Notes on Star Fleet Uniforms, Ratings and Divisions.

The Fleet retains the three basic branches: Command, Sciences, Support. However, each Branch is broken down into a number of Divisions. Each Branch is denoted by the colour of the tunic or dress; each Division is denoted by an emblem worn as part of the Ship's Badge. (It is worth noting that the divisions within the Science Branch are often unclear, and so on many ships all Divisions wear the General Sciences badge.) (A further note: I haven't actully created symbols for all these divisions yet; in the interim, missing division badges are replaced with the general Branch badge.)

Command Branch:

	Command	COs, Helm, Navigation
	Instructor
	Administration	Legal Affairs, Paymaster, Clerical
	Small Craft (Pilot)
	Intelligence

Science Branch:

	Science	Sensor Operators, General Sciences, Mixed Field Analysts.
	Planetary System Surveyors
	Interstellar Surveyors
	Social & Cultural Surveyors
	Theoretics Sciences
	Archives and Records
	Medical Sciences

Support Branch:

	Engineering
	Communications
	Ship's Security
	Tactical & Weapons
	Small Craft (Support)
	Hospitality	Purser, Chefs, Admiral's Stewards, Ship's Yeomen

The Star Fleet descends from military and paramilitary roots, and retains an authority structure similar in form to a navy's. The different grades of authority and responsibility are referred to as "ratings," not "ranks" - ranks comes from "rank-and-file," a term distinctly part of the ground forces' heritage, not the Fleet's.

Officers in command of units consisting of multiple ships are referred to as Flag Officers. Officers senior enough to hold an independent command - a starship or base - are Command Officers. Officers below this level are Junior Officers.

Only about 10% of a ship's crew, and 20% of a base's personnel, are officers. The remainder are Non-Commissioned Ratings. There are two ways of drawing the distinction: by source of authority and practical knowledge.

Officers recieve a commission from the Federation upon graduation from Star Fleet Academy. The government itself has said these beings are entitled to lead others and serve in the Star Fleet. NCRs, on the other hand, recieve their ratings and authority from their senior officers. Their power extends no further than the authority of the officer granting it. A ship's Captain could rate any crew member he wanted as a Chief Petty Officer, but that rating would exist only inside the starship. Of course, almost all NCRs are given their ratings by Star Fleet Command, and so the rating applies throughout the Fleet.

Officers are also expected to be leaders. They need to know how to command, and they need to not only know how to do their job, but also be familiar with their subordinates' jobs. The captain is never going to be as good in the galley as the chef or as skilled as the transporter cheif, but he or she needs to be able to fill in in a pinch.

Rating Grade is denoted by Cuff Stripes (for officers) and Bands (for NCRs.) Otherwise the uniforms are very nearly identical, save that the NCRs' collars are in Branch Colour while the Officers' collars are black.

Flag Officers

	Admiral of the Fleet	ADF	In command of the entire Star Fleet, and reporting directly to the Federation Council.
	Admiral	ADL	In command of one of the six regional fleets
	Vice-Admiral	VAD
	Rear Admiral	RAD
	Commodore	CDE	In command of a permanently constituted squadron, which may be operating concentrated or dispersed.

Command Officers

	Fleet Captain	FCP	In command of a temporary squadron, or of a frigate or destroyer flotilla.
	Captain	CPT	In command of a Capital Ship or a Cruiser.
	Commander	CMR	In command of a Transport or Destroyer; 2IC of a Cruiser.
	Lieutenant Commander	LCR	In command of a Transport, Frigate or Destroyer; 2IC of a Transport or Destroyer.

Junior Officers

	Lieutenant (Senior Grade)	LT
	Lieutenant (Junior Grade)	JLT
	Ensign	ENS

Non-Commissioned Ratings

	Chief Petty Officer	CPO
	Petty Officer	PO
	Specialist	SPC	Often referred to by specialty, eg "Nurse" or "Engineer."
	Crewman	CRW

Back to the Starship Surya ToC Back to Index