Chain of Command

The Chasseurs operate on a Company level and as such are led by a Captain who answers to a Battalion Commander which supervises the Company. The Unit is divided into three sections called ‘Cadres’, each headed by a Lieutenant and assisted by one or more Sergeants.

Every member of the Chasseurs operates within their Cadre depending on their skillset and answers directly to their Cadre Lieutenant or Sergeant who will then, if needed, escalate any unclear issues to the Captain.

Further explanations on Chasseur duties can be read here. Discussions on unit tactics can be found here.

See below for the general chain of command:

## **Captain**

The Captain is the leader and Commander of the Chasseurs, and is responsible for the functioning and direction of the group as a whole.

## **Lieutenant**

The Lieutenant works to command their Cadre and assist the Captain in their duties with advice and general support. They manage their members and are available for them to speak to. Lieutenants are strongly advised to allow for some degree of tactical autonomy among their soldiers in order to ensure operational flexibility and initiative on the battlefield.

## **Sergeant**

The Sergeant assists their Lieutenant in anything from Leadership delegation to member management. The Lieutenant might also sub divide the Cadre into further teams for the Sergeant to oversee.

## **Chasseur**

The Chasseur is the core of the Company, they are the body of each Cadre and work at the best of their abilities to accomplish the goals and objectives set by their Lieutenant.

## **Squire**

The Squires are the support of the Knights and Levies, they aid the Chasseurs in their tasks and ensure that they can perform at their best. Aspirants and Knights-in-training are also classified within this rank. Squires also perform low-risk missions that do not need the overkill of elite Chasseurs. Squires who are able to contribute may also be brought on missions alongside Chasseurs.

## **Special Titles**

There are four ‘Special Titles’ that a Chasseur can possess alongside their rank/commission. Chasseurs who hold these Special Titles do *not* lose their rank. These titles are *in addition* to, not *in lieu of*. They; and their benefits; are as follows:

### **Knight**

A knight in the Chasseurs is anyone who has been knighted by a recognised Ishgardian authority. This means that the Chasseur has had specific education in the chivalric arts of riding, jousting, fencing, and wrestling; and has received certification and recognition from either an Ishgardian House (House Knight), or the Ishgardian Church (Temple Knight). Becoming a knight requires either trialhood or application of knighthood transfer. Read this doc for more details.

A Chasseur who possesses the title of Knight is afforded a slightly higher salary than their un-knighted peers; and their rank name is given a ‘Knight-’ prefix. For example:

A knighted Chasseur is no longer a Chasseur; but a Knight-Chasseur. If they are a Sergeant, they are Knight-Sergeant.

A knighted Chasseur is referred to as:

* “Ser [First Name], Knight-[Rank].”
* “Ser [First Name] [Last Name], Knight-[Rank].”
* “Knight-[Rank] [First Name]”

Knighthood is not a hereditary title, and so the Family Name of a Knight is no longer as important as the individual it is attached to when referring to their Knighthood. This is highly of cultural chivalric significance as it is symbolic of the Knight having distinguished themselves outright as an *individual*, and not their bloodline.

Traditionally, Knighted Chasseurs have seniority and ‘rank’ over un-knighted equivalents. However, this is not *enforced* nor *official*, and is merely customary/cultural.

### **Foreign Levy**

Those without Ishgardian Citizenship who sign up for the Chasseurs will be granted Foreign Levy status. They get slightly lower salary than their Ishgardian comrades, but gain the following benefits:

* Ishgardian Citizenship and Veteran Status after they complete their contract
* A Residential and Work Visa for the Foreign Chasseur and their immediate dependents (spouses and children)
* Cultural/Naturalisation Education

### **Adjutant**

An Adjutant is a political officer sent by the Houses of Lords and Commons to ensure the Chasseurs’ adherence to Democratic views and the mission of the Ishgardian Republic. They hold a special status outside of combat that grants them political authority in situations of treason or sedition.

### **Cadet**

Cadets are the Chasseur label for a traditional Ishgardian custom. Traditionally, noble Houses would send their sons to the Temple Knights to shadow specific commanders and officers to learn *or* gain experience on how to lead. Cadets tend to be specifically groomed for both commissioned and non-commissioned officer roles; and depending on their performance, can get fast tracked for promotion.

There are three types of Cadet in the Chasseurs:

1. Traditional Cadets — these Cadets are the children of noble families who have enlisted their child in order to prepare them for their future as leaders
2. Silvergrace Academy Interns — these Cadets are from the Silvergrace Internship Initiative. Ishgardian Citizen Students from this Ishgardian-run Leadership Academy are given the option to serve in the Chasseurs as Squire-Cadets to fulfill their internship credits and cultivate military and leadership experience for their future careers
3. Officer Trainees — these Cadets are handpicked from promising Chasseurs who display qualities of leadership that should not be wasted

All three types of Cadets have the same duties as junior leaders and disciplinary enforcers. They receive additional, special training on leadership skills and tactics; and are also assigned an Officer to shadow/’apprentice’ under.

Cadets hold higher authority over Chasseurs of the same rank. For example, a Cadet of the Squire rank holds authority over their fellow Squires. This is an official, and *not* customary rule.

Silvergrace Cadets do not get promoted from Squiring unless they graduate in the Academy and decide to enlist formally in the Chasseurs.