Ranks and Uniforms of the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns

	Marshall of the Armies - (Marshall of the Armies): The AFFC's Marshal of the Armies has full responsibility for the Federated Suns' entire military. This officer wears the same insignia of rank as the field marshals, only with a silver sword set upon the sunburst. When wearing a military uniform, the First Prince has the right to wear a golden version of this insignia.
	Field Marshall - (Field Marshall): Field marshals command great responsibility within the AFFC. They lead entire Combat Theaters (or Marches, in the case of the most senior field marshals), military departments, the AFFC's entire Navy and major military organizations com posed of multiple RCTs and brigades, such as the Dayton Brigade of Guards. During wartime, these officers are named by the Prince or the Marshal of the Armies to lead major task forces. The insignia for this rank is a silver Federated Sunburst on the epaulet.
	Marshall: AFFC marshals command premier RCTs, major PDZs the most prestigious divisions within B military department naval equivalent is a Fleet Admiral, who literally comment entire naval fleet of Warships, JumpShips and DropShips. These officers wear epaulets with four broad bends.
	General - (Marshall): The rank of general is rough equivalent to the AFFC marshal, at least the "lower half" of that rank Current AFFC generals often serve as the executive officer within PDZs and RCTs, though, several have proved themselves enough that they are given responsibility for these organizations. Generals can also head divisions within a military department or command the militia for one of the Federated Suns largest planets. The navel equivalent is admiral, an officer who has responsibility for a small flotilla of ships formed around a single Warship or for a naval repair yard. The insignia for a general as an epaulet with three broad of and one narrow band.
	Major General - (Hauptmann General): Leftenant generals who prove not only their command al ty but also their tactical, shrill and political acumen can be or( rooted 20 the rank of major gene al. Officers elevated to this ran can expect to head importer schools and Institutions, con mend March Militias, serve as key officer within a POZ or RC command staff, or, in the Next Service as a race, admiral, con mend one of the AFFC's fix Warships. Major generals we; epaulets with three broad bands
	Leftenant General: Though bearing the same name as the AFFC rank now known as colonel, today's leffenant generals command far more responsibility than did their AFFC 1,W eces5ors 7nanaf4cers commonly command infantry and armor brigades entire planetary militias, and roofer staff sections and serve e command staff members m an RCT. In the Naval Seance, roe admirals commend multiple squadrons of DropShips or sure JumpShip flotillas and serve as Warship executive officers. Th insignia for this officer is an epaulet with two broad bands an one narrow band.
	Colonel - (Leftenant General): Colonels command enoir regiments on the field of battle cr departments within the AFFC bureaucracy. Within the Iya1a, Service, these officers are otiose as commodores and comment, command DropShip squadrons hr whole dumpShips. During ttie years of the combined AFTC. off cars of this rank were known as leffenant generals but were never truly considered general officers and were still commonly referred to as colonels. This rank represents the final step in the careers of many officers. lip to and includmg this rank. offcers are expected to show loyally to their men as well as imagination in their assignments but are still required to strictly follow their orders and work well within a staff. To have any hope of receiving a promotion to a leftenant general, however, the officer must be willing and able to take sale responsibility for a major project or command, a requirement to which many capable offcers simply cannot make the adjustment. Colonels and commodores wear an epaulet with two broad bends.
	Lieutenant Colonel: While the rank of keftenao colonel existed in both the AFFS and the LCAF, the generals In charge of forming the AFFC chose to eliminate this rank to help streamline the new combined military. As with ranks such as command sergeant-major, the left mane colonel lived on unofficially until it was recently returned to official use. A lenenantcoloner ~- r al', a xe io· r,attalion commander and/or a regimental executive officer, or, in many ml tla units, the commander of a infantry or armor regiment, In td Naval Service, these ol known as light commodores commonly command bfopShlp-, and Assault Ships. The inslgn,, for this officer is two bands, on, broad and one narrow, set diner the epaulet.
	Major - (Kommandant): Field battalions and large staff organizations are earn manded by majors Because they are often required to operate cut off from the chain of command for extended periods of time, only those captains who show an unswerving dedication to duty and an abr ity to Think on thin, feet are narrated to major. The insignia for a hoofer is an epaulet with one broad band across its base.
	Captain - (Hauptmann): AFFC Captains command companies of soldiers and, like sergeants in the enlisted ranks, are collectively considered the backbone of the AFFC officer corps. Captains wear epaulets with one narrow white band across the base.
	Leftenant: Subalterns are promoted to the rank of leftenant after Successfully completing a six-month probationary period. Senior leftenants command 'Mach lances and armor and infantry platoons. Former sergeants- major who complete officer training are promoted directly to the rank of leftenant. The insignia for a leftenants a branch- colored epaulet with a white border.
	Cadet/Subaltern - (Cadet): Cadets wear plain green epaulets during their stay at an academy, though they are authorized to wear the academy's cadet rank upon the epaulet. After graduatlon,those who have completed officer training are promoted to subaltern. The insignia for a subaltern is a plain green epaulet, trimmed in the color of their branch of service.
	Command Sergeant-Major: The rank of command sergeant motor is another that was never officially adopted by the AFFS and so was not used in the AFFC,yetitlingered on unofficially. In today's AFFC,like private, first class, it Is an unrecognized rank but used nonetheless. In general one sergeant major per regiment is awarded the honorary rank of command sergeant major. Command sergeant maior wear a V -Scar with three chevrons and a silver sword.
	Sergeant-Major - (Sergeant-Major): Sergeant-rnafo(s are among the a,FF(, r~, ~-,.mmpab ~ a~r experienced enlisted personnel. These nonro·nni,ssaned offi cars can lead entire lances, platoons, crews or staff sections depending on their service and specialty. The standard insignia for a sergeant major is a VScar, consisting of two downwardpointing chevrons with a disc upon which the black sword is centered. MechWarrlor and other academy.graduate sergeant majors wear the V - Scar with two curved chevrons. This is the highest rank an academy graduate can hope to achieve without attending an officer training school.
	Sergeant (Sergeant): In many ways, the weight of the AFFC's chain of command rests squarely on the shoulders of its sergeants. These noncommissioned officers are truly the AFFC's first line of management, as they lead squads, command vehicles, lead technical and gunnery crews, and have responsibility over staffs throughout the AFFC's bureaucracy. Most graduates from a allnary academy also enter service as a sergeant. Except for academy graduates, who wear three curved Scars, sergeants wear three standard Scars
	Corporal - (Corporal): After a private, first class has served for a short time, normally a year or so, and has shown his or her ability to follow orders and potential for leadership, he or she is promoted to corporal. Corporals lead infantry sections and small staffs or work details. The insignia for a corporal is two Scars.
	Private First Class - (Private First Class): The rank of private, first class was initially a holdover from both the AFFS and the LCAF. though it was only an unofficial step in the AFFS at the time. When the AFFC's new system was introduced, this rank was left out, apparently considered Irrelevant. Training center commandants and unit commanders continued to award the rank as an indicator of excellent service, though the AFFC did not officially recognize it for more than a decade. This practice continues today, denoting basic training honor graduates and those privates who have shown themselves capable and worthy of additional responsibility. Privates, first class wear one Scar with a silver sword.
	Private - (Private): Recruits are immediately promoted to the rank of private after graduating from a basic military training program. Privates continue at this rank throughout their advanced training courses and into regular service. Privates wear one Scar.
	Recruit - (Recruit): Recruits are the lowest enlisted personnel and attain this rank upon enlisting in the AFFC. Recruits wear a black sword on a green held as their insignia of rank.

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