I propose the addition of a phrase to the effect of "'Nuggets' are not to be confused with 'rooks' or 'rookies.' The later term is applied to a pilot who has completed their training, but lacks experience."
In "Hand of God", you can see the rank of "Sergeant" on Hotdog's nameplate. This could be the ranks they are given.--CoreyDanian
- It doesn't make much sense to give them NCO ranks. Marine ranks even! It's interesting, but probably just an error. Do you have a screenshot maybe?
- The nuggets have PO1/Staff Sergeant rank pins in "Act of Contrition", but that is very likely just costuming necessity since there aren't any cadet or Ensign insignia yet. --Serenity 05:57, 12 February 2007 (CST)
Recent Changes
The update by User:Tw1tch added reference information on the real world usage and does not affect the BSG usage. Therefore I restored Tw1tch's original edit. --Spencerian 10:01, 23 March 2008 (CDT)
- Agreed. He's saying that it refers to the insignia, not the rank itself. -- Serenity 11:21, 23 March 2008 (CDT)
- His edit is drawing from US military slang, and in this case, his reference is incorrect. A nugget does not refer to a rank or an insignia, but to a novice. To be specific, most real-life nuggets (and this term is for naval/Marine pilots) are lieutenants j.g. or full lieutenants, whose insignia are not a gold bars ("butter bar"), but silver bars. All pilots must first go through basic flight training, so by the time a pilot begins training in a specific aircraft, they already have had enough time in service to be promoted above ensign/2nd lieutenant. A nugget is a first-tour aviator (references: http://www.tailhook.org/AVSLANG.htm#N; "Bogies and Bandits, the Making of a Fighter Pilot" by Robert Gandt), this can include experienced officers who have transitioned into carrier-aviation later than usual (e.g. helicopter pilots who switched over to fighters, etc).-- Fredmdbud 13:18, 23 March 2008 (CDT)