Military ranks of the Galactic Empire

The **Galactic Empire used a system of ranks** in its military, the Imperial Navy. Due to space combat being considered more important than ground warfare, the army was integrated into the navy and considered to be a branch of the fleet.

All men in the Empire were required to perform two years of military service.

## Spaceman Second Class

The insignia of a **spaceman second class** consisted of epaulettes with no bars on the shoulders and no stripes on the cuffs of their sleeves. This was the starting rank for conscripts serving their 2 years of mandatory military service upon reaching the age of 20.

## Spaceman First Class

The insignia of a **spaceman first class** consisted of epaulettes with no bars on the shoulders and one stripe on the cuffs of their sleeves. Conscripts serving their 2 years of mandatory military service upon reaching the age of 20 would be promoted to this rank after surviving one year of service.

## Able Spaceman

The insignia of an **able spaceman** consisted of epaulettes with no bars on the shoulders and two stripes on the cuffs of their sleeves.

## Leading Spaceman

The insignia of a **leading spaceman** consisted of epaulettes with no bars on the shoulders and three stripes on the cuffs of their sleeves.

## Petty Officer Second Class

The insignia of a **petty officer second class** consisted of epaulettes with one bar on the shoulders and three stripes on the cuffs of their sleeves.

## Petty Officer First Class

The insignia of a **petty officer first class** consisted of epaulettes with one bar on the shoulders and two stripes on the cuffs of their sleeves.

## Warrant Officer

The insignia of a **warrant officer** consisted of separate epaulettes and chest plates with a cane shaped flourish, with no bars on the end of each shoulder.

## Ensign

The insignia of an **ensign** consisted of separate epaulettes and chest plates with a cane shaped flourish, with one bar on the end of each shoulder.

## Sub-lieutenant

The insignia of a **sub-lieutenant (lieutenant junior grade)** consisted of separate epaulettes and chest plates with a cane shaped flourish, with two bars at the end of each shoulder.

## Lieutenant

The insignia of a **lieutenant** consisted of separate epaulettes and chest plates with a cane shaped flourish, with three bars on the end of each shoulder.

## Lieutenant commander

The insignia of a **lieutenant commander** consisted of separate epaulettes and chest plates with a W-shaped flourish, with one bar on the end of each shoulder.

## Commander

The insignia of a **commander** consisted of separate epaulettes and chest plates with a W-shaped flourish, with two bars on the end of each shoulder epaulette.

Commanders often served as either first officers to captains or to admirals.

## Captain

The insignia of a **captain** consisted of separate epaulettes and chest plates with a W-shaped flourish, with three bars on the end of each shoulder epaulette. A captain could command an individual flagship or battleship.

## Commodore

The insignia of a **commodore** consisted of unified epaulettes and chest plates, with no bars on the shoulders.

Imperial commodores could command a a small squadron of ships of around 400 vessels that formed part of a larger Vice Admiral's named fleet. They could also serve in imperial staff positions and in ground forces like the imperial armored grenadiers.

## Rear admiral

The insignia of a **rear admiral** consisted of unified epaulettes and chest plates, with one bar on the end of each shoulder. Imperial rear admirals could command a a fleet of around 1,000 vessels that formed part of a larger Vice Admiral's named fleet. They could also serve in Imperial staff positions and ground forces.

## Vice admiral

The insignia of a **vice admiral** consisted of unified epaulettes and chest plates, with two bars on the end of each shoulder. Imperial vice admirals could command a a fleet of around 1,000 to 5,000 vessels that is identified by its admiral's last name. They could also serve in Imperial high staff positions and ground forces.

## Admiral

The insignia of an **admiral** consisted of unified epaulettes and chest plates, with three bars on the end of each shoulder. Imperial Admirals command a a large fleet of around 2,000 to 10,000 vessels that is identified by its admiral's last name. They could also serve in Imperial high staff positions and ground forces.

## High admiral

The insignia of a **high admiral** consisted of unified epaulettes and chest plates, with three bars on the end of each shoulder, plus a flourished diagonal bar on either side of the neck. Imperial High Admirals could command a large fleet of around 10,000 to 15,000 vessels that was identified by its admiral's last name. They could also serve as departments heads in the Imperial high staff and ground forces. High Admirals would also serve as a campaign and theater overall commander.

This was the highest rank that a pure ground force commander could reach, and such a commander would have had command of all ground forces in the Empire.

## Grand admiral

The insignia of a **grand admiral** consisted of unified epaulettes and chest plates, with three bars on the end of each shoulder, plus a flourished diagonal bar on either side of the neck plus a cloak.

Imperial Grand Admirals command the Empire's different staff department post like the Chief of Staff, the Chief of Military Affairs, the Chief Fleet Commander and the Deputy Chief Fleet Commander. Fleet Admirals would also serve as a campaign and theater overall commander.