Officer Candidate School

The Silent Service selects its Officers from those who successfully complete the Officer Candidate School's training program. Candidates will need to demonstrate the skill, intuition, drive, and character, to serve as leaders and stewards of the community. Those who do are qualified by the OCS Review Board, completing their OCS training. Some individuals may require more time than others to receive their commission, and other may not make the cut. The Silent Service aims to create a relatively small and elite team. Candidates are not required to own a ship, and owning one will not be factored into the OCS Review Board's decisions.

Unrestricted Line Officers

Unrestricted Line Officers (ULO) are those individuals who are determined and committed to leading a team, and for bearing all the responsibility that carries. ULOs need to be able to communicate effectively and professionally to multiple people performing separate tasks during stressful situations. They need the diligence to prepare for every mission. They need to have the drive to achieve mission success. They need to be compassionate and respectful. They need to know how to be firm and resolute when making decisions. They need to understand that failure is a tool for learning, and have the resilience to continue working towards excellence.

ULOs are identified with the gold-colored ranks of Captain (CPT) and Lieutenant (LT), and are eligible for the following positions and assignments:

Naval Warfare Officer

Command a warship and its crew towards mission accomplishment, striving to succeed, build camaraderie, employ tactics in combat situations, and exercise critical thinking in strategic planning, ensuring your ship and crew are fully prepared for the mission ahead.

Naval Flight Officer

Lead a small squadron of fighters, strike bombers, or reconnaissance craft, depending on mission parameters. Ensure your squadron is utilizing effective tactics and adapting to changing situations, utilizing stealth, cover, and concealment where possible, and knowing when to withdraw to fight another day or when to press the attack.

Special Warfare Officer

Lead a marine fire team in infiltration, sabotage, reconnaissance, and assault missions against hostile ground and space elements, from underground installations to stations in deep space. Mission parameters may call for the employment of vehicles and support spacecraft to achieve mission success.

Every applicant to OCS has their experience reviewed and is interviewed by the OCS Review Board. For those interested in becoming ULO's, the process is as follows:

1) Upon approval, the candidate will be given the light-blue colored rank of Lieutenant (LT), beginning their evaluation period. This rank gives them the authority to serve as the Command Officer (CO) of a warship, squadron, or marines in PvE missions only;

or,

to assist a CPT as the Executive Officer (XO) in PvP and PvE missions.

2) The LT must serve in a minimum of 3 missions as the XO, in either PvE or PvP, for training and practice purposes. Ideally, they will accompany different CPT's each time, but this is not required.

3) Following completion of the above, LT's must complete a minimum 5 missions as the CO. Ideally, a CPT will assist them in turn as XO for training purposes, but this is not required.

4) The LT will draft a brief but detailed after-action report (AAR) summarizing the mission and key points immediately after each mission. The LT will only draft 3 XO mission and 5 CO mission AARs; if the LT performs more missions than the minimum, they should present only the best AARs to the OCS Review Board.

5) The OCS Review Board will review the Lieutenant's AARs, interview any CPTs that assisted the LT, and may interview other officers or crew as needed.

6) Following this, the OCS Review Board will determine whether the LT should be commissioned as a ULO, or if the LT must perform more assignments, or start over entirely.

7) If selected, the LT has the option to elect not to accept the promotion, and may instead remain as a commissioned LT with a gold-colored rank. The limitations on command opportunities still apply, and CPTs may not serve commissioned LTs as their XO. This rank may be appropriate for those with a PvE preference and/or limited availability.

At any point during this period, the OCS Review Board can elect to permanently dismiss an LT from OCS and the Silent Service if the individual violates the Code of Conduct or otherwise conducts themselves poorly. The LT may also opt to drop out of OCS if they find it does not suit their play or life style, or if they will be away for a long time. For the latter cases, they are welcome to reapply in the future.

Restricted Line Officers

Restricted Line Officers (RLO) are those who choose to specialize in a specific role and strive to master it, and to aid others in mastering it. RLOs require the ability to focus and study aspects of their field. They may need to collect data or review existing data. They need to be able to communicate with their teammates, treat them with respect, and help educate and train them. They may be asked to lead small, specific missions with very small teams, but will otherwise be relied on to work on their own with autonomy. They are experts in their roles and are able to intuitively adapt to changing mission parameters. They will also need to have good situational awareness, attention to detail, and practice critical thinking in emergencies.

RLOs are identified by the gold-colored rank of Warrant Officer (WO), and are eligible for the following positions and assignments:

Control Systems Officer

Work as the Helmsman, piloting a warship through various battlespaces. Operate navigational, communications, and sensor systems on board warships or support craft.

Logistics Officer

Organize and maintain the ships's stores of rations, spare parts, tools, munitions, armor suits, small arms, and other critical supplies. Take part in logistics missions, leading a small team of logistics specialists with moving cargo and materiel where needed and when.

Weapons Officer

Operate, repair, resupply, and maintain the torpedo room, primary gun turret, secondary turrets, missile turret, and countermeasure systems. In combat situations, operate defensive turrets on warships or support craft. They will also assist in repairing support craft.

Engineering Officer

Operate, repair, resupply, and maintain the powerplant, life support systems, cooling systems, shield systems, and other critical components. Perform damage control, extinguish fires, and assist in repairing support craft.

Medical Officer

Manage the ship's stores of medical supplies and provide life-saving care to personnel.

Every candidate to OCS has their experience reviewed and is interviewed by the OCS Review Board. For those interested in becoming RLO's, the process is as follows:

1) Prior to applying, the candidate must achieve Master-level competency in their field. Mastery is awarded after completing 10 missions as a Journeyman in one specialty field. Journeyman is awarded after completing 10 missions as an Apprentice in one specialty field. Individuals can earn competencies for multiple fields, but can only wear one RLO title.

2) After review and interview, the candidate will be required to train at least one other specialist Apprentice in the specialty field the candidate is applying for. This training should consist of a 1-on-1 session in which all aspects of the specialty field are reviewed. In the event no Apprentices are available, the candidate will perform a training demonstration session with a Captain, commissioned Lieutenant, or commissioned Warrant Officer.

3) The candidate will then draft a brief but detailed summary of the training session, its aspects, and any key points.

4) After the OCS Review Board reviews the training summary, they will interview the trained Apprentice or alternate.

5) Following this, the OCS Review Board will award the candidate with the gold-colored rank of Warrant Officer. This rank gives the WO the authority to train others in any specialty field in which they have Master-level competency, and to lead small teams on specific missions of a utilitarian nature. The WO will only wear one specialty officer rank for display.

At any point during this period, the OCS Review Board can elect to permanently dismiss a candidate from OCS and the Silent Service if the individual violates the Code of Conduct or otherwise conducts themselves poorly. The candidate may also opt to drop out of OCS if they find it does not suit their play or life style, or if they will be away for a long time. For the latter cases, they are welcome to reapply in the future.