of the month at 1400 Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), 1900 (7:00pm) Eastern Standard Time (EST). The server we use is part of the FleetChat network, we meet in channel #ds2. Meetings are usually informal, 6
and no quorum is specified. It's usually a "bull session" to kick around ideas for later consideration on the mailing lists. Instant Messages On a totally unofficial and voluntary basis, members of the Command Staff make frequent use of Instant Message (IM) systems. Deep Space Two does not have an "official" service, client or protocol for Instant Messages. The Command Staff uses several of the publicly available networks and protocols. Any member may feel free to contact their Department Head (if applicable), or a Chapter Officer via Instant Message. Personal Email Since Deep Space Two is an online chapter, it is assumed all Primary members have access to a computer and electronic mail. There are times when there may be personal matters concerning Primary members that need to be addressed in a timely manner. If a Chapter Officer directly contacts a Primary member by personal email, it is requested that the Primary member will reply promptly. Repeated failure to answer emails from a Chapter Officer may result in suspension of Primary membership.
Staff Positions To assist in the smooth running operation of the chapter, some members may volunteer to serve in staff positions. These positions have "real life" duties with the chapter. They may also carry a fictional position aboard the "space station" as well to add to the experience. Staff positions are not "line officers" and do not serve as part of the chain of command or directly as part of the Command Staff of the chapter. Staff positions are usually held by Primary members. However, Associate Members may volunteer for Staff positions as well. All Staff Positions are appointed by the Command Staff. Command Master Chief (CMC) The Command Master Chief Petty Officer (CMC) is the most senior non-commissioned officer the chapter. The CMC is an important part of the fictional command structure of the "space station". They also have "real life" duties with the chapter. In many ways, the CMC is considered a fountain of knowledge and a parent figure. Being the primary liaison between the officers and enlisted, the CMC is a major resource for the Command Staff. There is only one CMC in the chapter. They are generally responsible for the day-to-day operations of the chapter's non-commissioned personnel. In the fictional sense, the CMC assists and advises on matters regarding the morale, good order and discipline of the crew. In the real sense, when a new enlisted member joins the chapter, the CMC is usually one of the first people they will meet. While the CMC is outside the direct chain of command for members junior to them, they have a tremendous amount of authority and carry lot of weight, generally being thought of as the top of a virtual enlisted chain of command. The Command Master Chief may be reached at cmc@deepspace2.com Gamemaster (GM) The Gamemaster is responsible for role playing on the fictional "space station". They supervise the writing of a storyline that details the adventures of the crew of Deep Space Two. This is a combination of a play by email role playing game (PBEM RPG) and writing interactive prose. Posts from each character in the story are made via an email discussion list and later edited and assembled into a running novelization. Participation in the RPG is voluntary, but it's a lot of fun! The Gamemaster may be reached at gm@deepspace2.com Recruiting and Retention Officer (R&R) The R&R Officer is responsible for spearheading all recruitment opportunities for new Primary and Associate members into the Deep Space Two family. They maintain a presence on various online social outlets, including MySpace and Facebook. They also monitor other online communities, including bulletin 7
boards, forums, mailing lists, Usenet newsgroups. They monitor these resources and assist interested parties in becoming members of our chapter. This officer must have strong communication skills and a friendly, charismatic demeanor. This ensures that Deep Space Two puts it's "best face forward" when meeting new people. The R&R Officer may be reached at recruiting@deepspace2.com Webmaster The Webmaster is responsible for the operation of deepspace2.com, the weblog, the RPG wiki, all mailing lists, event calendar, and other aspects of the chapter's award winning online presence. They work in close concert with the Command Staff to make sure information is accurate, current and presented in a timely manner. They also work closely with the R&R Officer to assist in recruitment of new members. The Webmaster may be reached at webmaster@deepspace2.com
Membership Responsibility While active participation in the chapter is not required, we do like to hear from members every once in a while. If a member gets a message from a Command Staff member of Deep Space Two, they should answer it as quickly as possible. While the Command Staff of Deep Space Two will not enumerate an exhaustive list of how we expect a member of Deep Space Two to behave, we leave it up to the members to exercise responsibility for any action they may take as a member of Deep Space Two, STARFLEET (where applicable) or a member of the Terran Race. If any member of Deep Space Two feels that another member acted not in the best interest of the above, they may write to the Executive Officer who will take any measures they deems necessary. Each instance will be reviewed on a case by case basis. All members of Deep Space Two are encouraged, but not required to: • Actively participate in Deep Space Two activities. • Attend monthly online membership meetings via Internet Relay Chat (IRC). • Lend their time and talents to club projects. • Be a member in good standing of STARFLEET Membership in STARFLEET is optional. However, all members of Deep Space Two agree to conduct themselves according to the regulations of STARFLEET as well as those of this Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) document. Members may be of any age. All active members under the age of eighteen (18) must have written approval from parent or legal guardian before becoming a member. They may also be required to have a parent or guardian present at some social events. There is no set term of membership in this organization. Membership may be terminated at the member's written or verbal request to the Executive Officer. Membership may also be suspended by the Executive Officer for just cause.
Promotions aboard Deep Space Two Ranks in STARFLEET are a fun and exciting way to portray the fictional military and exploratory service that we are exposed to every time we see Star Trek on our television, or computers, and in our library of books. To that effect, a certain amount of military decorum is followed in respect to the ranks presented here. Any member who holds a rank upon Deep Space Two can expect respect and courtesy for the position held and their rank. This extends from the newest and greenest of PO3's (more on this a bit later) to the Captain himself. This is meant to heighten the STARFLEET experience and add to the fun. It should be understood that the ranks provided here are a badge of respect and not a badge of authority. They are designed with the intention of recognizing service rendered to the chapter and to STARFLEET, easily identifiable to all who encounter the Officer/NCO. Officers and NCOs 8
Deep Space Two offers two avenues of promotion to climb the ladder of success. The first avenue is the avenue that all who have watched Star Trek have become familiar with. This is the rank structure of the Commissioned Officer. This rank structure, as it applies to this chapter, consists of the line officers represented on the Star Trek TV series. These ranks are Ensign (O-1) to Commander (O-5). While the Commanding Officer is technically an officer of line as well, promotions to Captain / Colonel (O-6) are outside the purview of this document. The common denominator of all Commissioned Officers is Officer's Training School (OTS), as offered by STARFLEET Academy's Institute of Leadership Studies (IOLS). The second avenue of promotion offered is the rank structure of the Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO for short). These ranks are familiar to those that have served in a real world military organization, as the ranks closely parallel those found in many navies, just as the Commissioned Officer ranks do. This particular rank structure consists of Petty Officer 3rd Class (E-4) to Senior Chief Petty Officer (E-8). A fifth rank, Master Chief Petty Officer is reserved for the best and brightest of the Non-Commissioned Officers. This Non-Commissioned Officer is appointed by the Captain to serve with the Command Staff as Command Master Chief (CMC). All new members will start out with the rank of Petty Officer 3rd Class (E-4). What's the Difference? The difference lies in the goals of the member. We expect a commissioned officer to be a constantly contributing member of the chapter. They are encouraged to continue developing activities for the chapter at large to partake in either during meeting time or during the course of the month between meetings. Furthermore, each officer is being prepared for future leadership of the chapter itself with requirements such as OTS and OCC as offered by STARFLEET Academy's Institute of Leadership Studies (IOLS). Overall, being a commissioned officer of the chapter denotes a special kind of commitment above and beyond the member who shows up to have fun and enjoy Star Trek. No less important is the non-commissioned officer of Deep Space Two. If the commissioned officer is the brains of this operation, the non-commissioned officer is the hands by which the officer's dreams come true. Without the non-commissioned officer to lend a hand and help the team reach goals, the work in preparation for the event becomes exponentially difficult as officers who attempt to coordinate their own projects are also called into service to assist with other projects as well. While Academy rules for promotions are non-existent, the STARFLEET Marine Corps Academy has a rich suite of classes to take on improving the quality of an NCO's time in the chapter. Anyone with aspirations of a high rank are encouraged to take them, as they teach values that are highly valued in the Non-Commissioned Officers of today's STARFLEET. Contact the Marine Commander for more information. Rank Charts Commissioned Grade/ Rank w/ Common Abbreviation
STARFLEET
SFMC
Time In Grade
Points Required
O-6 Captain (CAPT) Colonel (COL)
Other Requirements Awarded by STARFLEET OPS, RC or EC.
O-5 Commander (CDR) Lt. Colonel (LCOL)
24 Meetings
9
1000 points
O-4 Lieutenant Commander (LTCDR) Major (MAJ)
15 Meetings
600 points
O-3 Lieutenant (LT) Captain (CPT)
8 Meetings
300 points
O-2 Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG) First Lieutenant (1LT)
3 Meetings
100 Points
O-1 Ensign (ENS) Second Lieutenant (2LT)
Non-Com Grade/Rank w/ Common Abbreviations
OCC
OTS
STARFLEET
SFMC
Time In Grade
Points Required
E-9 Master Chief Petty Officer of STARFLEET (MCPO/SFI) Sergeant Major of the SFMC (SFM/SFMC)
Fleet Level Non-Commissioned Officer
E-9 Master Chief Petty Officer (MCPO) Sergeant Major (SGM)/ Master Gunnery Sergeant (MGSGT)
By Appointment of CO Only Command Master Chief (CMC)
E-8 Senior Chief Petty Officer (SCPO) First Sergeant (1SGT)/ Master Sergeant (MSGT)
18 Meetings
750
E-7 Chief Petty Officer (CPO) Gunnery Sergeant (GSGT)
12 Meetings
450
E-6 Petty Officer 1st Class (PO1) Staff Sergeant (SSGT)
6 Meetings
225
10
E-5 Petty Officer 2nd Class (PO2) Sergeant (SGT)
2 Meetings
E-4 Petty Officer 3rd Class (PO3) Corporal (CPL)
75
Entry Level Rank
Flag Ranks The Rank of Captain / Colonel (O-6) falls outside the purview of Deep Space Two. The rank may only be awarded by STARFLEET. STARFLEET Operations awards this rank when a Commanding Officer is selected for a chapter. The Regional Coordinator may also promote a member to the rank of Captain / Colonel based on merit and service to the Region. The STARFLEET Executive Committee may also bestow the rank of Captain / Colonel based on merit and service to the Fleet. The STARFLEET Executive Committee may also bestow flag rank on members based on merit or service to the Region or Fleet. These ranks are above the rank of Captain / Colonel (O-6). Flag ranks are simply a method of distinguishing STARFLEET members with lengthy and outstanding service to the Fleet. These members must be nominated and the Executive Committee makes the final determination on the promotion. For more information regarding these ranks, please consult the STARFLEET Membership Handbook. Members who are promoted to Flag Rank are reminded that these ranks are fictional and do not give one member authority over another. A superior rank does not mean they are outside of the command structure of Deep Space Two. Any abuse of fictional flag rank to "boss around" a member, Command Staff officer or Chapter Officer will not be tolerated. Cadets The rank of "Cadet" is bestowed on children of STARFLEET members that are part of a family membership. Cadets who reach the age of thirteen (13) and have passed STARFLEET Academy's Officer Training School (OTS) are promoted to Acting Ensign (O-0) and may hold commissioned officer ranks on the fictional "space station." However, they must wait until the age of eighteen (18) to be granted voting rights on chapter issues and considered as Primary members in good standing. How to get promoted Promotions are evaluated on a case-by-case basis contingent upon an application process. Members should see their Department Head (if applicable), the Second Officer, or Marine Commander for more details. Two main factors will be involved in deciding eligibility for promotion. The first of these factors is Time In Grade (TiG). Time In Grade is a measurement of a member's attendance based on the number of times they have attended our monthly meeting. Even as a correspondence chapter, some of our chapter live busy and active lives, leaving them little time for casual play. For this reason, a great emphasis is placed upon our monthly general meeting, where many people can gather at once as a chapter. These totals are cumulative, so based on the rank chart a Petty Officer 1st Class meets TiG requirements for Chief Petty Officer at 12 meetings, not 18 meetings (2 Meetings + 6 Meetings + 12 Meetings). Point totals
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are also cumulative. Also, should a member decide to take Officer's Training School as an Non-Commissioned Officer, any accumulated points will apply to their rank as an officer. For example, a Chief Petty Officer (E-7) with 12 meetings and 450 points accrued will enter the Officer ranks as a Lieutenant (O-3). For any further clarification, contact the Department Head (if applicable) the Second Officer, or Marine Commander. All new promotions will be announced at the monthly meeting. Points accrued for projects done at the time of the monthly meeting itself will count towards the total at the END of the meeting. Point Values 2 Points • • • • • • • • •
Contacting Department Head/Command Staff outside normal meeting times. (2 per month max) Taking and passing a STARFLEET or SFMC Academy class (4 per month max) Making a post to Deep Space Two's Weblog (2 posts per month) Writing an article for the chapter newsletter, DS2 TODAY, the R2 Update, or the Communique. The article must be 100+ words, and must be printed in the final publication. Acquiring a costume or uniform. (Verifiable proof of purchase or a picture of the member in their new digs required.) Per hour of community service work. (5 max per month) Attendance of a planned, informal chat session. Recruiting and retaining an Associate member to Deep Space Two for a period of three (3) months. Every 100 miles traveled to an official Starfleet event, such as a Regional Conference or an International Conference.
5 Points • • • • • • •
Passing Officer Training School, or Officer Command College Donation of blood to the local blood bank (Verification must be presented). Serve in a Chapter, Regional or Fleet level position. Renewing STARFLEET membership before expiration. Every $100 of coupons clipped for OCP. Receipt of an officially recognized award on the Chapter or MSG level. Attendance of a planned, formal chapter business meeting.
10 Points • Planning and hosting a chapter activity. • Wearing a costume or uniform to a science fiction convention or event representing Deep Space Two. (Picture required.) • Passing a real world college class (Verification must be presented). • Receipt of an officially recognized award on the Regional/Brigade or International level. • Recruiting and retaining a Primary member to Deep Space Two for a period of three (3) months.
To add additional items to this list, contact any Command Staff Officer. Brevet Promotions Command Staff or other Staff positions within the chapter, including Executive Officer (XO), Second Officer (SO), Marine Commander (OIC), Department Heads, or Command Master Chief (CMC) have minimum fictional rank requirements. In such a case, a new appointee to these positions will assume the rank required by the function on a provisional basis. This is called a Brevet promotion. Should the appointee serve in their appointed position with honor for a period of ninety (90) days or more, they will permanently receive the rank attributed to their job. Should the appointee fail in their duty and leave the position prior to the ninety (90) day period, they will revert to the rank held before assuming the post. 12
This rank is called their permanent rank. With extenuating circumstances, the Commanding Officer may grant a change in permanent rank at their discretion (see below). Rank Insignia The rank insignia for Starfleet officers are the standard gold "pips" as denoted on Star Trek: The Next Generation and the series that followed. Non-commissioned officer ranks are an extrapolation of the "Senior Chief Petty Officer" collar insignia worn by Chief O'Brien on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. These insignia are purely conjecture, and are not considered "canon" but they have gained wide popular usage in fan clubs. Marine rank insignia are the ones used by STARFLEET Marine Corps (SFMC) and seen in their handbook. Rank insignia are shown on the Crew Manifest represented on a tunic collar that specifies the member's department on the fictional "space station." The color "gold" indicates engineering, security, operations and support. The color "teal" indicates sciences or medical. Marine personnel are represented by a urban MARPAT camouflage pattern outlined by the color of the member's Branch of Service (BOS). The tunic color of "command red" is reserved for Commanding Officer (CO), Executive Officer (XO), Second Officer (SO) and Command Master Chief (CMC) only. This is solely to distinguish our leadership from the rest of the members. When displaying rank insignia on a uniform or costume that is worn to an event or convention, the rank insignia should clearly denote that member's fictional rank aboard the "space station". Also, the color of the department tunic should reflect the interest of the member or their fictional position on the "space station". However. in the case of a costume worn at an event or convention, these rules are subject to wide interpretation. After all, it's only a costume! As long as the member does not misrepresent their position within the organization. For example if someone were to wear a "Admiral's uniform" and openly declare they were the Grand Poohbah of the Fleet, this would be highly discouraged. Transfer of Rank Any STARFLEET member who transfers from another recognized STARFLEET chapter can retain the STARFLEET rank earned in a prior chapter subject to documentation and to the review by the Executive Officer. Members who do not renew their membership with STARFLEET after thirty (30) days of their renewal date may lose their STARFLEET rank as per STARFLEET rules. Members who are a part of another organization who wish to transfer their rank over to must submit a request to the Executive Officer to keep their current rank. Proof of rank must be provided and be verified with that organization. All rank transfer requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The rank of Commander / Lt. Colonel must be approved by the Commanding Officer. Ranks above Commander / Lt. Colonel must be approved by STARFLEET Executive Committee. Transferring members whose rank is approved will maintain their rank on a provisional or brevet status. It is the responsibility of the transferring officer to complete any STARFLEET Academy requirements necessary for their permanent rank within thirty (30) days. Revocation of Permanent Rank Primary members whose active membership in STARFLEET International lapses for any reason will have thirty (30) days to make their membership current. If a member fails to renew within the allotted time, they forfeit their permanent rank and revert to Associate member status with Deep Space Two. Associate members do not carry a rank, they are considered "civilians" aboard the fictional "space station." It is important to remember that these ranks are fictional and do not give one member authority over another. Captain's Prerogative 13
It is the sole discretion of the Commanding Officer of Deep Space Two to promote and demote officers and enlisted men. At their prerogative, the Commanding Officer may disregard points and Time In Grade to promote an officer who has shown themselves to be a valuable member of the crew time and time again. On the other side of the coin, it is the Commanding Officer's right to demote an officer based on poor performance or attitude. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The following sources were used to compose this document: • Command Staff of Deep Space Two • USS Jaguar Handbook • USS Boston Constitution • USS Victorious Constitution • USS Robins Handbook • USS Saint George Rank Criteria
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