Introduction

A fighter squadron is a large and complex organization which uses a hierarchal structure to function efficiently. Similar to a starship, a squadron has a Commanding Officer, an Executive Officer (sometimes called a First Officer), and various divisions and departments, each with a DivO or Department Head, as well as various officers and enlisted specialists. Unlike the average starship however, a fighter squadron is specialized, dedicated to the task of maintaining, supporting, and fielding fighters at peak efficiency. The staff of a fighter squadron is divided into four departments: Flight, Operations, Engineering, and Logistics. Each department has a department head, usually the senior officer in that field. Departments are further divided into divisions, and each division has a division officer, or DivO.

Flight Department

Because of the specialized mission of a fighter squadron, both the CO and XO must be pilots. It is not unusual for pilots to also fill billites in the Operations Department, leading to a squadron being smaller than the Table of Organization (TOO) would suggest. At optimal staffing, a fighter squadron will have thirty-six pilots. These pilots are subdivided into flights of three to six pilots, and may also be grouped into wings of two or more flights. Flights are led by Flight Leaders, wings by Wing Commanders.

Operations Department

The Operations Department is concerned with the day to day operation of the squadron, and is comprised of the Administration, Intelligence, Navigation, and Communications divisions. Administration Division Because of the unique mission of the fighter squadron, and the resulting deviations from normal Star Fleet duty stations, a squadron orientation officer is assigned. The Chaplin has been trained to respond to the religious needs of the crew, and has been trained to recognize and cater to the requirements of a large number of Federation religions. By special arrangements with the majority of the Federation's religious decision-making bodies, this individual has been authorized to effect any of the ceremonies and rituals which may be required during an extended mission, including marriages, divorces, baptisms, last rites, and other religion-specific duties. An educational services officer is assigned to assist personnel in furthering their individual knowledge, skills, and educational attainments during long deployments. Administrative specialists (called yeomen) maintain records, ensure accurate reports are made as scheduled, and perform other duties as assigned. Each department has at least one yeoman. Divisions which require dedicated administrative assistance are also assigned a yeoman who is specifically responsible for that division. The CO's yeoman, along with the senior yeoman, provide direct administrative support to the CO and XO in consolidating and maintaining both internal and external administrative matters. They are also responsible for ensuring personnel records are up to date, scheduling and tracking personnel and promotion reviews, and departmental personnel assignments. The Command Master Chief is tasked with counseling enlisted crew members in the areas of career, performance, and personal matters, as well as being a direct link between the CO and the enlisted crew. Navigation Division The FlightOps computer onboard the carrier or station where the fighter squadron is assigned is the primary source for position updates, chronometer calibration, and course determinations. It uses navigation and time beacons, sensor inputs, and complicated algorithms to ensure that the Navigator is presented with precise, up-to-date data and course plots, so he can pass these on to the fighters of the squadron. It is imperative that the navigational data be monitored and cross-checked at all times. To this end, Navigational Specialists, called Quartermasters, stand watch in stellar cartography. They are responsible to the CO, XO, and Flight Control Officer of the Watch (FCOW) during their watch. In addition to maintaining an accurate plot of the motions of the ship or station, the Quartermaster gang is responsible for updating and maintaining the navigational charts used by the FlightOps computer and the individual fightercraft. Computer technicians are also assigned to the Navigational department, to maintain, repair, and oversee the navigational system components and equipment. One technician is on watch at any time Stellar Cartography is manned. Communications Division The ability to transmit and receive messages from other ships of the Federation and alien races, Starbases and planets, is an important part of squadron operations. Ensuring this ability to communicate is the task of the Communications Division. Electronics Technicians of the Communications Division perform repair and maintenance on the fightercraft's com systems, as well as maintaining a communications watch in the squadron's Combat Information Center (CIC). Intelligence Division A fighter squadron must always have the most accurate, up-to-date situational information available. Weather dealing with an established threat like the Romulans, Borg, or Cardassians, or entering a first contact situation with a new, potentially threatening species, the analysts of the Intelligence Division are constantly at work in CIC, sifting through data, analyzing intercepted communications, trying to assemble the best, most complete picture possible of the situation facing the squadron.

Engineering Department

The Engineering Department, led by the Chief Engineer, is responsible for the proper maintenance and repair of impulse and warp drive propulsion, life support systems, fighter weapons systems, deflector systems, ECM and ECCM units, and all other Physical components and systems of the Gueken fighter. Engine Systems Division Engineers assigned to this division have responsibility for maintenance, repair, and calibration of fighter warp drives, impulse engines, and reaction control system thrusters. Matter / Antimatter Specialists ensure the efficient tuning of the sealed M/ARA units aboard the Gueken fighters. Dilithium Crystal technicians monitor the status, consumption rates, and recrystalization of this vital component of the engine. Structural Engineering Specialists monitor and maintain the Inertial Dampening System (IDS) and hull integrity. Life Support Technicians maintain the fighter's artificial gravity generators, atmospheric quality regulators, humidity and temperature regulators. Weapons Systems Division Kilogram for kilogram, no unit of the Star Fleet is more powerful than the Gueken fighter in terms of offensive capacity. The Engineers of this division maintain and repair the pulse phaser cannons and minitorps carried by the fighter. Phaser Technicians carefully maintain and calibrate the pulse phaser cannon carried by the fighters, while Torpedoman's Mates care for the launch and stowage systems for the quantum minitorps. Flight Deck Division Though the operation and maintenance of the squadron's fighters are the responsibility of the Flight and Engineering departments, respectively, the safe and efficient operation of the hanger decks, launch and recovery bays, and all objects therein fall to the personnel of the Flight Deck Division. Movement of any craft within the Hanger Bay or on the Flight Deck is controlled by the Flight Deck Officer and by numerous Flight Deck Control Specialists. The Cat officer controls the launch of craft from the Flight Deck, while the Landing Signal Officer controls recovery operations. Plane Captains are enlisted specialists who are assigned individual responsibility for a given fightercraft's maintenance. They take cognizance over the fighter from the moment the pilot climbs out of the cockpit until the moment she climbs back in. It is their responsiblity to have the craft fueled, armed, provided with accurate navigational data and appropriate charts before flight.

Logistics Department

Though modern fabrication and replication systems onboard ships and stations of the Star Fleet have made routine of most requisition and supply issues, there are still some items which are used in sufficient quantity, or are of sufficient size or complexity that it is more efficient to store finished products than to spend the energy to carry raw materials and synthesize the product on demand. Additionally, significant stores of critical spares and consumables are maintained for use during red alert situations when power for replication or fabrication systems may be unavailable. Logistics department Storekeepers store, maintain, inventory, and deliver such supplies as necessary.