Candidate/Weyrling Training Schedules and Daily Routines

Used with permission from Dawnsisters Weyr

Candidates:

Pre-Impression Training

The Weyrling training staff realizes that all Candidates come to StarFall with a wide range of skills and various levels of maturity (and Candidates who have skills are expected to assist those who do not). The Pre-Impression program is designed to redress deficiencies in all Candidates, and prepare them for Hatching Day and a possible life as a Dawnsisters dragonrider. Candidates receive instruction in the following:

What to expect on the Hatching Grounds; This includes discussions and numerous visits.
The care and feeding of young dragonets;
Weyr life and etiquette, primarily concerning;
Weyr rank structure;
Literacy training when and if required.
The primary thrust behind Pre-Impression is to get the Candidates used to Weyrlife and to the concept of the Hatching. The calmer a Candidate is on Hatching Day, the better his chances of surviving unharmed. Those who do not Impress are examined by the Weyrhealers for injury, and are then returned home or to the Candidate Barracks if they wish to stand for the next Hatching.

Those who Impress, be aware of the following! A newly Impressed Weyrling has little or no time free from the demands a dragonet and the training regimen will impose.

Weyrlings:

Weyrling Training Goals

To acquaint the individual Weyrling with the demands and rewards of the Impression bond with a dragon;
To accustom the Weyrling to working as part of a team with other dragonriders as assignments demand;
To prepare the Weyrling for Threadfighting upon assignment to a regular Wing.

Weyrling Training Program

Weyrling training at Dawnsisters Weyr is on an eighteen-month, 72-sevenday program, as listed below. Please contact the Weyrling Master if you have any questions or concerns. Please note that all training is subject to constant review, practice, and testing once learned. This schedule is primarily a guide as to what is introduced when.
Weyrlings are placed in the Healer Wing after Hatching and then graduate to the Senior Weyrling Wing. Upon completion of Weyrling Training; Dragons and their Riders will be assigned to an appropriate Wing.
The schedule is rigorous, harsh, and demanding because it has to be. Dawnsisters is in the middle of a Pass and it needs fighting dragonriders as quickly as they can be provided. There is no time to coddle the reluctant and the slow here. Weyrlings are expected to learn and move on. Those who cannot do so will be assigned to the class following; those who fail to improve then may well be assigned to support duty at the direction of the Weyrleader. Also, note that the schedule after Sevenday 49 is subject to alteration and compression according to the needs of the Weyr. No one wants to throw a fresh Weyrling into a high-level Wing, but if the demands of Fall demand it, it will be done.

Sevendays 1-4

Feeding new dragonets -- what and what not to feed, and when and how much to feed
Methods of training dragonets to follow a human schedule
Dragon first aid -- hide care and oiling, and the consequences and treatment of overfeeding
The dragon-rider bond -- strengthening it, and how to deal with dragon-induced emotions
Making the first set of Weyrling rank cords.

Sevendays 5-8

Dragon nutrition and health care beyond the basics learned in the first few sevendays
History of Dawnsisters Weyr and of dragonkind
Introduction to Dawnsisters Wing structure and Wing duties.
Geography of Pern, North and South

Sevendays 9-12

Ground drills. These are a series of intricate maneuvers by individual weyrlings and by groups designed to instill self-discipline and endurance.
Geography of Pern, North and South. Weyrlings tested on this during this phase.
Ground drills continue with an emphasis on the group formation.
Weyrlings begin to be liable for work details where needed, depending on training requirements.

Sevendays 13-16

Firestone familiarization begins. Weyrlings learn about the grades of ore, and the theory behind a dragon's flame -- how to produce and sustain it.
Weyrlings are encouraged to think about transferring the drills to the air.
Preflight training begins, covering but not limited to the following: preparation and maintenance of riding straps, other ancillary equipment, and hand and arm signals for use while in flight.

Sevendays 17-20

Weyrlings begin familiarization flights, administered by the Weyrling training staff and other full dragonriders. This allows weyrlings to become accustomed to the sensations of flight.
Basic weather prediction. Air currents and weather conditions that can affect flight.
Dragon first aid, concerning muscle development and strain.
Flight training begins. Weyrlings begin flying at the discretion of the Weyrling Master, starting with short glides and shorter flights in the Weyr itself.

Sevendays 21-24

Introduction to Threadfall charts -- how to read, & calculate probable Falls.
Weyrlings go on longer and longer flights in and around the immediate vicinity of Dawnsisters Weyr. These flights are designed to slowly build a dragon's stamina and endurance, and the weyrlings are carefully monitored to prevent overflying and the resultant injuries.
Internal ferry duty for Weyr residents when needed.
Advanced training on Threadfall charts -- how to prepare from raw data.

Sevendays 25–32

Introduction to formation flying.
Introduction to chewing firestone.
Introduction to concepts of Threadfighting.
Weyrlings with leadership potential are identified and selected for additional training and responsibilities.

Sevendays 33–40

About the 35th sevenday of training, weyrlings move out of the barracks into Senior Weyrling weyrs.
Ground drill concepts transferred to aerial medium.
Firestone exercises continue.
Advanced Threadfighting concepts -- patterns of Fall and how a Wing can best cope with them.
Weyrlings drilled in visualization exercises.
Terrain recognition drills.

Sevendays 41-48

Weyrlings start an intense series of aerial drills.
Introduction to Threadfighting -- selection and use of firestone, along with methods of producing and sustaining flame that were discussed earlier are reviewed, and Threadfighting tactics on the individual, Wing, and Flight level are discussed. Firestone re-supply discussed.
Rope Drills begin, with a small number of weyrlings.
Introduction to between: its benefits and dangers.
Weyrlings accompany Weyrling trainers and senior riders on several jumps between.
Weyrlings make first solo flight between. Losses are sometimes heavy at this stage.

Sevendays 49–56

Formation flying between, at first in small groups, working up to the inclusion of the entire training group.
Terrain recognition drills combined with jumps between to check accuracy and build Weyrling confidence in their abilities.
Threadfighting tactics discussed more in-depth, and the Rope Drills are adjusted to suit.
Rope Drills continue, with increasingly larger groups of weyrlings. Aerial firestone replenishment training begins.

Sevendays 57-64

Introduction to combat training in unarmed techniques.
The Drills are now very heavy and intense, and are liable to be called without warning.
Combat training continues with introduction to armed combat techniques.
Threadfighting training continues, culminating in a Rope Drill being flown by the entire Weyrling Wing.
Greenriders given gender-specific training -- signs of a green's readiness for a mating flight, how to handle a green during a flight, how to deal with a proddy dragon, and a rider's probable reaction to it.

Sevendays 65–70

Introduction to Threadfall -- the weyrlings fly to Fall on firestttone replenishment duty. This is usually in a staging area, where the Weyrleader maintains his tactical reserves, but all weyrlings are required to fly ready to fight in case of a sudden shift of the Fall's pattern.
Rope Drills continue.
Introduction to the Wing as an organized tactical Threadfall formation. This Wing, when not engaged in firestone replenishment duty, is used for sweeps on the Trailing Edge of Threadfall and for post-Fall covering flights. As before, all weyrlings assigned to this duty are required to fly in a fighting-ready posture, since this duty slot places them even closer to falling and fallen Thread.
Senior Weyrling Wing used to fly back cover at the Trailing Edge of Threadfall. Note that this places them in direct contact with Thread. Injuries are common.
Sr. Weyrling Wing introduced to the full rigors of Threadfall as an auxiliary to Buenos Aires and Bahrain Wings. This is the time when the Senior Weyrling Wing will take its heaviest casualties as an organized formation. Their job here is to fly low cover -- below and behind -- but overeager weyrlings often forget to stay there. Injuries and deaths are common.

Sevendays 70–72+

Preparation for graduation and Wing assignment. Weyrlings are tested on the totality of their training, and are held back at the discretion of the Weyrling Master to remain in Senior Weyrling Wing instead of advancing with the rest of the class should he feel it necessary. Once graduated, weyrlings are eligible to be tapped by Wingleaders. Untapped weyrlings will be assigned as necessary by the Weyrleader. Note that it is possible for a Weyrling to request a specific Wing. If a Weyrling wishes to be assigned to a specific Wing, he or she should contact that Wing's wingleader and the Weyrleader at least two months before graduation to obtain the appropriate permissions and clearances. It is that weyrling's responsibility to make sure that the Weyrling Master has been notified of the selection.
Weyrlings that are not ready, for whatever reason, after the end of the 72nd sevenday of training will be held back for remedial training.
 

Goldrider Training

All goldriders are required to complete the standard Weyrling training program, with the following changes and additions. This additional training is usually given by an active Weyrwoman on an as-needed/as-available basis.

Please note that all Weyrling goldriders are required to participate in and complete this additional training.

Weyr record keeping, including reading and writing if not even already known. This covers the care and maintenance of Records (skin and paper), and requires mastery of the Weyr's filing system. All Records -- personnel, historical, clutch charts, tithing records, and supply/inventory Records for both the Lower Caverns and the Infirmary are covered in the course of this training.
Special care required by golds, including but not limited to controlling a gold during mating flights, the care of an egg-heavy queen, and what to do during clutching and Hatching.
Preparation and use of flame-throwers (usually done near the 35th sevenday of training when chewing firestone training begins).
Domestic management, covering personnel assignments, childcare, education, diplomacy (especially in relation to the Weyr's Holders), arbitration, the welfare of the Weyr's dragons and riders, and maintenance of the Weyr's physical condition.
Timing: what it is, how it can happen, why it is so dangerous when improperly controlled; and how to help a queen inhibit it in other dragons when required.

A goldrider does not officially obtain the rank of "Junior Weyrwoman" until her dragon has risen and completed her first mating flight. Until that time, her designation is simply "goldrider".


Note: Written by Anna Smith and Danielle Van Tuyl;  from reference materials from Northlight and StarRise Weyrs.
Updated and customized for StarFall by Stardragon.


Weyrling Information

When the Offworlders designed Dawnsisters Weyr, the Weyrleaders asked that some sort of alarm be available to let Weyrlings know the time. The Offworlders set up a computer that triggers an alarm bell above the Barracks (see below) to ring out eight times a day. Weyrlings have classes for approximately six hours a day; two hours a day are spent doing chores around the Weyr.

Weyrling Daily Schedule

First bell (5th hour): Rise and shine! Weyrlings are roused out of their beds; dress, care for and oil dragons, fork out wallows (necessary for younger dragons).
Second bell (6th hour): Weyrlings bathe, catch breakfast in the Dining Hall; return to care and oil dragons.
Third bell (7th to 12th hour): Weyrling Training (with some breaks; chore duties may be scheduled during this time period)
Fourth bell (12th to 13th hour): Lunch in the Dining Hall
Fifth bell (13th to 18th hour): Weyrling Training (with some breaks; chore duties may be scheduled during this time period)
Sixth bell (18th to 20th hour): Dinner in the Dining Hall; care for and oil dragon
Seventh bell (20th to 22nd hour): Study, relax; evening reviews may be offered by Weyrling Master Assistants; punishment chores may be assigned to be done during this time.
Eighth bell (22nd hour): Lights out

RESTDAYS:

The Weyrling Wing gets four restdays during a 28-day period (usually days 07, 14, 21, and 28, unless postponed by Threadfall) to use as the weyrlings wish.

Weyrlings in deep trouble will be required to spend this day doing punishment chores. Older weyrlings whose dragons have learned to fly may not leave the Weyr without prior approval of the Weyrling Master.

Weyrlings spend 9 months as a Jr Weyrling; 9 months as a Senior Weyrling.

During Threadfall the Baby and Junior Weyrlings stay at the weyr and assist the healers. Senior Weyrlings fly firestone sacks, and in emergencies, some might fill in empty wing positions.

Note: This schedule was adapted with permission from Kadanzer Weyr by Dawnsisters Weyrling Master

Weyrling Barracks:

No Weyrling, no matter what color your dragon or your rank before Impressing, shall have a private Weyr until your dragon can fly. That will happen at the end of your dragon's first year at earliest, so get used to communal living!

Baby and Junior Weyrlings will live in the Weyrling Barracks and will be there Every night. You will Not spend a night away from your dragon, if the Weyrlingmaster discovers that one of you has been missing from the Barracks you will be restricted from all Gathers until your dragon can fly!

There is a cot and a chest by each dragoncouch. There is one large bathing area for girls, another for boys. There is no privacy here, no curtains or anything, picture US Army Boot Camp. No doors or locks, nothing.

Largest dragons are placed nearest to the entrance, smallest toward the inside. This way when they get larger the bigger ones are not knocking into everything on their way out! At about 6 months old Baby weyrlings move to the larger Junior Barracks and once your dragons fly, they move into the Senior Barracks, two Weyrlings to a weyr, directly above the Weyrling caverns, Senior have the same time restrictions as the Babies and Juniors. When you graduate, then you receive an individual weyr.