About the Hired Guns

Winning with Teamwork demands a Commitment to the cause, Trust in our teammates, and adoption of a Dedication mind-set that puts the team first. While the benefits of teamwork are well established, promoting it must be the organizational priority.

The Essence of Teamwork; Teamwork means we share a common ideal, and embrace a common goal. Regardless of our differences, we strive shoulder to shoulder confident in one another's faith, trust, and commitment. In the end teamwork can be summed up in five short words......"We Believe In Each Other".

There are no limits to what can be accomplished when no one cares who gets the credit.
Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision, the ability to direct individual accomplishment toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.
When a team of dedicated individuals makes a commitment to act as one......the sky is the limit.
Trust is the emotional glue that holds every team together....in times of trial, it transforms a group of committed individuals into a team of individuals committed to each other.
It is a fact that in the right formation, the lifting power of many wings can achieve twice the distance of any bird flying alone.

Over the years these principles have been refined through the experiences of many and have come to be known as the 5 Pillars of the Hired Guns. They are simple in concept, yet are difficult skills to perfect. The following makes up the foundation upon which The Hired Guns will strive to achieve.

Pillar #1 – HG Command and Squadron Structure

The Chain of Command (CoC) structure of The Hired Guns has been formulated by trial and error over a lengthy period of time, and incorporates attributes learned through everyone's experiences. That structure is a simple one, we are all "Leaders". It is the CoC's ultimate responsibility to maintain the squads integrity, but our decisions and the direction in which we move come from the entire squadron. The squadron is here to support its membership!

The primary keystone of HG is the interaction between its squadron members, we all share a personal closeness not found in many other squads. We know that we all contribute equally to the squadrons success. Most of our squad members have been a part of HG for many years, some since our beginnings in 1997. We truly are "friends" outside of the games, and many of frequently visit each other when we're in their area. We always try to find ways to show each other our appreciation of that friendship, and know that the pride we feel comes from being part of a tight knit "Family".

We strive to recruit new members who share this kinship. The kinship and camaraderie ultimately promotes rapid personal growth, combat flying expertise, and adds to the squads overall effectiveness and success as a whole. When new members are solicited, it is customarily done in one of two methods. Either we open a Recruiting Room in the game, or the potential member is recommended by a current Hired Gun. It is asked that all HG members be on the look out for new potential members, and only recommend those they feel would "fit in" and be complimentary to the Hired Guns Squadron. All applications for membership will be taken through the website application form.

Pillar #2 - What it means to be "A Gun"

Commitment to the squad, Dedication to each other, Teamwork for success, and Trust in each others capabilities is what we are all about. The Hired Guns is a Fighter/Bomber Squadron based on Commitment, Dedication, Teamwork and Trust.

We act as a team, always cover each others back, we do not chute-shoot, and NEVER shoot down a “squad-mate”, unless of course we are on opposing sides in a Squad Practice Room, KOTS, or BOTH match. "Squadron Night (s)" will be scheduled, as seen fitting by the squadron membership, and will be dedicated to flying as a Squad in a game, a practice session, or an activity of group consensus. Very infrequently we will open HG Recruiting Rooms, and ask that all HG Squadron Members participate in the “New Gun” selection process.

Pillar #3 – Communications and Mission Profiles

HG has its own way of doing things, and some folks find they don’t like the way we do it, especially when they are on the opposing team. We aim to WIN, hate to LOSE, and strive to DOMINATE the field of battle. For the Hired Guns FUN is the key, and completing successful missions whether in a Fighter or Bomber, is our goal. We strive to increase our fighter and bomber tactical knowledge and hope that all members share constructive information with the rest of the group. We take our gaming seriously and frequently create joint alliances with other squads to perform multi-squad missions. Oh yea, and we "Fly for Beer".

HG may, from time to time, change voice communications programs as seen fit by the CoC. HG presently use TeamSpeak® (TS) for our voice communications software of choice. The customary method of entering any of the games we play is to log into the TS software to see who is online prior to entering the game. If you do not plan to fly with the squadron, it is requested that you DO NOT enter the game with an HG nickname. If possible, use an alternate game nickname when not planning on flying with the squadron.

“Break Channel!” is the HG “9-1-1” emergency call. We use this call to stop all voice communications so that immediate, emergency, information can be passed on. As soon as it is heard, we stop all communication immediately and listen for the info. If you have something critical, use “Break Channel” to gain control of the channel, say your piece, then allow the senior officer or mission leader to make a decision. Communications discipline must be maintained for effective mission coordination.

HG makes ALL tactical decisions from the ground when practical. This means all mission suggestions are made to the Senior Squadron Officer online, the senior officer ultimately decides what we are going to do before the mission starts, then all adjust to complete that mission. Also, what happens on the other side of the map during a mission is out of our hands until our mission is complete. Once the mission decisions are made, we keep all communications pertaining specifically to that mission only. We form our wings once in the air, and stay with our wing until the completion of the mission or conditions change.

Pillar #4 - Small Force Expeditions

When only 2 to 6 HG are in FA (or any of the on-line flight games we participate in), the HG missions tend to be directed toward Air-to-Air Combat and Ground Attack. Air to Air and Ground Attack Missions are chosen by the senior “COC” (Chain of Command) fighter pilot, with decision inputs taken from the entire group. All parties should be on the field before the mission starts so that leads and wings can be paired. Since most of the Fighter/Ground missions are ad-lib and done when only a few members are online, they are completely up to the consensus of the pilots, but the senior CoC makes the final call. This is the time to get your fighter points.

Pillar #5 - Large Force Expeditions

When the whole squad is online, the missions tend to be geared more toward Bomber-Escort and Troop Deployment. Bomber/Escort Missions are performed when we have the manpower to do so (usually 7 to 20+ pilots), and depends entirely on where the bombers can be fitted out. The BOMBER PILOTS decide on the mission, with tactical input from all pilots, and the fighter pilots adjust their mission to the bombers pilots’ decision.

The HG fighters roll in an escort mission is to insure the bombers get to the target and get them home alive. If that means getting waxed (shot down), or drawing enemy fighters away from the bombers, then that’s what we do. Don’t mistake this point. If you can kill an Enemy Aircraft (EA) without leaving the bombers, then by all means do so. Since most of our bomber missions are high level (above Angels 20 <20,000 ft.>) we do not chase EA to the deck. Keep them engaged, suppressed, or well below and away from the bombers, but DO NOT leave the bombers without close support (1 to 2 fighters per bomber and no more than 1 to 2 grids away, preferably 2 to 5K above the bombers).

Forward scouts are used when practical for target softening and forward recon, but that is their mission, and the previous statement does not apply to them. Their mission is part of the Bomber Mission, and decided on beforehand. Fighter cover is fighter cover. Stay with the bombers. When on an escort mission, EA kill points matter far less than bomber points. It costs the country/team far more in resources to lose a bomber than a fighter. The fighter escorts roll is to get the bombers to the target, and get them home, period. No exceptions. That’s the job. The pilots of The Hired Guns Bomber Wing are the Bomber Pilots Bomber Pilots. We have a deep breadth of experience in FA, and the other games, performing bomber missions. They are our specialty. Every “Gun” knows and trusts the Bomber Pilots and has witnessed just how devastating they can be. All will gladly take a hit to insure the eggs go to the bad guys, no questions asked. In other words they know how to play the game, and we know how to execute a bomber mission successfully.