Heya! It’s me, Somy/Aumeltopia/that weird biscuit guy, running for another term as your Minister of Military Affairs! ^-^

First I’d like to take a look at what we accomplished in this past term, and then how we can build on that:

What did we do this past term?
 

• We took all the warzones in one update with our friends from the EPSA
  
  
• We ran multiple large detag runs with the NPA and showed them a different style of detagging
  
  
• We took part in many liberations and fascist operations, including one in which every single feeder military participated
  
  
• We broke the all-time world tag record with Lily
  
  
• Probably the biggest development— we started the SPSF Reserve program from nothing; it has now grown to around 15 members, all of whom are currently supporting the government in Lazarus. The Reserve has also greatly increased SPSF visibility gameside.
  
  
• As a result of the formation of the Reserve, the SPSF has grown 163% in size over the course of the term, from 11 members to near 30
  
  
• We have spent over a month helping out stabilize Lazarus after its liberation. This is a highly important operation, but it has taken a toll on the SPSF— so rejuvenating ourselves for the summer season is one of my primary goals
  
  
• We made a bunch of pretty badges, many involving mermaid meat
  

How are we going to continue?
 

• Allies— Continue our work with all of the South Pacific’s allies. Firstly, during this past term I’ve developed a friendship with many of the members of the NPA which has allowed us to carry out many joint operations together and coordinate very well. I’d like this tradition to continue, as befitting one of our best allies. I’d like to do more operations with the EPSA, one of our newer partners, as well, possibly leading a bunch of triggered tag and detag runs together with them.
  
  One of my big plans that didn’t quite pan out last term was to have SPSF lead a larger-scale occupation raid together with some of our feeder allies (Lazarus got in the way for the most part >_>). I would like to accomplish this goal in the upcoming season— it would provide both valuable Regional Officer/offensive operation experience for our updaters and a showcase of the Reserve’s strength.
  
  
• Reports— Revive our Gameplay thread as well as our monthly reports and put SPSF on the map. The SPSF has a lot to share with the world and with the rest of the region, and we should do so! In order to engage all areas of the community, reports would be posted as a forum post both on the TSP and NSGP forums, as well as a dispatch and a discord announcement. I’d like to make sure all major operations we do have an accompanying report, no matter how fancy. I’d also encourage all members involved in the SPSF, including and especially those in the Trident Legion, to take part in writing reports.
  
  
• Gameside— Be hands-on with the RMB community, encouraging them to become Reservists. With several prominent members on the RMB being in the SPSF (North Prarie, NHC, etc.), the Reserve has become more popular around those parts than the SPSF has been in recent times. I’d continue that trend and post about the Reserve even to the point of ridiculousness! xP
  
  
• Updaters— Now that we have a substantial number of pilers, it’s time to focus again on the updater corps of the SPSF. Many of our updaters recently have been drawn away either by RL or by their duties in other regions, so I’d like to work to cultivate a new group of updaters purely from TSP. We’re already seeing the beginnings of this, but there are still a bunch of pieces we need to work out further:
  
  • I’d plan to focus on making sure recruitment and training efforts are completely coordinated so that no one gets lost in the process of joining and disappears.
    
  • I’d continue to encourage the policy of senior members posting in the training channel when they’re about to update to invite trainees, e.g. “hey @Trainees, we’re going chasing this update in a couple minutes, want to come join us?”, as well as continue to make unofficial mentorship a “thing”.
    
    
• Autonomousness— I’d plan to have the SPSF begin to run more of our own operations regularly without having to make it a “special occasion”, especially tagging and detagging (which don’t require large numbers to run). Not only does it mean we’re not relying on other militaries, but it also gives us a chance to give our soldiers and officers practice leading! Run more of our own operations
  
  
• Reassessment— It’s time for a roster cleanup in the SPSF, and I will make sure to bring that about, checking on who’s active and making sure each member can participate in the way that suits them best. As part of this I plan to sweep out the SPSF forum and make sure everything visible is up to date and being used asintended so there are no misunderstandings. l’d also like to consider the ranks and see how we can restart an incentive to follow a path upwards through them, possibly using the points system as a parallel reward (e.g. if you get this many points, I make you a flag of your choice!)
  
  
• Server activity— Keep the SPSF server a fun place to hang around so people are attracted there. One idea would be to do some events like my semi-weekly Classical Music evening program hosted on the SPSF discord instead of the main one.
  
  
• Cooperation— Connect with the MoRA in developing the Trident Legion (maybe even incorporating it as a sub-department of the Arts/Journalism sections). I would like to also host a bunch of competitions with SPSF themes like a crazy flag contest, a SPSF propaganda poster designing contest, and a “SPSF Battle Haiku” contest! I’m thinking about running an introductory “what is R/D” explanation session for those of us South Pacificans who are not engaged in military gameplay as well.
  
  
• SPSF PRIDE!— We can’t get enough of it! More SPSF themed things/signature graphics/symbols! Revive that unicorn from hell that’s been sitting in the grave since 2016! Overall, make it feel special to be a SPSFer
  

Why does this all matter?

Because the South Pacific Special Forces is the greatest military on NationStates…and we can be even greater! I hope to see us continue over the summer in leaps and bounds in activity and size, filling into a position where the fun and happiness of our soldiers is far more important than what type of operation we do. ^-^

You’re wondering about me…

• I will be back to extremely active updating certainly by the time elections are finished.
  
• I was not as much a part of last term’s cabinet problems, but I can foresee no major problems with any of the current candidates. I would be happy to work with any and all of them. I would like to play a greater part in the Cabinet this term than last, now that I am familiar with the scene, helping out in any way possible. ^_^
  

Here’s to a great, biscuit-filled, fun, and active SPSF summer!

\o/

Somy

More campaign posters!

 

~ Aumeltopia ~

Raccoons are bandits! First they steal your food . . . and then your heart/identity!

(This post was last modified: 06-08-2018, 12:26 AM by Somyrion.)

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Obviously you can’t say which region you wanted to occupy, but do you have an idea on how long you envision the SPSF holding an occupation?


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<@224342115285598209> somyok you asked for questions here goes.

1. Why are you the better than your opponent?
2. If 21 is twenty-one, and 31 is thirty-one, and 41 is fourty-one etc. Why is 11 not onety-one?
3. This is a two part question. You've said you'll be 'hands on' (direct quote from your manifeato) with the RMB community and enlist them as reservists. Part a: are you worried about sexual harassment claims from being too handsy and Part B: what are any other things you think the RMB can do to help?

1. We’re both equally enthusiastic for what we do and share a can-do attitude towards the SPSF. Aside from the differences in our platform policies, however, the biggest thing is that I have more experience. I've now served as MoMA for a term, so I understand well the needs and methods which work best in the SPSF, and I've also served as the military commander of Lazarus previously, having been consistently active in military gameplay for around 1.5 years now. I would also say I know the wider world of NS and our allies a bit better.
2. I find that abhorrent. I promise that if I am elected I will make 11 officially onety-one in the SPSF!
3a. Err.... figurative hands. >.>
3b. Well, the first thing RMBers should do is make sure to spread the word to new people when they say hi on the RMB, like how we already do with the introduction to NS dispatches. I can't be online all the time, so if RMBers (especially those who are already in the Reserve) can do that sometimes, it would definitely help recruitment. For RMBers who don't want to join, the next best thing for them to do would really be to start endotarting and taking part in advocating lots of endorsing in TSP.
 

Obviously you can’t say which region you wanted to occupy, but do you have an idea on how long you envision the SPSF holding an occupation?

I would say about a week would be ideal - enough time for us to give everyone a chance to take part and show what strength we can bring out, but not too long so that we get bored. We probably wouldn't be holding anything any longer than that, and of course we wouldn't be dealing any permanent damage to the region (and if we did the occupation together with NPA, for example, we wouldn't even be changing embassies/banning).

Thanks for the questions, guys! ^_^

~ Aumeltopia ~

Raccoons are bandits! First they steal your food . . . and then your heart/identity!

(This post was last modified: 06-08-2018, 08:34 PM by Somyrion.)

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What role do you think the MoMA and the SPSF has in relation to foreign affairs and can you give us insight into how you worked with the MoFA in your last term?

The 16th Delegate of The South Pacific

(This post was last modified: 06-08-2018, 09:22 PM by southern bellz.)

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HI SOMY! WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS RELATING TO THE JOINT GOOD OF GAME-SIDE, FORUM AND DISCORD COMMUNITIES?

The Lord of Space and Protector of the TARDIS Keys of
The Solar System Scope

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What role do you think the MoMA and the SPSF has in relation to foreign affairs and can you give us insight into how you worked with the MoFA in your last term?

We did not directly work heavily with the MoFA this term, partly because the MoFA was busy working on new treaties and inter-regional cultural festivals with the MoRA. We did however help run the Intterregional Olympic Games, to promote cooperation with many of our FA allies, and indirectly followed up on some of the new treaties by making a point of running operations other the new partner.

I do think this is an area for improvement, though. The MoFA’s duty to the SPSF should be to create the basic FA conditions necessary for the well-being of the military (militarily engaged allies, a GP stance and connections allowing us freedom to carry out both defender and raider operations, etc.), while the SPSF’s duty to the MoFA should be to a) grow and sustain those FA relationships whenever possible through military cooperation, and b) operate in such a way and carry out such operations that match the GP needs of the MoFA. The SPSF should be supplying the tools that the MoFA needs, but at the same time the MoFA should be setting things up to enable the SPSF— it’s a two-way relationship, really.

~ Aumeltopia ~

Raccoons are bandits! First they steal your food . . . and then your heart/identity!

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If you could highlight one aspect of your campaign to convince me to vote for you, what would it be?

Founder of the Church of the South Pacific [Forum Thread] [Discord], a safe place to discuss spirituality for people of all faiths and none (currently looking for those interested in prayer and/or "home" groups);
And The Silicon Pens [Discord], a writer's group for the South Pacific and beyond!

Yahweo usenneo ir varleo, ihraneo jurlaweo hraseu seu, ir jiweveo arladi.

Salma 145:8

translate

The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.
Psalm 145: 8

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Clearly, there become a lot of disharmony in the current Cabinet. Could you share your take on the "Motion of No Confidence" and what you would do differently to ensure a better working relationship?

-tsunamy
[forum admin]

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HI SOMY! WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS RELATING TO THE JOINT GOOD OF GAME-SIDE, FORUM AND DISCORD COMMUNITIES?

One of the things I'm planning to do is look through each document we have relating to the SPSF and make sure it is accessible on all three platforms and that each version is up-to-date. It has often happened in the past that, say, the introductory post on the forums has been updated to reflect a new application or link, but the gameside one hasn't. That can lead many people into getting lost and not feeling connected, so I'd like to make sure that's fixed. I also have experience on all three platforums, not just one or two, so I can connect the SPSF to the communities in all those locations.
 

If you could highlight one aspect of your campaign to convince me to vote for you, what would it be?

Ooh, a hard one! I tend to think that the value of a campaign is in its synthesis, but since you're making me do it....

To convince you to vote for me I would probably say the SPSF Reserve. I've been able to establish it and turn it into a substantial force that really helps with our operations, and I'd continue to grow it further and use its methods for other parts of the SPSF. I believe that the Reserve can engage gamesiders in a way that we haven't been able to do before, and I'd set my focus on expanding that involvement.

But that's not really what I think is most important. It is a part, but not the whole picture. The whole essence of my campaign can be summed up as "the SPSF coming into its own" (I really should've used that as a campaign slogan! ), developing a unique culture with a self-sustaining operational system and community. That also means a couple things: a) the "autonomousness" I mentioned in my campaign post, running more everyday operations from our own server by our own people - which would also allow for a lot more TSP- and SPSF-themed operations where we can express our creativity; and b) developing an active community in the SPSF and on the discord server - one where people sustain full conversations and hang out. This can be facilitated, as I mentioned in my post, by hosting events on the server.

Another way to think of it would be that the overarching thing I plan to work towards is making the SPSF a place that has more "in-house" - activity both military and casual.

Sorry neither are terribly concrete answers and I rambled a bit >_>
 

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Tsu - I will post an answer to yours in a bit, it just requires a bit more writing

~ Aumeltopia ~

Raccoons are bandits! First they steal your food . . . and then your heart/identity!

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There's one small thing you need to work on (and you know what it is ). But other than that — honestly, you have done a fantastic job in the past term, and I'd really like to see you continue to lead SPSF as admirably as you have. My vote is yours.

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