Military Officer Ranks

I was fortunate enough to be invited to help the Imperial Navy consider what types of preserved foods would be best for use aboard their vessels. Much of the work was done on Holy Isle, where I was able to access their libraries, for research purposes, to complement my own knowledge on the subject. For much of the time, I had a junior Lieutenant assigned to me, with the intent of smoothing my interactions with military officers and the various diplomats who inhabited the place. I took the opportunity to conduct some research, of my own, into the Imperial Military Hierarchy.

From subsequent research, it appears that the basic model they use, is common around the known world, although with minor and many different titles. The insignia examples, shown below, are taken from the dress uniforms of The Imperial Guard, and are often presented differently for different uniforms and branches of service. This structure is used for all Imperial services, Army, Navy, Imperial Guard and many other military or para-military unit.

Flower of Berhof.

OOC Note

Overview: These Squad Officers have come up through the ranks and have the same basic stats and classes as the men they command. Sergeant is the most common rank name in land based services, although aboard ship a Squad Officer are generally known as Petty Officers. Like most military units, a squad is only broadly defined, however, it normally consists of 5-15 people - although some could be ancillary troops. The larger the unit, the higher ranking the commander.

Sergeant: A sergeant controls a single unit of troops, of up to ten troops, in day-to-day activities. They ensure discipline and that orders are carried out, but they are not expected to take any serious leadership decisions. A Sergeant might take control of a unit of watchmen, a military patrol or the hands undertaking deck work on a ship. A Sergeant's rank is indicated by a broken bar.

Senior Sergeant: A Senior Sergeant's rank is indicated by a solid bar, and is generally appointed to a semi-independent command (such as a watch tower), command a Ship’s Boat or serve as an overseer's role in a large unit. However, all Unit Commanders will have, at least, one Senior Sergeant assigned to them, to help manage the unit.

Ensign: Some people (often from wealthy or noble families) are singled out for early promotion. These trainee officers often have a level of Aristocrat or a PC class in their makeup, although they are generally at the same level, and of similar ability, as their troops. They are often posted to larger units, where they serve as an Ensign and are given responsibility for the unit's flag and “staff” personnel. In training establishments, Ensigns often get their first taste of command as 'Sergeant' to a unit of trainees.

Generally known as a Lieutenant, their rank is indicated by two bars. If there is more than one Lieutenant in a unit they are known 1st Lt, 2nd Lt, 3rd Lt etc in order of seniority. Like Senior Sergeants, Lieutenants might serve as officers in large units, or be assigned a semi-independent role. However, they will always be directly responsible to a senior officer.

A Lieutenant can command three sergeants and their troops (perhaps up to 30 people all together). A Ship's Officer might take control of a landing party, command a captured vessel on the trip back to port, or take a watch on a larger ship. On land a lieutenant might be in charge of the castle's Barbican, an Outpost, a town district or even just one watch. They can meet limited objectives (such as patrol rosters, and unit management) without direct supervision.

Unless you are a Landed Noble, or leader of a large mercenary company, this is probably the highest ranking officer you will probably need to employ - as you will be able to fulfil the Commander's role.

A Lieutenant is generally one level higher than any of the troops they command, and often have a level of expert, aristocrat, or a PC class, in their build. However, all troops expect their officer to have at least one level of a full BAB combat class. A lieutenant will expect to earn about 4x what their men earn.

Examples

Lieutenant Commander: A Lt Cdr is a Senior Lieutenant who can command up to three Lieutenants, and has a small command group led by an Ensign, they are designated by 2 solid bars topped by a broken bar. A Lt Commander's Staff Section could include an Ensign, Batman (personal servant), Messenger, Chaplain and secretary. A Lt Commander might be responsible for a Rural Fort, a small vessel independently or oversee a sub-command for a captain. They are not, generally, responsible for more than, about, 50 troops.

Commander: A commander is generally in charge of something significant, takes on, a lot of responsibility and can command up to four Lieutenants, as well as their own troops, a HQ Unit (under a sergeant) and a command group (under an Ensign). They are designated by three solid bar. A Commander's Staff Section could include an Ensign, Batman (personal servant), Messengers, personal guards and a secretary or two. They can command up to 100 troops, and might command a sailing ship, or be responsible for all of a town’s troops, a castle, or one type troops in a small army.

They will always be at least one level higher than the highest level lieutenant in their command and often have levels of aristocrat, or PC classes, in their build.

Captain: A captain (or rarely, a Colonel) is represented by four solid bars and commands all of the troops that come within one company. The company could be a mercenary company, all the troops of a small nation state, a warship, or just one troop type for a regional army. As well as a personal command this could encompass the troops of up to five Commanders or up to 500 troop. However, not many Captains have anywhere near that many troops under their command - Many mercenary Companies are much smaller and their 'Captain' might only have the same skills and prestige as a Lt Cdr.

Command Officers Such as generals, captains general, commodores and admirals are rare, and only the largest nations use them, they wear stars to signify their rank.. It takes a significant nation to have more than one General or Admiral (2*) in charge of their troops. However, when smaller armies come together, one of the captain’s is often 'promoted' to the position of Captain-General, in Navies a small independent flotilla might be commanded by a Commodore – and both of these (1*) ‘ranks’ are often temporary in nature. . In extreme cases, when large armies, each with their own general, come together - a Lord General (3*) might be appointed.