Users browsing this thread:

South Pacific Independent News Network · 10-11-2020, 09:53 PM

Year 18 | 10 October 2020

OCTOBER 2020 CABINET ELECTION
MINISTER OF DEFENCE INTERVIEW
Moderator: James D. Halpert | Participant: Phoenix

WELCOME TO THE OCTOBER 2020 MINISTER OF DEFENCE INTERVIEW

I am James Halpert and I will be the host of this interview with Phoenix, candidate for Minister of Defence. This interview is sponsored by the South Pacific Independent News Network.

The format of this interview will consist of a single section:

• The only section will feature questions on the candidate’s qualifications, intended policies and their vision for the coming term.

The candidate is asked to clearly mark the end of their answers so that I may know when to move on to the next question and to answer no later than 3 minutes after a question has been asked.
Opening Statement

[Phoenix] Hello! I am Phoenix, current Minister of Military Affairs, and I hold Officer rank in the SPSF. I enjoy everything I've done so far in TSP since I joined, and I'm really excited for a second term, as your Minister of Defense :>

And thanks to SPINN for hosting these!

Q&A

You are running to be the first ever Minister of Defence. Even if the underlying ministry is essentially the same, do you expect to see any changes with the new name?

[Phoenix] I don't really expect much to change, honestly. The ministry will be essentially the same, except with a different title. That being said, perhaps the rebranded ministry could see even further growth as we continue through. Maybe more things get rebranded within the SPSF this term. I certainly plan on it, and it has been discussed in waves since the beginning of the term.

Do you think awareness of the Special Forces is adequate or do you think there is work to be done to better encourage enlistment and promote the weekly reports?

[Phoenix] I think more work could always be done to promote our Special Forces. The same goes for anything in TSP. We could always use more promotion for whatever thing, Legislatorship, Roleplay, the SPSF, community events, FA, etc.

Vietnam mentioned in their interview accounts that your trainings on voice chat are a "hard-to-forget experience". Could you explain what goes into those trainings?

[Phoenix] I haven't done a training VC in forever. Nervous

Also, I believe it was Omega who mentioned that, not Viet...

But essentially, it's what I do over text for trainees. But in voice. I go over the things they need to know for the various operations we do, which I think in this case, it's typically chasing.

What specific steps would you take, beyond imagery, to continue to develop the Special Forces' defender identity?

[Phoenix] The only real thing we can do is more internally develop our own convictions and work with the other ministries to really help develop ourselves and our Defender identity. So, working with Media to write articles. Working with FA. Doing more events with our Defender allies. Solidifying a proper "Why We Defend" narrative.

Do you think there is potential to work with the new ministries to conduct themed military games with partner militaries?

[Phoenix] Of course I do! And I don't think we've really explored what we're capable of with military games in various cultural events. Which I look forward to doing the next term.

Is there a specific military, partner or not, with which you'd like to see increased cooperation?

[Phoenix] There's so many friends we can work with. As far as Defender-aligned, I would love to see us work more with the RRA, with the UDSAF, with FNDA... all awesome militaries to work with :>

On a scale of 0 to California, how much do you like fire?

[Phoenix] I LIKE FIRE

Desserts are a contentious issue in the region. Do you prefer cake or pie?

[Phoenix] I personally prefer Pies, PIES SHALL RULE!!!!

Closing Statement

[Phoenix] I would just like to say, we are such an awesome region, and I am proud to call myself a South Pacifican. I am really excited for the next term, to work with the ministers next term and really just... Vibe, I guess.

And again, thanks for hosting this!

This concludes the October 2020 Minister of Defence Interview. Thank you Phoenix for participating and thank you to our audience for attending. See you at the polls!

The South Pacific Independent News Network (SPINN) is an independent news organisation established in 2003 with the goal of providing good, insightful and timely commentary on regional events for the citizens of the South Pacific. Opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board. Content is published via pseudonyms. The SPINN is not associated with the Government of the South Pacific.