Ranks Expanded and Explained
Commissioned OfficerAll officers hold a commission from the Colonial government. They receive the authority of their offices from this source and through that authority they command.
The following list includes: Rank (Designation) - age requirement - years in service brief description of standard posting. These numbers are a guideline and are not set in stone. Also, keep in mind that the military promotes on ability, not merely seniority. Just because one has time in service it does not mean that a promotion is deserved.
Most officers first attend a four year institution (either a military academy or ROTC program through a college) but others are "mustangs" who started as enlisted and quickly worked their way through the ranks and earned a commission. Therefore, the age number is not always set in stone for not all start their journey up the ranks at the same time in life.
Admiral (O-10) - 47–25 Commands several Battlestar groups.
Rear Admiral (O-9) - 42–20 Commands a Battlestar group and related vessels.
Commander (O-8) - 37–15 Commands a Battlestar or other large warship.
Colonel (O-7) - 34–12 Second in command of a large warship or the commander of a smaller vessel.
Lieutenant Colonel (O-6) - 31–9 Senior department head.
Major (O-5)- 29–7 Junior department head.
Captain (O-4) - 26–4 Senior frontline commander.
Lieutenant (Senior Grade) (O-3) - 24–2 Most common officer rank – mid level.
Lieutenant (Junior Grade) (O-2) - 23-0.5 Low level officer
Ensign (O-1)- 22–0 Freshly minted officer
Cadet (O-0) - 18-N/A Officer in training
Warrant OfficerWOs are issued a "warrant" rather than a commission. The warrant and oath need not be "as official" as a commission but often they are identical in all but name. Officers serving under a warrant are technical experts in a state of limbo between the enlisted below and the other officers above. Of note, warrant officers technically rank above Cadets (in between O-0 and O-1).
Warrant officers will get their start in the enlisted ranks and are essentially plucked out of that rank system entirely and often skip the NCO ranks.
Warrant Officer (W-1) - 24-6 Technical expert in various fields performing tasks or handling machinery that is not deemed appropriate for enlisted personnel.
Non-Commissioned OfficerNCOs are enlisted personnel that have promoted to positions of increased authority and responsibility but lack an actual commission. They do not have "command" but merely have a "charge."
Again, the following list includes: Rank (Designation) - age requirement - years in service brief description of standard posting. These numbers are a guideline and are not set in stone. Also, keep in mind that the military promotes on ability, not merely seniority. Just because one has time in service it does not mean that a promotion is deserved.
All NCOs start in the list below with 18 as a standard starting age (straight out of high school/upon reaching adulthood).
Master Chief Petty Officer/Master Sergeant (E-7) - 33-15 Uncommon rank, senior most NCO.
Chief Petty Officer/Gunnery Sergeant (E-6) - 28–10 NCO head of a department.
- Chief of the Deck/Master-at-Arms/Etc. - Special positions of authority that are half-steps to the next rank. An E-6 with such a title is more senior to one without.
Petty Officer First Class/Sergeant First Class (E-5) - 25–7 NCO team leader
Petty Officer Second Class/Crew Sergeant (E-4) - 22–3.5 NCO assistant team leader/sub-team leader
Enlisted PersonnelThose who have "enlisted" with the military. They hold no commission nor have they been given a charge through promotion to NCO.
Specialist/Corporal (E-3) - 20–1.5 Senior and typically skilled enlisted
Crewman/Private First Class (E-2) - 19–0.5 Standard enlisted
Crewman Apprentice/Private (E-1) - 18–0 Brand new enlisted
Crewman Recruit/Recruit (E-0) - New recruits still in training
*Keep in mind that BSG does a fairly decent job at butchering the rank system by creating tons of officer ranks and cutting out many enlisted/NCO. The above is an attempt to act as a basic guideline. Nothing is set in stone and it certainly doesn't perfectly mimic RL military.