Classification of Bungie employees

Bungie Employees are the people who work *full-time* at Bungie Studios. They are also classified into teams depending on how long they've been with Bungie, but it’s all in good fun for the yearly Pentathlon. Some may be Newbies in their first year, or a Grizzled Ancient in their eighth year. Take a closer look at the teams below.

Looking for more employee information? Try List of Bungie Employees and Employee Anniversary Gifts.

## The Teams

There are currently eight teams at Bungie made up of employees: **Newbies**, **Kinderguardians**, **Middle School**, **High School**, **Old Skool**, **Iron Lords**, **Council of Elders**, and **Grizzled Ancients**.

There are also **Disembodied Souls** who have been at Bungie for so long that they have lost all semblance of who they were. They are older Grizzled Ancients who started joining other teams to pad them out and give guidance in 2013.

From at least 2004 to 2016-2017, the teams consisted of Newbies, Middle School, Old Skool, and Grizzle Ancients. Somewhere around 2016-2017, Kinderguardians, High School, Irons Lords, and Council of Elders were added, based off of Bungie's Weekly Updates and employee social media posts.

### Newbies

"Every single student in this youngest of factions has joined Bungie to help build our brave new world.  They can only relate to the phenomenon of the Pentathlon through the warnings scribbled on walls of infrequently visited corners in our compound.  Nothing will prepare them for the carnage that is about to sweep them up in its wake."

"Though they may be a little wet behind the ears, the young and agile Newbies keep their crusty elders on their toes by barking playfully and leaping at their masters to beg for scraps. When they're not dominating in tests of physical prowess in the Summer Pentathlon, the Newbies are called upon to wipe the dribble from the mouths of the Grizzleds and make sure they take their meds on time. Or so it seems. In truth, the Newbies are a race of hyperintelligent megabeings who are simply taking advantage of their apparent youth and candor to lull the senile old giffers into a false sense of security. Soon, the universe will be crushed in a gauntlet of steel. A gauntlet worn without mercy, by the Newbies."

### Kinderguardians

This team are employees who have been with the company for about two years. This team was added sometime between 2016-2017, based off of Bungie's Weekly Updates and employee social media posts.

### Middle School

"So mighty has been the swell of new faces that have crashed onto our shores, that even some of our adolescent combatants are experiencing the unique violence of a Bungie family meeting for the first time.  There will be leaders among them who know the pitfalls.  Their shouted commands will need to be loud to overcome the din.  Our Middle School is filled with hope and energy, as well as a boast that new blood coursing through the veins of Bungie is just as cunning as the old."

"What can you say about Middle School that hasn't been said before? Everything! These men (and women) of mystery carefully straddle the line between youth and experience - a delicate balancing act requiring vigor and agility, tempered with gravitas and responsibility! Actually, Middle School is the least attractive place to be, when you were a Newbie, you were excited and when you're Old Skool, well, that just sounds cool. Middle School - the purgatory of Bungie ranking."

### High School

This team are employees who have been with the company for about four years. This team was added sometime between 2016-2017, based off of Bungie's Weekly Updates and employee social media posts.

### Old Skool

"Many of these geniuses were forced to skip Middle School.  They’ll claim that their intelligence was too fierce for intermediate learning.  In truth, their graduation into adulthood was fast-tracked to free up the classrooms for the stampede of fresh talent.  These accelerated Old Skoolers have a playbook for victory that has been proven on the field.  They will be fueled by a burning desire to prove that every kernel of the greatness that has been thrust upon them has been well earned."

"Old Skool is so rad, it even gets to spell its name with a 'K' which as everyone knows, is pretty hip. Middle School has to use the plain old "ch." Old Skool Bungie guys have been here for a long time - since before Halo, and that makes them hardcore, as well as Old Skool. If you need to know why wearing Adidas and driving a Subaru Brat is cool - these are the guys to ask."

### Iron Lords

The Iron Lords, not to be confused with *Destiny's* Iron Lords, are employees who have been with the company for about six years. This team was added around 2016-2017.

### Council of Elders

The Council of Elders team are employees who have been with the company for about seven years. The team was added sometime between 2016-2017, based off of Bungie's Weekly Updates and employee social media posts.

### Grizzled Ancients

"Often barely recognizable as human, the Ancients have seen things.  Having been thrust onto the throne before they expected to rule, each of them is fully worthy of the title reserved for those of us who are no longer surprised by Bungie’s brand of madness.  As the founders of this retirement society evolve into a more hideous form, a new breed of elder will be called up to restore glory to the wizened sect."

"The oldest and crustiest of the Bungie crew, having been chained to their desks in the Bungie dungeons, slaving away since the days when video games weren't even in color. If you get too close, you can catch the faint odor of Depends, that quietly whispers 'respect my authoritay'."

### Disembodied Souls

“The keepers of Bungie’s eternal flame have craved a sip from the cup of victory for far too long, only to see their prize claimed (again and again) by more invested schools arriving fresh to the fight.  Their bloodlust has overcome their loyalty to old allegiances.  They’ve shed the last remaining vestiges of their physical form to move freely among us. The other schools must now feed their thirst for victory.”

Not to be confused with the Disembodied Soul, these employees are Grizzled Ancients who have moved beyond their body. During the annual Pentathlon, these Grizzle Ancients join other teams to help lead them to success. This group was added in January 2013.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Bungiet.net - The Bungie Pentathlon (Jan. 2013)
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Twitter.com - David Candland (Jan. 2013)
3. ↑ Bungie.net - The Bungie Winter Pentathlon (Feb. 2004)
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Twitter.come - Madsushi (Dec. 2017)
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Bungie.net - Meet the Team (2012)
6. ↑ Twitter.com - Achronos (Dec. 2020)
7. ↑ Twitter.com - David Candland (Jan. 2013)
8. ↑ Twitter - RocketMooses (February 17, 2022)