(no subject)
Title: Essay on D2 training
Author: kath_synecdoche
Rating: PG.
Warnings: Cruelty to animals, death, Career brainwashing. Non-graphic on all counts.
Summary: My understanding/thoughts on how training in District Two might work. Not a story but an essay, probably not terribly exciting to all that many people.
A/N: Produced because I was considering Nero and Decima for the 61st Hunger Games. Definitely not definitive, just my head!canon. Un-beta'd.
From the time they're five until the time they're eleven, every child in District Two takes part in the Exercise and Awareness Program. It's basically like a cross between Boy Scouts and gym class. It starts out largely games like tag and capture the flag and such and walks in the woods and visits down the mines or into major defense facilities or to watch the selected tributes train or past arenas, and gradually incorporates more survival skills, hand-to-hand combat/self-defense type activities, and first attempts at wielding spears/guns/bow and arrows/knives/swords/etc. the way you did archery in summer camp kind of deal. There's no chance to opt out, but there are extra opportunities for trips/building skills/camping expeditions/special activities like rock climbing and swimming and such/etc. if the kids (and their parents) are interested. It's all without cost, so there's no barrier to entry that way. (If your kid is interested and you say no, YOU LOOK REALLY BAD.) Some degree of 'it's an honour to do what Panem needs you for' brainwashing happens here, but far more of that takes place in school and classes.
Age eleven (up to almost-twelve, it's a yearly deal), brings standardised testing which determines future paths. It takes about three weeks, and happens about a month after the end of the Hunger Games. There are three main streams that a kid can end up in - tribute, military, or masonry. Both military and masonry are sub-divided, but that happens much later on.
The first tests are basic physical and mental tests, and everyone does them. The mental test is basic IQ and logic, basic writing, math, counting, as well as a section on the History of Panem. It's a day long thing, divided into several parts. The physical test is for endurance, strength, coordination, flexibility, speed, etc. It takes three days to do. After this point, about half of the kids are cut out, and marked for the masonry stream. This also tends to include those who didn't take advantage of the extra opportunities during the Exercise and Awareness Program, unless they are remarkable or reported that their parents didn't want them to despite their own enthusiasm. There's little shame in being cut at this point, though no honour either. Their schooling continues as usual, with emphasis on masonry and stonework.
The second round of tests features three parts: survival skills, weapon skills, and hand-to-hand skills. Survival skills come first and take a day, and failures in this test are limited to either military or masonry streams, but they continue testing. The next component is hand-to-hand combat skills, which takes two days to assess, but only one of active testing for kids. Failures in this are noted, but not yet eliminated. Finally, there is the weapon skills testing, which takes place over the course of three days, and tests numerous skills. Tributes who show special interest or skill with guns are noted for the military, while melee weapons and non-power range weapons get special notice for the tribute stream. A round of elimination happens at the end of this, for those who have no skill in either weapons or hand-to-hand, as neither stream needs people of that sort. Likely candidates for the tribute stream are generally numbered about twenty at this point, with the remaining candidates being These people join the masonry stream.
The final test is known as the kill test, and it has reached near legendary proportions. Everyone knows how it works well before you get there, and has considered possible strategies. This portion of the testing only requires an hour of the candidates' time, but takes five days to administer, due to the numbers inherent. Candidates are put in a room with a large array of weapons and a mouse in a cage. The room is sealed, the cage door is opened remotely, and the candidate has an hour to kill the mouse. They can use whatever they want, take as much time as they want, whatever, and there's definitely no right way to do it. All of the Victors and some of the military heads are watching to see what they do, though, so there's quite a bit of pressure. The Victors get the first choice of candidate for who they want in their stream, and are mostly watching to determine who of their already determined short-list they want, though there is always an eye out for surprises who might make things interesting.
After all of these tests and some deliberation, 5 children from each gender are chosen for the tribute stream. The parents of each child are consulted. While they have the right to say no, it is rare as it casts substantial suspicion on the family. The child themselves are then consulted, and have the option to say no. It is considered quite reasonable for them to do this, as their general principle for refusing (when they do, which is still quite rare) is something as simple as "I want to shoot guns and stuff" or... the like. Non-politically-charged, and they are determining their life's path. If this happens then another will be chosen.
If the mouse is still alive after an hour, then the candidate is instantly branded for masonry. Those who pass the kill test, but are not selected for the tribute stream go into the military stream, which has a different school system from the masonry stream.
Tribute training for elevens and twelves builds on the skills that they've already demonstrated, and creates others. Survival skills are a focus for these age groups, until they're almost second nature. Weapons skills and hand-to-hand combat is increased to the level of all-around competency. Their hours in more typical schooling are limited to the mornings, when they attend the military stream of schools. This focuses on history, duty, and the like, and is the continuation of their brainwashing. Late nights at the training center are typical, up until eight pm on most nights, and weekend trips to the woods for training in survival techniques, lasting in the elements, and familiarity with the outdoors are a bi-weekly occurrence at the minimum.
At thirteen, the size of the tribute group is cut by two of each gender, who are almost always immediately taken in by the military stream. This cut generally follows a second kill test, with half the time, a much more limited array of weapons, and a larger animal - usually a cat or a dog. The threat of being cut encourages competition and super-active participation, and the cut also eliminates those who think they can coast, aren't willing to work hard, aren't properly brainwashed, or for whom puberty has done no favours for in terms of appearance.
The smaller group continues to be trained by experienced professionals, and specializations are developed. The number of hours spent in training increases, with later nights and early mornings as well. Weekend trips become the norm, morning classes are dropped entirely at fourteen, and kill tests are sprung with little to no warning, sometimes even with all of them in the same room. Development of personae for media consumption begins here, as does practice in interviews and stylist's chairs. Interaction with Victors and older tributes becomes increasingly normal. Diet and exercise are strictly monitored and supplements and steroids are given to speed up and emphasize growth. It's demanding work, with little time off.
Age fifteen sees a new challenge, monitored closely by the Victors who mentored the previous year's tributes (and the new Victor if there is one). This is also a kill test, but while the test at eleven is mythic, this one is rarely, if ever, discussed, and so candidates are unable to prepare themselves in advance. Each candidate is given the chance to choose one weapon to bring into the room with them, where they face a human victim (generally a prisoner, left unbound to make things interesting). The tribute has half an hour to kill them.
Candidates who fail this test are generally pulled into the military stream, and noted for leadership positions. While failure can consist of not killing the victim, that is very rare, given the degree of skill, desensitization, and brainwashing at play. Generally it simply comes down to another tribute being preferred for the spot, and sometimes decisions will be all but made before the kill test even takes place. As with the first kill test, there's no right way to manage it, and the technique that wins someone a spot one year may not work the next.
From here on out, there's generally just one tribute in each cohort. They're pared with a Vicotr who oversees their training and who will be their future mentor. This builds up an invaluable rapport between them, because the mentor will be better able to respond to the tribute's limits and needs in the Arena. From this point on, they are free to decide when they would like to volunteer, and so some ambitious types will try to go in early and be impressive. This rarely succeeds, unless there isn't someone in the 18 cohort, because older tributes, with fewer opportunities, get the first call for volunteering, and no eighteen-year-old in the tribute stream isn't going to volunteer.
Training at this stage is intensely focused on individual strengths and weaknesses. About half of the average day is spent in physical exercises, some under close trainer supervision, and some more self-guided. The remainder is spent in technique workshops, viewing recordings of practices looking for ways to improve, watching past games to analyze strategies for effectiveness, practicing survival skills, and perfecting media and personae management. Arena simulation exercises are common, including things like operating in the dark, on little sleep, or with little water or food. Tributes are invited to stay in dormitories at the training facility, and while it is highly encouraged, and most do most of the time, it isn't mandatory. Ties with family are expected to be minimalised, but are still permitted, and the average tribute will visit their family every two weeks to a month. Trips into the wilderness to assess survival training, during which the tributes are literally airlifted into a remote location and told to find their way back to civilization with nothing but a small pack of supplies on their back, and expected to take about a week (they have trackers so they'll know if anything goes wrong), take place on a yearly basis.
Deaths during training are infrequent, but they do occur. This will either result in going back to the pool of candidates who were cut and reselecting (especially if they're fifteen), or waiting until the following year to pick an extra candidate from the new batch of fifteens. Both have happened before.
Author: kath_synecdoche
Rating: PG.
Warnings: Cruelty to animals, death, Career brainwashing. Non-graphic on all counts.
Summary: My understanding/thoughts on how training in District Two might work. Not a story but an essay, probably not terribly exciting to all that many people.
A/N: Produced because I was considering Nero and Decima for the 61st Hunger Games. Definitely not definitive, just my head!canon. Un-beta'd.
From the time they're five until the time they're eleven, every child in District Two takes part in the Exercise and Awareness Program. It's basically like a cross between Boy Scouts and gym class. It starts out largely games like tag and capture the flag and such and walks in the woods and visits down the mines or into major defense facilities or to watch the selected tributes train or past arenas, and gradually incorporates more survival skills, hand-to-hand combat/self-defense type activities, and first attempts at wielding spears/guns/bow and arrows/knives/swords/etc. the way you did archery in summer camp kind of deal. There's no chance to opt out, but there are extra opportunities for trips/building skills/camping expeditions/special activities like rock climbing and swimming and such/etc. if the kids (and their parents) are interested. It's all without cost, so there's no barrier to entry that way. (If your kid is interested and you say no, YOU LOOK REALLY BAD.) Some degree of 'it's an honour to do what Panem needs you for' brainwashing happens here, but far more of that takes place in school and classes.
Age eleven (up to almost-twelve, it's a yearly deal), brings standardised testing which determines future paths. It takes about three weeks, and happens about a month after the end of the Hunger Games. There are three main streams that a kid can end up in - tribute, military, or masonry. Both military and masonry are sub-divided, but that happens much later on.
The first tests are basic physical and mental tests, and everyone does them. The mental test is basic IQ and logic, basic writing, math, counting, as well as a section on the History of Panem. It's a day long thing, divided into several parts. The physical test is for endurance, strength, coordination, flexibility, speed, etc. It takes three days to do. After this point, about half of the kids are cut out, and marked for the masonry stream. This also tends to include those who didn't take advantage of the extra opportunities during the Exercise and Awareness Program, unless they are remarkable or reported that their parents didn't want them to despite their own enthusiasm. There's little shame in being cut at this point, though no honour either. Their schooling continues as usual, with emphasis on masonry and stonework.
The second round of tests features three parts: survival skills, weapon skills, and hand-to-hand skills. Survival skills come first and take a day, and failures in this test are limited to either military or masonry streams, but they continue testing. The next component is hand-to-hand combat skills, which takes two days to assess, but only one of active testing for kids. Failures in this are noted, but not yet eliminated. Finally, there is the weapon skills testing, which takes place over the course of three days, and tests numerous skills. Tributes who show special interest or skill with guns are noted for the military, while melee weapons and non-power range weapons get special notice for the tribute stream. A round of elimination happens at the end of this, for those who have no skill in either weapons or hand-to-hand, as neither stream needs people of that sort. Likely candidates for the tribute stream are generally numbered about twenty at this point, with the remaining candidates being These people join the masonry stream.
The final test is known as the kill test, and it has reached near legendary proportions. Everyone knows how it works well before you get there, and has considered possible strategies. This portion of the testing only requires an hour of the candidates' time, but takes five days to administer, due to the numbers inherent. Candidates are put in a room with a large array of weapons and a mouse in a cage. The room is sealed, the cage door is opened remotely, and the candidate has an hour to kill the mouse. They can use whatever they want, take as much time as they want, whatever, and there's definitely no right way to do it. All of the Victors and some of the military heads are watching to see what they do, though, so there's quite a bit of pressure. The Victors get the first choice of candidate for who they want in their stream, and are mostly watching to determine who of their already determined short-list they want, though there is always an eye out for surprises who might make things interesting.
After all of these tests and some deliberation, 5 children from each gender are chosen for the tribute stream. The parents of each child are consulted. While they have the right to say no, it is rare as it casts substantial suspicion on the family. The child themselves are then consulted, and have the option to say no. It is considered quite reasonable for them to do this, as their general principle for refusing (when they do, which is still quite rare) is something as simple as "I want to shoot guns and stuff" or... the like. Non-politically-charged, and they are determining their life's path. If this happens then another will be chosen.
If the mouse is still alive after an hour, then the candidate is instantly branded for masonry. Those who pass the kill test, but are not selected for the tribute stream go into the military stream, which has a different school system from the masonry stream.
Tribute training for elevens and twelves builds on the skills that they've already demonstrated, and creates others. Survival skills are a focus for these age groups, until they're almost second nature. Weapons skills and hand-to-hand combat is increased to the level of all-around competency. Their hours in more typical schooling are limited to the mornings, when they attend the military stream of schools. This focuses on history, duty, and the like, and is the continuation of their brainwashing. Late nights at the training center are typical, up until eight pm on most nights, and weekend trips to the woods for training in survival techniques, lasting in the elements, and familiarity with the outdoors are a bi-weekly occurrence at the minimum.
At thirteen, the size of the tribute group is cut by two of each gender, who are almost always immediately taken in by the military stream. This cut generally follows a second kill test, with half the time, a much more limited array of weapons, and a larger animal - usually a cat or a dog. The threat of being cut encourages competition and super-active participation, and the cut also eliminates those who think they can coast, aren't willing to work hard, aren't properly brainwashed, or for whom puberty has done no favours for in terms of appearance.
The smaller group continues to be trained by experienced professionals, and specializations are developed. The number of hours spent in training increases, with later nights and early mornings as well. Weekend trips become the norm, morning classes are dropped entirely at fourteen, and kill tests are sprung with little to no warning, sometimes even with all of them in the same room. Development of personae for media consumption begins here, as does practice in interviews and stylist's chairs. Interaction with Victors and older tributes becomes increasingly normal. Diet and exercise are strictly monitored and supplements and steroids are given to speed up and emphasize growth. It's demanding work, with little time off.
Age fifteen sees a new challenge, monitored closely by the Victors who mentored the previous year's tributes (and the new Victor if there is one). This is also a kill test, but while the test at eleven is mythic, this one is rarely, if ever, discussed, and so candidates are unable to prepare themselves in advance. Each candidate is given the chance to choose one weapon to bring into the room with them, where they face a human victim (generally a prisoner, left unbound to make things interesting). The tribute has half an hour to kill them.
Candidates who fail this test are generally pulled into the military stream, and noted for leadership positions. While failure can consist of not killing the victim, that is very rare, given the degree of skill, desensitization, and brainwashing at play. Generally it simply comes down to another tribute being preferred for the spot, and sometimes decisions will be all but made before the kill test even takes place. As with the first kill test, there's no right way to manage it, and the technique that wins someone a spot one year may not work the next.
From here on out, there's generally just one tribute in each cohort. They're pared with a Vicotr who oversees their training and who will be their future mentor. This builds up an invaluable rapport between them, because the mentor will be better able to respond to the tribute's limits and needs in the Arena. From this point on, they are free to decide when they would like to volunteer, and so some ambitious types will try to go in early and be impressive. This rarely succeeds, unless there isn't someone in the 18 cohort, because older tributes, with fewer opportunities, get the first call for volunteering, and no eighteen-year-old in the tribute stream isn't going to volunteer.
Training at this stage is intensely focused on individual strengths and weaknesses. About half of the average day is spent in physical exercises, some under close trainer supervision, and some more self-guided. The remainder is spent in technique workshops, viewing recordings of practices looking for ways to improve, watching past games to analyze strategies for effectiveness, practicing survival skills, and perfecting media and personae management. Arena simulation exercises are common, including things like operating in the dark, on little sleep, or with little water or food. Tributes are invited to stay in dormitories at the training facility, and while it is highly encouraged, and most do most of the time, it isn't mandatory. Ties with family are expected to be minimalised, but are still permitted, and the average tribute will visit their family every two weeks to a month. Trips into the wilderness to assess survival training, during which the tributes are literally airlifted into a remote location and told to find their way back to civilization with nothing but a small pack of supplies on their back, and expected to take about a week (they have trackers so they'll know if anything goes wrong), take place on a yearly basis.
Deaths during training are infrequent, but they do occur. This will either result in going back to the pool of candidates who were cut and reselecting (especially if they're fifteen), or waiting until the following year to pick an extra candidate from the new batch of fifteens. Both have happened before.