Theory, recommendations and answers: Strike and Assessment Teams - SCP Foundation

About

Who's that?

Aims and objectives

Number of staff

Recruitment and Training

Cohesion and Morale

OOC Guide

Introduction

"We rely not so much on martial training and military stratagems as on our inherent courage in open action."

"It's all very beautiful and poetic, of course, but bravery alone won't bring down a crazy Green."

- "Madrigal", Strike Team "Noble Phantom."

History

From the first human settlements to the present day, We, as a species, have always been fighting someone and, as sad as it may sound, more of our own kind have died at the hands of man than by forces foreign to Us.

We will not go into the history of the emergence of armies of states, special forces or other power structures: for what and by whom they were created - it all lies on the Internet. You can search for what you need, if you have permission to do so.

We are going to talk about What-Not-To-Be and Us, i.e. the GOC. We would also like to emphasise that We, probably you too, have noticed the tendencies to nationalize (Organization as a State) Our beloved organisations, and if this is so, then any self-respecting state should have its own army, especially the GOC.

And Our army is, first of all, Strike Teams and, last but not least, Assessment Teams.

As it has already been said, more people have died at the hands of man than from supernatural forces. But where are we going with this? We all have enough problems from people. And the same people for the long history of their life have invented and developed mechanisms, if not to prevent wars, then certainly to recover from them. But those things have fallen on our heads that ordinary people should not know about. And sometimes it happens that ordinary people find out about these things, and sometimes it leads to bloody wars of extermination. And that's certainly not something that humanity has learnt to deal with.

Who would deal with all of this and how - no one knew. Until they came up with Us. I agree - it's not exactly your department's job to think about the consequences. I'm kidding. Of course, that goes for you, too. Please don't take my joke to heart.

No one will turn a blind eye if someone does something reckless.

But it's one thing to think of consequences and another to think of effects. The causes of consequences and their consequences, as a rule, cannot always be detected or stopped in time, so I will proceed to the decoding of the word ‘consequence’ from Our point of view.

What do We mean by consequences? It is those who will minimise these consequences. That's a best-case scenario. Going out on a mission: capturing or destroying the parahuman threat, or retreating. The whole shameless and brain-dead carnival of risk and sacrifice. It's all a consequence. And that, folks, is directly your job. Co-ordinated teams or operatives within the teams themselves can minimise or negate all the effects of the aftermath; the aftermath is the cause of the aftermath, the aftermath is… You know what I mean. Yeah, overcomplicated. But you'll get used to it.

So, meet the Strike Teams and Assessment Teams.

Who they are and what they do - the dry theoretical part will be later, here History. Most likely, each of you, one way or another, is familiar with the introductory part, when you joined the organisation. And, most likely, each of you, in one way or another, ran your eyes over what many of the rest of the GOC staff did not pay much attention to - Our Founding Fathers. One of them! The Holy Order of Templars, reformed. But for your department - Of course.

Our much honoured and much revered members of the Council of the Hundred and Eight. It is no secret that many of Our member organisations are lots and lots older than the one under whose care they are, in fact, placed. Think of it as a healthy (without inverted commas) co-dependent relationship: They for Us, We for Them, and no one else. Except Humanity, of course! Sometimes we quarrel, but more often we come to an agreement - Their legacy.

Another of their legacies is you. Or rather, your Division. But so are you, since you're in it. That makes sense.

Over time, Templar services have evolved into something other than the art of war. Or rather, direct combat. Your department has supplanted them in that regard. There were reasons for this: firstly, Their function in the Allied Occult Initiative was effectively reduced to opposing the Ahnenerbe Obskurakorps in the Seventh Occult War. What They did in slumber is a subject for another discussion, but during the war They acted as one of the main forces of opposition. Yes, brave men in armour and swords. Yes, they were. Why not? But swords alone are not enough, and the main threat was gradually disappearing.

New times, new heroes.

It would not be politically correct to say that they are morally obsolete, but secondly, Our Templars are not enough for everyone. That was the time of relatively small paranormal groups, now the threats are disproportionately larger than they were then.

That's when you came along. This has made it much easier for the newly formed organisation to protect humanity from the supernatural to carry out its tasks. There is no need to initiate every new recruit into the mysteries of the secret organisation, and the search for suitable candidates has become easier.

In fact, you and your Division are the face of the GOC. ‘Bookburners’, “Artillerymen”, “Shoot first, think later” - all this is you. More precisely, these are your offensive nicknames from rival and not so rival organisations who are also up to their necks in all things paranormal. You are the first ones to come face to face with the threat. Not to mention the civilians.

Okay, okay, that's a bad joke.

But it's true. And if it is, your training and your personal life in general is given special attention throughout the organisation, and even by the Council. You carry the weight of responsibility on your shoulders, you are the first to share the joy of a successful mission or the bitterness of defeat. And that is why this lecture, if it can be called that, is given to everyone who joins the GOC.

Now let's move on to the dry theory.

Who's that?

Strike Teams and Assessment Teams are groups composed of highly motivated, highly mobile and specially trained personnel who have earned the right to assume responsibility for the lives of their comrades and those they have sworn to protect.

1) Strike Teams are permanent formations (less often temporary) designed to quickly solve a complex combat problem. Strike team operatives are most often trained to deal with several types of threats, not excluding generalist combat training, but there are also highly specialised teams experienced in dealing with the rarest or most anticipated types of threats.

First and foremost, a Strike Teams is a team of people trained to fight. Or to deal with other pressing issues in a predominantly forceful, brute force manner. Elimination or capture doesn't matter. Think of them as martial fraternities or orders of knights - continuity from the Templar Order. For reconnaissance and espionage the GOC has other people, Strike Teams are about combat. However, if necessary, they can perform security or peacekeeping functions. There's a reason your squad is the equivalent of the UN Peacekeeping Force.

2) Assessment Teams are also a combat unit, just like Strike Teams. However, their specifics are very different from their counterparts in the direction of field investigation and research. Like the strike team, they can perform combat operations, but of a limited spectrum. They won't go storming a roadblock, breaking the horns of a ten metre tall GMO bull - only with large calibre sniper rifles, aiming a missile - most likely, breaking into the flat of an illegal thaumaturge - quite possibly, coordinating Strike Teams - naturally.

Think of them as geologists with guns. Explorers and detectives with a military background.

Detect the threat, document it, determine its characteristics, work the situation.

Here's a little thought exercise for you:

The GOC received a report of an unknown male in the city centre. The man's kind of a sculptor.

Firstly, why didn't the agent immediately identify the man's nature? That's a good question, but that's not the point right now.

Secondly, wouldn't the presence of Strike Teams in the city centre cause interest and unrest amongst the civilian population?

Let me get this straight. Yes, it would. But such things happen in ordinary life (we mean police operations to free hostages or counter terrorism in the ordinary world). Here the question is more about the appearance and equipment of the group, and the quality work of the Public Relations Department.

Why a strike team? And what kind of strike?

Of course, you can send a Strike Teams to every threat. It would even work. But the GOC has a limited staff, and there are threats that require their own approach and thorough preparation.

If it is possible to send a strike team at once, send it. There is a possibility to eliminate the parathreat by an agent - eliminate it. The rest of the gap is filled by Assessment Teams, which can identify the threat and kick it in the face, if necessary and if it is in their power.

Working in Public

Recall the GOC's Fivefold Mission: Survival, Concealment, Defence, Destruction, Education.

We are now interested in the second mission: Concealment.

When going out on a mission, remember secrecy. Knowledge of parathreats is dangerous. You'll never guess who'd treat a man with the head of a fish in the middle of a busy metropolis. But what about you? You might say: since parathreats are allowed to make themselves heard, why can't we?

1) Not every threat likes publicity.

2) Not every threat is physically or conceptually capable of it.

3) You can't drop UHEC from the sky on a paranormal flower blooming peacefully on the windowsill of a New York City flat.

The Coalition has unusual ways of disguising itself, the Coalition has every soldier of every country outfitted and all that sort of thing, but you have to realise that agents in black glasses, expensive black coats, licked hairstyles is a cliché. Leave that film alone.

We're not saying it doesn't have a place (it does), but almost every situation related to your adventures is unique, and almost every such situation at the same time lends itself to categorisation. To your situation is your operational training. You're not going out on a mission in a beach suit in the city. You're just gonna draw attention to yourself. Supermodels in dinner jackets regulating traffic - no; a fighter in knight's armour playing the role of a waiter - is it a cafe or a restaurant? If a restaurant, which one? What kind of event is it? Would your look be appropriate there?; a fighter in a white suit without camouflage at a costume festival - risky, but possible. We have a story like that. True he was a bit diminished in his actions, but he handled the task successfully and without repercussions.

And that's only part of the picture. Now imagine what it would be like to have Public Affairs or the rapid response teams of Ops Deployment Command cleaning up your act.

You'll have a cover story. Stick to it. You will have contingency plans for the failure of the main cover story and contingency plans for the failure of other plans that you must strictly adhere to. When the situation gets out of control - you are a Disneyland employee: your partner fainted - quickly picked him up and waltzed. There's a reason Disney is on the Council of 108.

If it all went to one place, it's now the Public Relations department's problem and your position is likely in the hands of a new employee. And your freedom.

Aims and objectives

Each sub-paragraph in this document contains elements from other sections. However, they should not be ignored. If there is an opportunity to respond, we will do so.

Major Groups:

Strike Teams: Capture or destroy parathreats.

Assessment Teams: Detecting and investigating parathreats.

These tasks are generally clear.

It should not be thought that Assessment Teams cannot capture threats. For example, a conditional box capable of turning water into iron can be captured by a simple field agent. Assessment Teams are most often able to disarm a Type Red threat.

The exceptional nature of the threat is key. Strike Teams are brought in when a special approach is required and when other methods prove ineffective.

Do not touch or shake parathreats with your bare hands!

Specialisation

Deciphering: what prevents multiple groups from specialising in the same thing?

Short answer: Nothing and no one.

You could have several Assessment Teams focused on detecting unusual threats. For example, these could be memagents, cognitive threats, and information threats.

Keeping one single team dedicated to something narrowly focused on threats is costly. Imagine what a logistical hell it would be to transport one such team for each not just UTE, but PTE, from one part of the world to another.

But that's another issue, and we'll come back to it. Probably.

Number

This is probably the most hotly debated and sensitive topic to discuss. How many? Enough!

Let's agree that the GOC is not exactly an army. Yes, the organisation is highly paramilitary, there is a hierarchy (most often informal), and so on. There are no special standards for the number in the GOC. But here is a recommendation on Assessment Teams: maximum - 6 people, minimum - 4.

As for Strike Teams, there is a special approach. There is no maximum, but the minimum number of participants is 9. And don't think that they will allow to create a Strike Teams of 1000 people. No!

Remember the specifics of Strike Teams. They're combat fraternities. Brotherhoods are for the long haul. Once formed, groups don't disband. An already formed Strike Teams can only be expanded in emergencies. They have clear goals and objectives and do not need extra members.

To keep it simple, keep the number ‘36’ in your head. It can be raised or lowered as needed.

The GOC does not operate in armies, but in small, coordinated, FAST strikes.

Veni, vidi, vici.

The Coalition doesn't have limitless reserves. Our numbers are small enough, and the threats we face terrible enough, that we cannot afford to lose a single operative to accident or stupidity. Your life is a vital resource to be nurtured and husbanded, and if it must be spent, it must be used to maximum effectiveness before it is lost.

The process of dealing with destroyed or incapacitated groups. Reuniting groups

Any loss of a fighter, green recruit or seasoned warrior, is unacceptable, but it happens. Nothing can be done about it. Casualties are unavoidable and should be minimised. A fallen warrior is honoured and his name is forever immortalised in Our memory.

But the GOC would not be itself if it did not know how to adjust quickly to situations and find quick solutions to problems. Our (<- and not only) relatively young but rich experience has helped us many times, and this issue is no exception.

The GOC follows clearly defined protocols in the event that one of the groups loses combat capability, whether due to heavy casualties, command collapse, or morale exhaustion. The strategy for rebuilding or reuniting groups is designed to minimise losses and preserve the Coalition's combat effectiveness.

This list is incomplete, but that doesn't mean it won't serve as a starting point or reference for you to further expand the lore of the Global Occult Coalition:

Loss Analysis and Assessment: When a group is destroyed or becomes incapable of further fulfilling its assigned duties, the first step is to conduct a thorough analysis of what happened. GOC specialists gather complete mission reports, assess how critical the losses are, and determine if rehabilitation of the remaining members of the group is possible. This includes medical and psychological checks, as well as analyses of possible causes of mission failure, whether human error or exposure to an anomaly. All information is logged and serves as fuel for further training and improvement.

Rehabilitation and recovery: If the group's losses are minor and non-critical, as is most often the case, it undergoes a process of rehabilitation and recovery: medical, functional, psychological, etc. The same applies to the individual. The same applies to the individual member of the group, as described above and further below. In case of irrecoverable losses or long rehabilitation, the empty places are replaced by freshly trained fighters, reserve personnel or operatives from other groups.

Disbandment of the group: If it is not possible to reconstitute the group, the grave decision is made to disband it. Remaining members may be redeployed to other active units where their skills and experience will be most needed. The GOC tries to minimise the occurrence of group disbandment, however it does happen.

Group consolidation: When several groups find it impossible to continue, or when there are not enough fighters left to complete missions, the GOC may initiate a merger process. A combined team is formed from fighters from two or more affected teams in order to maintain a common combat capability. The amalgamation process involves a careful review of the new unit members' compatibility, specialisations, and psychological compatibility to ensure effective joint operations.

Continuity and Integration: After unification, the new group undergoes an integration process in which all members familiarise themselves with the protocols, experiences, customs, and hierarchy of the old groups to establish new ones. Depending on experience, the nature of past groups, and the tasks at hand, the integration process can take a very long time. The command may appoint a new commander or keep the old one, depending on the assessment of his leadership skills and experience among the fighters. It is important that the new group be able to get up to speed quickly and perform its tasks effectively.

Distribution of Groups Worldwide

The Global Occult Coalition operates everywhere and at all times. If its presence is not noticed somewhere, it means either it is not required or it will soon appear.

The number of people within the groups has been mentioned, but what about the groups themselves? How many are there? Where are they located?

As with much of this guide, the information provided does not set hard boundaries; rather, it serves more as a reference and orientation. It’s a source of inspiration, if you will. We could have limited ourselves to a few lines, but we decided to do our best to eliminate gaps and ambiguities. We hope this guide has clarified questions rather than added new ones that require separate explanations.

The Coalition's operations require minimizing the time between detecting a threat and neutralizing it. This implies that the groups must be as readily available as possible at any point in the world.

Certainly, the GOC has means for instant transportation not only on Earth but also beyond it. However, such operations require significant resources, time, and the involvement of a large number of personnel, and this is not always justified, especially for assessment groups.

Most often, it is the field agents and Assessment Groups that carry out the bulk of the everyday work. For field agents, this is simpler, while special exceptions apply to Strike Teams. Now, let’s dive deeper into Assessment Teams.

As the population of Earth grows, the need for monitoring cities and remote settlements increases. For example, there are around 450 cities with populations over one million. We are not accounting for smaller cities, regions, or towns. Now, let's imagine that there are an average of about 30 Assessment Teams for each such city. In some places, this number might be lower, and in others, higher. Taking the minimum number of fighters in one assessment group as 4 people, we get:

450 cities × (30 groups × 4 people) = 54,000 people (for large cities).

This number can vary, but the total number of assessment groups is determined based on many factors taken into account by the authors.

As for Strike Teams: one Strike Team is equivalent to three minimum Assessment Teams. Dividing 54,000 by 3 gives us 18,000 people. Then, dividing this number by the minimum composition of a Strike Team — 9 people — gives us a total of 2,000 Strike Team. If we distribute them across 450 large cities, that results in about 4-5 strike teams per city.

And remember, the groups are not tied to specific cities; they move as needed, and in just one country, there can be over 20 Strike Teams and 100 Assessment Teams.

There is no official information on the exact number and distribution of groups, nor on the regional numbering of the GOC. These questions remain at the discretion of the authors.

Firstly, everyone has their own understanding of the organization; secondly, no one intends to disclose classified information.

We hope we did not make any errors in the calculations. Although, what difference does it make?

Recruitment and Training

Future operatives of the combat division are typically recruited from individuals with relevant experience, often having served in military or law enforcement agencies of sponsoring states or participating organizations. Sometimes they are already active personnel.

Some might immediately ask: I’m a lone wolf, perhaps an orphan. Regardless of my childhood, past, or present, can I be recruited?

We would respond: why not? Are you a person or an entity with exceptional abilities that could be of use to the Global Occult Coalition? The GOC will always welcome you.

However, the first meeting may not go entirely smoothly, and you might get a tooth knocked out or something broken. Our work is intense, as you can understand.

But if you can hold a dialogue, collaboration is possible, and your past does not fall beyond morally acceptable boundaries (a rather vague concept), then welcome!

A particularly unpleasant story comes to mind for the GOC community. Yes, yes, we think you’ve already guessed. The infamous "5000". Even more controversial and ambiguous.

But that topic could lead to hours of debate..

At one point, Abel was used as a weapon. In the Hub "Unfounded," by the way, as well.

We mention this to illustrate that the GOC is not a narrow-minded fanatic with guns and a hatred for everything unknown. We are not the "Horizon" Initiative. The GOC is pragmatic. And cautious. If there’s a benefit, the GOC will maximize it, squeezing every drop. All for the salvation—first and foremost—of Humanity.

Before joining the GOC, each candidate undergoes a rigorous selection process and a series of mandatory procedures aimed at strengthening the spirit, mind, and body of the fighter. An appropriate threat requires an appropriate response—hypnosis, memory correction, life extension, Silicon Norn implants. People who care about the GOC build a solid foundation for the authors. Everything described in the stories and documents must be utilized.

However, this is a slippery slope, and many writers suffer from it. Don’t create a Mary Sue. Strive to maintain aesthetics and logic.

Many years may pass after a special forces soldier retires before they are recruited into the GOC. But they may not be recruited at all. And years aren’t always the deciding factor. This is more a question for the authors: who do you want to see in the ranks of the GOC?

Imagine yourself in the shoes of a civilian encountering a paranormal entity. Most likely, there would be panic, fear. You would flee, and the last thing on your mind would be an awkward savior.

The GOC takes the best of the best and brings them up to the level that meets the organization’s requirements. A GOC fighter must be exceptionally trained and fearless. Today they prevent a paranormal war, tomorrow they may annihilate a God.

Just remember that yesterday’s recruited soldier does not lose their skills and knowledge; instead, they acquire new ones necessary for work in the GOC.

Here’s a SAMPLE profile of a future GOC fighter:

Age: 28-30 years. A bit younger or older is acceptable, but you must realize that age always has its say.

Character: Ideological, with outstanding traits, Nordic, unattached to their life, unafraid of killing or dying.

They must literally live their work.

It sounds more like a character description in a text-based role-playing game, where every character is exceptional and outstanding, but look at it from another perspective. Picture a soldier in an especially elite and classified unit of YOUR country (wherever you are right now). Every country has its distinguished fighters, and their profiles (usually) match this description.

The task must be accomplished.

Is a 15-year-old schoolboy, capable of splitting mountains with sheer thought, really appropriate for this?

Cohesion and Morale

We have previously mentioned chivalric orders and military brotherhoods: the Order of the Templars, the Order of the Hospitallers, and others. It’s time to elaborate on this idea.

From the perspective of the armed forces of states or from that of the layperson far removed from military affairs, strike teams are a standard combat formation. Units in the army, special forces teams, rapid response groups. Call it what you want. This has been discussed before.

But what is beneath that definition? Are they just ordinary soldiers fortunate enough to pass the tests and selection to join the organization? In reality, it is much deeper and more interesting.

As mentioned before, the PHYSICS Division is a functional successor to the Templars. Likely, it wasn’t just them, but there is no time to rummage through folders of documents about the GOC's past right now. Yes, there were others. There are those who can compete with them. Nevertheless, it is your department that has become their legacy, bearing the marks of others as well.

Cohesion and morale in chivalric orders were key aspects of their existence. They were based on strict codes of honor, deep motivation, and religious devotion. The state of religion in the groups now is quite different, so let’s replace that concept with "dedication to human life, the human race, and the righteous cause of protecting Humanity from paranormal threats." It turned out a bit longer, but it conveys the essence perfectly.

Strike and assessment groups often form deep connections based on trust and a shared goal. These connections help them support each other both in battle and in everyday life. When the past of a newly minted fighter is effectively erased, when your contacts with the "external" world are minimized, such a fighter will gradually start to change. Our task is to catch these changes, control them, and direct them positively. And rest assured, the bulk of this work is often carried out by the fighters themselves. You will spend most of your time with your comrades. This is now your family: brothers and sisters, younger or older.

Sooner or later, you’ll need to bond with your comrades — it’s just a matter of time. This is also a matter of successfully completing combat missions and your survival. Don’t worry; our specialists will help you build relationships with the group or find the right matches for your characteristics.

It's also worth discussing insignia, symbols, and rituals. Insignia and garb play a significant role in reinforcing the identity and cohesion of the order. After this seminar, each of you will be taken to your respective departments. As for the PHYSICS division, you’ll still need to attend several lectures by Professor ████████████ on Thaumatology — the scientific definition of "magic."

Expanding on this idea, let’s briefly discuss rituals and identity. The sacrament of communion is not just a greeting but also a sign of fellowship. Once a necessity for life, it became a symbol and then a tradition. All of this is symbolism. Bread with salt or other forms of communion. Symbols of trust and more. This is to say that in the military arts, these symbols — traditions, customs, etc.—are practically ubiquitous. So, this also applies to the orders of past centuries and you as well. Almost every warrior has encountered this at least once in their military life: drawing a blade in a special way, bowing before a duel, shaking hands with a slightly bleeding wound on the palm. The examples could go on. You have inherited all of this. Even if not through specific rituals before heading into the field, then at least your own heraldry, like that of knights from past eras.

Heraldry and motto are your rituals and identity.

Moral compass and commitment to a just cause are a necessity of life and a chivalric legacy.

We are the paladins of our World, and you are its righteous blade.

Discipline

Here we are at the end. Let’s talk about discipline. Since this is the concluding point, it would be a sin not to include everything said above. Let’s wrap it up logically and unite the main thoughts. You’re probably tired, so we won’t keep you long.

Discipline within the Global Occult Coalition is a key element for the success of operations. Members of strike and analytical groups must strictly adhere to internal rules and orders, as the slightest mistake or deviation from established norms can lead to catastrophic consequences for both individual missions and the Coalition as a whole.

Key Principles of Discipline:

Unquestioning Obedience to Orders: In situations where time for decision-making is limited, every group member is required to act strictly according to the orders of higher command. Discussions, doubts, or disobedience are unacceptable and can jeopardize the mission.

Do Not Ask Unnecessary Questions: Why has this entity become a threat? Why is [THIS] information classified? You will likely not receive a coherent answer to these questions, if any at all. What should concern you is not the fate of the THREAT, but the fate of the people, the mission, your group, and yourself. You should be interested in how to most effectively utilize the Coalition's resources to eliminate the threat, what weapons to take, and how to dress for the weather.

Maintaining Confidentiality: All actions, missions, and even the existence of the Coalition must remain secret from the public. Disclosure of confidential information, whether intentional or accidental, is strictly punished, up to and including immediate expulsion from the GOC and referral to a tribunal. If the threat of a Second mission is minimal, you will likely receive a reprimand of varying degrees of severity; otherwise, sanctions will follow immediately and correspond fully to the gravity of your mistake. But first, there will be an investigation. There may be a valid reason for your oversight.

Moral Discipline and Training: Continuously strive for self-development. Train in martial arts, communication skills, and negotiation. If bullets fail, words may succeed. Once you join the GOC, you are expected to behave as a mature, well-rounded individual. Of course, you are not prohibited from sharing stories, joking, or showing care and tenderness toward your comrades. No one intends to stop you. Just remember who you are, where you are, and what you are doing. Officer-like demeanor, the ability to relax and make inappropriate jokes, along with mutual respect, is the face of Humanity's protector.

Hierarchy and Command: Usually, the hierarchy within groups is informal, but this does not apply to inter-agency interactions. During non-combat assignments, in the barracks or elsewhere, your social circles are mostly your own business. However, with someone from another department, to whose command you may be assigned, you are likely unfamiliar; if something worked within your group, it may not be appropriate with others. Mission first, then everything else.

But who monitors all of this?

You.

You and your combat comrades. First and foremost.

Also, the authorized personnel you will meet more than once when the moment for a breather arrives. Spiritual discipline—chaplains and priests; your mentors and supervisors will take care of your body and mind; security personnel will help calm and revive your partner who’s had a drink after a tough mission.

Duty and discipline!

INSERT PHYSICS DIVISION LOGO HERE

OOC Guide

Some guidelines in creating characters that fit the GOC feel:

Names

GOC operatives may be identified by their real name, a pseudonym, or a code name.

When picking a code name, try to pick a name that isn't overly "cool" sounding, that doesn't sound like a video game handle. This page has some examples of actual fighter pilot call signs and the stories behind them. Note that few of these stories are particularly flattering to the recipient.

Examples: "Bullfrog" is named because he's a big, squat, short fellow with a broad mouth. "Skunkboy" is named after an incident during his time in the Marines when he failed a stalking test because of a bout of flatulence.

Serial Numbers

GOC operatives get an eight-digit serial number in the following format: ********/****. The first eight digits is a unique individual identifier. The last three (or four) digits indicates which part of the GOC they serve in (their service code or unit identifier).

Most GOC staff have a three digit Service Code. Four digit Service Codes are limited to Strike operatives.

Service codes use both numbers and letters as digits. There are 34 possibilties (0 through 9 and A-Z, excluding I and O) for each digit, although letters are less common than numbers.

The first digit of the Service Code is always the region in which you serve, with the exception of "7," which represents a PHYSICS Division Assessment team.

The last two digits of the Service Code represent your tasking (x31, for instance, represents serving in the Regional Director's office).

There is no official list of region or service codes, so that authors and creators can have maximum freedom to make them up as needed.

Unit Identifiers

PHYSICS Division field operatives eschew Service Codes and use their unit identifier instead.

Assessment Teams use a three-digit unit identifier starting with 7. Strike teams use a four-digit identifier.

There is no official list of unit identifiers, but try not to use one that is already being used by an established unit.

Creating an Assessment or Strike Team

Assessment/Strike Teams are identified in three ways.

Unit Heraldry (a unique symbol or coat of arms identifying the unit). Although not required, Assessment Teams usually use a cartouche (oval) shape for their heraldry, while Strike Teams use a heater (shield shape).

A three or four digit Unit Identifier number (three digits starting with 7 for Assessment, four digits for Strike).

Strike Teams usually also have a unit motto or slogan. Assessment Teams usually don't bother.

Excerpts from PHYSICS Division Assessment Team Database

Excerpts from PHYSICS Division Strike Team Database