Wait, are you using Macross or Robotech? For Macross, the only VFs that normal physcal combat would have anything to do with would be the YF-22, VF-27, and the ones that use EXGear - they have direct brain control, though the EXGear toned it down to avoid the problems Guld had with the machine acting on impulses he had no conscious intention of actually carrying out. Roboblecch of course supposedly has the "thinking caps" and mystical mumbo jumbo... but in Macross at least, variable fighters are operated by moving joysticks and pedals, which, even if there is some degree of armature style mimicking of arm movements, doesn't really translate to fighting outside the cockpit. On the other hand, we do see the VF-0 pilots specifically having a training session in unarmed combat long before that time frame, so that might be my own interpretations showing through.
What distinguishes "close quarters combat" from hand to hand anyway? Being armed with knives/knuckledusters/etc.? The rest of your list I'd agree with, and also throw in the use of sensor and communications systems, orbital mechanics, terrestrial and space-based navigation, and how to move and fight while remaining in control of your motion in zero-g. I would expect most of them to have a healthy interest in life support systems and maintenance as well, as if the cockpit air scrubber craps out while they're way the hell out on a patrol somewhere, they can either fix it or hold their breath until they make it back to a ship - this in particular always irritated me about the hard separation between the pilot and bio-maintenance techs in Palladium's rendition of the setting for games. It's hardly Palladium's greatest sin, however.
Depending on time frame, the basics of superdimension theory and fold navigation would also apply, for pilots trained on VFs that can use Fold Boosters or have their own built in.
As for mechanical maintenance... even in proper Macross where transforming mecha are a human innovation, they still had the example of Protoculture technology in the ASS-1's systems plus whatever Zentready units that were still aboard, and that stuff was seriously built to last - forget decades, it's hundreds of thousands of years since the Protoculture wiped itself out against the Protodeviln, and not all, but enough that billion-strong fleets of Zentreadi ships are a thing, of their automated factory satellites are still functional, as was a Protoculture AI that the Macross 7 fleet found, up until Protodeviln-controlled Varuta forces destroyed it.
--
"Anko, what you do in your free time is your own choice. Use it wisely. And if you do not use it wisely, make sure you thoroughly enjoy whatever unwise thing you are doing." - HymnOfRagnorok as Orochimaru at SpaceBattles
woot Med. Eng., verb, 1st & 3rd pers. prsnt. sg. know, knows
What distinguishes "close quarters combat" from hand to hand anyway? Being armed with knives/knuckledusters/etc.? The rest of your list I'd agree with, and also throw in the use of sensor and communications systems, orbital mechanics, terrestrial and space-based navigation, and how to move and fight while remaining in control of your motion in zero-g. I would expect most of them to have a healthy interest in life support systems and maintenance as well, as if the cockpit air scrubber craps out while they're way the hell out on a patrol somewhere, they can either fix it or hold their breath until they make it back to a ship - this in particular always irritated me about the hard separation between the pilot and bio-maintenance techs in Palladium's rendition of the setting for games. It's hardly Palladium's greatest sin, however.
Depending on time frame, the basics of superdimension theory and fold navigation would also apply, for pilots trained on VFs that can use Fold Boosters or have their own built in.
As for mechanical maintenance... even in proper Macross where transforming mecha are a human innovation, they still had the example of Protoculture technology in the ASS-1's systems plus whatever Zentready units that were still aboard, and that stuff was seriously built to last - forget decades, it's hundreds of thousands of years since the Protoculture wiped itself out against the Protodeviln, and not all, but enough that billion-strong fleets of Zentreadi ships are a thing, of their automated factory satellites are still functional, as was a Protoculture AI that the Macross 7 fleet found, up until Protodeviln-controlled Varuta forces destroyed it.
--
"Anko, what you do in your free time is your own choice. Use it wisely. And if you do not use it wisely, make sure you thoroughly enjoy whatever unwise thing you are doing." - HymnOfRagnorok as Orochimaru at SpaceBattles
woot Med. Eng., verb, 1st & 3rd pers. prsnt. sg. know, knows