Posted by Captain Mika Jackson (Commandant) in Reintroducing Course Incentives
Most of us are aware that the Academy site offers a wonderful library of courses. These courses are the result of much effort and experience, serving as valuable resources for any club member eager to expand their knowledge and grasp the nuances of their specialized department. It’s a shame that more folks do not access them. The Academy Advisory team and I suggest reinstating an old incentive for club members with an Ensign-ranked character who successfully completes a course aligned with their chosen department. By taking a department course exam and successfully passing, they would be eligible for a promotion to Lt. j.g. This initiative’s purpose is to offer potential benefits such as providing members with a chance to specialize in their chosen department, reinforcing best practices outlined in the courses, and offering Ensigns, especially those who just graduated from the Academy, an additional avenue for advancement. Your thoughts on this proposal are invaluable, and I welcome any input you may have to further refine and shape this initiative.

Mika J. ~ Academy Commandant

I, for one, think this is an excellent idea. It would (hypothetically) create a strong knowledge base among the newer segment of the club, and it would provide incentive to stay active with the promise of a promotion - a lot of the new members we lose before they ever get promoted. It would result in a much more confident and capable JO and junior DH population with somewhat more investment. The only concerns I would have would be with presentation - it would have to be displayed prominently enough new members could find out about it and find it, but at the same time, those courses can look intimidating, as someone comparatively new to the club myself.

Another avenue of exploration with this is the higher level classes. Obviously they can’t all be promotion incentives - we don’t have that many CO or XO positions, for one thing - but they don’t currently seem to have much tangible benefit. (I do think the knowledge gained is valuable, it’s just not particularly appealing to devote time to without knowing if it’ll even help you.) The DH exam could maybe be another promotion, to LT. Ideas on the others, or does the majority feel those ones are fine as is?

Amdirgol, PDir