Group

ORBAT Slot Allocation

Our dynamic ORBAT system is one of the hallmarks of UNITAF. The purpose of the dynamic ORBAT system is to ultimately fill all ORBATs with the most experienced and capable person available. It is primarily first come first serve but slot allocation must always be fair and transparent and therefore it's useful that members are aware of the various nuances within the system.

At a global level, an ORBAT can be set to have both a minimum and maximum rank. All ORBATs by default have a minimum rank of Recruit. The only exception to this is the Recruit intake itself, which has a minimum rank of Candidate. This is a rarely exercised mechanic due to the Tier system, but it is possible for Operations Command to set a minimum or maximum rank on a deployment. Typically this is used during officer meetings to prevent Officers from deploying to an ORBAT which clashes in the schedule.

For practice ORBATs some rank restrictions may apply:

• FTX Candidates, where the only rank eligible is Candidate (CDT)
• FTX Recruits, where the only rank eligible is Recruit (Rec)
• FTX Regulars, where the eligible rank must exceed Private (Pvt) with no maximum
• FTX NCOs, where the eligible rank must exceed Corporal (Cpl) with no maximum

Initial Release (0-24 Hours)

• Upon release of the ORBAT, only individuals holding an equal tier to the required tier for a slot can acquire it.

1UP (24-48 Hours)

• Starting 24 hours after release, individuals with 1 tier below the required tier for any vacant slot can acquire it (referred to as 1UP).

2UP (48-72 Hours)

• Starting 48 hours after release (24 hours after the 1UP period begins), individuals with 2 tiers below the required tier for any vacant slot can acquire it (referred to as 2UP).

Exceptions

• A maximum of 2 tiers (2UP) is permitted in all areas.
• Core Infantry Exception: T-0 may up-tier up to 2 tiers (to T-2).
• All Other Areas: T-0 may up-tier only 1 tier (to T-1).
• Individuals who have acquired a reprimand in the past 7 days cannot up-tier.
• Recruits cannot to up-tier into non-core infantry roles with a required Tier above Tier I
• The system will always provide feedback on why a slot cannot be acquired, including the reason as a tooltip when hovered over.

A learner slot is a unique ORBAT slot for legacy combat areas which allows an individual who has not yet been able to gain any combat experience in a combat area to do so. It allows individuals to get their first step on the ladder allowing them to access the up-tiering systems for a combat area. It does this by only allowing someone who has practice experience but no combat in experience in a specific combat area to slot without needing the usual Tier requirement. 

Key points:

• One Learner slot is permitted per 20 slots on the ORBAT
• Learner slots can only be applied to Tier I roles
• Only someone who is Tier-0 in the area, can use the Learner Slot
• The Field Leader may choose to change any of the Tier I slots to a Learner slot at their discretion.
• To use 'L' Plate slots, you cannot have had Reprimands in the last 7 days, or any active PCFs in this Combat Area.
• If the learner slot is not claimed 24 hours after the release of an ORBAT, it will automatically become a normal slot

How to assign a Learner Slot: 

• From the ORBAT editor, roles eligible for conversion will be shown with a blue cap icon. 
• Should the slot not be claimed, the Field Leader can return here to convert the slot back to a regular slot.

Locating Learner Slots on ORBATs: 

• Learner slots are easy to find on open ORBATs, denoted by their blue cap and blue deploy buttons. 
• Once the slot has been claimed it is again denoted with it's blue cap.

Above: A learner slot as it appears on a typical ORBAT

It is possible for Field Leaders to lock slots on an ORBAT. If a slot is locked it is denoted by a greyed out slot and an absent deployment button replaced by the message "Contact Field Leader". 

Locked slots must be used sparingly and in limited circumstances:

1. For mission critical roles in which the Field Leader deems the person needs to be vetted prior to slot allocation, e.g.
   1. specific role play characters
   2. complicated piloting slots or aircraft
2. For missions where the ORBAT may not fill and a number of roles are locked to funnel slot allocation across multiple teams, before unlocking additional slots.

In any case, locked slots filled by manual allocation must follow FM/BP-890 - Manual slot allocation before ORBAT lock and FM/BP-891 - Manual slot allocation after ORBAT lock.

Pre-slotting is a muster period that occurs after ORBAT creation and before ORBAT release. The pre-slotting stage is typically 24 hours before release. During the pre-slotting stage Leadership and Mission Support slots are opened ahead of general release - allowing members to see who the Leaders and Mission Support Team will be before slotting.

During the pre-slotting phase the assigned Field Leader and Mission Support Team also slot to ensure they are allocated before general release. No other roles are possible to be pre-slotted before general release and pre-slotting is a self served process - except as outlined in manual allocation.

A person can be manually slotted by the Field Leader before ORBAT lock into:

• The role intended for the Field Leader
  • Must be the Field Leader of the deployment
  • Must have all requirements for the role or be under supervision
• Any role in the Mission Support Team (MST)
  • Must have all requirements for the role or be under supervision
  • At the discretion of the Intelligence Officer
• A Leading Rifleman role
  • When supervising the Field Leader
  • Must have all requirements for the role under supervision
  • With prior approval from FM/BG-614 - Operations Command (OC)
• Any role, when retired
  • Only when the ORBAT is less than 24hrs from STARTEX
  • Must have the requirements of the currently active slotting stage (1-UP, 2-UP)
  • No reprimands within the last 7 days
  • No no-show within the last month

A person can be manually slotted by the Field Leader after ORBAT lock into:

• Any slot that has not been filled
  • Must have all 2-UP requirements for the role
• Any slot that has not been filled 15 minutes before STARTEX
  • Must be in the TeamSpeak reserves lobby
  • In the following order of preference in the case of multiple people:
    1. Most qualified
    2. Listed as reserve on the ORBAT
    3. Highest rank
    4. Most time in unit
• Any slot that has not been filled 15 minutes before STARTEX, and is critical to mission success
  • Noone in the TeamSpeak reserves lobby meets the requirements for the role
  • At the Field Leader's discretion

Taking, holding or vacating a slot in order to exchange it with somebody else who would not have been able to acquire it ordinarily without assistance due to:

• Tier requirements
• Combat Fatigue

Is considered an exploit and will be handled as a violation of FM/BP-225 - Article 1: Code of Conduct (Article 1.4: good sportsmanship and integrity). If you suspect somebody of this it can be reported via Dossier observation system for investigation.

All players have access to the “reserve list” for any and all operations and FTX's. The reserve list is essentially a waiting list, and allows players who are interested in joining the ORBAT, but currently unable, to register their interest beforehand. In the event of no-shows from players on the ORBAT, or changes to the ORBAT at the last minute, the Field Leader will then look to any reserves available to fill gaps in the ORBAT and therefore continue the operation at full strength.

A player may “Deploy as a reserve” for many reasons, but the most common are;

• The ORBAT is full
• The ORBAT only contains open spaces that the player is not currently qualified to slot into either through normal measures or upping
• The player is uncertain as to whether they will be available for the operation, and would prefer to avoid any cancellation penalties for vacating the an ORBAT slot late

There is no penalty for using the reserve slot and not attending, though it is strongly advised that those who do deploy as a reserve, turn up to the operation, or un-deploy as a reserve when they confirm they are unable to attend.

When players are registered as a reserve, or even if they are unable and still wish to see if there are any spots available, they should log onto team-speak at least 5 minutes prior to STARTEX and wait in the reserves lobby until the field leader confirms available spaces, or dismisses reserves as per the FM/BP-782 - Reserve allocation policy.

Above: The deploy as reserve button and text, found at the top of each ORBAT