Standard Operating Procedures

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Standard Operating Procedures & Policies

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Section 100 - General Operations

Section 200 - Rank Structure

Section 300 - Events

Section 400 - Training

Section 500 - Divisions

Section 600 - Story

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Preface

Charlie Mike Actual (CMA) is a MilSim group dedicated to riding the line between fun and immersion. It is a spiritual successor to the original Charlie Mike, which began years prior and enjoyed multiple years of success and community before eventually disbanding.

CMA’s first operation took place on February 26th, 2020. This date is regarded as the official “birthday” of Charlie Mike Actual.

We strive to create immersive experiences without sacrificing enjoyment. For that reason, we identify as a **semi-serious MilSim group**. Training is not mandatory—aside from the initial indoctrination session—but it is available to all members. Real-world tactics are implemented when appropriate, but are often adapted or adjusted to maintain fun and fluidity for the group as a whole.

Like training, **attendance is not required**. Once a Recruit has completed their first operation, they will never be removed due to inactivity.

Charlie Mike Actual aims to be the ideal Arma group for quality players who enjoy immersion and roleplay, while also understanding that most players are here to have fun. At CMA, **real life comes first.**

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100 – Operations

101 – Overview

Charlie Mike Actual operates under a structured chain of command. No single person holds absolute authority over the group. Officers and Master Sergeants (MSgts) make up the **Council**, which votes on major decisions affecting the unit. NCOs assist with training and help maintain order during operations. Enlisted personnel are simply expected to follow the rules and enjoy themselves.

Operations are held on a **regularly scheduled day each week — Wednesdays at 2000 EST**. Additional operations may be scheduled throughout the week at the discretion of leadership.

The objective of every operation is to have fun and foster immersion by simulating the challenges and excitement of combat. At CMA, we recognize that realism is enjoyable only to a point — our goal is to create as realistic an experience as possible **without sacrificing fun**.

Some operations may be difficult. Sometimes the odds may feel stacked against us. In those moments, it’s important to remember that the most memorable and rewarding experiences often come from overcoming those challenges together.

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102 – Admin

Charlie Mike Actual is administrated by the **Council**, consisting of all Officers and MSgts. Each council member has an equal vote on matters affecting the unit.

The command hierarchy is as follows:

• Major – Overall unit leader
• Captains – Heads of departments
• First Lieutenants – Lead assistants to department heads
• Second Lieutenants – Supporting assistants to departments
• Master Sergeants – Veteran members recognized for their exceptional contributions of time and effort

While the Major is the designated unit leader, they do **not** have unilateral authority. They may act independently when needed, but the Council always retains the right to raise concerns or challenge decisions that overstep boundaries or negatively affect the unit.

> The Major shall never assume a tyrannical or dictatorial role within the unit.

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103 – Player Base

Charlie Mike Actual emphasizes the **quality** of our player base over quantity. To ensure this, every potential member undergoes a brief interview process. After acceptance, new recruits participate in **indoctrination training** to help familiarize them with how CMA operates and prepare them for their first operation.

While CMA rarely removes players, those who display **toxic, disruptive, or disrespectful behavior** may be removed at the discretion of leadership. Our rules are straightforward, easy to follow, and designed to maintain a healthy community.

Promotion requirements are detailed in **Section 200**. As players meet the requirements, they may be promoted. Some ranks may also come with additional responsibilities, and in such cases, players will be asked if they are ready to take on that role.

104 – Events

Charlie Mike Actual hosts a variety of events. Some—like **Standard Operation Nights**—are regularly scheduled and consistent. Others—such as **Alternative Operation Nights**—are more flexible but still announced in advance.

All of the events listed below are considered **regular events** and will count toward your **operations count**.

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104a – Standard Operation Night (SON)

Standard Operation Night is held **every Wednesday at 2000 EST**, even on holidays.

These events always take place within the overarching story of CMA—typically within the current Chapter (see Section 600). Occasionally, there may be **"break" operations** between or during Chapters. These break operations may be unrelated to the story and occur for reasons such as:

• The scheduled OpCom or Mission Maker is unavailable
• Leadership feels a break from the Chapter is needed
• A "side" story is being progressed

Only **approved Mission Makers** are allowed to create operations for SON.

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104b – Alternative Operation Night (AON)

Alternative Operation Night is typically hosted on **Sundays at 2000 EST**, though its frequency and exact day can vary. Ideally, AON occurs every other week, but this is flexible based on availability.

• • Key details:**
• AONs may fall on **any day of the week**, not just Sunday
• Events should be announced **at least two days in advance**, when possible
• AONs are open to a wider range of scenarios—not all need to follow CMA’s main storyline
• Lore-based missions are welcome, but **not required**

• • Role requirements** are enforced but **less strictly** than SON:

> For example, if an operation requires a helicopter pilot, a trained player should fill that role. If none are available, the slot may be filled by an untrained player.

Anyone can submit a mission for an AON. However:

• If you are **not** an approved Mission Maker, you must be **present during your mission**
• You may request a different day of the week for hosting
• Missions from non-approved creators **must be submitted to the Major (or a delegated officer) for review and approval**
• Missions **must be approved before being officially announced**

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104c – Exclusive Operation Night (EON)

Exclusive Operation Nights are **special events** that should be announced well in advance. These include:

• **Siege Operations**
• **Joint operations** with other units
• **Other unique cases** (handled individually)

EONs are rare and treated as high-priority or large-scale events.

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104d – Training Operation Night (TON)

Training Operation Nights are **unit-wide training events**. These do not follow a set day or time, and may vary based on topic or availability.

• • TONs should be announced 1–2 weeks in advance** and may or may not relate to the current Chapter.

105 – Rules

The following is a list of rules for Charlie Mike Actual. It is the responsibility of each individual player to recognize that the list of things not to do extends beyond what is written here. Failure to follow these rules may result in warnings, demotions, suspensions, or removal from the unit.

We are all here because we enjoy Arma and gaming in general. Charlie Mike Actual does not tolerate players who seek to ruin others’ experiences or act like they are the center of the universe.

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105a – Overall Rules

• Political discussion is allowed — until it ceases to be a discussion.
• No insulting others beyond joking banter.

 > (This is **subjective**—it's how it's received, not how it's intended.)

• No misuse of servers, games, TeamSpeak, or Discord.
• No bigotry of any kind.
• No disrespect toward other members.
• Always respect and follow the chain of command.
• Your Discord, TeamSpeak, and Arma names must match.
• Do not engage in behavior that a reasonable person would find offensive or disruptive.
• No lying or being deceitful toward leadership or members.
• Offer **constructive criticism** — not insults — if someone makes a mistake.
• Light teasing is fine **only if the person is also okay with it** and having fun.
• Do **not** interrupt ongoing operations in TeamSpeak.

 > If you’re late or crash, wait in the **Lobby** or **Arma 3 lobby**, and reach out to an admin via Discord.

• Reserve members must follow the requirements for their reserve status.
• Remember: there’s a long list of things you **shouldn’t do** — not everything can be listed.

 > If it seems rude, disruptive, or intrusive, **use your best judgment** or ask an officer first.

• Be humble. Have fun.

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105b – In-Operation Rules

• If arsenals are provided, use **only** your assigned arsenal unless the **mission maker explicitly authorizes** otherwise.
• Just because you think you should have something doesn’t mean you do — **when in doubt, ask**.
• No looting unless authorized by the chain of command.
• No use of enemy weapons or vehicles unless approved by the chain of command.
• No talking, drawing, or disrupting the **mission briefing**.
• No firing weapons in the starting area, unless required by the mission or within a designated firing zone.
• Respect and follow the chain of command at all times.
• Absolutely **no use of in-game text chat** during missions.
• Use of **Discord or TeamSpeak chat is allowed** — preferably within the designated operations room.
• Discord, TeamSpeak, and Arma usernames **must match**.
• No intentional killing of civilians or non-combatants, unless explicitly required by the mission.
• No intentional sabotaging of the mission.
• Follow your assigned **role requirements**.
• Keep your weapon **on safe, holstered, or slung** while at base.
• Do not interrupt briefings.
• Be humble. Have fun.

106 – Reserve Status

A player will be moved to **Reserve status** after missing one full month of events listed in Section 104. Their Discord rank will be replaced with "Reserve," and their actual rank will be stored and reinstated after they attend an event.

A full month is defined as the same calendar day on the following month. > For example: If a player’s last attended event was on **January 15th**, they will not be placed on Reserve until they have missed all events **through February 15th**.

Additional notes:

• A player who is absent for the **entire duration of a chapter** will lose **one rank** upon returning.
• This demotion is **compounding** if it occurs across multiple chapters, but no player will ever be reduced below the rank of **Private First Class**.
• Reserve members cannot occupy **"Specialist" slots** during their first operation back (see Section 300 for slot definitions).
• After attending **one event**, they will be reinstated to their stored rank.

> No player will ever be removed from Charlie Mike Actual due to inactivity. > There is **no limit** to the amount of time a player may remain in Reserve status.

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107 – Interviews

Every new player who joins the Discord must undergo an **interview**. These interviews are conducted by the **Major** and take place via private DM.

Once the interview is complete, the recruit will be scheduled for an **Indoc** (indoctrination training). If the recruit passes the interview, the Major will introduce them to the Council in the Recruitment Office.

• • Interview Details:**
• Interviews are considered **informal**
• The purpose is to confirm the player is a good fit for Charlie Mike and understands the rules
• If a candidate demonstrates they are **not** a good fit, they may be asked to leave or be removed from the server

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108 – Returning Players

Players may leave Charlie Mike for personal reasons and return later. While players are encouraged to remain in **Reserve status** if inactive, we understand some may leave completely and come back.

Return conditions:

• Players who return **within one month** may be reinstated to their **previous rank, qualifications, and ribbons**
• After **one month**, their player file is deleted, and a **Council vote** is required for their return
• Players returning **between one and three months** must receive a **Council vote** to determine whether their rank is preserved
• Players returning **after six months** will rejoin as a **Recruit**, and must also pass a Council vote

• • Ribbons and qualifications** are stored for **one month**. After that:
• **Campaign ribbons are lost permanently**
• **Qualifications must be re-tested and re-earned**

108a – Month Definition

For all intents and purposes regarding Section 106 and Section 108, a "month" is defined as **thirty (30) consecutive days**.

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109 – Ownership Rights

All training documents, scripts, and other written materials are, first and foremost, the **property of their original authors**. No material may be withheld from its creator by Charlie Mike Actual. However, CMA reserves the right to **continue using and updating** any documents, scripts, or other written materials that were submitted for use by the unit.

• • Credit must always be given** to the original author—regardless of whether they are a member of Charlie Mike or the content originated from an external source.

Regarding **media content** (videos, screenshots, etc.):

• The time and effort involved in creating media is fully recognized and respected.
• **Creators retain ownership** of their media.
• Any media posted to official CMA channels (YouTube, Odyssey, Twitter, etc.) will be **taken down upon request** by the original creator.
• If any **formal revenue** is generated from a piece of content, the **creator maintains full authority** over how and where that revenue is directed.

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110 – Client-Side Mods

Charlie Mike **does allow** client-side mods. However, the general rule is this:

> Mods that **make gameplay significantly easier** or give **unfair advantages** are **not allowed**.

If a Council member requests that you stop using a specific mod, you must comply. Unless stated otherwise, you **should finish the current operation** and disable the mod **before the next session** and all subsequent ones.

• • Examples of disallowed mod types:**
• Mods that adjust stamina or fatigue systems
• Mods that change ACE medical settings
• Mods that significantly alter carry weight or inventory balance

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110a – Blacklist

The following client-side mods are explicitly blacklisted:

• Salmon’s Buttstroke – Misuse; allows knocking out other players

 > (Includes any similar mods that grant melee knockout functionality)

• ACE Infinite Stamina – Immersion breaking

• Bloodlust – Creates extreme server load

• Ammo Casings – Adds unnecessary load to the server

 > (ACE already provides a similar feature natively)

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110b – Highly Recommended Mods

These client-side mods are recommended for quality-of-life improvement, and are allowed by CMA:

• Better Inventory – Revamps the inventory UI for a cleaner experience

 > Allows viewing all pouches at once while keeping the vanilla look

• Blastcore – Enhances sound and explosion effects for greater immersion

• ACE Animations – Adds extra stances and fun flavor animations

 > Includes things like relaxing animations or even a "potty break" animation

200 – Rank Structure

The Charlie Mike Actual rank structure is designed to reward both participation and contribution. Each tier of rank comes with different expectations and responsibilities—some purely in-game, others organizational. All promotions are earned through a combination of attendance, conduct, and initiative.

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201 – Enlisted

The enlisted ranks are the foundation of Charlie Mike. These members carry little to no responsibility beyond showing up, playing, and having fun. There’s no expectation beyond participating and enjoying the experience.

201a – Enlisted (Enl)

Upon joining the Charlie Mike Discord, players are assigned the “Enlisted” rank. This indicates interest in joining but means the player has not yet completed indoctrination. The entrance interview is conducted by the Major while the player holds this rank.

201b – Recruit (Rct)

After completing both the entrance interview and indoctrination training, players are promoted to “Recruit” until they complete their first operation. Recruits are assigned a Corporal (or higher) as a **Battle Buddy** for their first operation to help answer questions and assist with immersion and SOPs. Multiple Recruits may be assigned to a single Corporal.

Recruits are allowed to attend any Basic Infantry Training (BIT) events.

201c – Private (Pvt)

After completing their first operation, a Recruit is promoted to Private. Privates can now attend Advanced Infantry Training (AIT).

201d – Private First Class (PFC)

After completing three additional operations (four total), a Private is promoted to PFC. PFCs may now request **role-specific training** (e.g., Medic, Pilot, etc.).

201e – Lance Corporal (LCpl)

After twelve additional operations (sixteen total), players earn the rank of Lance Corporal. Lance Corporals, alongside Corporals, form the core of Charlie Mike’s enlisted force. These are the experienced, reliable members who carry the spirit of CMA.

201f – Corporal (Cpl)

After twenty-four more operations (forty total), a Lance Corporal becomes eligible for promotion to Corporal.

This promotion must be **nominated by a member of leadership** who believes the player has earned it through consistent performance and reliability.

• • Responsibilities:**
• Corporals are expected to act as Battle Buddies for Recruits during their first operations.
• Corporals do **not** have to do this every time; it is a shared responsibility.
• Corporals should assist with in-game guidance, immersion, and SOP—but they are not babysitters or enforcers.

• • Perks:**
• Corporals have access to the NCO chat for coordination and class support.
• While not required to host or teach, they may assist in training events if desired.
• There is **no penalty** for Corporals who choose not to participate in training-related duties.

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202 – Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO)

NCO roles are **voluntary** and come with added expectations. Any player may decline an NCO promotion without penalty, judgment, or stigma.

If a player accepts and later feels the role is not a good fit, they may step down. If performance issues arise, the council may vote to demote them respectfully, and the action will be delivered by the Major or HR in a private conversation.

NCOs are held to a higher standard and are expected to:

• Help maintain discipline and focus during operations
• Demonstrate leadership, even when not in command roles
• Contribute to training and planning efforts as needed

202a – Sergeant (Sgt)

Eligible Corporals who demonstrate a strong desire to help Charlie Mike grow—both during gameplay and in training—may be promoted to Sergeant.

• • Responsibilities:**
• Must assist in training classes
• Can solo teach one-on-one sessions
• Expected to show professionalism and leadership during operations
• Help guide others during downtime and briefings

• • Perk:**
• Sergeants get first pick of roles in persistent campaigns.

202b – Staff Sergeant (SSgt)

Promotion to Staff Sergeant occurs when a Sergeant shows exceptional commitment to helping others and ensuring operational smoothness.

• • Responsibilities:**
• Must design and run their own Advanced Infantry Training (AIT) course
• Take a greater leadership role in and out of game

• • Perk:**
• Gain admin access to Arma and TeamSpeak servers.

202c – Master Sergeant (MSgt)

This is a unique rank. MSgts are members of the Council, but without its full duties. They retain the training responsibilities of a Staff Sergeant but benefit from their **experience and respected status**.

They are included in the Council for their insight, reliability, and community presence.

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203 – Officer

Officer roles are also voluntary and come with both in-game and out-of-game responsibilities. Officers handle the backend operations of the unit and are expected to act with professionalism, ensuring player focus and immersion during events.

Officers form the **bulk of the Council** and help guide the direction of Charlie Mike.

203a – Second Lieutenant (2LT)

The first Officer rank. 2LTs are assigned to a department and may work under a Captain. They begin assisting with organizational duties, task tracking, and planning.

203b – First Lieutenant (1LT)

Promotion from 2LT comes after showing initiative and reliability in completing out-of-game tasks without reminders.

203c – Captain (Cpt)

Captains are department heads. They direct their team, oversee performance, and assign tasks to Lieutenants. Captains are responsible for their department’s success.

203d – Major (MJR)

The Major is the **overall unit leader**. While they don’t have unchecked authority, they are entrusted with final decisions when necessary.

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204 – Discipline & Removal

Charlie Mike uses a **three-strike system** for discipline. The process can be initiated by the Major or HR, and the entire Council will be informed. The Council may also vote for immediate removal in extreme cases.

204a – Step One

An initial warning delivered via Discord text chat by **any Council member**. This should be a respectful conversation where the individual has a chance to respond.

204b – Step Two

A formal warning held in **voice chat** (Discord or TeamSpeak), with two Council members present (one must be from HR). This may result in a suspension from CMA events for **1 week to 1 month**.

204c – Step Three

Permanent removal from Charlie Mike Actual. A member may be eligible to reapply **after 6 months**, depending on Council vote.

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205 – Non-Member Ranks

Players from approved external units may participate in Charlie Mike operations without going through indoctrination or the internal ranking system.

These players will be given the role of Mercenary and:

• May attend Basic and Advanced training
• May NOT take Specialist roles (e.g., Sniper, Pilot)

 * Exception: Medic role is allowed **if medically trained in their home unit** and systems are compatible

• Will have lower priority in slot selection for persistent campaigns

• • Important Notes:**
• Mercenaries must still read and agree to all CMA rules
• They are subject to the same disciplinary process (see Section 204)
• Mercenaries may apply to formally join CMA at any time

 * Upon joining, they are promoted to Private and begin accruing operation credits
 * They gain eligibility for Specialist training and normal slot selection priority