Starfleet Ranks

Starfleet, while claiming to not a be a military organization does require discipline similar if not identical to a military organization. As a result of this ranks are used to determine a person's place within the discipline. Starfleet being a real meritocracy one can usually depend on rank also defining the person's competence to have the rank.
Rank Indicators: All rank indicator are worn on the right collar 
=Epiphany Trek=
==Enlisted ranks as of 2310 (E-0 to E-7)==
All Starfleet personnel are highly trained. Enlisted crewman no less than the officers. Enlisted rank simply indicates the crewman does not wish to pursue a career in Starfleet or to endure the competitive nature of the Academy. As every Technician in the fleet is a specialist no specialist grades exist.
===Recruit===
Introductory rank for enlistees in Starfleet. Below everyone. 
*Ranking: E-0 No indicators 
*Addressed as: "Recruit", introduced as "Mister". 
*Fleet Role: A position in the rank structure for those that know nothing as of yet.
===Technician===
rightTrained personnel, Lowest enlisted rank. 
*Ranking: E-1 A gray box outlined in gold 
*Addressed as: Mister, introduced as "Mister" 
*Fleet Role: Ending the period of "formal" training and starting the "on the job" training. Technicians serve as the majority of the forces in Starfleet both on base and on ships.
===Technician, First Class===
rightPersonnel considered to be experienced in service. The second lowest enlisted rank. 
*Ranking: E-2 A gray box outlined in gold with one gold chevron. 
*Addressed as: "Mister", introduced as "Mister" 
*Fleet Role: Promotion and pay grade after the first year of service. Some Recruits that show particular promise are graduated at this rank. Technicians First Class are considered fully competent both in their profession and in matters Starfleet.
===Technician, Expert===
rightAn experienced enlisted personnel. Ranks above other Enlisted ranks but below all NCO ranks. Highest ranking Enlisted rank. 
*Ranking: E-3 A gray box outlined in gold with two gold chevrons. 
*Addressed as: "Mister" Introduced as: "Mister" 
*Fleet Role: Senior enlisted personnel. Indicates a Technician of experience and/or above normal competence in their field.
===Petty Officer, Third Class===
rightEnlisted personnel with a minimum of one tour. This the lowest non commissioned officer rank. They rank above all Technicians, and below everyone else. 
*Ranking: E-4 A gray box outlined in gold with three gold chevrons. 
*Addressed as: "Mister" Introduced as: "Petty Officer". 
*Fleet Role: Senior enlisted personnel.<BR>
===Petty Officer, Second Class===
rightEnlisted personnel with a minimum of one tour and a year in grade as a Petty Officer Third Class. 
*Ranking: E-5 A gray box outlined in gold with three gold chevrons and a gold dot. 
*Addressed as: "Mister" Introduced as: "Petty Officer". 
*Fleet Role: Experienced Non commissioned officers. Second class Petty officers fill many staff positions.
===Petty Officer, First Class===
rightEnlisted personnel with a minimum of two tours of duty. 
*Ranking: E-6 A gray box outlined in gold with three gold chevrons and two gold dots. 
*Addressed as: "Mister" Introduced as: "Petty Officer". 
*Fleet Role: Experienced experts in their field. Small ships (under 5000 tons) may have their entire officer complement except for the CO consist of Petty Officer's, First Class.
===Chief Petty Officer===
rightEnlisted personnel with a minimum of three tours of duty. Top enlisted rank. 
*Ranking: E-7 A gray box outlined in gold with three gold chevrons and three gold dots. 
*Addressed as: "Chief" Introduced as: "Chief Petty Officer" 
*Fleet Role: Leaders of non commissioned officers. Examples to look up to. A Chief must have at least 15 years in the fleet, and frequently has more. Meeting the minimum standards is not enough to make Chief under most circumstances. 
*Notes:The Chief Petty Officer is considered the font of wisdom and experience in the fleet. These persons have far more experience than any Ensign, and more than most Lieutenants. While these officers might outrank the Chief Petty Officer, those than fail to listen to them are considered fools by higher ranking officers, and not looked at favorably for advancement. A good Commanding Officer will take one Chief over a dozen junior officers if the choice must be made.
==Cadet Ranks as of 2310 (C0 to C4)==
Cadets are officer trainees. They attend Starfleet Academy either at the San Francisco campus or at other locations throughput the Federation. Cadets are ranked with the structure of the Academy to accustom them to the idea of rank. Ranks usually follow the year of schooling the Cadet is currently attending. Unusual circumstances can change this.
Cadets taking Academy classes aboard ship are considered Midshipmen from the start, and ranked accordingly. 
 
===Cadet, Plebe===
rightOfficer Trainee. Plebes are the boot camp "pre-schooling" section of the Acadmey held while the Seniors are on their Cadet Cruise. 
*Ranking: C-0 Cadets wear an identifying uniform. 
*Addressed as: "Mister" Introduced as: "Cadet" 
*Fleet Role: Position for officer trainees. 
*Notes: The "Plebe Weeks" are a frank attempt to make you quit. It involves physical training and an introduction to discipline. It is also a test of the Juniors that largely run the boot camp under the watchful eye of the instructors. As much a test of how they handle authority in a situation ripe for abuse as a test of the Plebe's determination to get into the Academy.
===Midshipman Fourth class===
rightOfficer Trainee. Ranks over no one 
*Ranking: O-0 Freshmen wear an identifying uniform, and one black oval. 
*Addressed as: "Mister" Introduced as: "Cadet" 
*Fleet Role: Position for officer trainees in the first year of school.
===Midshipman Third Class===
Officer Trainee. Ranks over no one 
*Ranking: C-2 Sophomores wear an identifying uniform, and two black ovals. 
*Addressed as: "Mister" Introduced as: "Cadet" 
*Fleet Role: Position for officer trainees in the second year of school.
===Midshipman, Second Class===
rightOfficer Trainee. Ranks over no one 
*Ranking: C-3 Juniors wear an identifying uniform, and three black ovals. 
*Addressed as: "Mister" Introduced as: "Cadet" 
*Fleet Role: Position for officer trainees in the third year of school.
===Cadet, Senior===
rightOfficer Trainee. Ranks over no one.
*Ranking: C-4 Seniors wear an identifying uniform, and four black ovals. 
*Addressed as: "Mister" Introduced as: "Cadet" 
*Fleet Role: Position for officer trainees in the fourth year of school.
Post Graduate students at Starfleet Academy will be commissioned officers, not cadets.
==Officer Ranks as of 2310 (O-0 to O-13)==
The Officers are the heart and soul of the Fleet. Each is highly trained and motivated to the task to which they have sworn themselves. Officers can be divided into three groups.<BR>
Junior officers, the bulk of the corp.<BR>
Line officers, upon whom the majority of command decisions rest, and<BR>
Flag officers who set and often enforce policy within the Fleet.
===Midshipman===
rightCadets serving in active duty Starfleet positions. Ranks under Ensigns, and if smart listens to NCOs carefully. 
*Ranking:O-0 Midshipmen wear a single hollow gold pip. 
*Addressed as: "Mister" Introduced as: Midshipman. 
*Fleet Role: A place within the rank structure for trainees in an active duty setting. 
*Historical Note: Prior to the 19th century the Midshipman was an officer trainee aboard ship. An on the job training program or apprenticeship.<P>During the 19th century, changes in the training of naval officers in both the Royal Navy and the U.S. replaced apprenticeship aboard ships with formal schooling in a naval college, and the role of midshipman changed accordingly. Midshipman began to mean an officer cadet at a naval college. Trainees now spent around four years in a college instead of seven years at sea prior to promotion to commissioned officer rank.
===Ensign===
right Lowest ranking full commissioned officer position. Out ranks all enlisted personnel, is outranked by everyone else.<BR>
*Ranking: O-1 Ensigns wear a single solid gold pip on the collar. 
*Addressed as: "Ensign" Introduced as: "Ensign" 
*Fleet Role: A place for an officer's on the job training to begin. The "wet behind the ears, over eager Ensign" is a standing joke that has real incidents to back it.
===Lieutenant, Junior Grade===
rightAn admission that you have what it takes to cut it. 
*Ranking: O-2 Lieutenant jg wears a solid gold pip and a hollow gold pip on the collar. 
*Addressed as: "Lieutenant" Introduced as: "Lieutenant JG" 
*Fleet Role: Rank and pay grade for officers with a minimum of two years duty. Promotion is more often given at the end of a tour of duty. Cadets going straight into Command School will be graduated at this rank. Lieutenants jg and full Lieutenants form the core of the Starfleet officer corp and account for over 80% of all officers in Starfleet.
===Lieutenant===
rightHighest ranked non "line" officer.<BR>
*Ranking: O-3 Lieutenants wear two solid gold pips on the collar.<BR>
*Addressed as: "Lieutenant" Introduced as: "Lieutenant"<BR>
*Fleet Role: Rank and pay grade for Lieutenants with at least two years in grade as a Lieutenant jg. It is most often awarded at the end of a tour of duty. Lieutenants form the bulk of Starfleet officers. Many Starfleet officers will never rise above this rank and are considered no less for it. They prefer to concentrate on the task and not command. Senior Lieutenants will sometimes command ships of under 10,000 tons.
===Lieutenant Commander===
rightFirst of the "line" ranks. Officers trained in command.
*Ranking: O-4 Lieutenant Commanders wear two solid gold pips and a hollow gold pip on the collar. 
*Addressed as: "Commander" Introduced as: "Lieutenant Commander" 
*Fleet Role: Lieutenant Commander is considered the minimum rank to command any ship over 10,000 tons to 30,000. This rank is also typically awarded to department heads on ships over 50,000 tons. It is the highest rank anyone can achieve without command training, or medical specialty.
===Commander===
rightSenior officer trained in command. 
*Ranking: O-5 Commanders wear three solid gold pips on the collar. 
*Addressed as: "Commander" Introduced as: "Commander" 
*Fleet Role: This rank is never awarded automatically. "Commander" is the required rank to command ships over 30,000 tons, or support vessels of greater tonnage, and is usually the rank of first officers of ships over 50,000 tons. It is also the primary staff rank for the aide-de-camp of Admirals.
===Captain===
rightThis rank is considered the pinnacle for most officers in conjunction with command of a ship.<BR>
*Ranking: O-6 Captains wear four solid gold pips on the collar. 
*Addressed as: "Captain" Introduced as: "Captain" 
*Fleet Role: Primary ship command for vessels over 50,000 tons. Minor base commanders. A captain in command of a vessel outranks anyone else on the vessel except a Commodore or an Admiral. Even senior Captains cannot over rule him.
===Fleet Captain===
rightMerit badge for long or luminous service. A Fleet Captain will outrank any Captain, but not a Commodore. 
*Ranking: O-7 Fleet Captains wear four solid gold pips and a hollow one on the collar. 
*Addressed as: "Captain", introduced as "Fleet Captain" 
*Fleet Role: Reward for long or meritorious service. Fleet Captains are in command of single ships as a rule. Fleet Captains commanding bases would only be doing so due to some disablement that makes then unfit for starship duty, but leaves them fit enough for base command. 
*Historical Note: "Fleet Captain" was the rank given the Captain of the Flagship in a fleet in the days of wood and sail navies. It was a position of patronage for the Admiral of said fleet as he could pick his own Captain under most circumstances. Most Admirals would want the Captain with the greatest experience possible as commanding officer of their Flagship.
===Commodore===
rightBrevet rank for Captains commanding other Captains. It is seldom used as a permanent rank unless in times of war. A Commodore will outrank any Captain or Fleet Captain, they are outranked by any Admiral. 
*Ranking: O-8 A Commodore wears five solid pips on the collar. 
*Addressed as: "Commodore", introduced as "Commodore". 
*Fleet Role: Making clear the chain of command in a fleet situation. You will never see a Commodore when an Admiral is present unless the fleet is divided into sub-fleets, and the over all command is under a Rear Admiral. "Commodore" is a rank willingly shed by Captains in active duty. Commodore is also the rank of a Captain in command of a base that must give orders to Captains. In Epiphany Trek Sisko would have been addressed as "Commodore" during the war. A permanent rank of Commodore is rare. In times of war when more fleet commanders are needed than are available, and the desire not to swell the flag ranks exists Commodores will spring up. Such officers might retain the rank after the crisis, but are treated as very senior Fleet Captains, and within a reasonable time will get kicked to Rear Admiral. Commodore is also used as term of respect for Captains, dead heading on another's ship. Or for retired Captains traveling on Starfleet ships. In these cases the "rank" confers no command authority.
*Historical Note: This is consistent with usage for the rank throughout Earth history. It is rare or absent in times of peace, and used during times of crisis or war.
===Rear Admiral===
rightBottom rung of the "flag ranks". 
*Ranking: O-9 A Rear Admiral wears one solid gold pip encased in a gold box on the collar. 
*Addressed as: "Admiral", introduced as "Rear Admiral". 
*Fleet Role: command of large stations or starbases and small standing fleets. Rear Admirals are often the vice department heads of Starfleet command.
*Historical Note:The Rear Admiral was created to handle an issue in the naval tactics of the 18th and 19th centuries. The long lines of battle became unwieldy to command, and senior commanders were placed and the front and rear of the line. You put your best, or Vice Admiral at the front, and the second best at the rear, hence Rear Admiral.
===Vice Admiral===
right
*Ranking: O-10 A Vice Admiral wears two solid gold pips encased in a gold box on the collar. 
*Addressed as: "Admiral", introduced as "Vice Admiral". 
*Fleet Role: Command of major bases, sub-sector command, senior staff positions at Starfleet command.
*Historical Note:The Vice Admiral was created to handle an issue in the naval tactics of the 18th and 19th centuries. The long lines of battle became unwieldy to command, and senior commanders were placed and the front and rear of the line. You put your best, or Vice Admiral at the front.
===Admiral===
right
*Ranking: O-11 An Admiral wears three solid gold pips encased in a gold box on the collar.<BR>
*Addressed as: "Admiral", introduced as "Admiral".<BR>
*Fleet Role: Command of major sectors, Department heads at Starfleet command.
===Fleet Admiral===
rightHighest normal military rank in Starfleet. 
*Ranking: O-12 A Fleet Admiral wears four solid gold pips encased in a gold box on the collar. 
*Addressed as: "Admiral", introduced as "Fleet Admiral". 
*Fleet Role: Head of Starfleet divisions. Galaxy Exploration command, Military Command, Colony Command etc.. Only one Fleet Admiral per division will exist at any given time, and they with the General of the Marines form Starfleet Command Staff. The head of this body is the President of the Federation, and is represented by the Secretary of Starfleet. The most senior member of this group is called the Chief of Staff, and is the most senior Starfleet liaison with the Federation President and Federation Council.
===Admiral of Starfleet===
Only seen during prolonged crisis. The promotion must be approved by the Federation Council. 
*Ranking: O-13 Admiral of Starfleet would wear five pips in a box, if one existed. The last officer to hold this rank was Admiral Richard Barnard during the Romulan War. His insignia was five stars in line worn on the front of the right shoulder.<BR>
*Addressed as: "Admiral" Introduced as: "Admiral of Starfleet"<BR>
*Fleet Role: Immediate decisions as required during prolonged war. An Admiral of Starfleet steps in and takes direct control of all Starfleet resources and allocates without advising civilian authority. The Admiral of Starfleet is appointed by the President of the Federation, and approved by the Federation Council. The Federation President can remove or demote this person without approve of the Council. Replacement does require Council approval.
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