In order to become a GM, you must pass through the GMT program. There are four requirements for entrance into the program:

Then, you'll be paired with a Gamemaster Mentor (GMM) and together, you two will be placed on a ship. At the end of the mission, if all goes well, you'll become a Junior Gamemaster (JGM).

After you take the GM exam, and meet the requirements listed in FAQ #2, you'll be given a GMM, who is an experienced GM, to provide guidance in planning your first mission and to advise you as necessary on how to run it. Then, you and your GMM will locate a ship to run your mission on. You'll have 60 days to run your mission under his/her watch. At the end of the 60 days, the CO of the ship, your GMM, and the GMDir will convene to decide if you've done well. If you have, the GMM will be removed and you'll continue on to finish your mission. At the end of the mission, you'll become a JGM and be a licensed GM.

Yes.

After you pass the GM exam, you're considered to be a prospective GM. Once everything is in order and you're waiting to be placed on a ship, you're considered to be a GMT. After your training mission is finished successfully, you'll become a JGM automatically. From there on out, you have to apply for any classification increases. After you complete three successful missions or you've been GMing actively for 18 months, you can apply to become a FGM (full Gamemaster). After you complete ten successful missions or you've been GMing actively for three years, you can apply to become an AGM (advanced Gamemaster). After you complete twenty successful missions or you've been GMing actively for five years, you can apply to become a SGM (senior Gamemaster). You can't count your training mission toward any increase after JGM. All classification increases must include proper documentation in the GM Archive and are at the discretion of the Gamemaster Director.

As a GMM, your primary purpose is to advise the GMT in all steps of running their first mission. This includes everything from the planning through the actual execution. After 60 days, you convene with the CO and GMDir to decide if the GMT is ready to be out on his or her own. If your GMT needs more time to prove that s/he is ready to be on his or her own, you may request an unlimited number of 30-day extensions to remain on board to observe. If s/he is ready to fly solo, you'll be removed from the ship, however, you're still your GMT's best resource for any questions s/he might have. In the event that your GMT is removed before their initial 60 days are complete, you'll be obligated to wrap up their mission for continuity's sake. After the initial training period, you'll not be obligated to do so, however, as the person who probably knows the most about the mission, it's highly encouraged.

GMMs must be FGM classification or higher. If you meet this requirement, all you need to do is email the GMDir and you'll be placed on a list. Most likely, you'll be assigned a GMT when you're already on the ship that s/he is going to GM.

Sometimes a ship ends up getting destroyed in the course of a mission. The GM cannot do that on his own, however. The GM, CO, and Fleet Commander must all agree for a ship to be destroyed. Otherwise, the GM will have to find some other means of being destructive. When a ship is destroyed it is normally replaced with a new ship of the same name and class, but with a letter extension (e.g., NCC-1701-A becomes NCC-1701-B). If the new ship is going to have a new name or class, that is between the CO and the President as it requires a Presidential Edict.

Sometimes a player (or the GM) may make a post that unwittingly ignores something that already happened, is completely unrealistic, or breaks some law of physics (Star Trek or real) or STF. In those cases, either the person who posted the note or the GM may declare the post "void"; it then never happened. If the GM does so, he must also say why. The GM should not void posts that do something the didn't expect, only those that are “irreconcilable with the actions in one or more other posts; with the laws of STF, reason, or decency; or with previously established RPG events.”

Under normal circumstances, Gamemasters may not cause the death of a character on a ship that is controlled by a member of STF. The situations in which a Gamemaster may cause the death of a character on a ship that is not a Non-Player Character (Nameless Ensign) are as follows:

Don't be too quick to issue Death Notices! Often there are better ways to handle a situation, and the GM may not place a character in a position where death is the only option. Unlike the real world, there must always be a way out.