First off, some advice from a CM...
Always update your Sides, Preferences, Numbers. Every month between FSO. Even if nothing changes, just "bump" it. When I personally split the sides, I typically use the order the preferences were updated at ahevents.org to create the sides for FSO. Now, this is not a guarantee you will fly on the side you want, but at least you made it known to the CM and CICs that you want to fly a certain side or aircraft.
Next... Your squad PW should be known to all your squad contacts and command staff. Take the time out this week to mail your command staff the PW and make sure they know it and their responsibilities as a squad contact. They have to be able to Update squad info and create and distribute CIC orders if you are not available to do so.
The public pre-frame discussion before sides are split and objectives go out is important for the players as much as it is for the CM's. You have a problem with a setting or inaccuracy in the setup? Those short weeks before Frame 1 is the time to be talking about with CM's and other players. Waiting till after the frame to show your feelings or frustration about the plane set or settings doesn't help anyone's enjoyment and possibly could have been changed before hand to avoid it. I am always open to civil discussion and suggestions and will try to make any arrangements I can to avoid a problem.
Now, opinions from a CIC...
The common theme for CICs seems to be split your side up into groups, assign them an objective and aircraft and let them have at it. Leave them enough discretion to get the job done and you're golden right? Well, Yeah that suffices, but in my opinion it has become quite lacking as of late. As a CIC, you should be flying WP's and getting accurate times and distances. Create a map. List the waypoints. Contact Squad Leaders and type more detailed information into mission orders to spur some squad interaction. This is your job to create a plan, leaving it open to interpretation to squad CO's leads me to my next thought...
Now some closing thoughts from a squad CO and player.
I distribute three sets of orders via Email and BBS a month describing our orders and any information I can to help my pilots prepare for Friday. I'm a pretty busy guy during my FSO setup months, but I typically try to contact other squads I am assigned with, especially if I am listed as a mission leader. I think this could be happening a little more between squads. I saw a lot of it this month, others PMd me and said they didn't.
I also (on all levels) am getting tired of NOE missions. They have their place and time in FSO, but IMO if you are in a level bomber, then you should be up off the ground and escorted with fighters. It seems that once a month, I get told or experience a NOE horror story in FSO. I'm not interested in leading an NOE strike and I am not interested in escorting one either. If you have a legitimate detailed plan drawn out that involves an NOE strike I might believe it will survive, but if you tell me 5 mins before launch that your (B-25s, G4M1s, JU87s etc...) are going NOE I am not going to be pleased.
There were some comments in the FSO attrition thread about FSO becoming like a three frame snapshot, personally I think there is validity in that, but I also think it's not so much as the scoring or objectives as it is the lack of squad interaction, quality of orders, overall lack of enthusiasm, attitude, or even disregard towards completing the objectives. That of course is my opinion as Squad CO and regular FSO pilot who flies 30+ FSO sorties a year. So please don't take it as a personal dig on anyone.
A while back there was a thread about the FSO players being the key to the success of FSO, It's true. The players and their actions have just a big of contribution to FSO as the FSO designs and settings. When the players show they are genuinely interested and participating on all levels it shows in the quality of the event and fun level. When players fail to show up because they didn't get the side or ride they wanted, or fail to get the orders out in a timely manner, or produce less than satisfactory orders or side interaction, well that shows to.
Just some input from different levels of perspective. Thanks for your time.
