RT0504- P24.02.03A

P24.02.03A

P24.02.03A
Title: Proposed to allow CO's to create non-core billets
Author: Jeffrey Jenkins
 
Premise: At the same time we are seeking to hold people in the core operational billets to a minimum posting rate across all units, we should be willing to accommodate those whose schedules do not allow them to commit to that writing demand and work to keep those people involved in the club in a way that does not interfere with role play of the units and in contact with the club should they find the time in the future.
 
Existing ASR Standards: In light of CO's not speaking to and removing inactive players from their roster, an unprecedented and inflexible standard has been set across all units, removing all discretion from commanding officers and fleet commanders about activity. This is likely to push some of the less active club members out of continued association with the club.
 
Analysis: Historically, the CO, in consultation with the CINCFleet, designated 8 core billets on the unit to be actively recruited for and filled by available new recruits. But units often carried supernumerary personnel by individual recruitment which were not part of the core 8 members of the roster. These were often secondary characters not seen in every story, some were shipboard service personnel like a forward observation lounge bar tender, others were in a variety of positions.
 
To that end, it is proposed that the ASR Bylaws (and/or Player’s Manual) specifically allow such billets which are not subject to the Abandonment Clause but which should also be carefully constructed not to be a hindrance to the story if the writer of that character is unable to contribute for extended periods of time on a regular basis. A writer in a billet exempt from the Abandonment Clause is expected to respond to emails in a timely manner per the 72-hour rule of the Player's Manual.
 
These exempt roles should not come from the traditional core billets of the unit. All units must have a minimum of 8 core billets fully under the abandonment clause. These must, of course, include the commanding officer, executive officer, and 2nd officer of the unit (be that person's billet be operations or any other department per the needs of the individual unit). It is the expectation of the proposal that the other 8 core billets will normally be drawn from the list: operations, engineering, science, combat information, combat systems/tactical, navigation, medical, security (sometimes combined with tactical, sometimes not), counselor, marine detachment commanding officer, and some senior enlisted roles such as command master chief.
 
It is the expectation that the exempt billets will not, even on a ship where those roles are not within the core 8 billets, be drawn from the above list. Rather, these roles will be drawn from other shipboard jobs such as enlisted personnel in departments, ship's services (supply, stores, food services, etc.), attached civilians (which could work with ship's services -- like a 10-Forward-equivalent bartender). This list is not all inclusive of low-posting billets exempt from the abandonment clause, but is intended to be indicative of the type of roles that should be considered appropriate for that designation.
 
If the CINCFleet and/or CSFO in the role of director of BuPERS feels that the captain's choice of a billet is inappropriate for exempt status or that this policy is being abused, they have ultimate veto authority on any specific shipboard assignment.
 
Conclusion: By adopting the above policy, this will open the possibility that those who want to remain associated with the club to take on minor roles within the units without impeding story development with the hopes that they will, in the future, be able to return to fully active writing and resume a core billet. It does not mandate that a CO allow any particular individual to create such a character, but it opens the possibility for non-core billets to keep formerly active writers associated with the club so long as they are responsive to emails. Further the role is subject to administrative review to ensure that a CO does not abuse this to simply remove core roles from the purview of the new Abandonment Clause.