Squadron Division
Squadron Division  ·  Tier 1 Pinnacle ᛊ   ᛏ   ᛒ   ᛖ   ᛗ   ᛚ

SQUADRON
PILOT

Sub-300m Knife Fights  ·  Bubble Discipline  ·  Forced Movement  ·  ACE Program
Prerequisites Fleet Pilot AND Utility Pilot both completed
Duration 30–45 min
Unlocks ACE Pilot Program + Ace Pilot cert path
Type Full Combat Evaluation — Squad Leader or higher
Recert Every 6 months
Squadron Division  ·  Tier 1 · Full PvP Combat Pilot

Full PvP
Combat Pilot.

Squadron Pilot is the pinnacle of Tier 1 Squadron certification. It combines everything from S(3) and your specialist certs into a full PvP evaluation at the highest Tier 1 difficulty. If you pass, you are combat-ready and trusted to hold position in a live fleet engagement.

Pass this cert and you can join the ACE Program — set up your kill counter the same day.

Squadron Pilot
Tier 1 · Full PvP Combat Pilot
Badge coming soon
Artwork — Coming Soon
Certification Goal

A True PvP Pilot.

Member can fight at sub-300m range (150m average — knife fight), maintain accurate aim off-nose, hold bubble position with squad, and force movement (extensions and tightenings).

Expected Outcome

Passing Members Can…

Member demonstrates knife fighting at 150m, accurate off-nose shooting, bubble maintenance in group fights, and the ability to force extensions and tightenings. Eligible to join the ACE Program.

Three Things To Know

Sub-300m Knife Fighting

150m average range. Accurate off-nose shooting. Controlled aggression without overextending.

Bubble Maintenance

Hold position within the squad bubble in group fights. Not running is the skill. Evasive — not absent.

Forced Movement

Force extensions (push opponent out to recharge shield) and tightenings (pull into close range). Both required.

What Passing Unlocks
Next Step

Ace Pilot

Ace Pilot is the elite non-leadership rank. Rate fighting must become instinct. Also eligible to join the ACE kill counter program immediately on passing.

Key Numbers

Three-Phase Combat Evaluation

Sub-300m
Knife Fight Range
150m
Average Engagement
2v2 / Squad
Eval Scenarios

Important: Running to recharge shield is strongly discouraged. Staying evasive and in the fight contributes more DPS to the fleet than running — even if it means dying faster.

Evaluation Structure

What Happens In The Session

Light Fighter Evaluation

Sub-300m engagement (300–0m). Accurate off-nose shots. Controlled aggression. No overextending.

Sub-300m

Bubble Maintenance

Group fight scenario. Hold position within squad bubble for the full evaluation period. Evasive, not running.

Bubble

Forced Movement

Force at least one extension and one tightening. Evaluator observes intent — reads what the opponent wants and counters it.

Movement
Pass & Fail

What Gets You Through

Pass

  • Controlled close-range engagement with accurate shooting
  • Bubble maintained in group scenario for full period
  • At least one extension AND one tightening forced
  • Off-nose tracking demonstrated

Watch Out For

  • Jousting in knife fight range
  • Running from group bubble during fleet scenario
  • Cannot identify or execute movement forcing
Preparation

Before You Book The Eval

01
Off-nose tracking is its own skill — practice it solo

Track targets outside your forward view in Arena Commander. This is separate from aiming and needs its own dedicated work.

02
Rate fighting requires weeks of consistent practice

Show up to TNT and practices consistently. The rewards are high but the reps take time. There's no shortcut.

03
Bubble discipline: when you want to run, stay evasive instead

The urge to break is exactly when you must hold. Learn to be hard to hit while staying in the fight.

04
Forcing movement requires reading your opponent

Watch where they want to be. Work the opposite. Extension and tightening are positional — not just aggressive.

Video Resources

Watch Before Your Evaluation

Aim improvement for SC PvP
Rate fighting fundamentals
General PvP improvement guide
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