Historically, the United States military had a large number of redundant service branches for traditional/historic reasons. When the League was formed there wasn't a need for as many service branches. Instead, they were consolidated into just three:
Something inherently acknowledged by this consolidation is that both Space Force and Marine personnel will be stationed onboard Navy ships, and will likely report to Navy officers.
In short: if you wear armor and specialize in firearms, you're a Marine. If you mess around with probes, satellites or fighters, you're in the Space Force, otherwise you're in the Navy.
A non-commissioned officer or noncommissioned officer (NCO, colloquially non-com or noncom) is a military officer who has not earned a commission. (Such is also called sub-officer in the Terran Navy). Non-commissioned officers, in the League, usually obtain their position of authority by promotion through the enlisted ranks In contrast, commissioned officers hold higher ranks than NCOs, have more legal responsibilities, are paid more, and often have more non-military training such as a university diploma.
Commissioned officers usually earn their commissions without having risen through the enlisted ranks. "Mustang" is a slang term in the League Armed Forces used to refer to a commissioned officer who began his or her career as an enlisted service member.
The use of the word "rank" for Navy enlisted personnel is incorrect. The term is "rate." The rating badge is a combination of rate (pay grade) and rating (specialty).
| Grade | Rate | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 | Specialist One | SPC1 |
| E-2 | Specialist Two | SPC2 |
| E-3 | Specialist Three | SPC3 |
| E-4 | Specialist Four | SPC4 |
| E-5 | Sergeant | SGT |
| E-6 | Technical Sergeant | TSGT |
| E-7 | Master Sergeant | MSGT |
| E-8 | Senior Master Sergeant | SMSGT |
| E-9 | Chief Master Sergeant | CMSGT |
| Grade | Rate | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 | Specialist One | SPC1 |
| E-2 | Specialist Two | SPC2 |
| E-3 | Specialist Three | SPC3 |
| E-4 | Specialist Four | SPC4 |
| E-5 | Petty Officer Second Class | PO2 |
| E-6 | Petty Officer First Class | PO1 |
| E-7 | Chief Petty Officer | CPO |
| E-8 | Senior Chief Petty Officer | SCPO |
| E-9 | Master Chief Petty Officer | MCPO |
| Grade | Rate | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 | Private | PVT |
| E-2 | Private, First Class | PFC |
| E-3 | Lance Corporal | LCPL |
| E-4 | Corporal | CPL |
| E-5 | Sergeant | SGT |
| E-6 | Staff Sergeant | SSGT |
| E-7 | Gunnery Sergeant | GSGT |
| E-7 | First Sergeant | FSGT |
| E-8 | Master Sergeant | MSGT |
| E-8 | Master Gunnery Sergeant | MGST |
| E-9 | Sergeant Major | SGTM |
Commissioned officers are typically the only persons, in an armed forces environment, able to act as the commanding officer (according to the most technical definition of the word) of a military unit. A superior officer is an officer with a higher rank than another officer, who is a subordinate officer relative to the superior.
Non-commissioned officers (NCOs) in positions of authority can be said to have control or charge rather than command per se (although the word "command" is often used unofficially to describe any use of authority).
Warrant officers are highly skilled, single-track specialty officers, and while the ranks are the same, each branch of the uniformed services selects, manages, and uses warrant officers in slightly different ways. For appointment to warrant officer one (W‑1), a warrant is approved by the secretary of the respective service. For chief warrant officer ranks (W‑2 to W‑5), warrant officers are commissioned by the President and take the same oath as regular commissioned officers (O‑1 to O‑10).
Warrant officers can and do command detachments, units, activities, vessels, spacecraft, and armored vehicles, as well as lead, coach, train, and counsel subordinates. However, the warrant officer's primary task as a leader is to serve as a technical expert, providing valuable skills, guidance, and expertise to commanders and organizations in their particular field.
| Grade | Rank | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|
| W-1 | Warrant Officer | WO1 |
| W-2 | Chief Warrant Officer | WO2 |
| W-3 | Chief Warrant Officer | WO3 |
| W-4 | Chief Warrant Officer | WO4 |
| W-5 | Chief Warrant Officer | WO5 |
Commissioned officers generally receive training as leadership and management generalists, in addition to training relating to their specific military occupational specialty or function in the military. Many advanced militaries require university degrees as a prerequisite for commissioning, even from the enlisted ranks. The League often sponsors the studies for its majors, while spaceforce and naval officers obtain academic degrees as a part of their training programs.
| Grade | Rank | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|
| O-1 | Second Lieutenant | 2NDLT |
| O-2 | First Lieutenant | 1STLT |
| O-3 | Captain | CAPT |
| O-4 | Major | MAJ |
| O-5 | Lieutenant Colonel | LTCO |
| O-6 | Colonel | COL |
| O-7 | Brigadier General | BRIG |
| O-8 | Major General | MAJG |
| O-9 | Lieutenant General | LTGE |
| O-10 | General | GEN |
| O-11 | General of the Space Force | GSF |
The "Commander Air Group" or CAG officer is an O-6 ranked officer, and technically a peer to the ship's commander. The CAG has final authority over the ship's fighters and their readiness, while the ship's captain has final authority over the ship itself. In battle situations, however, the ship's captain typically has 'tactical seniority', meaning the CAG is expected to follow his or her orders.
In fleets, however, CAGs typically take orders from either Flag officers, or Senior Captains, not necessarily orders from their own ship's Captain. Because of this tension, CAG officers are held to a very high standard and the selection process is often less focused on their fighter abilities and more on their abilities to work inside fluid command structures.
| Grade | Rank | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|
| O-1 | Ensign | ENS |
| O-2 | Lieutenant Junior Grade | LTJG |
| O-3 | Lieutenant | LT |
| O-4 | Lieutenant Commander | LCDR |
| O-5 | Commander | CDR |
| O-6 | Captain | CAPT |
| O-7 | Rear Admiral (lower half) | RDML |
| O-8 | Rear Admiral (upper half) | RADM |
| O-9 | Vice Admiral | VADM |
| O-10 | Admiral | ADM |
| O-11 | Fleet Admiral | FADM |
For situations where there are more than one ship working in coordination, but all are rank 0-6 the Captain with the most senior rank is given the title of 'Senior Captain', or 'Commodore'. Either is considered appropriate.
For ships with multiple smaller ships, it is standard to have the captain of the primary ship be the senior captain, regardless of traditional seniority. (Some captains prefer to adopt 'Commodore' for this, but that is a personal preference.)
| Grade | Rank | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|
| O-1 | Second Lieutenant | 2NDLT |
| O-2 | First Lieutenant | 1STLT |
| O-3 | Captain | CAPT |
| O-4 | Major | MAJ |
| O-5 | Lieutenant Colonel | LTCO |
| O-6 | Colonel | COL |
| O-7 | Brigadier General | BRIG |
| O-8 | Major General | MAJG |
| O-9 | Lieutenant General | LTGE |
| O-10 | General | GEN |
| O-11 | General of the Marines | GENM |