Great post!!! I look at the rides, special rules, and plane restrictions. I also look at the few months prior attendance to obtain a better understanding of who is showing up and who isn't and try to predict or envision how it will appear on the frame I am CiC. The better I predict, the better the mission outcome is. Looking and assuming based on the min/max numbers is a craps shoot. But having some history behind that assignment can make a world of difference in mission planning.
Often times, I go through 10 front and back sheets of paper until I find the balance I am looking for. If the plane restrictions are heavy that month, then often times it is extremely difficult to put guys in the rides they requested but I normally look at previous rides from that month and try my best to put squads in their a. historic ride, or b. requested ride.
I believe most squads understand they may not get the ride they requested and carry out the mission to the best of their ability. That is part of the fun of the game. But, as a CiC, I do my best to place peeps in their rides.
For the most part, I try to keep all the squads happy while meeting all the guidelines as set forth by the CMs in the objectives.
I think the key to most mission success (and this is for the new COs) is to use the
www.ahevents.org squad email feature. This really helps. Even if you are not the CiC, you can reach out to the other squads that are on the same mission together and prepare your attack well in advance. This best works if all the other squads on that same mission communicate as well. I have had good success doing this. I do apologize for the amount of emails that take place during the week in preparation, but I appreciate the respose I have been seeing.
Overall, great topic Perdue! Appreciate you posting it.