Sol Defense Corps ranks
The ranking structure of the Sol Defense Corps is inherently based on the systems employed by the United States Navy as well as the Royal Navy. While the system, including paygrades, is primarily inherited from the USN, several factors from the Royal Navy also make their way into the ranking structure, as evidenced by the ranks of Sub-Lieutenant and Commodore.
Rank Insignia[edit | edit source]
Officers[edit | edit source]
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Marines[edit | edit source]
Enlisted[edit | edit source]
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Marines[edit | edit source]
Rank Categories[edit | edit source]
Officers[edit | edit source]
Paygrades for officers are:
- O-1 thru O-4: Junior officers. These are equivalent to company-grade officers in armies.
- O-5 and O-6: Senior officers. These are equivalent to field-grade officers in armies.
- O-7 thru O-10: Flag officers. These are equivalent to generals in armies.
- O-11: Fleet Admiral. This rank is normally reserved for the Commander of the Fleet in peacetime but can be appointed to more than one person during an active war.
Enlisted[edit | edit source]
Paygrades for enlisted are:
- E-1 thru E-3: Enlisted crew. Personnel under these ranks are considered to be apprentices; working to perfect their designated specialty or specialties.
- E-4 thru E-6: Petty Officers. Petty officers perform not only the duties of their specific career field but also serve as leaders to junior enlisted personnel. They are considered non-commissioned officers (NCOs).
- E-7 thru E-9: Chief Petty Officers. These are senior personnel and often provide command or training positions to lower ranks. They are considered senior non-commissioned officers (SNCOs).
- Command/Fleet/Navy Master Chief Petty Officer: These are specially-appointed senior NCOs serving in command billets, often as the senior enlisted advisor to commanding officers or groups. The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) is a special rank appointed to the most senior enlisted member currently serving in the Navy
Rank and Promotion System[edit | edit source]
Ranks are progressed via seniority -- the longer the time spent serving the SDC, the higher in rank a person will become. Certain appointments and jumps between rank classifications (such as petty officer to CPO or junior to senior officer) require special qualifications or examinations in order to progress to the next rank.
Officers[edit | edit source]
Prospective officers can earn commissions through either training at an Officer Candidate School (OCS) after college graduation, a Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program at colleges, or at a Naval Academy that offers full college education in addition to service training. A variety of programs also exist such as the Enlisted-Officer Bridge Promotion Program for enlisted personnel looking to transfer into an officer career.
Officers in the SDCN are subdivided into two groups: Line Officers and Staff Officers.
- Line officers make up the warfighting command element of the Navy and receive training in weapons systems, tactics, strategy, and command. Line officers are distinguished by the Sol Defense Corps logo visible above their rank insignia.
- Staff officers form the support element of the Navy, being specialized and organized into one of several Staff Corps. These Staff Corps practice various professional disciplines, including medicine, logistics, religion, and legal practices. The Staff Corps of the SDC are the: Medical Corps, Research and Development Corps, Chaplain Corps, Supply Corps, and the Judge Advocate General Corps. They are distinguished by wearing their Staff Corps' own insignia above their rank.
Flag Officers[edit | edit source]
Flag Officers hold ranks only according to their assigned position based on their appointment -- any given flag officer can only hold a permanent rank of up to Rear Admiral. All succeeding ranks, including Vice Admiral, Admiral, and Fleet Admiral, are given promotions based on the seniority on their appointment. A Rear Admiral will immediately be promoted to Admiral if they are given an Admiral billet, and an Admiral will always be promoted to Fleet Admiral if taking the position as the Commander of the Fleet. Flag officers who are removed from their current appointment without being assigned to a higher appointment are either demoted to Rear Admiral or retired from active service.
Enlisted[edit | edit source]
Enlisted personnel enter the ranks via enlisting from a Recruiter and 'shipping off' to any Basic Training Center operated by the SDC. After graduating, they take additional apprenticeships and training in any chosen specialties they wish to pursue, eventually being "rated" for that specialty and receiving the appropriate rating.