IPF rank etiquette guidelines (mandatory reading for all IPF soldiers)

[Darth_aurelius]

Attention to orders men! The following is an annotated list of guidelines governing proper military etiquette which will henceforth be enforced and which all members within the IPF will be held accountable to. If you have any questions regarding the administration of these policies, contact either SSG Angel, LT McGee or myself and in that order.

1. Lower ranking personnel shall show proper respect and deference to higher ranking personnel at all times in any public venue. For purposes of this rule, public venues shall include the general chat feature on element or any of the sub forums on our website. This means that lower ranking soldiers will refrain from questioning the discretionary authority of those who are superior in rank to them as doing so is tantamount to prima facie disrespect and will only serve to encourage others to likewise question authority. Additionally, when engaged in conversation with a higher-ranking soldier, the lower ranked soldier shall refrain from employing any language that may be reasonably construed as showing disregard or disrespect for the authority of the higher-ranking soldier.

2. Insubordination will not be tolerated in any form. Insubordination consists either of conduct whereby a lower ranking soldier fails to obey a direct order from a superior ranking member of the IPF or willfully or negligently circumvents the properly delineated chain of command.

3. If a lower ranking soldier has a personal grievance with the manner in which he was treated by his superior, then it is that soldier’s prerogative to avail himself of the established chain of command for equitable redress. At all times the proper lines of authority shall be scrupulously adhered to so that a grievance with an immediate superior (Senior Soldiers and Corporals) should be addressed to the Operations Manager (SSG Angel/Master). If adequate resolution is not obtained at that level, then the aggrieved soldier may seek redress by appeal to the Chief of Staff (LT McGee). If a fair and reasonable solution is still not forthcoming then the soldier may finally contact the Commanding Officer of the IPF (CPT Aurelius). In all cases, the reasonability of pursuing recourse at the next level of the chain of command shall be construed based on the totality of the circumstances and any effort to willfully circumvent this established hierarchy will be regarded as gross insubordination and punished accordingly.

4. The preceding rules shall not serve as a restraint on free speech nor shall they serve as an estrangement of the marketplace of ideas as free expression is still encouraged and debate or disagreement is likewise tolerated but it must be done so in a manner that is befitting a paramilitary organization and in accordance with proper protocols governing the authority invested in rank.

5. Punishments shall be predicated on the severity of the offense, the degree of intentionality which was inherent to the manner in which the offense was given, the experience and knowledge of the offender and the presence or absence of any mitigating or aggravating factors which may include, but shall not be limited to, provocation, past honorable or dishonorable conduct and potential temporary duress. Punishments shall range in magnitude from a dishonorable mention being added to the record of the IPF soldier in question which will impede future promotion, to temporary banning from element or the forums, to demotion from present rank and grade, to banishment from the IPF and reduction to the status of probationary user. In all cases, the higher-ranking soldier who had been aggrieved by the conduct in question will make a discretionary decision regarding the suitability of the punishment, though its enforcement shall be subject to review by senior leadership personnel (operations manager, chief of staff and commanding officer).

[Angel]

An excellent and valuable guideline, that I hope our members will peruse carefully.

It is absolutely vital to purge insubordination and skepticism from our ranks.

[Darth_aurelius]

An excellent and valuable guideline, that I hope our members will peruse carefully.

It is absolutely vital to purge insubordination and skepticism from our ranks.

Indeed, if ever we aspire to be taken seriously then we must first demonstrate that we can take ourselves seriously and the best way to achieve this is through the application of proper military discipline within the ranks.