Ranks

== Officers ==
Starfleet Officers spend 4 years at Starfleet Academy before they receive their commission as an Ensign. Medical Officers can stay for two years longer and graduate as a Lieutenant JG.
* Ensign: The lowest officer rank, typically held for at least three-seven years after graduating the Academy, before being promoted to Lieutenant JG. All officers on the USS Odyssey start as ensigns. Click here to learn about promotions.
* Lieutenant JG (Lt. JG): Lieutenant Junior Grade is a common low level officer rank. Assistant Department Heads can hold this rank.
* Lieutenant (Lt.): Lieutenants can be both department heads or assistant department heads. 
* Lieutenant Commander (Lt. Cmdr): This rank is rarer aboard a starship, typically only held by department heads. A first officer can also be a Lt. Commander.
* Commander (Cmdr): Normally the first officer. Most ships will only have one commander, but more senior crews might have commanders as department heads.
* Captain: Typically the highest rank found on a starship. It is not the highest rank available, but it is one of the highest sought after ranks, since captain's command starships.
== Enlisted ==
Enlisted crew rank below officers. Instead of attending the Academy, they attend the Starfleet Technical Services Academy on Mars for a year or two. They receive basic training and some specialized courses before being assigned to a Starship as a crewman.
* Crewmen 3rd Class --> Crewman 2nd Class --> Crewman 1st Class
Crewman may take a series of tests to become an Petty Officer.
* Petty Officer 3rd Class --> Petty Officer 2nd Class --> Petty Officer 1st Class --> Chief Petty Officer --> Senior Chief Petty Officer --> Master Chief Petty Officer