Being a military organisation, there is rank amongst the personnel in the Colonial fleet, and it works like this:
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Cadets are recruits who have just joined the Colonial Fleet and are undergoing basic training to familiarise them with military protocols, procedure and equipment. Every single Warrior and Fleet crewman was a cadet at one point, and there are no exceptions to this rule, although depending on experience and progress, not everyones Cadet years last the same time. After basic training, cadets are sent to ships where they learn more practical hands on training in the field. The term flight cadet is used for Warriors and shuttle pilots.
A First Orbit Cadet is a term used to describe a cadet who's just taken their first solo flight in a fighter or shuttle.
Cadets do not wear any rank pins nor do they wear any braid markings on their sleeves or around the upper chest.
Once basic training is over, cadets that pass are enlisted properly into the Fleet and become either Ensigns on Navy ships, or Warriors if they are Viper pilots. From here on, the crewmen is expected to function and perfom just like a professional solder and not like a cadet. Many find that life changes dramatically for them at this point as they assigned Vipers, sent on missions and so on.
There is a second grade to this rank - 1st Class, which is used to reward long term or distinguished personnel. Note that you do not need to be a 1st Class to be upped another rank. All grades of this rank are simply called Warrior or Ensign.
Warriors do not wear any rank pins but they do they wear a single braid gold and black braid around their upper chest.
It is important to note that all Warriors (whatever their rank) wear two pins on their flight jackets. These denote the ship that the Warrior comes from and also serves to identify the wearer as a Colonial Warrior. It does not denote any actual rank.
Corporal is the first of the non-commissioned ranks. A corporal has more standing than a standard crewman, and in situations of command has the authority to command a squad of 4 Warriors or a small group of crewmen. There is a second and third grade to this rank - Leading Corporal and Senior Corporal which is used to denote to senority and position within the Corporal grade. Neither are required for promotion to the next rank.
Corporals are allowed to show their rank by wearing a single braid around their chests and also a single braid around their cuffs.
Sergeant is the highest non-commissoned rank in Fleet service. Warior Sergeants are referred to as Flight Sergeants. Sergeants are used to command Warrior fighter flights or a small department on a starship. Sergeants are generally considered to be the backbone of the Fleet as they keep the crew and Warriors in line and sometimes can have fearsome reputations rivalling that of the ship commander themselves!
Sergeants have a single braid on their upper chests and cuffs and in addition, wear a single rank pin.
The Lieutenant is the first commissioned officer rank of the Fleet and Warrior service arms. A Lieutenant is usually in charge of a mission or a wing of fighters, but not usually a starship. There are two grades to this rank - 2nd Class and 1st Class, with 1st Class being the more senior.
Warrior Lieutenants wears a single braid around their upper chest and cuffs and wear two rank pins.
Fleet Lieutenants wear the blue command uniform. They have a single silver braid around their chests and wrists and wear a single rank pin.
Captain is the next commissioned rank and is an actual command rank for the Fleet. A captain has command over small military vessels (like Light Cruisers) or is an executive officer on larger vessels like Destroyers.
Captain is the last rank for Colonial Warriors, after that, their command structure is the Fleet structure, and on ships where there is a Warrior Captain and a Fleet Captain, the Fleet Captain takes overall command.
Civilians like to use this title a lot when they own their own starship, but military and civilian ranks are not usually compatable.
Warrior Captains wear two rank pins and have gold braiding on their chests as well as two braided strips on their cuffs. Warrior Captains can sometimes be found with the Fleet Dress Uniform if they have done something to earn it (such as command a Fleet vessel in times of need), although it is up to the individual officer to decide when and if to wear that.
Fleet Captains wear the blue command uniform, carry two ranks pin and have a single braid around their chest and wrist cuff.
Colonel is the start of the Fleet Only ranks (and thus all Warriors fall under the command of a Colonel). A colonel is the lowest rank to command larger than Light Cruiser ships, such as the Destroyer, and they are second in command to larger vessels (such as the Battlestars).
Colonels wear the blue command uniform and have two rank pins. They have a braided band around their upper chest and in addition have a single silver braid around each cuff.
The rank of Commander starts the list of Flag ranks in the Fleet. A flag rank is one where the duties of the commander not only consist of directly running their own ship, but also the planning and strategy of an attached squadron of support ships. Commander is the required rank for command of large capital ships, such as the Gunstars and Battlestars.
Fleet Commanders are the next grade of this rank, and like it says, Fleet Commanders are responsible for an entire fleet of support and attack vessels.
After Fleet Commanders comes the Rear Fleet Commander which is more of an administrative position than actual field rank. The Rear Fleet Commander duties include looking after the administrative side of the action, keeping track of all the fleets in the field and seeing that their needs are met.
Finally, at the top of the chain sits the Commander of the Fleets. The Commander of the Fleets is responsible for all Colonial Fleet action and reports to the President of the Council of Twelve directly.
A Commander wears the blue fleet uniform with a silver braid around the chest and two silver braids sperated by a thick solid silver line around their cuffs. They have two rank pins. In addition, many Commanders wear a large silver medallion around their neck (usually the design of the ship they are serving on, but it can be different, such as a political or council symbol), especially if their hold additional duties. Fleet Commanders may, in addition, wear an extra silver braid running down the sides of their uniform. Usually this is an thin item of extra clothing that is worn over the uniform, but sometimes is sewn onto the uniform itself.
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Rank pinsA Warrior or Fleet crewman is allowed to wear up to two rank pins to denote their rank. If one pin is worn, then it is worn in the centre of the neckline of the uniform. If two pins are worn, they are worn on each side of the collar. While rank pin locations never change, the actual pin design may as several capital ships use their own design. |
For my notes on the Colonial Ranks, please see here.
