March 2013 Cycle – Nov-Feb Joins, testing something new

From November of 2012 to March 1st we had almost 1100 applicants for ShackTac. There were a lot of great ones, plenty of good ones, and in a perfect world, we’d be able to take on a whole hell of a lot of new people.

The world is not quite so perfect. We are still under the same limitations as before regarding Arma – the packetloss issues have not been fixed at large-playercount, and we’re still aiming to be a close-knit community based around a single server – and thus, the selection process has become extremely strict as a result.

Out of these 1100 applicants, roughly 100 made selection on the initial pass. From these, we’ll probably accept 40 or so of them into the group. This will be done in a split fashion – roughly twenty were sent e-mails just now, and they’ll participate in the March induction process. The other half will be determined at the end of this month, and they’ll receive information to allow them to participate in the April join batch. So, in short – if you didn’t receive an e-mail just now, it doesn’t mean that you won’t make it for the April batch, but don’t get your hopes too high yet.

After April’s batch of 20 or so, we will take May and June off, with the next cycle happening in July and consisting of applications received during March, April, May, and June.

I cannot say how many that may be – it’s hard to know what the future holds.

For those of you that applied and didn’t make it, best of luck in finding something that fits you going forward, and I’m sorry it couldn’t be with us. I must emphasize that not making it into ShackTac at this point is by no means a reflection on you as a person – we had to pass on many good applicants due to our current restrictions. If our join inquiries are any indication, there are plenty of quality people out there looking for a good Arma experience. Have a look around the Arma scene, see if there are any groups that you agree with. Make sure you keep in mind the guidelines I listed here regarding what to watch out for in groups. Some of you may have thought about starting new groups – while this isn’t a trivial thing to do, the time is ripe for it. There’s nothing stopping some motivated people with the right ideas, vision, and perseverance, from creating something special.

Whatever you choose to do, I hope you find enjoyment with it.

13 comments

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    • Bryan D on March 6, 2013 at 9:16 am
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    This post was perfectly timed. I’ve been kind of confused on when to send in applications the last week, and now here it is all laid out. Thanks dslyecxi and good luck to everyone

    • Bryan D on March 6, 2013 at 9:19 am
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    Oh and I meant to ask. Does Arma 3 suffer from the same packetloss issues as Arma 2?

    1. Presumably yes.

    • EvilJ on March 7, 2013 at 1:53 pm
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    Oh well. Guess I will just have to keep watching the YouTube videos.

    • Fuse on March 8, 2013 at 4:23 am
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    Are you currently considering applications from players who are primarily interested in Arma 3? I’ve been refining my application for a few days, but I don’t want to send it in prematurely. Would you rather A3 players wait until the game moves out of alpha? I do own Arma 2 and Op Arrowhead, but I don’t actively play it.

    • Smithy on March 8, 2013 at 10:42 am
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    Dang.. I just bought Arma 3 after watching your videos.. it convinced me that I could be apart of this awesomeness..

    • Vaelaar on March 9, 2013 at 12:51 pm
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    The nice thing about this game and its community, Smithy, is that you can still be part of “the” awesomeness, whether under the banner of Shack Tactical or not. I imagine that there are a myriad of different groups out there just like Shack that are actively recruiting new members. Don’t let that keep you from applying, however, but let it encourage you in case you don’t make the cut(s).

    Disclaimer: I am not even a member myself, just someone on the outside looking in.

      • Fuse on March 12, 2013 at 10:59 am
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      Damnit, Vaelaar, you got my hopes up for a minute there!
      I’ve been trying to get an answer on if they are even considering applications from A3 players in the next wave (as you can see above). I’ve been drooling over ShackTac vids for months while waiting for Arma 3 Alpha, but the rules say to only apply once and assume no contact is a rejection, so I don’t want to waste my one shot. I haven’t gotten a response yet. Makes me think that perhaps they’re not interested in us newbies right now since they can let so few in and are busy, which is totally understandable.

      That’s just my take on it. They could just be too busy having fun with the new game to check the internets. I’ll spend the next few months trying to get better so I’m more confident in my application, and maybe I’ll get lucky and find a good home in that time. 🙂
      I don’t think ShackTac is going anywhere.

        • paradox on March 15, 2013 at 8:25 am
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        Yeah, I’m in the same boat. Sent in my application almost two months ago, no reply. Good luck to you and everyone who applies, hope at least a few of us make it!

    • Illmatic Lynch on April 16, 2013 at 12:26 pm
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    I’ve been a viewer of these fantastic video’s from ShackTac for quite sometime now, I have come to acquire a fondness to this community and how it operate’s as well as the organization & teaching’s it has learned to spread among it’s inner rank’s. I know I cannot claim to be the best or the most deserving because chances are there is someone out there who will always be superior to you in flying, or stealth, or commanding as team leader; maneuvering his or her said infantry, but to earn that privilege to wear the title of ShackTac other then any other person who has applied is a difficult decision. Because if it were possible every applicant would be submitted but you all need to know that tough choice’s were made due to the server’s limitation’s and it’s no easier on any single person to choose from the pick of the litter or for those who held high hope’s of obtaining that email saying they have qualified for joining the training session. With that said I am all but a runt who’s voice wishes to be heard but I too am invisible so I patiently wait, and harness my skill’s, so that I may one day be graced with an opportunity to stand before Dslyecxi himself and give it everything that I’ve got.

    That’s the dream people, but for the time being you can still make the most of your time outside of ShackTac and make yourself part of other available group’s who’s cooperation will be a great asset to your training and to your own enjoyment. But there is still no wrong in following these video’s like myself because I’ve used plenty of these training and tip’s within to help practice in my own self-learning in every available aspect’s.

    “My Method of The 3L’s” -Live it, Love it, and Learn from it.

    P.S: I know I have used up a large portion of all your time in writing this message and for those who took a few minute’s to indulge themselves in my comment I am grateful for your patronage.

    -Thank You For Your Time

    • Croaker on May 6, 2013 at 7:11 pm
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    Do you allow rejected applicants to send in another application a couple of recruitment cycles down the line, or are we looking at a “one and done” scenario?

    I ask because I’ve begun playing with one of the more casual groups to hone my ARMA/ACE/ACRE skills in the hope of re-applying to ST later down the line. Is this a viable plan of action, or am I just pissing in the wind?

    • Tony on June 7, 2013 at 11:38 am
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    Man, I keep checking this page and my email daily hoping to see an update or a reply email–really hope I get one. My experience with some people in the online community have been less than positive and I’ve decided to wait until I find out if this community lies in my future before trying out other places. After my last experience I wish I could change some things in my email and say what I’m ultimately looking for is a place with people who will tell me what I did wrong or what I can do to improve so I actually learn and potentially do the same for other players in the future. So far it’s a lot of yelling, disrespect, and snide comments with only a handful of players willing to show some patience and leadership. So far everything I’ve read indicates that this is a place that won’t hammer me for screwing up–odds are I already know–but try and help me improve so I don’t screw up the next time. I hope to find out for myself.

    Semi-sneaky way of sneaking in something I wish I’d known when I wrote my application e-mail? Yes, but actually being a part of a community for an albeit short, but disappointing, time made me want to be a part of this place even more.

    • Allen on July 20, 2013 at 6:33 pm
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    Oh cool, I am glad that I checked this out. I was just wondering about my previous application, I suppose I should continue to sit back and wait!

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