Starfleet ranks
From TFC Galactopedia
The Starfleet rank system has a long history dating back to early space explorers of the Earth Starfleet and its predecessor naval and military forces.
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Flag officer ranks
The most senior section of Starfleet is described as the "flag officers." These ranks are the highest levels of Starfleet Command.
Fleet admiral
- The most senior flag rank in Starfleet. In 2293, the commander in chief of Starfleet held this rank.
Admiral
- The second most senior flag rank known to exist in Starfleet.
Vice admiral
- Starfleet flag rank immediately inferior to full admiral, but superior to a rear admiral.
Rear admiral
- The lowest grade of admiral in Starfleet. It is inferior to a vice admiral, and superior to a commodore or captain.
Commodore
- The lowest flag rank in Starfleet, immediately superior to a captain, and just before rear admiral. At some point in Starfleet history, this rank became known as "rear admiral lower half."
Line Officer Ranks
Fleet captain
- Fleet Captain is a position – not an official rank – bestowed on highly distinguished Starfleet Captains. It is an extremely rare distinction, once held by former Enterprise Captain Christopher Pike in the year 2266. It was also held in the 2260s, by Captain Garth, one of Starfleet's most decorated captains and hero of the Battle of Axanar.
Captain
- The most senior regular line rank in Starfleet. It is most often applied to starship and starbase commanders, and the adjutants and executives serving beneath admirals. This rank is usually considered a big transition, because it is often the first rank in which officers run a base of operation (i.e. a starship) more or less by themselves. The equivalent military rank to Starfleet captain is colonel.
Commander
- The Starfleet line rank immediately inferior to Captain. Officers at this rank typically hold positions such as space station commander (or first officer of important starships). Line officers reaching this rank typically have between 10 and 15 years of experience in Starfleet.
Lieutenant commander
- The Starfleet line rank immediately inferior to Commander. Officers with this rank typically hold positions as starship department heads or, in some cases, as commanding officer or first officer of a starship
Lieutenant
- The Starfleet line rank immediately inferior to Lieutenant Commander. Officers at this rank typically have some command experience, and are occasionally appointed department heads on starships. Typically they are shift commanders in a department under a Lieutenant Commander, i.e. a Lt. Commander will be chief of engineering and will also be commander of A shift, and there will be a B and C shift, each under a Lieutenant.
Lieutenant junior grade
- The Starfleet line rank immediately inferior to Lieutenant. Officers at this rank typically hold support positions on starships and starbases. At this rank, they have begun to prove their ability to perform acceptably in Starfleet, and typically begin to take on more senior roles in command situations. Typical posts at this rank are conn officer, communications officer or second officer of a shift (see lieutenant).
In the modern US armed forces, service members may begin their career as an officer at the rank of lieutenant or lieutenant commander if, due to the nature of their occupation, they were required to continue their education beyond the level of a Bachelors degree prior to receiving their initial commission. This is normally for members serving in non-line officer roles, such as Judge Advocate General Corps (JAG), Medical Service Corps and scientific researchers. Starfleet may utilize a similar policy for commissioning officers.
Ensign
- The most junior Starfleet Line rank. Ensigns typically begin their careers as the most junior officers in the department of their chosen specialty. Ensigns who have strongly distinguished themselves in their academy class or on duty may sometimes be given posts as main-shift bridge officers.
Cadet Ranks
Cadet ranks are held by those attending Starfleet Academy during their training to become commissioned officers.
Cadet 1st class
- Cadets of this rank are fourth-year students at Starfleet Academy. After graduation, these Cadets are granted the rank of Ensign or Lieutenant, J.G. depending upon their course of study. See Starfleet Academy Divisions for additional information.
Cadet 2nd class
- Cadets of this rank are third-year students at Starfleet Academy.
Cadet 3rd class
- Cadets of this rank are second-year students at Starfleet Academy. Cadets at this rank take part in field training at a space station or outpost.
Cadet 4th class
- Cadets of this rank are first-year students at Starfleet Academy.
Enlisted Grades
Non-commissioned Officers
The enlisted section of Starfleet has a hierarchy of "noncoms," short for non-commissioned officers. These ranks are achieved by members of Starfleet who have not attended Starfleet Academy.
Master chief petty officer
Senior chief petty officer
- Also known as "senior chief specialist".
Chief petty officer
Petty officer first class
- Also known as "technician first class", etc.
Petty officer second class
- Also known as "specialist second class", etc.
Petty officer third class
- Also known as "yeoman third class", etc.
Crewmen
Crewman first class
Crewman second class
Crewman third class
Source Note
- The original version of this article comes from Memory Alpha, the free Star Trek reference (http://www.memory-alpha.org/en/index.php/Main_Page).
- Article (http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Starfleet_ranks)
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