The Ranks of Tarentum.
Army Enlisted Ranks
Private
The lowest rank in Tarentum]s Army. Usually still raw recruits.
Private First Class
Third lowest rank in Tarentum's Army. Promotion to PFC is usually automatic after a period of 12-18 standard months.
Corporal
The fourth Army enlisted rank. Now a non-commissioned officer, a Corporal can direct the actions of other soldiers.
Sergeant
The fifth Army enlisted rank. With the exception of Master Sergeants and Sergeant Majors, all Sergeants are referred to as "Sergeant."
Staff Sergeant
The sixth Army enlisted rank. Staff Sergeants usually command squads. In the absence of an SFC, an SSG may act as platoon sergeant.
Sergeant First Class
The seventh Army enlisted rank. SFC's assist Lieutenants in commanding a platoon.
Master Sergeant
The eighth Army enlisted rank. All MSG's are senior non-com's.
Sergeant Major
The seniormost Army enlisted rank. Sergeant Major's exist only in units of battalion size or larger. Sergeant Major's serve as the seniormost advisor to Commanding Officer's.
Navy Enlisted Ranks
Seaman Recruit
Lowest enlisted naval rank.
Seaman Apprentice
The second lowest naval rank.
Seaman
Third lowest naval rank.
Petty Officer Third Class
Fourth lowest naval rank. Lowest form of non-commissioned officer in the Navy. All Petty Officers hold a rank and rating (job description). To become a Petty Officer, a Seaman must undergo testing and review for a specific rating. A Petty Officer's full designation combines both rank and job description. For example, a PO3 who is a Electronics Technician is designated "Electronics Technician Third Class."
Petty Officer Second Class
Fifth enlisted naval rank. All Petty Officers hold a rank and rating (job description). To become a PO2, a PO3 must undergo testing and review for a specific rating. A Petty Officer's full designation combines both rank and job description. For example, a PO2 who is a Electronics Technician is designated "Electronics Technician Second Class."
Petty Officer First Class
Sixth enlisted naval rank. All Petty Officers hold a rank and rating (job description). To become a PO1, a PO2 must undergo testing and review for a specific rating. A Petty Officer's full designation combines both rank and job description. For example, a PO1 who is a Electronics Technician is designated "Electronics Technician First Class."
Chief Petty Officer
Seventh enlisted naval rank. PO1's can only advance after peer review. CPO's take on more administrative duties, than other PO's. Chief's are allowed special privileges including a private room open only to Chiefs (even officers are not allowed) except by invitation, on ships large enough to have them. Chief's are always addressed as "Chief" by subordinates. A Petty Officer's full designation combines both rank and job description. For example, a CPO who is a Electronics Technician is designated "Chief Electronics Technician."
Senior Chief Petty Officer
Eighth enlisted naval rank. SCPO's are usually addressed as "Senior Chief." The first rank that is based purely on leadership abilities and not test scores. A Petty Officer's full designation combines both rank and job description. For example, a SCPO who is a Electronics Technician is designated "Senior Chief Electronics Technician."
Master Chief Petty Officer
The Ninth and highest enlisted naval rank. MCPO's are addressed as "Master Chief" in most instances. Advancement to MCPO is equivalent to SCPO and CPO. A Petty Officer's full designation combines both rank and job description. For example, a MCPO who is a Electronics Technician is designated "Master Chief Electronics Technician."
Army Officers Ranks
Sub-Lieutenant
Entry level rank for officers. Sub-Lts. typically lead a platoon.
First Lieutenant
The second rank in the Army. 1st Lts. typically lead specialized platoons or are the Executive Officer of a company.
Captain (Army)
The third rank in the Army. An Army Captain is equal to a Naval Lieutenant. Captains usually command a company.
Major
The fourth rank in the Army. Major is considered the first field officer grade. Majors typically serve as the Executive Officer of a battalion or as a staff officer in a brigade. Majors may also be in charge of several augmented companies.
Lieutenant Colonel
The fifth Army rank. Lt. Colonels find themselves in charge of battalions. During wartime, some Lt. Colonels find themselves with a brevet (temporary) promotion to a higher rank so as to take charge of a larger unit. Lt. Colonel is usually the terminal rank for most military careers.
Colonel
The sixth Army rank. Colonels command a regiment or act as the Executive Officer to a Division.
Brigadier General
The seventh Army rank. Brigadier Generals command Brigades. Brigadiers can also be the Executive Officer or primary staff officer of a Corps.
Major General
The eighth Army rank. Major Generals command a Division. Major Generals can also be the Executive Officer or primary staff officer of an Army Group.
Lieutenant General
The ninth Army rank. Lieutenant Generals command a Corps.
General
The tenth Army rank. Generals command theaters that fall in their geographic area.
Colonel General
The eleventh and highest Army rank. Generals who prove exceptionally valuable and have rendered extraordinary service are elevated to the rank of Colonel-General.
Navy Officers Ranks
Ensign
The rank of Ensign is the first rank a newly commissioned officer will be given. Normally, Ensigns are in training for their various specializations, either on planetary based schools, or serving on warships. On ships, Ensigns are usually in charge of a division of crewmembers, such as Electrical Division, Torpedo Division, etc. The senior Ensign is usually referred to as the "Bull Ensign" as both a sign of his growing knowledge, and as a tongue in cheek joke.
Lieutenant Junior Grade
LTjg's normally serve as division officers onboard warships. Often standing watch in the engineering spaces, LTjgs are usually in training to qualify to conn the ship they are serving on. Often senior Jgs will have completed this, which could result in a LTjg being in charge of a major warship during some hours of operation, however, the CO is almost always in his underway cabin, which is normally adjacent to the control room.
Lieutenant
LTs serve as either senior division officers on large warships, or can even be department heads on small warships (Weapons Officer, Navigator, Engineering Officer), often rotating back to planetary bases for advanced training. In the case of extremely small ships, often the Commanding Officer will be a LT.
Lieutenant Commander
LCDR's usually serve as department heads on large warships, XO's on medium to large warships, and CO's of smaller warships. LCDR's often have a reputation for being extremely strict, this is due to most XO's in the fleet being of LCDR rank, and the XO's role in shipwide discipline.
Commander
Often in command of major warships, CDRs are the highest rank usually entrusted with ships to be used on independent operations. On extremely large waships, the XO will be a CDR. Often this is the highest rank a naval offier will reach, as command opportunities above CDR are mostly of the staff variety, which often does not appeal to officers who are fresh off being the master of a vessel.
Captain
The highest non-flag rank, most Captain's are staff officers serving on squadron or fleet support. The rare few that are entrusted with major warship commands are usually envied by the staff captains. Enlisted men's nicknames for staff captains range from the mildly insulting to the downright scatalogical.
Commodore
A one star flag rank, Commodores are the lowest ranking officers entrusted with an operational squadron.
Rear Admiral
Two star flag rank, the rank of Rear Admiral is usually given to an experienced Squadron Commander.
Vice Admiral
Three Star flag rank, the rank of Vice Admiral is usually given to a senior battlegroup/squadron commander, or for a junior Fleet Commander.
Admiral
A four star rank, the rank of Admiral is given to a veteran Fleet Commander.
Fleet Admiral
Five star Admiral, given to only the most outstanding and dedicated Fleet Commanders.
Marshal
The Title of "Marshal of the Armies of Tarentum", or alternatively "Marshal" or "Field Marshal", is a military distinction of Tarentum, and not a rank. As one of the members of Tarentum's cabinet, assigned to assist the Prince, the Marshal represents the military. In general, the Marshal functions as the supreme commander of military forces, the wartime adviser of the Prince.
The distinction is awarded to persons for exceptional service to Tarentum and the Crown. The office is vacated upon the retirement of the current Marshal from this post, at which point the Prince may appoint a new Marshal. Alternately, the Prince may wait until a Marshal needs to be appointed, in which case, the duties of the Marshal were split between the Naval and Army Commanders. Retired Marshals retain their title. The symbol of the Marshal is a baton, conferred upon him by the Sith King or the Prince. Each baton is crafted to suit the specifications and specific designs of the bearer.
The title of Marshal is presently held by Maxamillian von Oberst-Tarentae. For a time, Oberst took a sabbatical from his duties at the request of the House Summit, but has since returned to his post, to lead Tarentum's forces, as well as to bring the military back in line with a role fitting Tarentum, and the Yridia system.