The Alliance uses a modified version of the ranking system that has been used for centuries. Soldiers are divided into enlisted personnel, Non-Commissioned Officers(NCOs) and specialy trained Officers.
The divide between the Navy and Army is small. Marines are treated as specialized branches of the fleet like fighter squadrons. This unity of command is imposed by the futility of fighting with out control of orbit. Without the Navy, the Army is useless. Marines as a matter of pride, maintain some of their traditional ranks and titles.
In Ascending order of responsibility, the ranks of the Alliance are:
Enlisted
01 - Serviceman 3rd-Class / Private 2nd-Class
- Insignia - 1 Chevron
- A Serviceman 3rd-Class is the lowest rank in the Alliance Navy. They are considered an "apprentice in training" and are expected to learn the fundamental skills needed in their future career and they are expected to obtain an occupational field more commonly known as a rate as a Serviceman, Fireman, Constructionman or a hospitalman
- A Private 2nd-Class is the lowest rank in the Alliance Marines. They are expected to immediately begin training as a rifleman. From there they branch out into the Fleet Marine Corps or Surface Garrison Forces
02 - Serviceman 2nd-Class / Private 1st-Class
- Insignia - 2 Chevrons
- Once an rate is obtained, a Serviceman 3rd-Class becomes a Serviceman 2nd-Class. This is the second lowest rank in the Alliance Navy. Their role remains similar to that of their previous rank. They must also begin training for their rating. Promotion to this rank usually occurs 6 months after enlisting.
- Private 1st-Class is the second lowest rank in the Alliance Marines Corps. Their role remains similar to that of previous rank. Promotion to this rank usually occurs 6 months after enlisting.
03 - Serviceman 1st-Class / Corporal
- Insignia - 3 Chevrons
- Serviceman 1st-Class is a Senior Enlisted rank. They are the most qualified enlisted personnel and can begin training as an NCO
- Corporal is a Senior Enlisted rank. They are the most qualified enlisted personnel and can begin training as a NCO. Many also lead fire teams of 4 junior enlisted personnel.
Non-Commissioned Officers
04 - Service Chief
- Insignia - 3 Chevrons with 1 Arch above them
- The 1st rank of NCOs.
- A Naval Service Chief assumes a leadership role in a devision of the ship. Delegating tasks and handling the most complex tasks. They also mentor junior Servicemen.
- A Marine Service Chief typically serves under a Marine Gunnery Chief.
05 - Gunnery Chief
- Insignia - 3 Chevrons with 2 Arches above them.
- The 2nd rank of NCOs.
- A Naval Gunnery Chief hold the most authority in large departments and are responsible for training new NCOs
- A Marine Gunnery Chief leads squads of 8 marines and they are responsible for training enlisted personnel. They may also serve as drill instructors.
06 - Operations Chief
- Insignia - 3 Chevrons with 3 Arches above them.
- Senior NCOs.
- A Naval Operations Chief is the leading Chief aboard ships or shore-based units and act as a bridge between enlisted officers and the commanding officer
- A Marine Operations Chief assumes a leadership position and assistant higher ranking officers in Battalions and Companies
Officers
07- 2nd Lieutenant
- Insignia - 1 thick stripe.
- This is the rank where Alliance personnel receive their Military Vocational Code(MVC) that will determine the Officer's career path. Most only ever complete their MVC training by the time they reach the rank of Staff Comander.
- Naval 2nd Lieutenant is the first rank of Commissioned officer in the Alliance Navy. The majority of them begin training for their MVC and serve in the Fleet as Division Officers
- Marine 2nd Lieutenant is the first rank of commissioned Officer in the Alliance Marine Corps. They attend 6 months of Combat training before beginning their MVC training. They are capable of leading platoon sized units of upto 50 enlisted marines in the Surface Garrison Forces. They also serve as head of the marine contingent aboard Frigates. Reporting directly to the Commanding Officers. Cruisers can have upto 3 Marine Lieutenants aboard, Dreadnoughts can have upto 8 and Carriers can have upto 18
08 - 1st Lieutenant
- Insignia - 1 thick stripes and 1 thin stripe.
- Naval 1st Lieutenants don't vary much in responsibility compared to a 2nd Lieutenant.
- Marine 1st Lieutenant share the same leadership as 2nd Lieutenants within a Platoon or move up to Executive Officer of a Company of upto 200 marines. Similarly, they serve as the head of a Frigate's marine contingent or the Executive Officer of a Flotilla's marine contingent, in that case they would serve aboard the Flotilla's Flagship.
09 - Staff Lieutenant
- Insignia - 2 thick stripes.
- Staff Lieutenant is a rank unique to the Navy and is given to the Division Head of a ship.
10 - Lieutenant Comander
- Insignia - 2 thick stripes and 1 thin stripe
- Lieutenant Commander serves at the Executive Officer aboard Frigates
11 - Staff Comander
- Insignia - 3 thick stripes.
- Naval Staff Comanders serve as Commanding Officers aboard Frigates and Executive Officers aboard Cruisers and Carriers
- Marine Staff Comanders lead Companies of upto 200 marines in the Surface Garrison Forces and are often the highest ranking marines within a Flotilla. Typically stationed aboard their Flagships. A Cruiser typical only has 1 Marine Staff Comander aboard, while Dreadnoughts can have upto 2 and Carriers can have upto 5.
12 - Captain / Major
- Insignia - 4 thick stripes
- In the Navy, a Captain is capable of Commanding Cruisers and Carriers. The can also serve as executive officer aboard Cruisers and Dreadnoughts.
In the Marine Corps, a Major typical commands battalions of 300 to 1000 men or brigades of 1500 to 3200 men in the Surface Garrison Forces. In the Fleet a Major would typically be stationed aboard the ships of a Rear Admiral and Vice Admiral. Commanding the Marine contingents of the Flotillas under that Admiral's command Commamd. A Major would also be stationed aboard a Carrier to command the large marine contingents of a Carrier Strike Group. There are typically a total of 4 Majors throughout a fleet.
13 - Rear Admiral
- Insignia - A red Admiral's Mark and 1 thick stripe
A Rear Admiral typically Commands a Cruiser and has of multiple Flotillas. Typically those behind the Dreadnought Battle Group
14 - Vice Admiral / Marine General / Flight General
- Insignia - A red Admiral's Mark and 2 thick stripes
A Vice Admiral typically commands a Cruiser and multiple Flotillas. Typically those ahead of the Dreadnought Battle Group. Vice Admirals also serve as secondary Admirals. In the Absence of an Admiral, a Vice Admiral may assume temporary command of a fleet.
A General is the highest Marine rank achievable. They are typically in command of devisions or Corps in the Surface Garrison Forces. In the fleet, a General is typically stationed aboard a Dreadnought and Comands the entire fleet's marines. A General answers directly to the Admiralty.
15 - Admiral
- Insignia - A red Admiral's Mark and 3 thick stripes
- Admiral is the highest rank achievable by an Alliance soldier. Admirals serve on the Admiralty Board, answering directly to the Fleet Admiral. They are the only officers allowed to command Dreadnoughts and lead fleets. With full control of all the ships and marines within their fleet. In the absence of an Admiral, fleet command would be temporarily transferred to the Admiral of another fleet if possible, otherwise, it would fall to the fleet's Vice Admiral.
16 - Fleet Admiral
- Insignia - A red Admiral's mark a 4 thick stripes
- Only 1 Officer ever holds this position at a time. The Fleet Admiral sits in the Alliance Parliament and is the head of Alliance Navy.
The Systems Alliance Military Vocational Code system Classifies the career path of all serving personal and is given when they become Commissioned Officers.
Uniforms and Armour
Enlisted and Non-Commissioned Officers
Enlisted Personnel and NCOs where a standard Black and grey Camo Alliance Uniform with bright blue accents on their shoulder Epaulets, which display their rank in black.
Enlisted Marines and NCOs also where a standard blue Camo Alliance Armor with grey accents and their rank displayed in gold on their shoulder plates.
Officers
Officers do have the same uniforms as other Alliance personnel, but they also have a blue Formal Dress Uniform with gold accents and their rank displayed in gold on their Epaulets.
Officers do have the same Armor as other Alliance personnel, but Officers with specific MVCs, such as N7 Special Forces, have a unique armor, specific to that MVC with their rank displayed in gold on their collar.
