Designing Non Trek SciFi Universe - Ranks/Insignia

[Shamrock Holmes]

And the British Armed Forces, once the dominant military on the planet, has only six or seven (a couple of speciality sub-ranks in the RAF not-withstanding). Like the USAF, rank progression - particularly in the RN - is strongly tied to training/career development rather than merely time in rank. The Royal Navy uses the following system:


Able Rate 2 (equiv to Ordinary Seaman, roughly NATO E1-2) - Basic rating device only - on entering a sub-branch Able Rate, AB class 2, under training
Able Rate 1 (equiv to Able Seaman, roughly NATO E2-3 rated) - Basic device with star above on qualifying professionally for Able Rate, AB class 1, operationally trained to carry out basic tasks and expected to train for next level as Leading Hand.
Leading Rate/Hand* (equivalent to E4) - Basic device with star above and star below on qualifying professionally for Leading Rate, able to carry complex tasks and lead others and expected to train for next level as Petty Officer.
Petty Officer (equivalent to E5-6) - Basic device with crown above on qualifying professionally for Petty Officer, able to command, instruct others and carry out more complex tasks.
Chief Petty Officer (equivalent to E7+) - Basic device with crown above worn on the on both lapels on number 1 dress and above the left breast pocket on working dress Chief Petty Officers attain no additional professional qualification, able to show advanced leadership, training abilities and perform the most complex tasks.
Warrant Officer 2** (broadly equivalent to E8, but includes elements of WO & CWO) - Trade Brades as per CPO, but with a different insignia.
Warrant Officer 1 (broadly equivalent to E9, but includes elements of senior CWO) - Trade Brades as per CPO, but with a different insignia.

* = in the Army, RM and RAF Regiment, this is split into Lance Corporal and Corporal.
** = No longer appointed in the RN, roughly equivalent to a "First Shirt" in the other services.

 

[J.T.B.]

Warrant Officer 2** (broadly equivalent to E8, but includes elements of WO & CWO) - Trade Brades as per CPO, but with a different insignia.
Warrant Officer 1 (broadly equivalent to E9, but includes elements of senior CWO) - Trade Brades as per CPO, but with a different insignia.

Royal Navy WOs do not wear trade/branch badges. Traditionally CPO artificers, the top technical/engineering rates, did not, either, but the artificer career paths were eliminated about 10 years ago.

 

[Shamrock Holmes]

Fair enough, I wasn't sure on the WO trade badges, as my info only suggested that there was no new trade badge for WOs.

As far as the Artificers go, my understanding is that they were merged with various other engine room and weapons tech positions into Engineering Technician (sub-divided into Mechanical, Electrical and Weapons), my source also isn't clear on whether PO, CPO or WO1 is the "terminal rank" for ETs (only RNP CPOs are specifically mentioned though I believe that Coxswains and the senior rating in the Seamanship section (known as the "Buffer" in the RAN, not sure about current RN policy) many rise to at least CPO.

 

[J.T.B.]

Fair enough, I wasn't sure on the WO trade badges, as my info only suggested that there was no new trade badge for WOs.

If you look at page 39-13 of the Chapter 39 PDF here, there is a table which shows how branch badges are worn and by whom. When Fleet CPO, the forerunner of the present WO1, was introduced in 1971, they basically wore CPO uniform with the royal arms added on the left cuff, but the collar branch badges were eliminated. A couple of years later the cuff buttons were deleted and the royal arms was worn on both cuffs. In 1985 Fleet CPO was re-titled WO and got a new cap badge.

It has been kind of a RN tradition that the higher the enlisted grade, the fewer the insignia. CPOs wear branch badges but delete rate and good conduct badges. WOs delete the branch badges.

As far as the Artificers go, my understanding is that they were merged with various other engine room and weapons tech positions into Engineering Technician (sub-divided into Mechanical, Electrical and Weapons), my source also isn't clear on whether PO, CPO or WO1 is the "terminal rank" for ETs (only RNP CPOs are specifically mentioned though I believe that Coxswains and the senior rating in the Seamanship section (known as the "Buffer" in the RAN, not sure about current RN policy) many rise to at least CPO.

Yeah, the artificers were merged with the engineering mechanics/mechanicians and they all became engineering technicians. I believe the education/training standards on the mechanic side were becoming high enough that the division was no longer useful and it was more efficient to combine the two paths.

AFAIK all specialties can advance to WO1.

 

[Sqweloookle]

You should check out Kuro-RPG.net and perhaps upload your finished ranks Tarek!

 

[fireproof78]

Euros Flag Ranks

Really like the Eagle design.