VWE the FSO is setup and has been from in its inception (when it was called TOD 4+ years ago) as a decentralized event. By this I mean that the COs and XOs or squads play a very major part in allowing the event to run on such a short turn around (3 weeks on and 1 week off), in fostering numbers (200+) and enabling those people to come in and pull off a major structured event in about 30 minutes.
Most of the people in FSO show up only 30 to 15 minutes before the event. Yet, things still run very smoothly for the most part even with complicate objectives, plans, etc.
The key to this is that is based on a squad and the squad leadership. There are only 2 CMs per event. The squad leadership of each squad briefs their people, gets them to turn out, works at enforcing the rules, etc., etc.
And the CMs and other squads rely on the trust that squads will do what is right. Sometimes they stray without realizing it, sometimes they don't. Sometimes they don't realize the inherent danger of their actions (accepting a walk on that they don't know).
In past events I have seen a walk on (found out later) be accepted and then blow friendly bombers out of the sky. We allowed the bombers to reup .. but wrecked the timing of an attack plan. In another, newbies reupped when they only had 1 life .. but reupped when Vals got their second life (saying hey if the fields were open must be alright to reup). They then went on to sink enemy ships .. which caused havoc to the participants and event afterwards. The squad that took them didn't think they would do this .. and they misunderstood .. but they weren't properly brief (hard to brief a lot of new people about things rules, plan, what you can and can not do in 30 minutes, 15 minutes, or less).
As for who is supposed to be in a squad or not. The FSO squads who no correlation at all to the MA squads. I personally send out email every week several times to my squadies and people of other squad that I know and who expressed interest in FSO for the event. I send out to probably 40+ people in the =GHOSTS=, NightHawks, CAF, AirMAgeddon, and then my squad and indepedents. These people are briefed and they understand that once we get 23 slots filled .. no flying for the rest. First come first serve. Sometimes I get 16 sometimes 22.
So going an analyzing the logs for all the squads won't indicate to me who should be there and who should not. Currently we go on the honor system. The COs and XOs are supposed to do the right thing. Sometimes they don't by oversight, misunderstanding, etc.
I am sorry you don't think it servers a purpose but I disagree it does serve a purpose to remind everyone of their obligations. And to show people that their are consequences to actions (even if they were not done with malice).
I have had to delist squads before for not following things. For example we insist on squads providing two contacts so that we can try to make sure they get orders and objects. Several squads in the past still only went with one .. and then didn't show up or get orders out for a frame. They were warned and at times (case by case basis) delisted from the event.
As for penalizing your squad .. the JAAF still gets victory for the frame. All you guys get is me not telling you it was a decisive victory .. that it was 1300+ points instead of 1700+ points.
Basically its a public mild rebuke over the event. Why did the JAAF get it .. because you are a team. Part of your team even if not your squad did wrong. So the team gets a mild rebuke. The offending squad knows what they did and I am sure now won't do it again because their other team mates to get a mild rebuke, other squads will think twice about things, etc.
You disagree with my logic that is fine. But after discussing and thinking on things it is up to me to make the call. My call is a private discussion and warning to the squad and people involved and a mild public rebuke (reinforcing this) and bring up the issue to other squads and making them think about their responsibilities without taking the victory away from one side.
