Non-commissioned Enlisted RanksIn Starfleet, the Department title is sometimes inserted prior to the rank. Thus a rating from the Tactical Dept. might be a "Torpedoman's Mate" or a "Gunneryman" or a "Gunnery Petty Officer" depending on actual duties and rank, while a Security Rating could be an "Armoryman's Mate" or a "Security Petty Officer."
All Petty Officers are addressed as 'Chief' and all Marine NCO's may be addressed as 'Sergeant' regardless of actual rank. The Highest Ranking NCO assigned to a unit of Starfleet is traditionally the 'Chief Boatswain' and addressed as 'Boats' by the CO. In Marine parlance, it's common to address the Highest Ranking NCO of any Unit as 'Gunny'.
There are currently Sixteen MCPO's in Starfleet and ten MSM's in the Corps. They are allowed to pick and choose their own assignments, and it is considered a 'plum' for one of the 'Sweet Sixteen' or 'Terrible Ten' to request to serve under a certain commander. The longest held commission at the grade is considered the MCPO of the Fleet or the MSM of the Corps. MCPO Karl MacGruder of the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-E and MSM Elizabeth Biddlestein of the Sixth Marine Expeditionary Regiment are the current holders of the offices.
The Liaison Corps do not use 'ratings' in the day to day performance of their duties as they are Federation representatives, not Starfleet. |
| Crewman Recruit |
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Petty Officer 2nd Class |
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| Crewman 3rd Class |
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Petty Officer 1st Class |
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| Crewman 2nd Class |
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Chief Petty Officer |
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| Crewman 1st Class |
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Senior Chief Petty Officer |
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| Petty Officer 3rd Class |
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Master Chief Petty Officer |
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Warrant OfficersWarrant Officers are usually civilian contractors who are treated as being 'between' Officers and Enlisted Ratings, due to specialized skills. They are addressed as 'Sir' and given all respect due an officer by Enlisted Ratings.
In formal address, they are addressed as 'Warrant Officer Name." They perform 'specialized' duties that may fall 'between' the usual Starfleet jobs. An example would be a civilian contractor who's along for a mission, observing a piece of equipment undergoing 'field tests'. They are entitled to wear an Officer's uniform. |
| Warrant Officer 3rd Class |
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Warrant Officer 1st Class |
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| Warrant Officer 2nd Class |
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Chief Warrant Officer |
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Academy CadetsWhen serving aboard ship during a 'Cadet Cruise' Cadets are referred to as 'Midshipmen' or 'Middies' and hold authority equal to a WO-1, whatever Branch of Service they may major in.
Liasion Corps, Starfleet Marine Corps, Starfleet Starfighter Corps and Starfleet Officer Cadets all attend the Starfleet Academy or one of its campuses throughout the Federation, taking their "Cadet Cruise" during the Summer months prior to their Fourth Year, with its career specific courses.
During the actual cruise assignment, they are usually referred to as 'Acting Ensign' or 'Acting Third Lieutenant' since they are technically not an 'official' Officer yet, despite having taken their oaths during the Academy Induction. |
| Freshman Cadet |
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Junior Cadet |
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| Sophomore Cadet |
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Senior Cadet |
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Commissioned OfficersStarfleet Officer positions from Commander on down are shown below as members of the Command, Engineering, and Tactical crew. Officers serving in Sciences, Medical, Navigation and Security would have their insignia placed on blue or gold background, depending on the branch served.
Junior officers, holding their own command are still allowed to be addressed as 'Captain' as a courtesy to their command, despite their actual rank. This is common on smaller ships, like Frigates or Runabouts. Other than this exception, the common courtesy is to address all subordinate officers under the Rank of Lt.Cmdr/Major as 'Mister' by the Superior Officer. It is a pointed mark of disrespect to use the term referring to officers over this level.
Enlisted men may also refer to Junior Officers as 'mister' without giving offence, but the preference is usually to use the rank.
The CO of a unit may be referred to by the Unit's name when representing the Unit Formally "Enterprise Arriving" as Picard strolls into the dance. . . or "Fifth Battalion on the comm" when the colonel is calling. |
| Ensign |
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Lieutenant Commander |
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| Lieutenant Junior Grade |
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Commander |
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| Lieutenant |
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Captain |
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