UFS Membership Manual

General Data

Original by: Taylorholic Durant

Stardate: 070101

Reviewed By: . Mike Calhoun Rosine Heinkel MilesPrower Dagger

Last Review Date: 220708

Becomes Effective: 140101 CURRENTLY IN USE

Published By: UF Starfleet Command

Editors: . Mike Calhoun MilesPrower Dagger

Intended Audience: All current and future members of UFStarfleet

Last revision Date: 220708

Welcome Message from the Commander-in-Chief

As Commander-in-Chief, it is my pleasure to welcome you to United Federation Starfleet, The Ultimate Starfleet Experience

United Federation Starfleet, or UFS for short, started as a dream.....a dream to realize and bring Gene Roddenberry’s vision to life within the Star Trek community. As Mr. Roddenberry said, “If man is to survive, he will have learned to take a delight in the essential differences between men and between cultures. He will learn that differences in ideas and attitudes are a delight, part of life’s exciting variety, not something to fear.”

We envisioned an opportunity where people could live out Roddenberry’s vision by becoming a Federation Citizen, Starfleet Crewman, or a Commissioned Officer within one of the most respected, most organized, and most active Star Trek organizations available. Our dream to accomplish this began in 2006. Since then, UFS has become one of the premiere Star Trek groups within Second Life. It was this success that led us to form UFS Incorporated, a real life organization based in New York. As we continued to grow and expand, the group expanded into other online grids. Now UFS has taken the next logical step by adding Virtual Starships and Space Stations all over the world.

The time is ripe to get involved.

To help UFS officers and enlisted adjust to and grow into their UFS lives, we offer a highly organized and renowned Academy, which includes a vast selection of courses. These courses will help you to learn a variety of skills and information that will get you started as a contributing officer or enlisted within United Federation Starfleet.

UFS offers a wide variety of postings to choose from. You can:

• Serve at UF Starfleet Command Headquarters and help with the growth and development of UFS through your chosen Branch.
• Serve at Sector Command and help to develop this important part of our Community.
• Take a posting on a station, facility, or outpost and partake in the day-to-day responsibilities of an officer assigned to one of these locations.
• Be assigned to one of our Starships of the Line, where you explore the vast reaches of the galaxy, discovering new life and new civilizations, and defend our home from those that would not choose freedom as a way of life.
• Take on the most challenging but most rewarding option in UFS by becoming the Commanding Officer of a Ship of the Line.
• Or remain unassigned and take part in whatever aspects of UFS that you find more attractive.

In addition to these postings, UFS is also involved in multiple charitable foundations as well as planning social events for members. To begin participating you can:

• Join UFS support and social groups like our Relay for Life Team.
• Assist UFS Events Management with creating, coordinating, and running fun and charitable events.
• Attend promotion ceremonies and other official functions.
• Participate in regular social events.
• Contribute to or be a part of special events.

The opportunities are endless!

Again, I welcome you to United Federation Starfleet, where you can live out your dream of being a part of the Star Trek universe. Whether you have chosen to be in one of our Starships and Space Stations around the world to meet fellow fans in person, play the character of your dreams on one of our immersive ships with other role players, create courses for UFS Academy to share your fandom with others, work in the multitude of programs UFS supports for specific interests in Star Trek or to try to start your own, the sky is no longer the limit – now you can explore the entire Universe!

In Service to the Fleet,

Fleet Admiral Milesprower Dagger

Commander-in-Chief

United Federation Starfleet

United Federation Starfleet`s GOAL

UFS prides itself on being the Ultimate Starfleet Experience. When you join UFS, whether for role play, online gaming, or meeting new friends, you are in essence becoming a Starfleet Officer, Crewman or Civilian.

Our ultimate goal is to provide you with a realistic Starfleet experience as if you are in the inspiring and diversive universe created by Gene and developed and grown by fans for over fifty years! To give you a realistic view of what it would be like if Starfleet really existed. We go to great lengths to recreate Starfleet in all its details.

When you Join UFS, we want to make you feel what many have dreamt of for a long time, that you have joined the proud legacy of Starfleet and are taking up its mandate to explore strange new worlds. To seek out new life and new civilizations. To boldly go where no man has gone before.

UNITED FEDERATION STARFLEET OATH

-/\- OATH OF SERVICE -/\-

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-/\- STARFLEET PERSONNEL -/\-

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I, ____________ hereby solemnly swear allegiance and loyalty to United Federation Starfleet, and the United Federation of Planets.

To become ambassadors of peace and goodwill, to represent the highest ideals of peace and brotherhood, to protect and serve the Federation and its member worlds, to serve the interests of peace, to respect the Prime Directive, and to offer aid to any and all beings that request it

I vow to be familiar with, honor, obey, and uphold all rules and regulations to the best of my ability.

I shall uphold the honor of courage of those that have served before me, in both times of war and peace, as I serve with distinction.

As a duly appointed officer, I will obey the orders of my superiors, and fulfill my duties to the highest standards possible.

I shall never quit nor abandon my post until properly relieved of duty.

I shall never give up the ship, nor any personnel serving with or under me.

As of Stardate ............., at ....... SLT hours, I pledge my life and loyalty to United Federation Starfleet, and my fellow members.

United Federation Starfleet and YOU

Introduction

Welcome to United Federation Starfleet (UFS). We are an international organization dedicated to our love of Star Trek by participating in small and large group activities. We have established a system of local and virtual Starships and Space Stations around the world and in metaverses. With these Starships and Space Stations , we want to experience our Star Trek fandom in any way possible, be it through role play, exchanging Star Trek information with fellow officers and enlisted, writing Star Trek stories, talking about Trek- and club-related matters, or simply interacting with fellow fans.

As a new officer or enlisted or maybe even returning, you probably have many questions as to how this organization works and operates, who is in charge, where to find information, and especially, what you can do to get in on the FUN.

This Membership Manual and the UFS Constitution & Bylaws will provide you with the answers to all these questions and more.

Most likely you joined UFS in one of these ways:

• You joined through learning about us from a friend or some advertisement.
• You picked information at a Star Trek convention or an activity of one of our Ships of the Line.
• You found our website and/or numerous social media networks.

And now that you created your membership application through our website you have then the first step on the path to have the Ultimate Starfleet Experience with a huge community of fellow fans. Once approved, you will receive your membership packet and you’re probably wondering what you got yourself into.

What is United Federation Starfleet

United Federation Starfleet is a Not-for-Profit Star Trek Fan Organization created by and run by FANS like yourself. We have numerous Sectors Spanning across the globe and the various grids of the internet to support our Ships of the Line. Members of United Federation Starfleet come from all over the world. We are bound together by a passion for Star Trek and a desire to make the world around us a better place by following the vision set forth by Gene Roddenberry.

United Federation Starfleet vs Starfleet

United Federation Starfleet is what our fan group is called, it is the organization we have created to build around. Through it we have created a structured organizational program with Ships of the Line, the Academy and departments to oversee the needs of our members that join us in our celebration of Trek.

Starfleet is the fictional organization that is an arm of the Federation that we strive to emulate with our group and organization. It is as Starfleet officers that we model ourselves after. One of our primary offerings is to our membership is an immersive Role Play Environment in which you are a Starfleet officer.

The Building Blocks of United Federation Starfleet

One of the most important, if not THE most important, assets United Federation Starfleet enjoys is YOU, our members.....Without you, there would be no UFS.

The basic building block for United Federation Starfleet are our Starships and Space Stations as seen in the Star Trek television shows created by Gene Roddenberry. Each Ship of the Line is governed by a Commanding Officer (CO).

All our Ships of the Line Starships belongs to a sector. Sectors are based on geographical location (see Appendix A) and are run by a Sector Commander (SC) and staff.

The day-to-day operations of United Federation Starfleet is in the hands of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who each have their specific duties. The Joint Chiefs (JCs) report directly to the Commander-in-Chief, United Federation Starfleet.

The UFS Chain of Command

One of the most important principles within UFS is its chain of command. Following the correct chain of command will result in faster and more adequate answers to your questions and problems.

UFS Chain of Command is as follows:

• Commander-in-Chief, United Federation Starfleet
• Deputy Commander, United Federation Starfleet
• Joint Chiefs of Staff, United Federation Starfleet
• Council of Admirals (Sector Commanders + Joint Chiefs of Staff)
• Sector Commanders
• Starships and Space Stations Commanding Officers

Membership in United Federation Starfleet

Membership in United Federation Starfleet is very simple, you just fill in the membership application and that’s it. Once accepted, you are part of one of the largest and well established Star Trek Fan organizations worldwide…and the best part…there are NO membership dues.

As a member of United Federation Starfleet, you have access to any and all privileges we offer to our members for as long as you are active.

Being a member of United Federation Starfleet will mean different things for different people. For some people, filling out a membership application and being listed as a member is already enough, while others want to actively participate in the decision-making process that shapes United Federation Starfleet as a whole.

The goal of United Federation Starfleet is to help members have an enjoyable experience. This means that you are a member as long as YOU choose to be. If you’re happy and having fun, and you can experience your fandom as you want, then UFS is the place for you. While a member of UFS, you will remain true to the Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations (IDIC) philosophy and the basic foundations of the United Federation of Planets and Starfleet.

How to JOIN United Federation Starfleet

While we realize you may already be a member because you are reading this manual, we also anticipate that others will ask you how they can join. Please let them know that the easiest way is to visit the main UFS website, ufstarfleet.org, click on the “Join UFS” tab. You are then directed to the UFS Registration Form. There you fill in your application to join.

Please fill in the membership application as correctly as possible so we can easily process you, if you have questions feel free to email personnel@ufstarfleet.org for guidance and they will help you.

Read this section CAREFULLY

Your first name or your avatar’s first name(not Display name need to be able to find you in-world if a metaverse member)

• Your Name (This is either the Legacy name in a Metaverse OR your real name)
• Character Name (This can be a display name, an RP name or game character)
• Valid Email Address
• Membership type(Real Life, Second Life, 3rd Rock Grid or Returning Member)
• Area of Interest: Fleet, Marines, Civilian or Undecided.
• How you heard about UFS
• Confirmation of at least 18 Years Old
• You are needed to agree to UFS Data Protection Policy in order to have application approved.
• Submit your application via the online form.

How to RENEW your Membership in UFS

When you join United Federation Starfleet your membership never needs renewal, it remains active until deactivated, it never expires.

If you decide that you no longer want to be part of United Federation Starfleet, you simply need to send in the RESIGNATION FORM http://tinyurl.com/ufs-resignation. Upon receiving your request, we will deactivate your membership.

Membership Options in United Federation Starfleet

a. Individual Membership

Membership in United Federation Starfleet is free of charge and open to individuals of ages 18+. Membership is in accoradnace with manual polices.

b. Joint Membership - Your Character and YOU

UFS began its life in Second Life and many members started as Avatars so you are already a member of UFS with your metaverse avatar, you can link that avatar’s career including rank, awards, classes, and accomplishments to your Real Life Service Record. You can also link your Real Life Service Record to an Avatar or Character so work on one counts toward the other.

c. Honorary Membership

Honorary membership will be granted to special individuals including but not limited to Star Trek actors, writers, and affiliated personnel. These requests will be at the behest of the Commander-in-Chief UFS and Honorary Members will be listed pending acceptance.

Membership RIGHTS and RESPONSIBILITIES in UFS

a. Membership RIGHTS

As a member, you are afforded certain rights, providing that all the responsibilities of being a member within UFS are followed. UFS members must follow the UFS Bylaws as well as the sovereign laws of the area in which they are located. Unless prohibited by law, these are the rights and responsibilities granted to UFS members and are as follows.

UFS members have the Right to:

• Receive one membership packet, subject to the specifications listed in Section 1.2.6 below.
• Apply to join the Starship or Space Station of YOUR choice, regardless of geographical location.
• Select and change your membership status at any time.
• Transfer from one Ship of the Line to another at any time.
• Choose how much participation to partake in UFS at any level; be it Ship, Sector, or Fleet.
• Apply for any Sector Command position, pending confirmation of qualifications.
• Apply for any UF Starfleet Command Headquarters position, pending confirmation of qualifications.
• Bring problems, concerns, or suggestions forward without fear of retaliation
• Receive a prompt and courteous response to your questions, problems, suggestions from ANY officer at ANY level of UFS.
• Participate in UFS programs, divisions, branches, or activities.
• Hear, question, and investigate all sides of an issue discussed and debated within UFS.
• Talk with ANY UFS member about ANY UFS activity, program, policy, etc.
• Due process.
• To be heard.
• Appeal any judgmental or disciplinary actions within UFS.
• Be informed of all UFS policies in a timely manner.
• Terminate your membership at any time.
• Join or affiliate with any other fan club.
• Access to ALL information available for UFS members.
• Access to ALL UFS programs and activities.
• Possibility of your own Ship, station, or outpost Command

b. Membership RESPONSIBILITIES

When you are a member of United Federation Starfleet, you have a certain image to uphold. "Activities while wearing the UFS Uniforms (including UFS Hovertext Titles), whether or not on UFS soil/stations/ships, must maintain good order and discipline so as not to detract from the professional image the UFS Joint Chiefs work tirelessly to portray.

UFS Members are Responsible for:

• Conducting themselves in a manner that reflects positively upon United Federation Starfleet, their Sector, their Starship or Space Station, and themselves.
• Upholding themselves to standards that allow others to look upon us as role models.
• Ensuring that a means of communications always remains open between the members and UFS leadership. This is done through the use of the Chain of Command.
• Fighting against the spread of rumors, misleading stories, and general miscommunication.
• Treating others, whether they are UFS officers, enlisted personnel, or guests, with such respect as is socially accepted, and as Starfleet officers are perceived to act.
• Respecting each others' cultures, religions, and beliefs through the practice of IDIC.
• Acting as a team and help each other succeed.
• Wearing such uniforms and tags as authorized in order to forge a positive image of our group, its officers and enlisted personnel, and our goals.
• Avoiding conflict at all times.
• To carry out your duties according to your position, be it as a general member or someone who participates at UF Starfleet Command Headquarters.
• To offer only constructive criticism and feedback.
• To respect and listen to other opinions.
• To respect the rights of ALL UFS members.
• To be part of the solution, not the problem.
• To take and accept responsibility for your actions.
• Striving for impartiality and removing themselves from situations in which they feel their judgment is compromised.

Failure to uphold the Membership rules and responsibilities as stated above could result in disciplinary action in accordance with the guidelines set forth by UFS’ policies and procedures.

c. Some things we do not tolerate within United Federation Starfleet

• Violation of the membership responsibilities as listed in the UF Starfleet Membership Manual (Section 1.2.4 b)
• Discriminatory remarks, including but not limited to remarks directed at a person's identifying qualities, such as race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, etc.
• Rude or abusive language. Intentional deceit in the course of conduct
• Using UF Starfleet’s public communications including but not limited to the forums, facebook and metaverse group chats for destructive or derogatory purposes.
• Misrepresentation on any portion of the application for membership.
• Disobeying standing UF Starfleet Regulations as laid out in our Manuals
• Other such acts that may be deemed inappropriate or incompatible with the philosophy and purposes of United Federation Starfleet that are not listed specifically in UF Starfleet’s Manuals.
• Any action which directly violates or has the intent of causing violations to any Article or Subsection of the UF Starfleet Constitution
• Impersonation or purposeful misrepresentation of a rank inconsistent with ranks awarded.

We are Starfleet officers, Start acting like it

UFS Code of Conduct

When dealing with large groups of people in any social organization, there are circumstances where individuals have failed to abide by the Rights and Responsibilities set forth in this membership manual. While United Federation Starfleet will try to welcome everyone into the organization and will make every effort to resolve problems and/or damaging behavior, United Federation Starfleet reserves the right to refuse/rescind membership to those deemed “abusive” by the UF Starfleet Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Actively recruiting for other groups on UFS assets to entice people away from UF Starfleet is strictly prohibited and could cause removal from the group with a subsequent ban. While we encourage diplomatic relations, to "poach" or otherwise ask people to leave this group for another will not be tolerated. (Asset's include UFS Discord Channels, Ships of the Line, Metaverse land/parcels bearing the UFS Name, Social Media Pages and Groups)

The UFS Membership Packet

All UFS Members will receive a Membership Welcome Email following acceptance to UFS. Sent from personnel@ufstarfleet.org

If you did NOT receive your membership welcome email, please email our personnel department personnel@ufstarfleet.org

All UFS Members will receive a Membership Packet via email following acceptance to UFS. This membership packet will include, but not be limited to:

• A link to your Service Jacket (This is your membership card and will be updated as part of your UFS Career)
• Graduation Certificate: Following graduation from the UFS Academy, if requested
• Promotion Certificate: Available following each promotion.

If you did NOT receive your membership packet, please email our personnel department personnel@ufstarfleet.org

The UFS Class System

Within UFS, you are free to choose how much you want to be active and participate; however, we do warn against a possible burn out amongst other problems, like getting lost in too much work. Obviously there can be exceptions, but UFS designed a policy that recommends no more than one hat per level.

Class 1: UFS Joint Chiefs of Staff

Officers of the highest echelons of UFS hold the position of UFS Joint Chief of Staff.

In the event a CO or XO is selected by the Commander-in-Chief to become one of the eight (8) UFS Joint Chiefs of Staff, he/she will need to consider whether to step down as CO/XO of their Ship of the Line or if they believe they can handle the responsibilities and time needed for both. In addition, they do remain active in said Ship of the Line

Class 2: Council of Admirals

Along with the UFS Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Sector Commanders sit on the Council of Admirals. Sector Commanders are also COs and can also hold a position at UF Starfleet Command Headquarters, if they believe they can handle the responsibility and have the time to handle it all; and they are not exceeding UFS' three-billet rule, which applies to all the member accounts established by one person.

Class 3: Starship and Space Station COs

A Starship or Space Station CO can work at any level within UFS. He or she can hold one hat at this level (that being CO), any position at Sector Command, and work in any office at UF Starfleet Command Headquarters, whether working for the Academy or for an office of the UFS Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Class 4: The UFS Officer or Enlisted Personnel

Anyone at the basic level can hold any position at Starship or Space Station level, a position at Sector Command, and work in any office at UF Starfleet Command Headquarters, being it working for the Academy or for an office of the UFS Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Summary:

As a general rule of thumb, we limit the amount of Billets for JCs, SCs, and COs to make sure they put their focus on their assigned duties. Also an officer can only hold one position on the Council of Admirals so a Joint Chief can not be a Sector Commander and vice versa. While a “normal” officer or enlisted personnel can hold up to 3 Billets, we limit the UF Starfleet Command Headquarters positions to one or two depending on the positions held.

Leave of Absence (LOA)

We understand that non-UFS priorities require you to leave active duty from time to time. Whether short or long term, UFS will do all it can to accommodate you. However, for administrative purposes, all attempts should be made to announce your intention of taking a LOA BEFORE beginning such a LOA.

It is YOUR responsibility as a UFS Officer requesting a Leave of Absence to READ and UNDERSTAND the appropriate documents and procedures to request an official leave. If due process is not followed, and leave is not taken in the appropriate manner, you may be putting your membership and/or your rank at risk should you wish to return to active duty.

To take leave in GOOD STANDING, a member must send an E-mail (not a notecard or IM) to his current Commanding Officer stating his intent to take a LOA. You are also required to fill in the online form (redundancy being desirable over misdelivered messages. https://tinyurl.com/ufstarfleet-loa

You are also allowed to inform anyone you deem fit about your intended LOA.

Please be advised that your Commanding Officer is under no circumstances obligated to keep your duty post open until you return.

To return to active duty, please contact our personnel department at personnel@ufstarfleet.org

https://tinyurl.com/ufstarfleet-loa

Inactive Members

UF Starfleet maintains that you get into the group what you put into it. Instead of money the charge for membership is communication, we are here to make a group and interact with each other. If you fail to maintain communication with the group, in order to preserve our resources and continue the goal to build this group, memberships can be terminated. The following is the process by which this occurs.

As the first line of communication between the group and the member, Ship of the Line Commanding Officers will transfer any member who has failed to maintain communication with them set by the standards of their ship of the line to UFS HQ Unassigned.

At this point UF Starfleet Personnel takes over responsibility for the member. They attempt to communicate with the member via their registered email address to ascertain the member’s status. This is why it is critical and the members responsibility to ensure they have a valid email address registered at UFS.

Upon transfer to Unassigned the member is notified of their movement to the Unassigned status and their membership will be removed in 6 months if they fail to reply to communication and/or find a new Ship of the Line. Personnel will attempt multiple communications to establish your status during this 6 month period. Should there be no communication from the member at the 6 month mark, their membership will be abandoned and it will be viewed by UF Starfleet as a resignation from the group with all access and membership rights removed.

Should the member wish to return within 2 years from the move to resignation due to non communication they may keep all ranks earned. After the 2 year mark their rank will be reduced by 2 grades. This is to ensure they understand that activity is key and policies may change within this time frame. This also ensures the integration back into the group and orientates them better with the surrounding community. Please Note, all contributions to UFS will still remain on the Service Jackets and will remain as such unless falling within other policies such as banning from the group.

Resigning from UFS

Please read this part carefully

By filling in the RESIGNATION Form, you remove yourself completely from our organization. When you resign from UFS, you will be removed from all lists, have your forum and wiki access disabled and will no longer hold any rank within our organization. Any member who completes the resignation form and attempts to return will have to do so as a new member. However we do understand that sometimes people make rash decisions, so we allow a 30 day grace period after the form has been sent. If after these 30 days you change your mind, you can contact personnel at personnel@ufstarfleet.org and they will delete your request. However, if after 30 days we hear nothing from you, then your resignation becomes permanent.

Please understand that we under no circumstances delete any contributions made by our members. We will not delete any records made by you from our WIKI or FORUM archives. Per our Membership Policy, you release your creations to us for use in perpetuity. Although we do not “own” your character and will not use it actively in a ROLE PLAY after you depart (and you are of course free to use it elsewhere at any time without our permission, since we do not claim ownership of the character, just the right to utilize your contributions)

Please understand that this is NOT a Leave of Absence. If you are seeking to take temporary leave from UFS, please go back to section 1.2.8

Resignation Form: https://tinyurl.com/ufstarfleet-resign

Returning Members

Simplified (see Appendix A for diagram)

• Official LOA - Retain Rank - Pause TiG
• Official Resignation - Retain Rank to (maximum of Commander/Lieutenant Colonel or Petty Officer 3rd Class/Sergeant) if return within 2 years and Service Jacket is retained
• Banned as a Member - Must apply to return, start again if accepted

Explanation As stated previously UF Starfleet has 2 classifications of membership;

• Member
• Non Member

A member of UF Starfleet will remain as such until they inform Personnel via the Resignation Form that they no longer wish to remain as a member.

Should a member decide to resign their membership they have 30 days effective from the date of resignation to undo their choice. After such time they will be classed as “Non Member”

After the 30 day cooling off period, any return will allow the member to retain their rank up to the maximum of Commander/Lieutenant Colonel or Petty Officer 3rd Class/Sergeant

Banned members Return

Should a member be banned and ultimately leave on a non good standing, they must seek permission from the Joint Chiefs via email ( joint.chiefs@ufstarfleet.org ) to reapply for membership. This is done on a case by case basis as each circumstance is different

In this instance should the request be approved the following stipulations will be put in place.

• All ranks removed and start again from Entry Rank
• Member will not be permitted to hold any Command Branch Position for 1 Year
• Member may earn the right to hold a Fleet Level position within a JC office after 6 months of good conduct

GDPR Request

If you have put in a request of all data to be removed as per the GDPR informational law, ayou will need to start again as a fresh member due to all data regarding you and your membership being deleted.

Positions In UFS

In Affect is a 3 Billet Rule! (A billet is a position held)

A person, whether on multiple accounts (alts) may only hold up to a maximum of 3 positions within UF Starfleet

Rank and Advancement in United Federation Starfleet

One of the first questions asked by many officers and enlisted is “How do I get promoted?” This is one of the most common questions in any Star Trek Fan Organization. In the following points, we will try to explain the concept of promotions as clearly as possible.

The question you should ask yourself rather thanWHEN do I get promoted should be WHAT can I do to EARN a promotion

Please look at the UFS Promotions Manual for more detailed information regarding promotions within United Federation Starfleet

The Basic Concepts of a Promotion

UFS recognizes the contributions made by its officers and enlisted personnel through granting of fictional ranks. Promotions are a way for UFS Command to thank our members for their contributions and activities within our organization.

The basic concept of ANY promotion is plain and simple, promotions involve participation and contribution to UFS. Simply put, you get out of UFS what you put into it. When you participate within UFS in whatever capacity you choose, you will be promoted in due time....it is as simple as that.

We encourage EVERY UFS officer and enlisted personnel to participate at ALL levels, but you do NOT have to hold a high office in UFS to get promoted to Captain or Admiral. However, if you never do anything outside your Starship or Space Station it will be much harder to get these higher promotions. It’s important to understand that you do NOT have to hold a high office within the organization to be promoted to admiral. There are only so many positions to go around.

ALL questions regarding promotions are to be directed to our Director Promotions & Awards (promotions@ufstarfleet.org) But make sure to first READ our Promotions Manual which no doubt will be able to answer most of the questions you might have

Promotions are...

• Not the end all be all. Frankly put, anyone can get a promotion to any rank within UFS. Just because you are not a Joint Chief or Sector Commander does not mean you will not be considered for a promotion to flag rank. Within UFS, there are not many Senior positions to go around. There are many hardworking members at all levels of UFS, but just because you only wish to work on your Starship or Space Station does not mean you will not have a chance to be promoted beyond O-6.
• Fictitious and should NOT be used to belittle any other member. If you pull rank or haze other officers and enlisted personnel, you can expect to get in trouble quickly within UFS, whether you are an Admiral or a Crewman. These ranks are expected to be FUN and enhance the Star Trek feel within UFS.
• Awarded for service and responsibility to UFS. They are not awarded for personal favors or favoritism.
• Authority and Rank are two separate entities. Rank is merely fictional, while authority is real. The authority of the Joint Chiefs, Sector Commanders, and Starship or Space Station Commanding Officers is real and enables them to perform their administrative and management duties within UFS.
• Something you earn. You are not entitled to a promotion; you have to earn it by following the guidelines set forth by the United Federation Starfleet Promotion Policy.

Appendix B lists the current UFS Rank and Time in Grade (TIG) structure for both Marine and Fleet assets. Due to having separate assets, our manual will refer to ranks by their rank equivalent (E-x or O-x).

New Officer or Enlisted Rank

All new members start at the rank of UF Starfleet Cadet and work their way up through the graduation process to either ENLISTED or OFFICER.

When you are transferring from another Star Trek Fan Organization, UFS will consider the rank you previously held in said organization, providing you have proper documentation that you need to submit to UFS. This documentation can be a promotion certificate or a letter from your previous CO.

However, UFS will NOT typically grant ranks above O-5 (Commander/Lt Colonel) upon transfer, unless a special circumstance warrants it. This is the sole decision of the UFS Joint Chiefs of Staff. Without the special exceptions, anyone holding the rank of Captain or higher in their previous organization will revert to the rank of Commander in UFS.

If you want to transfer your rank, then please send a copy of the proper documentation along with your application.

Promotion to Commander/ Lt Colonel (Line Promotions)

All Line Promotions are awarded by the Commander-in-Chief with the help of the Director Promotions & Awards. Each CO will be responsible for submitting the names of eligible crew via a written Promotion Recommendation.

All Promotion requests are requested using the UFS Promotions and Awards Form

https://tinyurl.com/UFSPandAForm

Please look at the UFS Promotions Manual for all information regarding Promotions within United Federation Starfleet

Promotion to Captain/Colonel (Command Grade Promotions)

The rank of O-6, Captain/Colonel, may be awarded in the following ways:

By authority of the UFS Promotions Board.

Promotion to Fleet Captain/Brigadier

The rank of O-7, Fleet Captain/Brigadier, is the first Flag Rank used in UFS and may be awarded in the following was:

Awarded by the UFS Promotions Board upon nomination by ANY UFS member following the UFS Promotion Guidelines and TIG for Flag Ranks.

Flag Rank Promotions

All Flag Rank promotions are determined by the UFS Promotions Board upon nomination by a UFS member following the UFS Promotion Guidelines and TIG for Flag Ranks.

Rank versus Authority

Rank and Authority are sometimes confused. Your RANK is fictional while authority is real. A rank is awarded to you for your service in United Federation Starfleet and helps to enhance the Star Trek experience. The AUTHORITY of Commanding Officer, Sector Commander, and Joint Chief is given to them by the Commander-in-Chief, United Federation Starfleet, in order to enforce their administrative and management jobs.

Awards in United Federation Starfleet

The UFS Awards Program is another way that UFS recognizes its hard working officers and enlisted personnel, and to show appreciation for their contributions to their Ship, Sector, and UFS as a whole.

These awards can have many forms ranging from certificates, commendations, or ribbons.

More information regarding awards can be found on the UFS Awards LCARs page

At UF Starfleet Command, awards are handed out to UFS officers and enlisted personnel and Ships of the Line for service to UFS, such as leadership, community work, projects, etc.through the UFS Awards Board that is made up by the Joint Chiefs of Staff PLUS the Director of the UFS Awards Department.

Ship CO’s and Sector Commanders each month sent their recommendations to the Promotion Board by using the Promotions and Awards Form

https://tinyurl.com/UFSPandAForm

United Federation Starfleet Command is well aware that both PROMOTIONS and AWARDS are a touchy subject within any organization. Therefore we want to make sure that you as a member understand that United Federation Starfleet Command is doing everything in its power to make sure that EVERY UFS member is treated fairly and just when it comes to Promotions and/or Awards.

We also want you to understand that United Federation Starfleet Command is not perfect and admits that in certain occasions we do make mistakes and it is possible, as in any other organization that members fall through the cracks or simply are forgotten. However, we promise to do everything humanly possible to try to avoid this.

If however YOU as a member feel that you are being forgotten or treated unfairly you should ALWAYS contact the Director Promotions & Awards (promotions@ufstarfleet.org)

United Federation Starfleet: ORGANIZATION

Introduction

This section takes a look at the organizational structure to provide a basic understanding of what goes on behind the scenes. The head of the organization is the Commander-in-Chief, United Federation Starfleet. We realize and understand that it’s impossible for one person to manage the whole group, so together with the UFS Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Sector Commanders, several individuals are here to help the membership.

The UFS Joint Chiefs of Staff

The UFS Joint Chiefs of Staff are the Advisor Council to the Commander-in-Chief as well as to the members and its Ships of the Line. The seven (7) members who make up the UFS Joint Chiefs of Staff are charged with the day-to-day operations of the group. A Joint Chief must be at least 21 years old.

The Commander-in-Chief, United Federation Starfleet

The Commander-in-Chief is the highest ranking position in United Federation Starfleet and is the de-facto leader of the entire group. The Commander-in-Chief is in charge of the monitoring and advancing of the group, and is the Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Deputy Commander-in-Chief, United Federation Starfleet

The Deputy Commander-in-Chief is the second (2nd) highest ranking position in United Federation Starfleet behind the Commander-in-Chief, and is the Vice-Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Working closely with the Commander-in-Chief and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Deputy Commander-in-Chief is involved in overseeing the daily operations of the fleet. In addition to this, they are responsible for reviewing and updating both the Membership and Leadership manuals. As part of their role, the Deputy Commander-in-Chief also provides oversight in the various departments within the Command Branch. Overall, the Deputy Commander-in-Chief plays a crucial role in ensuring that the Command Branch operates smoothly and efficiently. They help to ensure that all UFS members are meeting the necessary standards and expectations, and that the organization as a whole is functioning effectively.

Chief of UF Starfleet Academy

The Chief of UF Starfleet Academy is responsible for maintaining the Academy Staff, the Academy Curriculum, and any documentation for the Academy, they are also responsible for liaising with Branch Commanders to ensure that the Academy provides proper training and instruction to branch personnel, as well as supervising the weekly commencement of Academy Graduates, and reviewing and approving any and all course material published on behalf of the Academy.

Chief of UF Starfleet Administration

The Chief of Administration is responsible for all administrative functions of UF Starfleet, this includes the collection and analysis of Monthly Status Reports (MSRs), the oversight of the Ship of the Line registry, and maintaining the efficient flow of information between SOTL’s, Sectors, and the Fleet.

The United Federation Starfleet Chief of Communications

The Chief of Communications plays a key role in the provision of inclusive social events and social activities, in the publishing of UFS news, and in the promotion of UFS through social media.

The Chief of Communications is responsible for providing news and information, providing social events for all members, maintaining social media presence and sites, promoting a positive image of UFS to its Members, promoting a positive image of UFS to non-members, promoting a positive image of UFS to other organizations, and making UFS visible to all.

The United Federation Starfleet Chief of Computer Operationss

The Office of Computer Operations (CompOps in abbreviated form) is the coordinating authority for all UFS online representations, as well as the external communities. CompOps coördinates and structures all the information online and manages the (regular) updates to these communities. CompOps works closely together with the Office of Public Relations & Marketing and Office of Intellectual Property Management to both explore new grounds for UFS and guard our public appearance and intellectual properties.

The United Federation Starfleet Chief of Operations

The Chief of Operations is responsible for all roleplay aspects of UF Starfleet by creating and maintaining the continuous storyline, overseeing any Task Forces, bringing forth roleplay activities for members to take part in, and ensuring that the universe's continuity is maintained and updated whenever necessary. The Chief of Operations is also responsible for overseeing all Branches outside of the Command branch.

Order of Succession

In the event that the Commander-in-Chief, United Federation Starfleet is unable to perform his duties, the Deputy Commander-in-Chief, United Federation Starfleet will step in and fulfill the duties as required.

The UFS Sector Commanders

Sector Commanders are the official designated representatives for their respective sectors and represent the members and Ships of the Line in their sector. They provide a liaison between the members and UFS Command.

Sector Commanders are required to send a Monthly Sector Status Report to the UF Starfleet Chief of Staff AND the Commander-in-Chief, United Federation Starfleet

All Sector Commanders must live in the sector they represent.

A Sector Commander must be at least 18 years old.

Appointment of Sector Commanders

Sector Commanders are appointed by the Commander-in-Chief, United Federation Starfleet and serve at their pleasure.

Vote of Confidence (VOC)

If at any time the membership of a Sector becomes dissatisfied with the current Sector Commander, the COs of that Sector can request a Vote of Confidence through the CinC and DCinC, UF Starfleet. At that time, the CinC and DCinC will begin a thorough investigation into the accusations and determine the appropriate action or non-action.

The UFS Council of Admirals

The Council of Admirals is formed by ALL Sector Commanders and UFS Joint Chiefs. The Council of Admirals advise the Commander-in-Chief, UFS in all matters regarding policy, procedure, and other aspects of UFS.

Ships of the Line

Ship of the Line Commanding Officer

The Ship of the Line Commanding Officer is responsible for all aspects of the Ship of the Line. They are an important part in the day-to-day operation of UFS, as they are responsible for representing UFS to their crew as well as their crew to UFS.

In order to become a Commanding Officer of a Ship of the Line you have to be approved by UFS Command to either start your own Ship of the Line or take over an existing Ship of the Line. Of course, you can also contact UFS Command directly when you have an idea about starting your own Ship.

A Ship of the Line Commanding Officer must be at least 18 years old.

A future Ship of the Line Commanding Officer will need to attend and pass Command & General Staff Development

UFS Command will never exclude anyone from the opportunity of becoming a CO however one needs to understand that being a Commanding Officer of a UFS Ship of the Line can not be taken lightly. Not everyone has it in them to be a Commanding Officer.

Therefore, UFS Command will look at the membership at large and seek out those individuals that show promise and leadership as well as loyalty to UFS and offer those members a chance to the “Captain’s Chair.”

So in essence, the more “visible” and active you are throughout UFS, the more chance you will have to be offered the Big Chair.

Each Commanding Officer is obligated to meet all requirements set out by UFS Command.

All CO’s are expected to send Monthly Service Reports (MSRs) through GDOC

CO’s are charged with the maintenance and well-being of their Ship and the crew.

CO’s should attempt to maintain harmony whenever possible, promoting the ideals of Star Trek and UFS in their actions.

CO’s are required to choose an Executive Officer who will help with the running of their Ship and who fits the requirements expected of an XO.

For more information, please read the Commanding Officer Manual.

United Federation Starfleet Ship of the Line Program

Introduction

The UFS Ship of the Line Program contains the requirements for any member wishing to start their own ship/station and is one of our greatest tools for our members to use in order to meet other fans and explore their fandom. The Ship of the Line or SotL is the primary organizational element of our group and it’s where the majority of activity is for our membership.

Members group together to form a Ship of the Line either because of their geographic location or Time Zones, or shared interests. These ships or stations can be local groups that meet for coffee; or a digital ship where people meet online to talk or Role Play or engage in any other enjoyable activities that they can imagine.

With more people in the world using social media and digital options, UFS is making sure we are keeping our SotL Program viable for all members who want to share their friendship and fandom with us. The point of UFS and the SotL program is to allow people to come together and be fans and friends. In the spirit of this we have designed the problem to focus on the fun and make sure everyone has the opportunity to start a ship.

Program Goals

The Ship of the Line Program’s goal is to encourage ships and their crews to work together to advance their Level. Each level has a set of requirements to advance to a higher level and the crew must work together to achieve, and in some cases maintain, their ships’ level.

The ship’s level is created to be a mark of pride for the crew, something for them to work towards as a group and have bragging rights about. A ship never needs to leave Level 1 if they don’t want to and they remain a commissioned ship of the line with the same rights and privileges as the highest level ship of the line.

The Ship of the Line Program is overseen by the office of the UF Starfleet Chief of Staff.

Starting a Ship of the Line

The decision to start a Ship of the Line in UFS is one that you must take serious time to contemplate. The Commanding Officer is required to provide for their crew as well as to complete the required UFS paperwork. Sometimes you don’t get to have the fun, you will have to work hard to make your ship a success and your crew happy.

You must have a few things prepared in order to apply to start a ship of a line. Key word is apply, there is no guarantee that you will be approved to start a ship of the line -- there are a huge number of factors involved, however, it is rare for a request to be denied unless you do not meet the minimum requirements.

Level 1 of the Ship of the Line levels: these are the minimum requirements to start a ship of the line, those being:

• A Commanding Officer who has taken and passed COCTS and CGSD - CO Administration I
• A total of four current members, including the CO, who are from the sector that you are starting the ship in;
• A ship that will be your sponsor;
• Approved Starship Specs and Registry from ASDB.

Email your applications or questions to fleet.operations@ufstarfleet.org

UF Starfleet Runabout Program

The UF Starfleet Runabout Program is designed to help with Ships of the Line starting in regions that UFS is not established, such as games, Grids and Sectors. The Runabout program is a provisional approval system that members can use to get the concept of a ship of the line approved so they can recruit for it before being launched. The reason for this is so that the prospective CO can market the ship to potential members.

The member desiring to use the program must get approval from the UF Starfleet Chief of Staff. If approved they will need to meet the requirements of a CO for a Level 1 Ship of the Line then have the specifications of their ship approved by ASDB.

Once all steps are complete they can begin to market their ship and begin recruiting for it. Until the ship officially becomes a Level 1 ship of the line it does not collect Time in Service and no one can be ‘assigned’ to it yet. The goal is to allow a CO to have a concept to aid them in recruitment and once they have the needed crew be able to launch without needing to wait on any paperwork.

Ship of the Line Levels

The following descriptions are for what you need to ACHIEVE the listed level, LEVEL 1 is what is required to start a Ship of the Line, LEVEL 2 is what is required from LEVEL 1 in order to advance.

LEVEL 1

Crew Requirements: 4 Crew Including CO

CO Requirements: COCTS , 18 years of age, Complete CGSD - CO Administration I

Support / Sponsor Ship Required (a)

Registry Page Created and Approved by CoS (b)

Ship Specifics and Registration Approved by ASDB (c)

Time in Service - None

LEVEL 2

Crew Requirements: 6 Crew Including CO and XO

XO Requirements: Complete CGSD - CO Administration I

CO Requirements:

Recommendation from Support / Sponsor Ship (d)

Continuous Months of Correct Reporting - 4 (e)

Time in Service - 4 months (f)

Monthly Crew Communications (Forum Board, Discord Channel, etc) (g)

LEVEL 3

Crew Requirements: 10 Crew Including CO and XO

CO Requirements: Complete CGSD - CO Administration I

XO Requirements: Complete CGSD - CO Administration I

Recommendation from Support / Sponsor Ship (d)

Continuous Months of Correct Reporting - 6 (e)

Time in Service - 6 months (f)

Continuous representation at CO Meeting - 3 months

Monthly Crew Communications (Forum Board, Discord Channel, etc) (g)"

(a) This ship is basically a help desk for COs who want help, it should be someone who runs a ship in the same manner as you want to run yours. A RP ship would be supported by a ship that RPs and such. This ship MUST be approved by the CoS Office to ensure the ship is following the proper procedures themselves.

(b)CoS reviews the Registry Page and approves it to be added to the Registry.

(c)ASDB approves technical information and registry requests.

(d)The CO of the sponsor ship tells the CoS you seem to be getting the process and can go alone.

(e)This shows you are doing the job right, and it is CONTINUOUS so it restarts if you make an error. This shows you are able to keep doing the job correctly.

(f)You need to be at a level for this time to get another, think TiG for Ranks.

(g)This shows interaction with the crew, UFS offers Forum Boards and Discord is free.

Proper Reporting - Monthly Status Report

Upon completing CGSD - Starship Administration I, a Commanding Officer and Executive Officer are taught how to fill out an MSR correctly. Their Starship Administration Manual is always available as a reference, however, it needs to be stressed that a “Blank MSR” is considered incorrect reporting. A Blank MSR is a term used by UF Starfleet to refer to an MSR that has insufficient data on it in the form of ship activities. Any MSR that shows no activity by a ship or station is considered a Blank MSR.

Status

There are three status’ for UF Starfleet Ships of the Line, Commissioned, Dry Docked, and Decommissioned.

Commissioned

The ship meets all requirements to be a UF Starfleet Ship of the Line

Dry Docked

The ship is failing to meet the requirements to be a Ship of the Line, this happens in two ways.

• Membership - The ship either lacks the required membership numbers or has a required position vacant for two months. The ship is placed back in Commissioned Status once the issue is corrected.

• Reporting - If a Ship fails to report correctly for a consecutive three months the ship is placed in Dry Docked status. This is removed when the ship has two consecutive months of correct reporting.

A ship does not accrue Time In Service credit when in Dry Docked Status.

Decommissioned

When a ship is decommissioned it can no longer have members assigned to it, any crew assigned when the Decommissioning occurs is alerted to find a new Ship and is redesignated to Unassigned in the interim. The ship can be recommissioned at a later date.

A ship can be Decommissioned under a number of circumstances:

Membership - Failure to maintain the required number of Members or have a vacant required post for a consecutive four months.

Reporting - Failure to report correctly for a consecutive six months. This time can be shortened or lengthened based on circumstances and the judgment of the UF Starfleet Chief of Staff.*

• The time frame is a base for most ships and members to fix problems however there are always circumstances that affect situations such as repeated Dry Docked Status, the entire crew leaving, illness, and things such as that which will always be taken into account when deciding on decommissioning.

Support / Sponsor Ship

When selecting a ship to ask to be a support or sponsor the goal is to find one that has experience with how you want your ship of the line to run. This is so they can help you with issues and offer solutions from their own experiences. There are multiple goals with this process, the first as already stated is an experienced officer to help you guide the start of your ship of the line. This also helps keep too much work from loading onto the Chief of Staff Office. It helps develop camaraderie among the fleet, crews getting to know each other and interact. Also it helps that a current commanding officer believes that a member is able to become a commanding officer and it helps develop current commanding officers.

Recruiting from Current Ships of the Line

This is always a constant issue with expansion of the fleet. Accusations of ‘poaching’ come up often so here is the official UF Starfleet guideline: with the exception of an Executive Officer, UFS does not allow the active recruitment of members from other ships or stations to start your own. The purpose of this program and group is to attract new members not shuffle current ones. This does not mean you can not accept people from current ships or stations, if they see your announcements and advertising and decide it is in their best interest to move then that is completely acceptable. In short if they come to you it’s fine, you can’t go to them.

Eras, Timelines, Stories and Task Forces

A large portion of UF Starfleet’s membership are role play members and UFS has taken steps to provide that environment for them. However we understand that not all members will choose to role play, not all will role play in the same manner, and not all will want to role play in the same era. Some task forces are era specific and reserve the right to not allow certain ships to be part of it. An example is if a task force is set in the Nemsis Era, a Crossfield class ship would not make sense in the setting. If the crew wants to take part they would need to Role Play temporarily as another class of ship that would fit. It is the responsibility of the CO to take these factors into account when starting their ship of the line. For more information and advice on this contact the Office of the Chief of UF Starfleet Operations.

Legacy Rule

Evolution is a force of nature and we must be ready to adapt and support it. The requirements to be a UF Starfleet Ship of the Line will change and grow as does UFS to be ready for that we have a Legacy Rule for the Ship of the Line Program. Once you have achieved a level it will not be taken away because of a change in requirements, however to advance you must meet any new set requirements.

Accelerated Ship of the Line Program

Many fan groups across the globe use systems comparable to our own. In recognition of this fact UFS is willing and able to accept other groups of fans into UFS using the Ship of the Line program. With this program people can transfer in with their ship and UFS will work with them to integrate into our group. Each ship is accepted on a case by case basis depending on what information they provide to show that they are an established group and demonstrate their activity levels.

United Federation Starfleet BRANCHES

Introduction

United Federation Starfleet is made up of eight (8) Branches that make up the operational forces of UFS. The main purpose of the branches is to add the Starfleet “flavor” to the Starship or Space Station.

Branches within United Federation Starfleet

• Starfleet Command
• Starfleet Marines
• Starfleet Corps of Engineers
• Starfleet Medical
• Starfleet Intelligence
• Starfleet Science
• Starfleet Operations
• Starfleet Security

Title and Position Restrictions

UF Starfleet attempts to give members and ships the freedom to develop their own systems however there are several titles and positions we do not allow to be used within UF Starfleet, or outside specific approved UF Command Offices. The title Counselor is not permitted in any form in the medical branch. Inspector General, Judge Advocate General, and Ambassador are restricted and approved by UFS Command only.

Disciplinary Process and Appeals

Introduction

Within UFS, it is our hope that a sense of exploration and camaraderie will be upheld at all times. However, we acknowledge that there are times when the ideals of Star Trek can be temporarily misplaced due to interpersonal and inter-ship disagreements. It is our hope that members allow any grievances to be solved at the lower levels of the Chain-of-Command (i.e. Ship Level). However, should members feel they have not been dealt with fairly, they may appeal to the Sector Commander, Joint Chiefs and, ultimately, bring their complaint before the Commander-in-Chief, United Federation Starfleet.

Ship and Sector Command

All UF Starfleet Ships of the Line are to follow the UFS Rules and Regulations for Ships and Stations. Problems between various Ships of the Line or individual member difficulties are usually best handled by that Ship CO or XO. Cases involving the actual Ship CO should be heard by the Sector Commander acting as an arbitrator. Sector Commanders can always be brought in to settle the internal disputes of a Ship of the Line within their Sector if the Ship CO chooses such an action; however, we again suggest that Ship COs handle their own disputes. In the absence of a Sector Commander, the Chief of Admin or another Joint Chief can be asked to mediate.

UFS Command does NOT allow the use of military court martial and/or similar proceedings, as these are confrontational and counterproductive in nature. In fact, they often make matters worse in the end. Conflict resolution is one of the most effective ways to solve a dispute. Punishment within UFS is by its very nature counterproductive. Those in the position of authority are recommended to ask the individual how they think the problem or conflict can be solved, so that the harm is repaired and balance restored.

There are several actions a CO or Sector Commander cannot ever make.

• They cannot expel a member from UFS (only the Joint Chiefs of Staff or the Commander-in-Chief, United Federation Starfleet can do so).
• They cannot demote any member of their crew. (Only the Joint Chiefs of Staff or the Commander-in-Chief, United Federation Starfleet has the power to demote a member of UFS)
• They can not reduce or restart a member’s Time in Grade (only the Joint Chiefs of Staff or the Commander-in-Chief, United Federation Starfleet can do so).
• They can not revoke awards issued to said members by UFS (only the Joint Chiefs of Staff or the Commander-in-Chief, United Federation Starfleet can do so).
• No one can impose any punishment that violates local law.

UF Starfleet Command Officers

All members of UFS Command are held to high standards. Any officer found to be in violation of these standards, or if they fail to live up to other required obligations, can and will be removed from their position.

Harassment and Misconduct

UFS Command does not tolerate harassment of any sort. Harassment includes, but is not limited to, aggressive pressure, intimidation, force, or coercion against any member, no matter their background, age, gender, ethnicity, or orientation. Any members who are found acting in such a manner will be dealt with swiftly by UFS Command, up to and including expulsion.

UF Starfleet Membership Compliance System

The UF Starfleet Membership Compliance System is the last resort of members, this is a member making an official request to United Federation Starfleet to address an issue or member that a member feels violates the Policies and Regulations of UFS. In these cases, there are certain procedures that must be followed and it all starts and ends with the Office of Membership Compliance.

1. The first step to engage the Membership Compliance Office is to file a report at membership.compliance@ufstarfleet.org. The Email must contain what part of the policies and regulations the member believes has been violated along with the complaint. All reports must be presented to the Office of Membership Compliance. They will then present it to the Joint Chiefs of Staff who will review the report and determine how to proceed. There are three possible results:

• a) The report is sent to the CO or SC and asked to attempt peer mediation or conflict resolution.

• b) The report is deemed frivolous and denied completely and this decision and the reasons for it are sent back to the member. If this happens the member making the report has seven (7) days in which they can resubmit the report with new details for review.

• c) The report is found to have merit and moved to processing status.

The Commander-in-Chief has the authority to send the report to the processing status by directly instructing the Office of Membership Compliance to do so if they feel the report has merit regardless of the Joint Chiefs decision.

2. Once moved to processing status, the Office of Membership Compliance begins conducting research on the report to gather details and facts. This is done in as swift a manner as possible to keep the issue from festering or memories to fade. They will gather several items that can be used for their report and recommendation to the Joint Chiefs.

• a) Digital Logs such as emails and screenshots of chats. Screenshots are all that is expected to ensure nothing can be fabricated and in the case of emails the entire email will need to be forwarded.

• b) Statements from any member(s) listed on the report, that were involved or present at any incidents or that in some other way need to be heard from.

• c) Details from any and all UF Starfleet Manuals that show any violated UFS Rules and Regulations.

3. Once the Membership Compliance Office completes their research, which should take no longer than fourteen (14) days they compile the research into their report to be submitted to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the member who submitted the report and any members the report was made against which contains:

• a) The report.

• b) The UFS Rules and Regulations that were violated.

• c) The Membership Compliance Officer findings based on their research.

• d) The Membership Compliance Officer recommendation(s).

• e) The gathered research for the Joint Chiefs to examine.

4. The Membership Compliance Officers report will have one of three conclusions:

• a) The report is valid and action needs to be taken to correct the issue.

• b) The report is not valid and no action needs to be taken.

• c)The research is inconclusive, the research collected was not able to support or disprove the report.

5. The Joint Chiefs will review the report and decide by majority vote how and if to proceed in one of the following ways. This will be done within seven (7) days of receiving the report, this can be extended if they feel they need to have a live meeting to discuss the report and issue.

• a) Proceed with the report based on the research of the Membership Compliance Officer and approve their conclusion of either valid or not valid.

• b) Proceed with the report based on the research of the Membership Compliance Officer and disagree with their conclusion of either valid or not valid.

• c) Drop the report. This would happen if the Membership Compliance Officer is unable to gather research or the research shows the report is part of an issue outside of the purview of UFS.

6. Once the report is reviewed and the Joint Chiefs decide how to proceed the members involved have a single opportunity to respond to and change their decision.

• a) If the report is deemed not valid or dropped the member who submitted the report will have seven (7) days to offer new research or statements that can show that the report is valid.

• b) If the report is deemed valid any member(s) that the report was directed at will have seven (7) days to offer new research or statements that can show that the report is not valid.

7. If the report is deemed valid and any replies to the report and the Joint Chiefs decisions are settled the Joint Chiefs will decide on any possible actions to be taken. Depending on the report this can range from overruling a decision to issuing sanctions against a member of UF Starfleet. These sanctions can be but are not limited to:

• a) A private letter of reprimand.

• b) Suspension from UFS

• c) Removal from position

• d) Loss of Time in Grade

• e) Reduction in Rank

• f) Redaction of Awards

• g) Expulsion from UFS

8. Any member(s) that receive sanctions will be notified by the Office of Membership Compliance. At this time they have the right to dispute the decisions or sanctions directly to the Commander in Chief who can overrule any sanctions issued by the Joint Chiefs of Staff if it is in the best interest of UFS. If the Commander in Chief feels biased or is a member who issued the report or was a member that the report was made against, the Deputy Commander of UF Starfleet will be the one to hear the final dispute.

Once the report is received by the Office of Membership Compliance, it becomes the responsibility of the Membership Compliance Officers to follow the above procedure as well as engage with the Joint Chiefs if they are failing to meet the required time frames. If the Joint Chief is not appointed or not available the deputy joint chief will take up the responsibility and remain as part of the report until a decision is reached even if the Joint Chief returns.

Office of UF Starfleet Membership Compliance

The Office of Membership Compliance (MC) is charged with receiving, processing and researching reports of membership violations from members. They are responsible for the proper execution of the UF Starfleet Membership Compliance System outlined in Section 5 of this manual. The Membership Compliance Officers are responsible for all aspects of this process including advising members if they should file a report, advising members that have had reports made against them and advising the Joint Chiefs. If a Membership Compliance Officer is active in working on a report they should abstain from working on other aspects of the office to avoid a possible conflict. If a member of the office feels they could be biased or accused of bias they are expected to recuse themself from the process.

Members of the Office of Membership Compliance

Members of the Office of Membership Compliance are appointed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff for their shown ability to be responsible, problem solve and maturity. If for some reason there is not a member available to perform the duties of this office when a report is filed the Commander In Chief will appoint a trio of officers that are not involved in the report to perform the duties. The three officers will consist of 1 Joint Chief (JC) and 2 Commanding Officers (COs) and will decide on the issues by majority vote between the three.

Statute of Limitations

In order to ensure accurate research no reports will be accepted after One Hundred and Eighty (180) days of the issue with the exceptions of:

• Showing a pattern of behavior
• The issue was actively obstructed in some manner

Limit of Reports

In order to ensure timely research on the reports each report may only be a single issue or suspected violation of the membership manual.

Discipline of UFS Senior Officers

The Joint Chiefs of Staff have the right and duty to call upon the Office of Membership Compliance to investigate any alleged misconduct made by Senior Officers. If those officers are found to be in violation, the Joint Chiefs of Staff may enforce sanctions as outlined above in Section 5.5.7

The UFS Appeals Process

All members of UFS have the right to appeal, through proper channels, any decision made by UFS or any of its members against them. If a member needs any help to make an appeal, the Office of Membership Compliance is specially set up to help any member in their appeal process.

Removal of a Senior Officer from Position

Sector Commanders

If the Commanding Officers of a Sector become dissatisfied with the performance of their Sector Commander, and after using alternative options to settle their problems with little success, the Commanding Officers of that Sector can petition the CinC and DCinC to remove the Sector Commander from office. In order to start this process, the CinC and DCinC needs to receive a request involving at least 25% of the Ship Commanding Officers. CinC and DCinC will then conduct a full investigation by interviewing all involved parties and preparing a case file.

After the investigation, the Commander-in-Chief, United Federation Starfleet who will then decide if the case needs further investigation or a call for a Vote of Confidence by the Commanding Officers of the Sector.

Should the Sector Commander be removed by a Vote of Confidence by the Sector Commanding Officers they will not be eligible to hold the post of Sector Commander for two years.

The Sector Commanders serve at the pleasure of the UF Starfleet Commander-in-Chief and as such can be removed without consulting the ships of the line of a sector when the Commander-in-Chief feels that the Sector Commander is not doing his/her job.

Sector Staff

Sector staff serve at the pleasure of the Sector Commander and can be removed by them. Additionally those members can be removed as a disciplinary action or if they are not performing their duties as required.

Ship of the Line Commanding Officers

The Ship of the Line Commanding Officers serve at the pleasure of their crews but can be removed by UF Starfleet Command if they fail to perform their duties.

Members of the Joint Chiefs

The members of the Joint Chiefs serve at the pleasure of the Commander-in-Chief and can be replaced at any time for not performing their duties.

Membership Compliance Officer

Determined by the Commander-in-Chief. At any time if the Joint Chiefs of Staff becomes dissatisfied by the performance of the Membership Compliance Office, they may submit a motion for a Vote of Confidence. A ⅔ majority is required to remove the Membership Compliance Officer from office. This removal is not eligible for appeal and if removed the member can not hold the post again for a period of no less than two years.

Communications

Introduction

Communication is the basis on which United Federation Starfleet operates. It is imperative that we reach our members in order to keep them informed and involved on the day-to-day events that take place within our organization.

Communication inspires common understanding, tradition, and ideals. It is our firm belief that any problem, big or small, within an organization always has its basis in bad communication. Therefore in an effort to negate such problems from arising, we have the following methods of communication open to our members.

Communications at the Ship Level

• On a Ship Level, we encourage all Commanding Officers to publish a newsletter with the latest events and happenings. This is a great way for your Ship Crew to stay connected, especially because the Delta Communicator focuses on more Fleetwide news and events.
• Ships are also encouraged to keep the wiki team updated with any major changes to the ship, it's history or storyline so that the ship's story is well documented in UFS history
• Ships that Role Play are required to keep their ‘story’ up to date for members to review to see if they are interested in joining your Ship of the Line.
• Ships are encouraged to use the full potential of Social Media. This is a great and free way to recruit new crew members.

Communications at the Sector Command

It is also encouraged that Sectors establish a newsletter. This is a great way to keep each Ship of the Line abreast of information or events within the Sector, such as conferences or other gatherings. Possible articles can include Ship spotlights or job opportunities within the Sector.

Communications at UF Starfleet Command

At UF Starfleet Command Headquarters Level, there are many projects for which UFS Command is responsible. A few of these are listed below.

• Forum: UFS Command has established a forum for the express purpose of connecting members to one another. The forum will include information and other topics that are up for discussion. The UFS forum will be a virtual meeting place where our members can exchange ideas and views on a particular issue.
• Wiki: UFS Command has established the UFS Wiki as a locaton where all relevant UFS Information and Character Information can be stored. The Wiki is a wealth of information from the Species Index to Ship Class Specifications to a record of a members Service.
• Delta Communicator: UFS Command has established the Delta Communicator (DC) to keep our members abreast of recent news as well as to put out to other individuals who may be interested in joining UFS. The DC will be published by the office of the UF Starfleet Chief of Communications.
• Handbooks/Manuals: The Commander-in-Chief and the Deputy Commander UF Starfleet will be responsible for and oversee any handbook that has implications for the entire UFS Organization. Changes and modifications will be announced as necessary.
• Discord: UFS Command operates a Discord server that contains announcements, UFS and Star Trek news, specific sections for various teams within UFS, and allows for online voice meetings.

Appendix A

Revision History

First Edition : December 2007

First Addition: January 2008

Second Addition: January 2009

Third Addition: January 2010

Fourth Addition: January 2011

Fifth Addition: December 2011

Sixth Addition: March 06, 2012

Seventh Addition: August 2013

Eighth Addition : January 2014

Ninth Addition : March 2020

Tenth Addition: June 2022 - Updated 1.2.11 Returning Members Policy

Eleventh Addition: July 2022 - Removed AWOL, Replaced with Inactivy Members policy

Twelth Addition: August 2022 - Added Positions In UFS, 3 Billet Rule

Thirteenth Addition: December 2022 - Added restriction that members must be 18+ to join

Forteenth Addition: - Janurary 2023 - Updated Code of Conduct

Fifteenth Addition - March 2023 - Updated UFS Appeals & Office of Membership Compliance (formally Inspector General)