The training of privates/recruits can be dealt with by socalled mentors: squad leaders who know a couple of things and have some experience playing TF/TFC.

Unfortunately being or having a good sniper/soldier/medic/etc. does not mean that you have a good leader in your hands. More often then not you will find that good operatives do not know how to command a group, busy as they are trying to gain the objective. Good leaders, and commanding officers need to be trained in the various �arts� which they will need. Now there are various groups active trying to improve a players skills at the various classes of TF/TFC, but other then basic tactics and strategy no intensive course could be found. Therefore I would like to suggest the following basic training of �officers�, which you can offer in co-operation with the mentors in your group to assure that your commanding staff is one of quality. Please take into account that anyone with the rank of squadleader and higher is considered officer.

1. Develop a study plan with the following items:

a. Classes

b. Tactics

c. Strategy

d. Communication

e. Field Practice

f. Problem solving

1.a. Classes
The study of classes will go deeper into the possibilities of each class within TF/TFC. Approach experts for every class on the possibility of giving a lecture or a trainingsession to you clanmembers. Study class specific pages and learn the strategies, tricks and tips given there. The objective is that each of your prospective leaders knows which class is most effective in what situation. Devote some practice time to playing around with these classes and urge your prospective leaders to go out on the pubs and master the various classes. It is vital that you make sure that your �officers-in-training� learn to operate classes at which they are not that good.

1.b. Tactics
All recruits will receive study material on tactics (e.g. tactics section from the Strategy Guide here) and in a closed IRC session this material will be discussed. possible problems can be put forward. The link between Tactics in the field and TF/TFC tactics is made and discussed. Look at real life battles, documents on tactics (which are readily available on the web) and try to get a discussion going on movements and the use of the team. This will make communicating with your officer corps during a match much easier, as they will know what the movement is you want and how to execute it, simply by you just refering to it.

1.c. Strategy
Strategy study material is distributed and a closed IRC session is devoted to the discussion of the material, also here the link between strategy in the field and strategy in TF/TFC will be discussed. Again, look at battles, look at resources and discuss the pros and cons of various strategies. Again the objective is to develop a strategic eye in the officers you have. They should be able to look at a building and be able to decide whether it is defendable or not. This will assist you in lowering your �casualties� during a match, and again help you in communication. Try to get a discussion going.

1.d. Communication
Different communication systems can be discussed and the pros and cons of these can be put forward. The officer will be asked to design a specific communication setup for a specific map. This will then be reviewed in a number of training sessions. The result of this is that every officer will have a basic idea of communication systems and know how to modify systems for their own purposes. Again: streamlining of communication is the objective. It is the difference between �There is an enemy running up the ramp towards the spawnroom, I shot him but he got away, pls. assist� and �wounded eo at r1: sq 1 engage�, which is more efficient?

1.e. Field practice
A training session on a quakeserver is devoted to walking with the students through an unknown map (so not 2fort5) and on the spot questions are asked on the defense capabilities or possibilities for the offense. These are then discussed with the group. See this as a sort of practice of the theory they have gotten in the tactics and strategy lessons. As TF/TFC leave a lot to be desired in �direct and efficient� communication, it will happen regularly that officers are called upon to make their own defences and decide on possible tactical movements. As a clanleader you want to make sure that they know what they are doing.

1.f. Problem solving
All recruits are given a specific map and asked to come up with a complete offensive and defensive setup for this map within 48 hrs.The recruits will then be asked to give a presentation on their envisaged system whereby criticism from their colleagues and possible attacks on defensive systems are discussed. The result of this is that after a while you will develop a huge archive of map-related strategies. The benefit of that is that there are a lot of strategies out there for the various map, but just as you can read them, the enemy can read them as well. Remember the film Patton, where at a certain moment Patton defeats Rommel? Remember what he says? right! �I read your book!� Keep these strategies as confidential material btw, you don�t want a possible disgruntled clan member giving it to your worst enemy.

2. After training the best of these recruits can be promoted to squadleaders and or given the title of Aide to a Leader on the basis of how they were evaluated. Now a staff is built up around the various leaders within the clan. These Aides and squadleaders can form the basis of continuity once a leader decides to quit. The, now, trained aides also help the leaders when they need to prepare a match.

3. It is wise to keep your commanding officer corps trained by regularly giving them problems to work out. An excellent way of doing this is to join in the Problem of the Week on TFRommel.