CHAPTER FOUR - OPERATIONS POLICIES Awarding in the Directorate The Director of Imperial Operations holds the final approval with all awards in the Imperial Directorate, excluding those awardable directly by the Executor and Legion Commander. Each officer’s commander is charged with ensuring the members serving under him are awarded properly. Promotions and awards within the Imperial Directorate is highly respected and those being awarded must have proven their worth to have received their awarded. Time in Rank Time in rank is a period of adjustment and training in which a member is afforded the opportunity to learn more about the rank and/or position that they presently hold, as well as what may be expected of them when they advance to the next rank and/or position. The general rule is that a period of 90 days from the most recent promotion must occur before any member may become eligible for consideration for their next promotion. However this does not mean that at the end of the 90-day period that a member is automatically eligible, other factors such as overall activity, commitment and involvement, and other factors will be also be used to judge if a member is worthy of being awarded a new rank. Clones While it is standard policy that a member may only serve in one branch of the Imperial Directorate, the Executor has decreed that an established member may declare a clone to serve in another branch. It is forbidden for any member to have a clone within the same branch that their established persona already exists in. In order to declare a clone, the member must submit an application for that clone to join the desired branch, just as if that individual were a new member desiring to join the club. In the comments section of the application the member is required to state that this is a declared clone, and the Director of Operations will note this for future records. Any member desiring to establish a clone must create a new email address for the clone, the use of a singular email address for both the original member and their clone is forbidden. Council members that also have clones are forbidden from seeking command positions for their clones while they serve on the Military Council. This helps to avoid any possible command conflicts or other issues resulting from having one member with two personas serving in a Chain-of-Command. Any and all other issues regarding the matter of clones is at the discretion and authority of the Executor of the Imperial Directorate. Probationary Periods In the case that a member is awarded a position that warrants a promotion over three ranks, they will be assigned a probationary rank and time period to serve in their position. This time period is once again, 90 days. In this time period a member must prove their worth in the position and once the 90 days are complete, and should the member leave their position, they will remain at the rank received upon attaining that position. In the case that a member should decide to step down in their probationary period, their rank will be removed and returned to what it was prior of the assigned probation. Transfers Transfers are warranted to allow our members to be placed among friends, escape an undesirable stationing, or even to just go where one may want to go, but there are limits to what people can do and how they do it. In other words, follow the chain of command and the policies of the Imperial Directorate. During major ID-wide competitions transfers between positions may often be put on hold to ensure fairness for all. However if a transfer request is made during a competition period that involves the member desiring to become inactive and join the Reserves, then under those circumstances the transfer will be granted. But any member found to be attempting to transfer to the Reserves as a means to affect a transfer to another unit will find that judicial punishment may be considered since this would be viewed as an attempt to help another unit cheat during the competition period, as well as a violation of the standing transfer policy during competitions. In those instances the Legion Commander will be the sole authority in determining if such instances and will determine punishment is deemed appropriate. Reserves Members that opt to transfer to the Reserves do so with the understanding that they are in effect inactive until a future time when they may request a transfer back to an active unit within one of the branches of the Imperial Directorate. Reservists are not permitted to take exams at the Imperial University, participate in competitions or other activities involving active members. In order to ensure fairness to both our active and inactive members, we enforce a non-activity policy for our reserve members. Academy Transfers Once a Cadet has successfully completed the Core training at the Imperial University the Headmaster will notify the Director of Imperial Operations. When the DoO has determined where the Cadet will be placed within the branch, then the Director will notify the Cadet, the Headmaster of the Imperial University and the branch leader, and any internal command officers, of the assignment. Internal Branch and Branch-to-Branch Transfers From time to time a member may decide they wish to serve elsewhere within the Imperial Directorate, be that on a new ship, new detachment, or in a new fighter squadron. Regardless of whether the request is to affect an internal branch transfer, or to transfer from one branch to another branch, members will ensure that their transfer request first goes up their present Chain-of-Command. The Director of Imperial Operations will not approve any transfer that is not first approved by every superior officer within a members Chain-of-Command. In the event that the member wishes a transfer, but a superior officer within the chain failed or refuses to approve it, the member has the right to go to the commanding officer above that superior and make their case for approval. In any event no promotion shall be approved unless the Councilor of the branch the member presently serves within has signed off on the transfer request. Once the branch leader has approved the transfer, then they shall submit the proper form to the DoO for consideration and eventual approval or denial. Promotion Requests Request Value All members eventually will earn a promotion. However as said earlier there is a time in rank system, but there are also other factors to a promotion being approved or denied. This is called Request Value. Its quite simple, as a person participates in activity over time they usually reach the point when it is time for a promotion. The activity that they have accomplished will be used to determine if a promotion is warranted, and then a written request will be sent to the Director of Imperial Operations through the appropriate form. As with anything, requests must be submitted up the Chain-of-Command and each superior officer shall be given the opportunity to weigh in and provide their own comments and reviews. Ministry Promotions Promotions for members of the Military Council lie solely within the authority of the Executor. While the Legion Commander holds some limited authority in recommending promotions to the rank of Vice Admiral or Lieutenant General, the Executor is the final decider when it comes to approving these requests. Promotional consideration for Council members will be based on overall ability to perform basic duties, complete projects on schedule and as planned, and the ability of the Council member in question to work with those around them. Medal Awarding The Imperial Directorate awards more than just promotions, it also has a variety of medals and awards for members to obtain through various activities and service within the Imperial Directorate. Some are awarded through participation in competitions, and others are awarded based on merit for service above and beyond. All awards are processed through the Director of Imperial Operations, excluding a few awards that are awarded exclusively by the Executor, Legion Commander and the Headmistress of the Imperial University. Keep in mind that positions within the Imperial Directorate dictate what medals and awards may be recommended. If you wish to recommend an award for someone beyond your capability to recommend, submit that request through the Chain-of-Command and allow the appropriate commanding officer to make the request on your behalf. Competitions The Director of Imperial Operations holds exclusive rights to approve any and all competitions entering the Imperial Directorate, except for those created and/or ran by the Executor or Legion Commander. All competitions must have Operations approval before they take place. If it takes place before receiving proper approval, the competition’s awards will be considered void. No competition warrants a promotion, however major events may be used as support for a promotion. ALL competitions requested from within a branch of the Imperial Directorate that list the entire ID as participants MUST have prior approval and discussion from the Director of Imperial Operations. Competition Status While anyone can coordinate and run any level of competitions, it is necessary for the member to obtain the approval of the appropriate superior before making a request to the Director of Imperial Operations for approval to run that competition. So if a Trooper wants to run a competition for his Squad, he would need to have his Squad Leaders approval for the competition. The approval must be stated in the Competition Request Form. Competition Awarding It is the responsibility of the competition coordinator to ensure that the proper award(s) are requested when seeking approval to run the competition. Check the Operations Manual to be sure that the awards you are recommending to award meets the stated requirements. This will save you, the Director of Imperial Operations, and those expecting to receive the awards, a lot of headaches in the event the wrong awards are selected, and are ultimately denied by the Director of Imperial Operations.