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<TITLE>RE: ES - Brigade?</TITLE>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>Wow, that brigade commander sounds like a great guy. I'd like to meet him. :)</FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>Obviously, I agree that it would be a good thing to have ongoing war leaders. I was glad to hear that the rest of the kingdom is talking about it now, also. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>Llywelyn</FONT>
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<BR>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>-----Original Message-----</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>From: owner-elfsea@ansteorra.org [<A HREF="mailto:owner-elfsea@ansteorra.org">mailto:owner-elfsea@ansteorra.org</A>]On</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>Behalf Of Mordock von Rugen</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>Sent: Friday, March 23, 2001 12:59 PM</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>To: elfsea@ansteorra.org; steppes@ansteorra.org;</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>fray-ansteorra@yahoogroups.com; glaslyn@ansteorra.org</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>Subject: RE: ES - Brigade?</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>Hmmm. Actually, the "test" idea wasn't really all that serious, either.</FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>A brigade commander will not be commanding a bunch of troops he doesn't </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>know. Moreover, a test with 5-7 guys doesn't test much other than his </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>ability to command 5-7 guys against a like number. A brigadier needs to </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>know much more, and have an entirely different set of skills.</FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>I would posit that a brigadier needs to know:</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>1. something of the history of warfare</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>2. something of basic leadership techniques</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>3. the strengths and weaknesses of his troops</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>4. something of the history of SCA warfare</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>5. something of the strengths and weakness of our neighbors</FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>Moreover, his skills are very different from a small unit commander. He </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>should have the following capabilities:</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>1. ability to lead (note that this is different from ability to command)</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>2. ability to "read the field"</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>3. ability to "read the troops", both enemy and friendly</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>4. ability to keep the big picture in mind, despite the chaos around </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>him/her</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>5. strength of character</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>6. unstinting honesty, even in the face of embarassment</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>7. charisma and the ability to inspire others (note that this is different </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>from leadership)</FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>Those are all things that simply can't be tested on a field with 5-7 under </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>his command. Many are things that can only be "tested" over time. That's </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>why I suggest we go with either election by the troops or election by the </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>commander. Alternately, recommendation of a commander for the Crown's </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>approval would be a good option, and would help ensure that the interface </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>with the Crown was the best we could get.</FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>Well, that's my two cents.</FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>Dux</FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>>From: "Dale, Richard N" <DaleRN@aetna.com></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>Reply-To: elfsea@ansteorra.org</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>To: "'elfsea@ansteorra.org'" <elfsea@ansteorra.org></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>Subject: RE: ES - Brigade?</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2001 12:40:16 -0500</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>This sounds like a wonderful idea and I would be willing to participate.</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>What about a command test for those interested in the position. Basically</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>have a regional fighter practice and have a person command say 5-7</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>fighters(they don't know real well) and see how they maneuver under the</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>commander.</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>you could come with basic tests and then mix and match the test so no one</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>commander would have the exact same test as another commander. And then I</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>would through in something not planned during the test to see how the</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>commander reacts to surprises. After all plans for battles are never 100%</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>full proof and thinking on your feet is often the difference between </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>victory</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>and defeat.</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>Richard Fairbourne</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>-----Original Message-----</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>From: Mordock von Rugen [<A HREF="mailto:mordockvonrugen@hotmail.com">mailto:mordockvonrugen@hotmail.com</A>]</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>Sent: Friday, March 23, 2001 11:27 AM</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>To: elfsea@ansteorra.org; steppes@ansteorra.org; glaslyn@ansteorra.org;</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>fray-ansteorra@yahoogroups.com</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>Subject: Re: ES - Brigade?</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>Regarding the Brigade question I introduced, Baroness Alessandra of Elfsea</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>had some questions:</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> >1. Would it be a good idea to use the Central Regional Warlord as the</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> >brigade "leader", or perhaps someone under him/her?</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>To start, sure - it would make transition easier. Or no, depending on what</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>the troops would prefer.</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> ></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> >2. What sorts of things would be accomplished with a brigade structure?</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> >More uniform commands, a way of identifying who has leadership </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>"authority"?</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>Yes. <chuckle> What I'm hoping to accomplish is three things:</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>1. A uniform set of commands with a uniform response to each</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>2. Awareness of the commanders of each unit on the part of every member of</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>the brigade</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>3. Training together to get the comfortable feel for each unit and what</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>they can do. Ideally, that awareness should be in everyone's heads, not</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>just the commanders'.</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>Right now, I have some feel for Elfsea's capabilities and preferences, a</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>very good feel for the Fray's, and no feel at all for Finn Ruadh. I want </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>to</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>reduce the amount of guesswork, and improve communication between the units</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>within the Central region.</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>Training together, partying together, discussing techniques and plans</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>together - we'll all get to know what to expect from each other, and be </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>able</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>to trust one another without having to worry about battlefield surprises.</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> ></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> >3. Who could apply for the position and how would s/he be selected?</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> ></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>Well, that depends on how we work it out. We're completely free in our</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>choices. Some possibilities:</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>1. Election by the troops</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>2. Election by the unit commanders</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>3. Recommendation of choices to the Crown, from which the Crown selects</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>4. Lottery</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>5. "Spin the bottle"</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>Obviously, the last two are facetious - though they're sort of close to </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>what</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>we'd get if we use a tourney as our basis for selection. Being able to win</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>a tourney means nothing in terms of ability to lead a brigade in battle.</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>Any other possibilities? What do y'all think about these possibilities?</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>Dux</FONT>
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