Naval Academy
From VEWiki
"Welcome to the Vast Empire Naval Academy: the origin of true imperial pilots. Here, we will not only equip you with an advanced knowledge of your fighter and how to use it, but will instruct you in the most detailed fashion possible as to how you can perfect your skills in battle. With every passing day, you and your machine will grow closer, until, finally, you will act as one. This is how we transform the average into the elite.
We will give you what you need to survive, and then some, but only you can supply the guts- you have to be smarter, faster, and stronger than any opponent that can come your way. That, my students, requires unrivaled discipline, and you'll need every bit of it in the face of immediate danger. Yes; of course it requires hard work, more so than any normal pilot should be expected to deal with - but you're not any normal pilot, are you? And always remember: more than your own life is at stake when you put on that uniform; luck runs out, so you'll just have to use every one of your million senses to get the job done- or else. Welcome to the Academy."
- The first day of training on Abrae, as remembered by Commodore Shazam
Contents |
Introduction
Welcome to the VENA
This is the Vast Empire Naval Academy. This facility exists to help you realize your potential, hone your skills, and improve your status within the Starfighter Corp. Everyone has to start to somewhere, and for those of you who have joined the navy, that somewhere is here. Members who have come to us as Trainees have gone on to become Commodore's, Wing Commanders and Line Captains. The VENA has trained some of the galaxy's most heralded pilots - men and women who stand the test of time in comparison to generations long past and still to come.
The Mandate of the VENA is simple: To provide the Vast Empire with capable, versatile pilots that will help protect the borders, and to equip you with the skills you need to stay alive. Lastly, we want you to have fun - writing as a starfighter pilot is an experience unique unto itself, and it's not easy. Whilst some of the material here may seem daunting, it only exists to help widen your possibilities when it comes to writing - so long as you do the bare minimum, you can read as much or as little as you like.
Each person's journey through the VENA, and beyond, will be unique. You may all read the same materials, take the same test, but you will interact with these things in different ways. Our staff are always on hand to make sure that your experience is as enjoyable as possible - if you have any question's don't hesitate to ask.
So, with out further ado, let us begin! Welcome to the academy.
Pilot Training
New Recruits
Most of you visiting this page will be new recruits, Trainee's just itching to get started with their own journey as a pilot. Everyone who joins the Navy will come here first, and everyone who are committed will need to pass our entry level 'examination' in order to be placed within a squadron.
Don't worry though, by 'examination' we simply mean a small Q&A which is designed to test how interested you are in the Vast Empire. If you are in engaged in the world around you, then you will be engaged in your story writing, and that is what the exam tries to gauge.
Still interested in joining? Good, because the basic training section is only a small part of the VENA experience, and the only mandatory part of the VENA - everything else you need only do if you want to do it.
To begin your basic training, I shall now direct you here. The Basic Training program begins with basic flight instruction and progresses to include some combat maneuvers, and information about the current state of the galaxy.
Good luck.
Beyond Basic Training
There is more to the VENA then simply training new recruits however. Once you have passed and have been placed in a squadron, new possibilities and opportunities will open up to you. Every member of the Vast Empire's armed forces are eligible for advancement. Specific requirements differ between divisions, and even individual squadrons, but the VENA exists to help you no matter what your situation is. We offer advanced courses and tests that will not only expand your knowledge, but prove to your commanders that you have the will and dedication to put effort into your experience - and that reflects good on you.
If you are interested in learning more, please check out the Intermediate Courses section.
The material out lined in this section will help you advance 'up the ladder' within the Imperial Navy. Do you want to become a Flight Leader? We can help you. Do you aspire to become an Executive Officer or even a Squadron Commander? We can help you. Even if your ultimate goal is command a ship of the line, we can help you. These courses can take you all the way from a lowly Flight Member, to as far a your heart's content. The only variable is your ambition.
Obviously, we don't just promote anyone. You may have an ambition that rivals God himself, but if you don't prove to us you have the skills necessary to do your job right, then all that hard work would have gone for nothing. If you wish to take these courses, you must strive to be the best. We won't accept anyone less.
Officer's Training
As mentioned above, the VENA can help you go where ever you want. However, the Intermediate Courses can only take you so far. Should you wish for a life 'outside' the cockpit, then you will need to become and Officer. This is where Officer's Training comes in.
Officer's Training is special in that it isn't asking you to improve yourself anymore- it asks you to improve others instead. As an officer your influence would, quite naturally, grow and the decisions you make would thusly effect the members under your command. It is this the aim of this section of training to better equip you with the tools you need to lead your fellow pilots into battle, and to lead them well.
Whilst you should not neglect to improve yourself as a person and as a member of the Vast Empire, the point of this section is to help you in dealing with others, whether it be Squadron Commanders, or Flight Members. As an Officer you will be expected to lead by example, and to be better then the best. Not for the faint at heart.
Recap - The List
As we have said, the VENA does not exist solely to help you at the beginning of your VEN career - no, we provide you with endless possibilities. No one should ever be able to say, "What now?" even if that person happens to be the commander of the VEN. Below is a set time line for time in the VEN and the VENA's involvement with it.
The List - An Extremely detailed version of all assignments, reading materials and general curriculum knowledge.
I. First Joining - Basic Training (BT)
A. Imperial Initiation
B. Flight School
II. Significant Positions - Intermediate Courses
A. Senior Aviator's Exam (Petty Officer 2nd Class to Chief Petty Officer)
B. Road to the Master Aviator's Exam (Must have taken and passed both AE and SAE)
1. Technical Exams (TE)
2. Leadership Exams (LE)
3. The Master Aviator's Exam (Must have attained the rank of Warrant Officer 2nd Class -
Receive the Master Aviator's Certificate (=MA=):
Qualified to be an Executive Officer or leave you're group and pursue other careers
III. Careers and Internships
A. Squadron Commander
B. Ship Commander
C. VENA-HS Member
As you can see, the VENA is involved in all aspects of a person's career. We are always striving to help you reach 'the next step'. A more comprehensive version of this list can be found by clicking on the link above.
Resources
Here at the VENA, we believe that there is more to a pilot then just flying. A pilot is capable of learning side skills, that will augment their flying, and prove useful to the squadron as a whole. Crash landed behind enemy lines? Good thing you know some survival skills. Wounded? Then better put those First aid classes to good use. In the Pilot Skills and Studies section, there is a number of extra studies you can take on to help improve you're writing.
Click on the link for further information.
Please note that the Pilot Skills and Studies are currently suspended, pending a think-through and possible re-working. However feel free to browse what is here, so that you may plan for the future. All information here is subject to change. - VENA staff
Need help with reports? Look no further.
The essential resource for creating your own character profile on the Vast Empire Wiki.
Can't remember exactly what you're supposed to do this week?
Officer's Manual
Database of the Vast Empire Navy- contains all there is to know. There are two sections to this handbook:
And
Further more, a copy of the pilot's hand book can be found here (VEN Doctrine)
The Training Staff
Here you can find out about the current staff here at the VENA: Who they are, what they are like, and how you yourself can join their ranks.
Salvage Yard - The Salvage Yard section is a place where old material currently rests. Any information listed here is no longer in use, and is not required as part of your training.
Final Note
The Vast Empire Naval Academy (VENA) is composed of all sorts of programs, some designed for the short term, some designed to set you upon a full-fledged career - but they can all be found and seen through the same space. From here, you can access Units, Exams and all sorts Reference material. You don't have to be taking part in the Officers Training to read the material, nor do you need to me going through Basic to quickly check something.
The VENA is open to all, and we hope we can help you on your journey. Should you see any inconsistencies, then please let us know so we can fix it.
