Naval Ranks

“	Competence, initiative, magnanimity, and perseverance lead to promotion. Ineffectiveness, laziness, selfishness, and impatience do not.	”
—Wyl "Trick" Trykon, while Chief of Naval Warfare

Note

In the Vast Empire's Navy, the chain of command is based upon the positions held by individual members, not by those members' nominal ranks (or, in the case of enlisted personnel, rates). In situations where a lower-ranked member is in a position of greater authority, the position takes precedence (for example, a Flight Leader who is a Petty Officer 1st Class is higher up the chain of command than a Flight Member who is a Warrant Officer 2nd Class, despite being nominally "lower ranked." The Warrant Officer, in this example, cannot give orders to the Petty Officer; in fact, the WO2 must obey the PO1's orders.).

The rank system is a secondary way of distinguishing between members, and promotions are one of the primary ways of honoring contributions to the division and the club, the other main honor being awards (medals and ribbons).

Promotion of Navy members above the rank of Commodore is only possible by direct order of the Naval Commander in Chief and Chief of Naval Operations, at their sole discretion. The ranks of Commander and below may be conferred by individual Command Officers, Ship Captains, Wing Commanders, or Squadron Commanders, as appropriate, but the Naval Commander in Chief, Chief of Naval Operations, and Chief of Naval Warfare must be advised of such promotions and must formally approve them, before they go into effect, so that the Roster can be properly amended and revised.

Ranks

Ranks withing the VEN:

Commissioned Officer Ranks, High Command

Rank Name	Insignia	Description	Style of Verbal Address	ID-Line Acronym
Grand Admiral		• The highest rank possible in the Vast Empire's Navy, Grand Admirals outrank all other military personnel and civilian authorities, except for Supreme Moffs (currently, there is only one: Kadann) and the Emperor himself (currently, the throne is vacant). • Only the Head of the High Council can promote members to Grand Admiral.	"Admiral"	GADM
Oversector Admiral*		• The Vast Empire has never been large enough to necessitate the establishing of Oversectors, and Oversector Admiral is not officially a recognized rank along the VEN's chain of command. • Nevertheless, the insignia between Sector Admiral and Grand Admiral suggest an interim rank, which has caused speculation that the Vast Empire may have grand territorial ambitions that would necessitate such a rank.	"Admiral"	OADM
Sector Admiral		• Sector Admirals command the large fleets protecting critical sectors of the Vast Empire, and may serve as "regional governor" of those sectors. • Only the Head of the High Council can promote members to Sector Admiral.	"Admiral"	SADM
High Admiral		• The first of the "High Command" Officer Ranks, High Admirals are officers of the greatest quality, who have proven their ability to succeed time and again. • Only the Head of the High Council can promote members to High Admiral.	"Admiral"	HADM

* Oversector Admiral is not an officially recognized rank along the Vast Imperial Navy's chain of command. However, its existence is suggested by the ranks above and below it, and the precedent set in the pre-Endor Imperial Navy.

Commissioned Officer Ranks, Command

Rank Name	Insignia	Description	Style of Verbal Address	ID-Line Acronym
Fleet Admiral		• The highest command-level rank possible in the Vast Empire's Navy. • In the pre-Endor Imperial Navy, a Fleet Admiral would typically command a "Superiority Fleet" of 6 Star Destroyers and 390 other warships.	"Admiral"	FADM
Admiral		• In the pre-Endor Imperial Navy, an Admiral would command a "Systems Force" of up to 90 ships.	"Admiral"	ADM
Vice Admiral		• An experienced command officer who has repeatedly demonstrated his/her command effectiveness over a period of over 1 year may be promoted to this rank.	"Admiral"	VADM
Rear Admiral		• A seasoned command officer who has repeatedly demonstrated his/her command effectiveness over a period of 3-6 months may be promoted to this rank. • Typically, if a member is elevated to the Naval Commander in Chief position before he/she has achieved this rank, he/she will be immediately promoted to Rear Admiral. No member has yet to achieve this rank before being elevated to the NCC position.	"Admiral"	RADM
Commodore		• Commodore is for SCAPs who have exemplified the highest standards of excellence over the course of their careers. • Typically, if a member is elevated to the Chief of Naval Operations position before he/she has achieved this rank, he/she will be immediately promoted to Commodore.	"Commodore"	COM
Vice Commodore		• The first of the Command-level ranks, Vice Commodore is for experienced SCAPs and Commanding Officers of Task Forces and Fleets. • In the pre-Endor Imperial Navy, this was the lowest rank at which an officer could command a Task Force of multiple capital ships.	"Commodore"	VCOM

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Commissioned Officer Ranks, Line

Rank Name	Insignia	Description	Style(s) of Verbal Address	ID-Line Acronym
Line Captain		• Line Captain was the lowest rank at which officers could command a Line of Battle, or an Imperial-class Star Destroyer in the pre-Endor Imperial Navy. • In the Vast Empire's Navy, it is the highest rank a member may hold before being expected to take on greater responsibilities for the day-to-day management of the division.	"Captain"	LCPT
Captain		• This is generally the lowest rank at which a member will start to be considered for command of an Imperial-class Star Destroyer.	"Captain"	CPT
Commander		• Commander is a rank that may be earned by experience SCAPs who have not yet earned command of a full Imperial-class Star Destroyer.	"Commander"	CDR
Lieutenant Commander		• Lieutenant Commander is generally the lowest rank at which a member will start to be considered for command of a Heavy Cruiser or Heavy Frigate.	"Commander" or "Lieutenant Commander"	LCDR
Lieutenant		• Lieutenants are generally captains of a Cruiser or Frigate who have not yet earned command of a Heavy Cruiser or Heavy Frigate. They also often serve as Executive Officers aboard Imperial-class Star Destroyers.	"Lieutenant"	LT
Lieutenant Junior Grade		• Lieutenant Junior Grade is generally the lowest rank at which a member will start to be considered for command of a Cruiser or Frigate.	"Lieutenant"	LTJG
Ensign		• The rank of Ensign is bestowed upon any member who successfully completes the Field Officer Candidate Exam. • Members holding this rank or higher have earned their commissions as officers in the Vast Empire's Navy.	"Lieutenant" or "Ensign"	ESN
Officer Candidate		• When first promoted into the Officer ranks, a member is temporarily named an Officer Candidate, until they successfully complete the Field Officer Candidate Exam. • This is a primarily OOC term for a provisional rank which bears many different names, IC, including Cadet, Midshipman, and Acting Ensign.	"Acting Ensign" or "Cadet" or "Midshipman"	OCAN

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Non-Commissioned Officer Ranks

Rank Name	Insignia	Description	Style(s) of Verbal Address	ID-Line Acronym
Chief Warrant Officer		• Chief Warrant Officer is generally the lowest rank at which a member will start to be considered for command of a Corvette.	"Mr." or "Ms." or "Warrant Officer"	CWO
Warrant Officer 1st Class		• Warrant Officer 1st Class is generally the lowest rank at which a member will start to be considered for the Ship Captain Training Program.	"Mr." or "Ms." or "Warrant Officer"	WO1
Warrant Officer 2nd Class		• This is generally the lowest rank at which members will start to be considered for higher leadership positions (Squadron Commanding Officer in the Starfighter Corps, for example).	"Mr." or "Ms." or "Warrant Officer"	WO2

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Enlisted Personnel Rates

Rate Name	Insignia	Description	Style(s) of Verbal Address	ID-Line Acronym
Master Chief Petty Officer		• Rate for members with a long history of consistent activity, characterized by a selfless attitude and dedication to their unit and the division.	"Mr." or "Ms." or "Master Chief"	MCPO
Senior Chief Petty Officer		• Rate for members who have stayed active and have continued to consistently contribute to the well-being of their unit and the division. • This is generally the lowest rate at which members will start to be considered for mid-level leadership positions (Squadron Executive Officer in the Starfighter Corps, for example).	"Mr." or "Ms." or "Chief"	SCPO
Chief Petty Officer		• Rate for members who have stayed active and have consistently contributed to the well-being of their unit and the division.	"Mr." or "Ms." or "Chief"	CPO
Petty Officer 1st Class		• Rate for members who have stayed active and attained more experience. • This is generally the lowest rate at which members will start to be considered for low-level leadership positions (Flight Leader in the Starfighter Corps, for example).	"Mr." or "Ms." or "Petty Officer"	PO1
Petty Officer 2nd Class		• Rate for members who have stayed active and attained some experience.	"Mr." or "Ms." or "Petty Officer"	PO2
Senior Crewman		• Rate attained after consistent activity. • Members who sufficiently distinguish themselves in Starfighter School or Fleet school may be promoted directly to this rank after graduating.	"Mr." or "Ms." or "Crewman"	SCRW
Leading Crewman		• Baseline rate for graduates of Starfighter School and/or Fleet School.	"Mr." or "Ms." or "Crewman"	LCRW
Crewman		• Entry-level rate for new recruits, whether pilot-trainees (in Starfighter School).	"Mr." or "Ms." or "Crewman"	CRW

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This is the current, up-to-date, in-use system of Naval Ranks. The previous system has been archived.