COs: the underappreciated command staff

[Renomaki]

For the longest time, Commanders have been a part of the Sulico Staff. The highest ranking officer on deck, with the power to inspire men (sorta) below him and coordinate his troops to suit his tactics against whatever foe he faces. Without him, the marines would struggle leadership wise, having no charismatic, intelligent leader to rally them together and keep them focused on the task at hand... Or so you would think.

But a lot of the time, people don't give a ass's rat about the CO. People view them not so much as leaders, but as glorified BOs who just happen to have their own office and a fancy command chair. And at times, they aren't totally wrong. Many times as a CO, I found myself having to manage overwatch stations more than once, ensuring that supplies and artillery support is sent when there are no BOs to help me (or they turn out to be incompetent). Hell, I even had times where I ended up working in cargo because cargo were being a bunch of turtles and I had to get my hands dirty filling crates with supplies. Some of my battles were probably won BECAUSE I decided to get my hands dirty, rather than put all my trust on the single CT whose RO recently went SSD without telling me.

It doesn't help that marines often take the CO's tactics for granted. COs are supposed to be the brains of the operation, who try to coordinate with their SLs on the ground to complete tasks that range from flanking maneuvers, reinforcing trouble-spots and even calling down supplies. However, a lot of people don't take orders seriously unless they are given to them via an SL, and a good SL is much more respected than a good CO I noticed.

In fact, it seems that wars are won more due to good SLs more than good COs. COs are just there to claim the credit most of the time, and I admit that most of what COs do is bark orders at people and hope they listen to you. Compared to an SL, a CO is honestly a bit more laid back when it comes to leading marines, mainly because you don't put your life on the line as often as an SL tends to, struggling to keep alive while leading the troops. I respect a good SL, because I know how stressful it can be to lead in those situations.. A CO, however, requires so much more to be respected that it can sometimes feel impossible, if only due to the fact that COs are more pencil pushers than anything else.

At times, it does feel like a waste of a marine slot, a role where all you really do is sit up top and yell at people, hoping they do as you ask while the folks down low do all the work and all the dying. It really can be a powerless job...

Yet, despite what people think, I still think it is an incredibly vital role. Some people might not give a shit about it, but I myself can't work effectively without a commander I can look to for direction. Rounds without proper leadership tend to affect me quite negatively me, feeling a lack of direction and order... I tend to perform more poorly when I am leaderless than when I have a leader I who can tell me where to go and what to do (provided they aren't stupid). Hell, I just feel more confidant in general when we have leadership, even if it is Bill Carson. I'd gladly take an old meme than have nothing at all.

In short, while a lot of people think they could do without a CO, I myself still believe they are a very important part of any platoon regardless of what people say. Yes, they aren't like our badass SLs who do the real leading at times... But they still bring us together as a platoon. And in the Corps, you either fight together, or die alone.

But that is just my opinion on the matter. What of yours?

[XenonDragneel]

"Sulico" at the very first sentence

[Karmac]

If they aren't really good at organizing the ship, they're useless. Outside of watching everything happen and making sure things do actually get done, there's little the CO actually affects. As a marine on the ground, you're less likely to care about whatever your CO says if they aren't constantly sending down supplies, giving out reasonable orders, and are on the verge of causing a mutiny.

[Dapper Stache]

The problem is muhreens don't have the discipline xenos have. There are far more reen rambos that won't listen to SL orders, much less COs. Another thing that tends to happen is the CO is normally only communicating over the radio and isn't a physical presence, which can further deter marines from listening.

[Caryl]

As a CO, always pick the best out of the bunch, delegate them to a separate squad. See the good results bloom. <3

[EXOTICISME]

CO has the powerfull thing called "announcement system" where he can spam it to order marines on the ground and you hardly can miss it because it's a BIG RED TEXT

[Varnasis]

When the bridge staff and the CO are competent you know it'll be a good round, because they actually punish the 12-15 year old MUUUHREEEEINES.

[Renomaki]

While having things like big red text and all that, sometimes I do feel like COs need more to make them more respected by marines...

Sometimes I wish that the CO had more features to them that allow them to help marines and thus be more sought after, instead of just being another person hanging around on the bridge screaming at people to get stuff done while people die on the ground. And I'm not talking about the ability to request more marines... I mean something like an ability, a CO power, some kinda thing that a CO and only a CO is able to do.

The only question is what to give them that won't be too game breaking, or cause the marines to get too reliant on them to the point that they completely give up the moment they start a new round and a CO isn't present. Something that is helpful and worth having when a CO is able to spawn, but won't be too vital to marine survival in general... But what?

Whatever it might be, I believe that then more marines would start respecting and understanding the value of having a CO around, instead of taking it for granted like so many do, including new players who need to understand the importance of having a command structure to organize them.

[Marcus Jackson]

As someone who is hardlined as SL most of the time... CO's get way more respect even if people really like you as an SL, and it's even worse when your squad is just yourself and 3 guys (one of whom can fit in a shoebox) and the CO gives you an obviously bogus order and you are stuck with a choice:

1: do as CO says, despite CO being a mongoloid that doesn't listen to SL's intel and tactical input, and get everyone killed.

2: Try and plead with CO to see reason unsuccessfully, and watch from afar with binocs as your men get torn to shreds like wet tissues.

Secret option #3: Ignore orders and almost get banned for "unsubstantiated mutiny", despite SL's having the ability/requirement to make sound tactical choices on their own.

It's even worse when you get put on scouting or FOB and spend 2 whole minutes outlining a brilliant plan, and it's even better all your bald-little-morons are actually listening to you, when suddenly CO comes on and tells you that you smell, and that their plan is waaaaay better... and the morons actually believe the guy who can't even see where you are or what you are doing over YOU, the guy who should be basically the Pope to them as you are the direct connection to God: aka: Supply drops/OBs.

[Katsukai]

As a CO, always pick the best out of the bunch, delegate them to a separate squad. See the good results bloom. <3

For short time playing you were always an powerful commanding presence and really fun to play with.

[Caryl]

For short time playing you were always an powerful commanding presence and really fun to play with.

Hehe, thanks Katsu. Although I never knew your IC name, I always thought you were one of those marines that always follow commands.