The Systems Alliance Order of Battle : Officer Edition Chapter 4: Ranks and Rates, a mass effect fanfic

A/N: Remember that messed up ranks (major/Lt. colonel/colonel) are INTENTIONAL. Added bits and pieces here and there.

Updated March 2020.

Chapter 4: Ranks and Rates

THE SYSTEMS ALLIANCE ORDER OF BATTLE

With Addenda Regarding Citizenship Tiers and Your Government

Prepared by the Systems Alliance Commissariat

Distribution limited by the Manswell State Security Act

OFFICER EDITION : DO NOT DISTRIBUTE TO NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS OR ENLISTED PERSONNEL

Section C: The Ranks, Rates, and Organization of personnel

"The young second lieutenant approached the crusty old master chief and asked him about the origin of the commissioned officer insignias. "Well, LT, it's old US Marine history and tradition. First, we give you a gold bar representing that you're valuable BUT malleable. The silver bar of a first lieutenant represents value, but less malleable. When you make captain, you're twice as valuable so we give you two silver bars."

The young lieutenant nodded and the master chief continued. "As a major, you soar over military masses, hence the eagle. As a general, you're obviously a star. That answer your question, LT?"

The younger man paused. "Wait, but what about colonel and lieutenant colonel?"

"Now, son, that goes way back in history. Back to the Garden of Eden even. You see, we've always covered our pricks with leaves . . ." – Memoirs of Those Days, the recollections of General Jason von Grath

The military heritage that defines the SA is mostly drawn from the Heer, the United States Marine Corp, and the Japanese Self-Defense force. All of these were co-opted and used by Lord Manswell after the Days of Iron in forming the SA's new military unit. The following rank structure derives heavily from that tradition. Naval space and Marine Ground forces have different ranks for both junior enlisted and officers, but share the non-commissioned officer ranks. The derangement of the ranks of Lt. Colonel, Colonel and Major stems from misunderstandings during the assembly of the Guard of Iron, and has been maintained despite clashing with historical rank systems.

Generally speaking, enlisted personnel enlist from four to eight years. If they succeed in testing, they are promoted to non-commissioned officers or offered training in the Officer Candidate School. Enlisted personnel proceed through their ranks based on technical and physical exams and time in rate. Most enlisted personnel fill the roles of combatants, technical support, logistics, and maintenance.

Non-Commissioned Officers are chosen after strenuous examinations of both their qualifications and leadership ability. Most NCO's take on an additional ten to fifteen year enlistment. NCO's often handle mid-level leadership and supervisory roles, highly technical tasks, high-tempo combat operations, and other positions that are inappropriate for junior personnel but too tedious or low level for officers.

Officers are trained at New West Point, the Villa Militar, or at Arcturus Naval Officer Academy. Officer promotions require testing, time in service, recommendations, and review by senior officers and the Commissariat. Junior officers form the bulk of the specialist technical trades, special forces, low-level line command, and medical or eezo engineering roles that require dedicated degrees. High level officers solely perform command-level or senior special forces tasks, along with diplomatic or research tasks when applicable.

Marine Ranks:

Enlisted:

Private

Private First Class

Corporal

Sergeant

Staff Sgt (Technical Rates) – armor and flight unit forces, missile control techs, etc

Gunnery Sgt (Combat Rates)

Non-Commissioned Officers:

Bosun (honorary rate)

Chief Petty Officer

Senior Chief Petty Officer

Master Chief Petty Officer

Command Master Chief Petty Officers are stationed at each divisional command level.

Officers:

2nd Lieutenant

1st Lieutenant

Captain

Lieutenant Colonel

Colonel

Major

Command Officers: A general is a marine Major who has been promoted to the highest command rank possible in the Marine Corps, and is ultimately responsible for the deployment of marines in all aspects. The SA currently only has a handful of men of this caliber. Marine officers are trained at Fort Manswell in southern Germany, or at Pinnacle Military Officer Academy.

A major with many accomplishments is often promoted to the honorary rank of major of marines. This is functionally equivalent to that of rear admiral or lieutenant general in terms of field command authority, but without the security and political requirements.

Major of Marines (Honorary Rank)

Lieutenant General (equal to vice admiral)

General (equal to admiral)

Lord General of the Systems Alliance Marine Corps (roughly equal to an admiral of the Red)

Naval Ranks:

A word on Naval Rated Marines: Many marines, of course, dedicate their career to the pursuit of ground combat alone, and many naval personnel have never so much as picked up an Avenger and held a trench. That being said, the Naval Combat Academy prefers command officers with a background in the ground Marine Corps rather than a pure naval career.

Marine officers who qualify for the training based on their reliability reports and Commissariat or command recommendations transfer their commission from the SAMC to the SANF.

Naval Officers are trained at Lyons Point-on-the-Green in England, or at Arcturus Naval Officer Academy.

Enlisted :

Seaman Apprentice

Seaman

Petty Officer 4th Class

Petty Officer 3rd Class

Petty Officer 2nd Class

Petty Officer 1st Class

Non-Commissioned Officers:

Chief Petty Officer

Senior Chief Petty Officer

Master Chief Petty Officer

Command Master Chief Petty Officer

Officers:

Ensign

Lieutenant JG

Lieutenant

Lieutenant Commander

Commander

Captain

Command Officers:

Commodore (Honorary rank)

Rear Admiral, Lower Half

Rear Admiral, Upper Half

Vice Admiral

Admiral of the Green (non - command admiral)

Admiral of the Red (command admiral not in command of a fleet)

Fleet Admiral (command admiral in charge of a fleet)

Fleet Master of the Systems Alliance Naval Armed Forces

Commissariat Ranks:

The Commissariat uses a highly simplified rank structure in lieu of the traditional military ranks. All commissars, junior commissars, and commissariat troopers are trained and graduated from the Schola Progenium on Luna.

Enlisted Trooper Ranks:

Commissariat Trooper

Commissariat Sergeant

Commissariat Lancer

Commissariat Senior Lancer

Commissariat Master Lancer

Junior Commissar (non-biotic) Ranks:

Commissar Tertius

Commissar Secundus

Commissar Primus

Senior Commissar (Biotic) Ranks:

Commissar-Captain

Commissar-Colonel

Commissar-Major

Command Ranks (Biotic):

Commandant (Equivalent rank to rear admiral)

Commandant-Major (Equivalent rank to vice admiral)

Commandant-General (Equivalent rank to admiral)

Lord High Commandant of the Commissariat (Equivalent rank to Admiral of the Red)

UNIT CODES:

SAMC : Systems Alliance Marine Corps - armed Marine units stationed aboard naval vessels, or assigned to forward colonies. The Corps is the core of the SA military. Uses Ground MVCs. Nicknamed 'geepees' for B rate troops (groundpounder) and '40k's' for space side troops (Space Marines)

SAGM: Systems Alliance General Militia - armed reservists. Always Code B. The General Militia musters every weekend, and once a year for two weeks. They receive half-combat pay for their service. Nicknamed 'flatlanders' or 'weekend warriors' – the latter usage is insulting, derogatory, and not tolerated in our proud Corps. A Marine is a Marine!

SANF: Systems Alliance Naval Forces - naval personnel assigned directly to ships. Uses Space MVCs. Nicknamed 'flyboys' by ground forces, and 'squids' by spaceside station personnel.

SAIS: System Alliance Intelligence Services - military intelligence branch, sometimes shortened to AIS or "AISholes". Always Code S. The AIS is the intelligence branch of the Systems Alliance.

SACC: Systems Alliance Commissariat Corps. Always Code T or Z. Consists of both Commissariat support troops as well as actual Commissars. Good-naturedly refer to themselves as the 'Black Hats', which may or may not be acceptable for general use. (Carefully) inquire with your unit commissar.

SAMPL : Systems Alliance Military Penal Legion. Always Code Ground X. Criminals in the process of being rehabilitated to becoming productive citizens. Nicknames are not recommended.

SAGOI: Systems Alliance Guard of Iron: Always Code Ground Z. The Guard of Iron is the special ceremonial guard that carries on the traditions of the first SA mercenary combat units. Dressed in dark gray armor with the Manswell coat of arms, the Guard has the greatest honor of guard duty at Arlington Alliance Memorial Cemetery over the Eternal Flame at the Marine Monument. The Guard of Iron also acts as the ceremonial guard of the Court of Lords.

Marine Vocational Codes:

The old MOS rating system in pre-Iron militaries was very cumbersome, with wildly differing requirements, duties, and values even within military branches. All Armed Forces now utilize the Marine Vocational Code to identify their specialization of skills.

The MVC is broken into various Rating Levels. Many rates go from levels 1 to 4. Generally speaking, achieving a new rating rank can require years. Rates 5 to 7 are either reserved for highly trained specialists or officers. Exceptions include enlisted only ranks, where the rate describes their level of competence, and medical ranks, which describe specialist levels.

For ranks with qualifications, there are qualification tiers. The "2" rank requires a qualification test (regardless of rating, even U ratings have to pass a basic exam), but some ranks, like Biotics, Special Forces, and Intelligence rate their personnel. Most rating badges are done in bone white on blue, but rated specialists wear black armor. (N forces wear a red and white stripe, Intel has a silver stripe, biotics a blue stripe, and X wears green armor with white stripes). The badge on these specialists is usually done in bronze, but the person with the highest recorded qualification score has the badge rendered in silver.

Number ratings are broken down below.

1: Basic familiarity. Indicates only that the member has completed at least one training course or operations set.

2: Qualified. Indicates the member has passed a formal qualification course on the rating.

3: Focus. Indicates the member has specialized within their current rating.

4: Instructor. For all rates , this indicates the member can be considered qualified to teach another person to level 1.

5: Specialization. The member has moved completely into a certain specialization or program (Vanguard, EEO Fire Control, Mako Driver, etc)

6: Adept. The member has mastered almost everything in this rating.

7: Mastery. The member has mastered all aspects of this rating.

MVC : GROUND

A – Infantry, Space rated (Naval Marines). In order to qualify for an A ranking, one must have completed qualification through either B5 or undergo Special Combat Training with equivalent background (such as former mercenaries, etc). A7 requires completion of the Hostile Environment and Survival Course and is the prerequisite rating for entering the Special Forces.

B – Infantry, General (Planetary Marines) : B1's are raw recruits right out of school, and B4 is usually a seasoned sergeant or chief. A soldier who completes B5 qualification can be considered for an A rating. B6 and B7 are restricted to NCO ranks and are required for command master chief status for companies or divisions.

C – Infantry, Biotic : anyone who uses their biotics is rated a C. Qualification to one of the SA Biotic Warfare programs requires a C7 rating.

D – Ordinance Disposal Technical Corps (bomb disposal units). The SA ODT corps is used to deal with explosive devices, jammed mass accelerators under power, conventional explosives, and the like. D5 and up are qualified to handle nuclear devices. This also includes all CBRN duties.

E – Armor, Pilot : responsible for piloting tanks and APCs into battle.

F – Finance, Yeoman and Administrative: A rating for non-combatant support personnel that handle requisitions, orders, paperwork and communications.

G – Armor, Gunner: responsible for the gun and missile control of armored vehicles. They are usually given cybernetic interfaces to aid them in combat.

H – Armor, Battlesuit: qualified THERMOPYLAE or AGAMEMNON battlesuit pilots.

I – Ground Command (granted to all flag rank officers): This rank replaces an officer rating once they become a line commander. A Major of Marines and Generals usually get this rate, but occasionally a Major is awarded it as well.

J – Medical Corpsman (enlisted only): Medical enlisted personnel are qualified based on knowledge and are roughly equivalent to trained nurses or physician assistants.

K – Support, Xenology (alien warfare specialist): K personnel are trained in alien language, both body language and linguistic analysis, as well as alien history and culture. Most serve as advisers to forward deployed units in alien space.

L – Support , Generalist (cooks, non-electrical mechanics, HVAC, etc): non-combatant support personnel who do not qualify as Finance and Administrative. Their rating is a strict representation of skill level: qualification tests for each award are based on a large number of subsidiary considerations. A L4 cook , for example, can cook meals for a battalion, an L7 cook prepares meals for the Parliament.

M - Honor Guard: The Honor Guard protects the various military sites of honor as designated by the Systems Alliance, as well as acting as a conventional honor guard at funerals, diplomatic events, and the like. They work with the Guard of Iron, and senior members can apply for membership into the Guard of Iron.

N – Special Forces: Due to the variegated nature of the N7 program, each rating badge in the sequence can consist of multiple courses. An N1 is nominated after passing the basic requirements at the Interplanetary Combatives Training (ICT). The ICT, sometimes called "N-School" or "the villa," recruits officers from every combat rating to partake in grueling courses at Vila Militar in Rio de Janeiro. N7 is unique among all other ranks in that it cannot be gained except by award by the instructors.

O – Infantry, Engineering Operations : qualified in combat engineering, including info-war techniques and drone control. Combat Engineers are trained in conventional engineering skills (bridge building, field fortification, etc) as well as a smattering of technical skills such as hacking and decryption.

P – Infantry, Heavy Weapons : infantry rated to use heavy weapons and the Devastator heavy infantry battlesuit. Most HW specialists are A rated. They are given more physical training as well as basic training in operations of alien heavy weapons.

Q – Jump-Assault Combat Team Pilot : qualified DACT operators. Power-armored personnel in the Icarus Mass-Assisted Bodysuit. These heavily armored battle specialists are the 22nd century version of paratroopers, using eezo-enhanced battle armor to jump hundreds of feet into combat. Wearing armor so thick it requires myomer assistance to even move in, they carry coaxial man-portable miniguns, micro-missile cluster launchers, and other heavy ordinance behind enemy lines to wreak complete havoc.

R – Ground Air Wing (fighter and shuttle pilots) : distinct from naval pilots for the larger ships, ground fighter and shuttle pilots make up their own grouping.

S – Special Intelligence Support: (intelligence forward operators): SAIS Troopers, the military version of an SAID agent. Roughly trained to be on par with A rate infantry, but with more of a focus on scouting and intelligence gathering than mere combat. [REDACTED]

T – Security, Internal (Military Police) : Field designation for Commissariat Legionaries, the non-biotic support soldiers that assist the Commissars. [REDACTED]

U –Undesignated (a catch-all rating for additional support personnel, as well as civilian contractors, mercenaries under SA contract, etc.)

V – Military Training (recruit training and special training operations) : Soldiers who work in boot camps, or in recruiting stations, use this rating.

W – General Support : ministers, marching band, military artists, psychologists, non-PHD medical support staff.

X – Penal Legionary. [REDACTED]. Please note that officers outside the legions cannot give orders to Legionary troops. [REDACTED]

Y – Naval Transport Pilot : A formal pilot rating for ground landing ships that do not rate naval pilots.

Z – Guard of Iron Corps : The Rating of a soldier assigned the high honor of joining the Guard of Iron.

MVC: SPACE and OTHER

C – Infantry, Biotic : anyone who uses their biotics is rated a C. Qualification to one of the SA Biotic Warfare programs requires a C7 rating.

E – Damage Control Specialist: Naval personnel on ships that are charged with maintenance and proper execution of damage control techniques, deep-space fire control, N/B/C decontamination, and hostile environment repair.

F – Finance, Yeoman and Administrative: A rating for non-combatant support personnel.

G – Honor Guard: The Honor Guard protects the various military sites of honor as designated by the Systems Alliance, as well as acting as a conventional honor guard at funerals, diplomatic events, and the like.

H – Medical (officer only): Medical doctors are ranked by their level of qualification.

I – Fleet Command (granted to all flag rank officers): This rank replaces an officer rating once they become a rear admiral or general. One rating is conferred per star.

J – Medical (enlisted only): Medical enlisted personnel are qualified based on knowledge.

L – Support , Naval (cooks, non-electrical mechanics, HVAC, etc): non-combatant naval support personnel who do not qualify as Engineering, Ops/Nav, or Weapons.

M – Naval Engineering Tech (naval engineering, officers and enlisted): Any naval personnel assigned to engineering tasks, from propulsion specialists to dockworkers, are given this rating.

N – Special Forces: Due to the variegated nature of the N7 program, each rating badge in the sequence can consist of multiple courses.

O – Naval Operations Tech (ops officers and enlisted): Naval personnel involved in electronics, navigation, fire control, operations, and shipboard maintenance outside of engineering tasks are considered operations techs.

P – Naval Weapons Tech (ops nav techs): Only found on larger ships such as heavy cruisers and dreadnoughts, for dedicated fire control officers.

Q – Rated Naval Pilot (naval ship pilots) : Only found on frigates and light destroyers, RNP's are the sole pilots of SA ships. On larger ships, piloting is done by a group of ops techs, but smaller ships react fast enough that skilled piloting instincts count.

R – Naval Air Wing (fighter and shuttle pilots) : distinct from naval pilots for the larger ships, fighter and shuttle pilots make up their own grouping.

S – Special Intelligence Operative : Forming the bulk of the SAIS, S rates are a mix of spy, saboteur, political operator, assassin and soldier. [REDACTED]

T – Security, Internal (Military Police) : Field designation for Commissariat Legonaries, the non-biotic support soldiers that assist the Commissars.

U –Undesignated (a catch-all rating for additional support personnel, as well as civilian contractors, mercenaries under SA contract, etc.)

V – Military Training (recruit training and special training operations) : Soldiers who work in boot camps, or in recruiting stations, use this rating.

W – General Support : ministers, marching band, military artists, psychologists, non-PHD medical support staff.

X – Secret Service Military Assistance (N7 specialists assigned to the protection of the Parliament): Highly trained Corps personnel (N codes, Guard of Iron, etc) can apply to the X program, which is another level of training to become elite bodyguards. [REDACTED]

Y – Research and Development: The most curious of the rankings, the Y rating only has 3 ranks, and these only show the general level of education. Y rates have their own secondary rating system to indicate what scientific branch they work with.

Z – Commissariat Corps : Biotic political officers that ensure the stability and political atmosphere of a ship fall in line with PRIDE (Political Reliability Index for Direct Evaluation) requirements. [REDACTED]

Military Orders of Knighthood

KoUE : Knights of United Earth. Open to all officers who display uncommon valor and discipline. Knighting is by recognition by the Court of Lords only. Requisite before being appointed a command-level officer (General/Admiral). Confers Class V citizenship (nobility).

KoAAF: Knights of the Alliance Armed Forces. Open to all non-Sol military officers who demonstrate valor, knight is by recommendation of a commanding officer to the Systems Alliance Merit Board. Confers no citizenship but makes the Class IV temporary citizenship of all military personnel permanent upon retirement (not separation).

KoG: Knights of Grace. Open to all officers who display a willingness to sacrifice their own lives for those of their men. Knighting is by recognition by the Court of Lords only. Requisite before being appointed a command-level officer (General/Admiral). Confers class IV citizenship.

DMKoA : Distinguished Merit Knighthood of the Systems Alliance. Open to all enlisted or officers who win the following awards: Star of Terra, Star of Sol, Silver Star, Valorous Combat Award. Confers class IV citizenship.

KoCT: Knights of Christ Triumphant. Religious Military knighthood open to NCO's only. Appointment is by the SA Non-Commissioned Officer Review Board. Awarded for actions beyond the call of duty.

Order of Awards by Precedence

Conspicuous Gallantry Awards

Star of Terra (Gold star on a blood red neck ribbon) : The President of the SA may award a medal of honor of appropriate design, with ribbons and appurtenances, to a person who while a member of the Systems Alliance Armed Forces, distinguished themselves conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of their life above and beyond the call of duty. This is the highest award of the SA, and conveys enormous respect. Confers class V citizenship (unless restricted)

Star of Sol (Silver star on an Alliance blue neck ribbon) : The Parliament of the SA may award a medal of honor of appropriate design, with ribbons and appurtenances, to a person who while a member of the Systems Alliance Armed Forces, displays such gallantry, determination, and esprit de corps in accomplishing their mission under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions so as to set them apart from and above other personnel participating in the same campaign.

United Military Service Star (black steel star on a white neck ribbon) : Awarded by command level staff to a soldier whose actions must have involved personal hazard or danger and the voluntary risk of life under conditions not involving conflict with an armed enemy. Awards will not be made solely on the basis of having saved a life. It is the highest honor a soldier can receive for an act of valor in a non-combat situation.

General Combat Citations

Medal of Valor: awarded for bravery under fire in combat

Silver Star: awarded for meritorious and valiant conduct in combat.

Bronze Star: awarded for notable conduct in combat.

Legion of Honor : awarded for completing an operation with extreme risk of life and limb in hostile combat conditions.

Valorous Combat Award : awarded for completing an operation with risk of life and limb in combat conditions.

Marine Cross / Navy Cross : awarded for significant efforts in combat situations

Service Citations

Distinguished Service Medal : awarded for significant efforts in non-combat situations

Silver Heart : awarded to personnel wounded so badly that they require cybernetic augmentation

Purple Heart: awarded to personnel wounded in combat

Honorable Service Award: awarded after a complete enlistment

Combat Tour Accolade (TAB) : awarded after a tour of duty in a combat zone with at least one action