JB42,
As explained via email the issue revolves around the simple fact that members of your squad publicly told others they would not participate because of this rule. This is not my interpretation this is what was stated by members of your squad.
Others here also expressed their opinion about this rule and opposition for it. Others (not the majority in my opinion stated their support for it). In either, case their squads turned out for it. III/JABOSTAFFEL did not and told people they would not participate.
This is a structured squad based event with set obligations for each squad that participates. Such as following the orders of the frame CiC, flying the planes assigned, trying to follow assigned mission objectives of the frame CiC, and turning out the minimum commitment number each frame. The complicate nature of Squad Ops relies on all squads meeting this obligations and others. If they don’t it affects all the other squads (i.e. not following orders, requesting reups when already killed, not issue orders, etc.)
Its is understood that a C.O. can
only try to turn out people to fly in an event. Which is why there are multiple levels of commitment. Allowing a C.O. to choose what he thinks he can reasonably turnout each frame and is why the CMs contact each squad to try to confirm via email two email contacts for that squad and also commitment level.
So yes, a squads pilots voluntary participate. But when can’t meet its minimum turnout requirements or deems it can’t continue to do so many delist. For example MAG-33 and AirMAgeddon both decided to withdraw from the event recently because they could not guarantee turning out pilots. 9 GIAP volunteer withdrew in the recent past because some of its pilots lied and requested a second reup. In response the C.O. of that squad ejected the offenders (2) from his squad and withdrew until he could take care of internal matters so that it did not happen again.
In this case a squad publicly said it would not participate and then didn’t. Other squads also complained on the BBS and via email but did participate and overall participation match the second frame (70 flew in frame 2 and 70 in frame 3). When squads join squad ops it is understood that they are obligated to produce their minimum commitment numbers each frame. If they don't it is addressed on a case by case basis to see if the reason why is acceptable (i.e. 101st Red Israel were all at their C.O. (MA and SEA) wedding). Members of your squad made a very public statement and decision.
Unfortunately they crossed a line that, while its their right not to participate, its is also the events right to say fine you are removed from the event. This time its about a special rule. Next time a squad can say we will not fly because so-and-so is the selected CiC or because of the plane we are assigned. You could have a squad insisting that it fly what the squad historically flew (i.e. say the 412th insisted on flying P51s when available or they would not fly or the 56th P47s or they would not fly). In a structured multi-framed event which relies on squads working together to play in the event squads have to agree to play by certain rules and accept certain responsibilities for ongoing multi-frame events to work. Squad Ops are not pick up games like snap shots.
If it was only one or 2 of your squad members I would have contacted you about talking to them over the incident. The fact that your whole squad did not show up after making a public statement why to the other LW squads basically leaves me no choice but to address this on a group level since they whole group did this.
This is not a decision I relish or take lightly. But in my position as Squad Ops Team Lead and CM Corp X.O. it is a decision based on the fact members of your squad said we will not participate and then the squad didn’t. I am sorry that it had to come to this but it was their action and decision.
As you said they decided as a group:
They simply had better things to do
This is fine but this is a squad based event. If a squad decides that it has better things to do and actually goes beyond that by saying that they won't participate unless something is changed. Well then that squad is no longer can reliably be counted on to meet its obligations. Meaning they can't be kept in the order of battle because they might or might not turn out as a group depending on if something is or is not to their liking.
NOTE: The delisting is only the sunday squad / group of players. The Friday squad / group of players is not delisted.
