Interview with Synesi, Commander of Flight Training

Day 2,098, 13:12 • Published in USA USA • by eCenk Uygur
Backround Music

I've wanted to get this interview out for a good amount of time now (Due to my taking forever to think up questions). Firstly to begin the series of interviews I plan to hold, but also because I feel it'd make an interesting subject to see the commander of Flight Training's perspective on the program as a whole.

So let's get into it.

eCenk: So, personally I already made a terrible mistake as a newer player. During the event prior to the National Shield, I spent gold on energy bars trying to get some missions done. Didn't play out well for me, still barely got anything. Have any story of a noob move you've pulled in the past?

Synesi: Oh, I was super derpy when I first started in V1 of eRep. Back then, you had to keep your health as high as possible, it affected your fighting and working ability. So basically I wasted all my health on the first day, it was probably a week or two before I got back to full health.

And I was only able to do that cause of the old Meals on Wheels program the DoI did back then. The current version of eRep makes it easy to get health, but I was truly the definition of a brand new and clueless player.

Back then, keeping your health up was hard for new guys.

eCenk: How did it come to be that you became commander for Flight Training?

Synesi: Before I joined the USAF, I was a long time member of the old JCS Military, I was in charge of their training program. Without rehashing too much old and bitter history, it would suffice to say that I had major ideological differences on how that old military should be run.

I decided to leave rather that just sit around and get stressed out over things and people I couldn't change. I was actually going to leave eRepublik after that, but then President Israel Stevens asked me to restructure the old USAF training program (which was called Bootcamp); Which is how Flight Training came to be.

I'm glad he asked me, because being CO of Flight Training is one of the top highlights of my time in eRep.

eCenk: Which lesson would you say is most important when going through Flight Training?

Synesi: I'm not sure if this counts as a lesson, but I want them (FT recruits) to feel comfortable asking questions when they don't understand something. There are so many different aspects of this game, Flight Training creates an atmosphere where they can ask questions without worrying about feeling dumb. We've actually modified our training manual based on questions that we get from new players, because they are the ones who know best what needs to be clarified. They speak, and we listen.

eCenk: Yeah, I feel you. Certainly counts. That being said, if you had to give three pieces of advice to someone who began playing today, what would they be?

Synesi: Save your gold, get involved, fight Serbia.

eCenk: What's your estimate on the number of recruits that graduate through Flight Training in a month?

Synesi: A minimum of 30-40 off the top my head, usually higher though.

eCenk: Any tanks or people that made it high in the USAF who were once pupils of yours?

Synesi: Hmm, I'm not sure about tanks (yet), but it's awesome to see former graduates as officers in AF, or doing awesome things in other areas of eRep. I know we had at least one former Fed PP as a graduate, and a former POTUS too technically.

eCenk: Got a cool/funny story about a recruit?

Synesi: Hmm. One of my favorite troops ever was named Funlooker. He was the most enthusiastic troop I've ever seen. He would enter our IRC room every night and post a smiley face. That dude would make me crack up so often. He always had something to say.

eCenk: What part of being commader of Flight Training is your favorite? The question I'm sure you saw coming from a mile away xD

Synesi: :3 I like greeting the new players when they come on IRC. There are always new ones to talk to, so you get a constant stream of new perspectives that are just plain delightful to hear when you have been playing this game for as long as I have.

eCenk: Thank you for a great interview and for your time. I'm sure you're very busy with FT. Anything you want to plug or say to wrap up?

Synesi: Vote for your DoD orders!

Latest DoD Article

DoD Newspaper

Flight Training

If you haven't already, go ahead and vote the DoD article, sub to the newspaper as well.

I'd like to thank Synesi for taking the time to be interviewed by me. It was informative on the history of Flight Training and the program itself.

I have a few people in mind who I'd like to interview next, but this is the beginning of a series of interviews I'd like to hold. If you yourself have anyone in mind, drop the idea in the comments. A person/subject will suffice.

And thank you for your time eMurica, 'til next time!