What an honor and a super amazing lady, our Commandant Allian Blackwell, which I have had the honor and privilege of speaking to and interviewing for our monthly magazine. So that you know, this will be a monthly interview to allow the Commandant to talk to all you Guardians out there. Please feel free to submit questions you would like answered to ask them in our monthly interview. If you have any questions you would like to have asked, please put them in an NC and submit them to me, and I will make sure to have them ready to ask. Let’s take a look at what Commandant Allian Blackwell has to say about Station Promethium, District 2, and a word about herself.
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
Commandant, I appreciate you allowing me to interview you for the SLCG Magazine. I’m hoping this will get you out there with the people, so they don’t think you’re a mythical figure ‘laughs.’
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
“Oh yes, I am, haha, yes, not mythical, believe me, well I love being with crews and meeting everyone.”
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
I imagine so; it’s fun getting out and meeting everyone. Tell me about yourself and how long you have been doing the SLCG, especially for those who do not know your history but would love to get to know you.”
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
I have been in the SLCG for eight years now, was eight back in May.
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
Well happy belated Join day
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
Thanks, so how I found SLCG. I went on a date with this guy, and he took me flying. We landed at Hollywood, and then we went sailing, and I was enthralled. I didn’t know the Blake Sea existed, or you could fly or go sailing. We went back to his place, and I remember I LM’d everything, the airport, and the marina, so when I logged off and logged back on, it would be there.
I went to the Hollywood Airport and tried to fly but failed terribly, so I got a hold of that guy I had a date with, and he thought I wanted another date with him, I said no, I want to learn to fly.
Well, long story short, I saw the SLCG across the way and went over there and read about them. I joined that very day I took the Boat US and went to RTC.
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
Wow, that is funny but neat, the poor guy did you ever go out on another date with him?
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
No, I did not. The man joined with me, Nesto Quatro, he’s still in the group too. Nestro joined because he wanted to meet ‘chics,’ which he did, but they didn’t like him, but he and I became best friends.
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
‘laughs’ Oh wow, that is pretty neat, sad and sweet at the same time.
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
We went through RTC and ended up at NH together back then; you could pick your station.
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
How many stations were there in the CG back then?
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
We had about 20 stations.
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
Wow! That’s a lot
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
Some were small, and they consolidated them after a while down to 12. I was not the most seaworthy seaman I struggled at everything, but I didn’t give up.
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
And look how far you have gotten.
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
Well, I had a mentor, and he wouldn’t let me, his name was Captain Thorn Blackflag. He busted my behind, but he always told me this ‘I believe in you, you can do this I’m counting on you ‘ so I didn’t want to let him down or he’d kick my behind, and I loved the sea.
PO1 Darkbyrd:
‘laughs’ Sounds like a fantastic person ma’am, those kinds are the best kind to have on your team.
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
“Yes, he was terrific; he became Commandant, and even then, he still mentored me early on my XO left SLCG when I was a PO2 and was me, Nesto and Olle at NH.
During this time, I applied for XO. I just became a PO1, and with much argument, my CO Dondy Carling went to bat for me with Sans. I became the Acting XO, which was funny because it was Nesto and Olle, that was my crew.
About a month in my CO tells me she’s having surgery on her hands; she said she would be away for six months. I was going to be Acting CO, so at CPO, I was the Acting CO and XO of NH ‘gulp’ no one ever picked NH. Still, one guy did his name was Dastan Darkfire and then a lady named Delta Cox, and we worked hard building NH up by the time my CO was back NH was the top station in SLCG, and I had six crew, and Dastan was my XO.”
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
You took over and made things happen.
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
“Yes, we all hung out at NH my CO told me one thing about being a CO, you can only make them do one patrol a week, that’s all they are required to do the rest is inspiring them to do more. Make it fun and care about them; that’s what she told me, and that’s what I did, and we grew like crazy, and I lived at NH sat in my rocking chair and waited for my crew to show up.
And that is why the rocking chairs. I got to know each of the crew members; I learned all about them and what they wanted to do in SLCG. I helped them get there.
Yes, I think back then and how it is a real key to a successful station. When you invest in your crew, they became my family, and my family, I loved them all.”
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
I am sure they loved you equally.
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
Haha! Yes, I think they do, then other people from other stations would come over because no one was at their station, and we always were doing something fun.
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
‘Nods having seen that so many times’
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
Yes, and I preach that to CO’s all the time, you want an excellent station ‘be there.’
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
I agree with wholehearted ma’am; if no one is there, it dies.
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
Yes, it does now granted I was alone at times, but I still stayed.
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
So how many people have you mentored in your time?
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
Oh gosh. Many Max Boost, Dona Mitchell, Ken Whitfield Luckie Howlett, and so many of those still here, but some have left, for example, Green Topaz, who passed away.
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
I am so sorry to hear that, ma’am.
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
Yes, that broke me up. Topaz Green, was from Russia and in her 20’s. Unfortunately, her family was killed in a battle, I guess in Russia, and she took an injury to her head and had a stroke that sent her to the hospital she recovered but had another. She didn’t make it the 2nd time.
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
That’s so terrible, ma’am.
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
Yes, it was sad that Green Topaz lived in Siberia. She told me all about Siberia how they had tunnels they walked in during the winter and how she rode caribou, haha.
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
lol that’s funny yeah, I don’t think horses would make it there
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
She was a wonderful person and no they wouldn’t
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
So, I would love to know how you think the SLCG is trending today, and what do you think could be done to improve it?
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
well good question SLCG membership comes and goes, we are a peri military group some are ex-military, and many are not just like Sophie is current military, so it’s a mix
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
Yes, she does much balancing in command positions real-life and SLCG lol she’s swamped and loves every bit of it.
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
yes, she does, so the military ones argue should be more military, and the non-ones argue ‘we need this to be looser’ which both are right so it’s a balance but I think we need to stress Chain of Command
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
you are right, Ma’am. Not everyone is military or ex-military. Not everyone sees it in the same way we do. But it’s belonging to a family and belonging to something important that is what matters, I believe.
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
Yes, that is true, and it is a unique group
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
Can you explain that part to me?
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
well it is unique in that you do everything with people in the group and they become your good friends and have the same goals least this is how I see it, and due to the training and how much time you spend in the group you become very close friends to those
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
What do you think could be improved upon to make the group more beneficial to the guardians and the communities around us that we serve?
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
well I think that we need to care about our crew members I believe if we could invest in our crew members and know what is going on, what challenges they have so hence better CO’s and XO’s and DCO’s
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
I think that is outstanding directives, ma’am. I know that people need this group because of what they are dealing with in their personal lives, so it’s important to me. I also know with others that they recognize we are here for them. When we give love to others in varying ways, we, in turn, teach them to love not only themselves but others also. You never know whose life you have impacted in what way.
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
oh yes, and this is vital to have people feel they are essential that they are valued. that is what we try to do in CO School
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
I think it is an excellent lesson to teach and learn and put into practice.
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
Yes, it is, and we try to do that.
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
Speaking of rising and ashes, what prompted the rebirth of District 2, and how will it impact the rest of the SLCG?
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
The rising from the ashes of D2, which is the expansion of Bellaseria, and getting a foot in there D2 is a whole area that we could expand in.
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
Yes, I had heard there used to be a district 2 before but removed, why is that?
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
The land in Heterocera was sold that we had Station Cleora on, so we had to decrease our stations. Thorn decided to close D2 temporarily; we never meant to have it close for so long.
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
How long was it closed?
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
oh wow 2 or 3 years
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
And now it is back, living and breathing again. “How does it feel to bring back the 2nd district, and how many stations do you foresee growing there?”
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
It feels terrific, and I hope that it works out well.
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
It sounds like it has a strong start so far; of course, it just opened, but I interviewed the DCO and the CO, and they seem to have a goal etched out for D2, so I’m looking forward to seeing how it grows and blossoms.
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
yes, I am hoping we continue to grow
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
I think we will. In SLCG, there is so many fantastic command staff here at the SLCG that I have noticed that many other military groups interact with our people a lot. Hence, it says a lot for who we are as a whole, which is impressive.
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
Yes, that is true
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
The sad part is that many people do not know about the SLCG unless they are part of the water community. I never even heard of SLCG until 6 months ago.
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
oh really? yes, many people don’t know about it
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
I heard of it because I was doing a grid drive with the GTFO group and lost my helicopter because it ejected me while going over a sim crossing.
The next day I logged on and had a message from Viernes Zeplin telling me who they were that they found my helicopter. Here is where to pick it up, so I grabbed my helicopter and joined right up, I have loved every moment of it.
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
Haha, yes, that’s how many find out.
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
So, I think that the water community is seeing our bases. However, I often wonder how we would be able to get our wonderful group out to the other communities that would enjoy this also.
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
Well I think we should have more reach out and to other places, but we don’t have many that like to do that some do
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
I agree with you, ma’am. I think the magazine could help if we could plant dispensers in areas all over the SL; it would allow people to see who we are, what we do, and that we exist.
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
Yes, I do too
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
What do you think we could do to help promote the SLCG into the other communities around Second Life?
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
Yes, we could, and we need excellent public relations
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
So, Commandant Blackwell, as this whole first page is going to be your little nest egg of information for the rest of the SLCG what would you like to tell the many guardians, anything you would like to let them know?
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
well I would like to tell them they are valued and that SLCG can be one of the greatest groups ever
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
There are so many different places and people and things happening around SL that it would be amazing to get it out to them. It would help us grow hopefully more so in quality than just quantity. However, from learning, people become a better person of quality, and I know that they like to hear that they are highly valued as a team member of SLCG.
So, I know I am jumping back just a bit, but how did the idea of bringing back district 2 come about?”
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
Well, it’s something that I have always wanted to do, so I thought well why not go ahead and open it back up again. By combining Sarcee, Munro, and another station, we would be able to open D2 again.
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
That is great, so now here it is opened back up and in business. So, you are going to combine these three stations with Prometheus? And make them all District 2?
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
Yes, and hopefully we can add another station at a later date, but I am not sure where that may be as of yet
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
I am so happy that I was finally able to meet you, and I enjoyed talking to you a lot. I have always wondered what kind of person Commandant Allian Blackwell was, and I am not disappointed. You are a compassionate and intelligent leader. I think it is so important that people like me and the others get to know you more. I hope you would allow me to interview you each month to get more insight into who you are and the plans that lay ahead for the people who serve as guardians in the SLCG. We do look to you whether you realize it or not, we want to know you, but I know you’re super busy so I thought this would be the best way to connect with us.
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
Awww. Thank you so much, Asa, oh I will get in more and get to know everyone it has been a pleasure talking to you
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
Are there any last words you would like to say before I wrap this up and let you return to your fun? Thank you, ma’am, I appreciate that it’s like getting candy from a candy store lol just really exciting.
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
Haha no not really just have fun and be kind to one another everything will come in due time like rank and billet it always does
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
Yes, it does but, to be honest, learning the SLCG is more critical before getting rank and billets.
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
Yes, that’s what it’s all about; there is a lot to learn even more than when I started.
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd:
I appreciate you spending time with me and giving me an interview; I will let you be on your way.
Commandant Allian Blackwell:
Thank you for your time Asa
What a fantastic interview, what an amazing lady, I look forward to our next talks for the next month’s edition of the SLCG Magazine. I hope you the readers have enjoyed the interview with our Commandant as much as I enjoyed doing the interviewing. Remember, as the Commandant says, “Treat others with kindness and respect,” you never know what the other person is going through. Until then, Coasties, I wish you all a great evening/day, and may you be successful in your endeavors.
Written and Edited by
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd
Assistant Editor of the SLCG Magazine