[ZUÁVS] Overview, recruitment, and Promotions

[Baron Alexandreu Davinescu]

Ben morgun, buna vhespra, es azul.
Good morning, good evening, and hello.

I wished to consolidate all information about the new Zuávs da l'Altahál Rexhitál on Wittenberg.  This thread will be an overview of current policy, recruitments, and promotions.

Els Zuávs da l'Altahál Rexhitál is the new face of the Talossan military, to the maximally operable extent that I am permitted.  We will reward rank for real achievement.  When you see someone with a rank in the Zuávs, then you will know that they did something to earn it.  We will be a cultural organization, working to defend the throne and the country by creating, propagating, and promoting interesting creative and practical work of a Talossan nature.

This is not a political organization.  It is not affiliated with any party or movement, and while els Zuávs are subordinate by law to the elected government, we will act independently and apolitically.

This is not an empty organization.  You will be rewarded with pompous ranks and awards that mean something, because you will receive them only for real achievements.

This is not a violent organization.  Violence is anathema to els Zuávs.  We are waging war, but it is a war on apathy and philistinism.  Our battlefield is the waiting world, ready to be changed into something Talossan.

Policies
All outstanding officers and enlisted men and women of the Zouaves with enlistments or commissions prior to Oct 27, 2019/XXVIII have been discharged, with thanks from a grateful nation.  Further, all existing regulations, provisions, or other guidelines of any form, barring those found in laws currently in effect, regarding the Zouaves and published/declared before the same date are declared null and void.

The Zuávs Mission is defined as follows: "Els Zuávs da l'Altahál Rexhitál work to defend the throne and the country by creating, propagating, and promoting interesting creative and practical work of a Talossan nature."  All officers and enlisted men and women of the Zouaves shall be expected to direct their efforts towards this mission.

All of those who apply to join the Zuávs will be granted the rank of Private, without exception, and may begin advancement immediately.  Only new activity is eligible as an exhibition, but there are many approaches you can take to the creation, distribution, and promotion of Talossan culture.  An incomplete list might include:

• translating a poem or story
• creating and populating a new category of articles on the wiki (not a single article, sorry!)
• recording a Talossan song
• making a suite of promotional posters to encourage people to immigrate
• conducting a well-organized public opinion poll
• creating a new website to promote some aspect of our language or culture
• publishing a significant body of opinion columns in a magazine or newspaper (generally five of significant length would be a reasonable tranche)
• editing and presenting a full edition(s) of a magazine or newspaper (generally consisting of five articles or columns in total)
• arranging or giving a promotional interview in another country's media regarding Talossa
• a set of articles examining different aspects of Talossan history
• or significant advertising in five or more places about the wonders of Talossa.

If you're unsure if something will qualify, please ask!  My answer will rely entirely on whether or not the activity creates, distributes, or promotes Talossan culture -- and that's a very broad category of approaches!

Ranks
Enlisted Ranks

Private
All enlistees begin with the rank of Private.  While this may seem humble, it serves as an immediate notice that you intend to improve your country in a real way.  Few Talossans can say as much.

Private Second Class
   Promotion to Private Second Class (PSC) is predicated on any single good-faith exhibition of creation, contribution, promotion, or preservation of Talossan culture.  For example, translating a single poem, creating and populating a new category of articles on the wiki, recording a single Talossan song, making a suite of promotional posters, or similar activities would each be sufficient to merit promotion.  Activities unrelated to culture, such as writing laws, will not ordinarily be considered as justification for promotion.  Failed attempts will also not merit consideration.

Private First Class
   Promotion to Private First Class (PFC) requires five exhibitions of a similar calibre.  They may each be of the same nature, or they may be varied among many avenues, as the Zuáv pleases.

Specialist
   Ten approved exhibitions are necessary for promotion to the rank of Specialist (SPC).  Despite the title of the rank, there is in fact no requirement to specialize in any particular field of achievement.  However, should a Specialist so request, they might be recognized as an expert in one particular regard.

Corporal
   Twenty approved exhibitions are necessary for promotion to the rank of Corporal (CPL).

Sergeant
   Thirty approved exhibitions are necessary for promotion to the rank of Sergeant (SGT).
All sergeants must, further, pass the Sergeant's Exam, a language exam focused on Talossan English phrases to be customarily used.  It is expected that you will consistently employ these phrases in the place of their English equivalents when socially appropriate.  The Exam may be retaken as many times as necessary, but promotion to Sergeant will not be considered without a passing grade.

Sergeant First Class
   Forty approved exhibitions are necessary for promotion to the rank of Sergeant First Class (SFC)

Master Sergeant
   The highest enlisted rank may be reached after fifty approved exhibitions.  An enlisted Zuáv at this rank will have made a lasting and distinct impression on Talossan culture; their place in Talossan history is assured.  This is not an exaggeration.  Only a score of people in Talossan history have ever reached this level of achievement.

Officer Ranks

Second Lieutenant
   Officers in the Zuávs are expected to help administer the organization, and will be assigned tasks as necessary.  These tasks will generally be supervisory in nature.  Master Sergeants who wish to advance to Second Lieutenant (SLT) must pass the Officer's Exam, a basic language exam focused on brief conversational Talossan, before they are eligible.

First Lieutenant
An SLT who excels at their position will be promoted to First Lieutenant (FLT).

[Baron Alexandreu Davinescu]

Ben morgun, buna vhespra, es azul.
Good morning, good evening, and hello.

It's that time again already -- @Marcel Eðo Pairescu Tafial has done great work with our greatest treasure, the Talossan language, turning out new rules for SIGN and provisional spelling for the language itself.  The latter will be counted as a second exhibition against a further promotion in the future, but it's all worthy of notice right now!  Right now there's no way to link to a specific post, but here's the thread with the new SIGN rules: https://wittenberg.talossa.com/index.php?topic=44.0  And the provisional approach to spelling, which proceeds an attempt to unify the spelling rules, is here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xIqZB8WsCMejSoYBNuW9BgbGRlxVpDmu/view

Well done, Marcel Eðo Pairescu Tafial!

[td style="border:1px solid #000;padding:3px;"] In recognition of the following exhibitions: •   The reorganization of SIGN, complete with new rules Marcel Eðo Pairescu Tafial is hereby promoted within Els Zuávs da l'Altahál Rexhitál and is recognized with the rank of PRIVATE SECOND CLASS Seek therefore to create and promote the culture of your chosen nation, the great Kingdom of Talossa, in service to your sovereign and the Talossan people, the greatest people in all the world. Dare something worthy.

[/td][/tr][/table]

[Baron Alexandreu Davinescu]

Ben morgun, buna vhespra, es azul.
Good morning, good evening, and hello.

And a second time today, we are awarding a promotion. @Ian Plätschisch has been the sole representative of Talossan media in recent months, continuing a very proud tradition. He has written and edited La S'chinteia for quite a while, and recently presented us with Volume VII of that great publication. If you haven't done so already, check out the great election coverage: wittenberg.talossa.com/index.php?topic=24.0

Well done, Ian Plätschisch!

[td style="border:1px solid #000;padding:3px;"] In recognition of the following exhibitions: •   La S'chinteia, Volume VII Ian Plätschisch is hereby promoted within Els Zuávs da l'Altahál Rexhitál and is recognized with the rank of PRIVATE SECOND CLASS Seek therefore to create and promote the culture of your chosen nation, the great Kingdom of Talossa, in service to your sovereign and the Talossan people, the greatest people in all the world. Dare something worthy.

[/td][/tr][/table]

[Miestră Schivă, UrN]

Sir Alex, your graphics do not seem to be appearing on this Witt?

[Eðo Grischun]

Sir Alex, your graphics do not seem to be appearing on this Witt?

I can see them okay.  Try refreshing/clear cache/etc. ?

[Sir Lüc]

Well, if you're using the light theme, they won't be visible as the logo is all white.

[Baron Alexandreu Davinescu]

Ben morgun, buna vhespra, es azul.
Good morning, good evening, and hello.

This promotion is belated, but very well-deserved. For a long while now, our infrastructure transition has made some essential tools unavailable to our languagiers, most prominently L'Översteir, the online translator that so many people use. Every user of Talossan, from the most adept to those just starting out, uses this amazing and venerable tool... and it stopped working! It took the efforts of many, but most pivotally Danihel Txechescu, to restore it to working status. Go translate something! oversteir.sunokaj3.com/

Well done, Danihel Txechescu!

[td style="border:1px solid #000;padding:3px;"] In recognition of the following exhibitions: •   The restoration of L'Översteir Ian Plätschisch is hereby promoted within Els Zuávs da l'Altahál Rexhitál and is recognized with the rank of PRIVATE SECOND CLASS Seek therefore to create and promote the culture of your chosen nation, the great Kingdom of Talossa, in service to your sovereign and the Talossan people, the greatest people in all the world. Dare something worthy.

[/td][/tr][/table]

[Baron Alexandreu Davinescu]

Sir Alex, your graphics do not seem to be appearing on this Witt?

They're made for the old Witt in a greyish tone, but I'll modify them so that they work on any background when I have a chance.  Thank you!

[Baron Alexandreu Davinescu]

Ben morgun, buna vhespra, es azul.
Good morning, good evening, and hello.

One of the most vital traits for a Talossan is to be willing and able to forge their own path.  Talossa is not for those who calmly tread the well-traveled walkways -- it is a country for those who see their goal on the horizon and take it upon themselves to push their way through the thicket of convention, following the star of their own convictions.  Iason Bitxichë Taiwos is one such, working with another Talossan to develop an exclave of Talossanicity out in the wilds of Ohio (in the United States).  He has created new words and traditions, and begun introducing them to others who might adopt them.  It is the essence of Talossa, and deserves recognition.

Well done, Iason Bitxichë Taiwos!

[td style="border:1px solid #000;padding:3px;"] In recognition of the following exhibitions: •   Development of Cjováni culture Iason Bitxichë Taiwos is hereby promoted within Els Zuávs da l'Altahál Rexhitál and is recognized with the rank of PRIVATE SECOND CLASS Seek therefore to create and promote the culture of your chosen nation, the great Kingdom of Talossa, in service to your sovereign and the Talossan people, the greatest people in all the world. Dare something worthy.

[/td][/tr][/table]

[Baron Alexandreu Davinescu]

I resign my post as head of the reorganized Els Zuávs.  I stand by the idea, but obviously it relies exclusively on myself to keep it going.  Since I have drastically downgraded my level of Talossan involvement, it would be irresponsible to retain my office.  I expect the institution to become moribund, but it would also be a perfect post for someone new with a lot of enthusiasm.  If the national atmosphere ever changes, then I hope someone will seize the opportunity.

[Miestră Schivă, UrN]

While we are very sorry to hear of Sir Alexandreu's resignation, the good news is that we already have an application for the vacant post of El Capitán da l'Altahál! We hope to announce something shortly after Cabinet discussion.

[Baron Alexandreu Davinescu]

Just resurrecting this -- would be good to get some new applicants and get this going again!

[Sir Txec dal Nordselvă, UrB]

I'll add this to my list of things to do this week. I've been focusing recently on the upcoming election.

[Baron Alexandreu Davinescu]

I'll add this to my list of things to do this week. I've been focusing recently on the upcoming election.

That very much seems like a priority!  I just have an obvious special fondness for the Zuavs and I am eager to see them back in action, and would like to help however I can.

[Sir Txec dal Nordselvă, UrB]

I became the captain right around the time I took over the Chancery. I'll make sure to devote some time to it.