Military Ranks (RDM)
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The rank structure for the re-imagined series is derived from the original series ranks as mentioned in Ronald D. Moore's blog (quoted in full below).
Rank equivalencies
These ranks have been speculatively expanded into the following table in order to provide a rough rank equivalency with the United States Navy. Many aspects of the following table, including the addition of vice and rear admiral ranks, are speculative. Rank equivalencies in real life are usually established only when two organizations with differing rank structures have to work together and establish who outranks whom—as this has yet to happen between Colonial Fleet and the United States military, the following table exists mainly to improve understanding of Colonial ranks for those familiar with the US military.
This table has been compiled using current FAS rank comparison charts for US military ranks, and contrasting these ranks with the specific roles performed by individuals within the new series.
| U.S. Rank Pay Grade | BSG Military Rankings | U.S. Navy Equivalent | U.S. Army / Air Force Equivalent | BSG Examples |
| FLAG OFFICERS | ||||
| [O-11] | Fleet Admiral | Fleet Admiral | General of the Army/Air Force (5 Star) | Nagala Template:Ref |
| [O-10] | Admiral | Admiral | General (4 Star) | Nagala Template:Ref label |
| [O-9] | Vice Admiral | Vice Admiral | Lieutenant General (3 Star) | |
| [O-8] | Rear Admiral | Rear Admiral(Upper Half) | Major General (2 Star) | Helena Cain Template:Ref |
| [O-7] | Commander | Rear Admiral(Lower Half) (formerly Commodore) | Brigadier General (1 Star) | William Adama Template:Ref |
| COMMISSIONED OFFICERS | ||||
| [O-6] | Colonel | Captain | Colonel | Saul Tigh Template:Ref |
| [O-5] | Major | Commander | Lieutenant Colonel | Dr. Cottle Template:Ref, William Adama |
| [O-4] | Captain | Lieutenant Commander | Major | Lee Adama, Aaron Kelly |
| [O-3] | Lieutenant | Lieutenant | Captain | Felix Gaeta, Kara Thrace |
| [O-2] | Lieutenant Junior Grade | Lieutenant Junior Grade | First Lieutenant | Karl Agathon |
| [O-1] | Ensign | Ensign | Second Lieutenant | Davis |
| NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS | ||||
| [E-9] | Master Chief Petty Officer (Fleet); Sergeant Major (Marines) | Master Chief Petty Officer | Sergeant Major / Chief Master Sergeant | |
| [E-8] | Senior Chief Petty Officer (Fleet); Senior Master Sergeant (Marines) | Senior Chief Petty Officer | First Sergeant / Master Sergeant | |
| [E-7] | Chief Petty Officer (Fleet); Master Sergeant (Marines) | Chief Petty Officer | Gunnery Sergeant | Galen Tyrol |
| [E-6] | Petty Officer 1st Class (Fleet); Staff Sergeant (Marines) | Petty Officer 1st Class | Staff Sergeant | Sergeant Hadrian Template:Ref |
| [E-5] | Petty Officer 2nd Class (Fleet); Sergeant (Marines) | Petty Officer 2nd Class | Sergeant / Staff Sergeant | Anastasia Dualla |
| [E-4] | Petty Officer 3rd Class (Fleet); Corporal (Marines) | Petty Officer 3rd Class | Corporal / Senior Airman | Venner |
| ENLISTED PERSONAL | ||||
| [E-3] | Crewman Specialist(Fleet); Private 1st Class (Marines) | Seaman | Private 1st Class / Airman 1st Class | Cally, Socinus, Scott Kelso (assumed) |
| [E-2] | Crewman Apprentice (Fleet); Private 2nd Class (Marines) | Seaman Apprentice | Private E2 / Airman | Prosna (assumed) |
| [E-1] | Crewman Recruit (Fleet); Private Recruit (Marines) | Seaman Recruit | Private / Airman Basic | |
Insignia
| OFFICERS | |||
| Admiral | Commander | Colonel | Major |
| File:Admiralpip sm.jpg | File:Commanderpip sm.jpg | File:Colonelpip sm.jpg | File:Majorpip sm.jpg |
| Captain | Lieutenant | Lieutenant JG* | Ensign |
| File:Captainpip sm.jpg | File:Lieutentantpip sm.jpg | File:Ltjuniorpip sm.jpg | File:Ensignpip sm.jpg |
| Enlisted | |||
| Master Chief | Chief Petty Officer | Petty Officer | |
| File:Masterpopip sm.jpg | File:Chiefpopip sm.JPG | File:Pettyofficerpip sm.jpg | |
| Specialist | Deckhand | Recruit | |
| File:Specialistpip sm.jpg | File:Deckhandpip sm.jpg | File:Recruitpip sm.jpg | |
These images of the ranks were drawn by Kevin Houghton and are based on Ronald Moore's list. The seen so far on the show are admiral, commander, colonel, captain, lieutenant, chief petty officer, petty officer, and specialist. The rest are conjecture based on a somewhat logical progression of the different ranks as seen, and how most military ranks progress.
Additional onscreen evidence—namely, the fact that Helo and Boomer wear the same insignia as Starbuck—indicates that there is perhaps no separate insignia for Lieutenant JG.
Notes
- In a blog entry on February 19, 2005 Ronald Moore gave a little insight into the rank structure of Battlestar Galactica:
"What is the rank structure? It doesn't seem consistant with the Navy."
"The rank structure is derived from the original series. I didn't want to change Commander Adama to Captain Adama or Colonel Tigh to Commander Tigh, so I elected to simply embrace the co-mingled nature of the original rank structure. For our internal purposes, we've decided that the ranks are indeed a mixture of naval and army nomenclature and are basically as follows:
Officers:
- Admiral
- Commander
- Colonel
- Major
- Captain
- Lieutenant
- Lieutenant (junior grade)
- Ensign
Enlisted:
- Master Chief Petty Officer
- Chief Petty Officer
- Petty Officer (1st, 2nd Class)
- Specialist
- Deck Hand
- Recruit
Just to complicate matters further, there are also Marines aboard Galactica which conform more closely to the traditional enlisted Marine ranks, with Sergeants, Sergeant-Majors, etc. Unresolved is the question of whether the Marine officers would also adhere to the mixed rank structure (which sounds odd) or if they are strictly army equivalents (which makes no sense given that the "Navy" ranks seem oblivious to there being any such distinction). Aren't you glad you asked?"
Footnotes
- Template:NoteTemplate:Note labelAdmiral: It is assumed that Nagala's given rank of Admiral (Mini-Series) equates to that of Admiral in the US Navy. However, when he took personal command of the Colonial Fleet following the Cylon Attack (Mini-Series), it is assumed he adopted the (war time) role of Fleet Admiral.
- Template:NoteThe Podcast Commentary for Pegasus specifically says that Cain was one promotion above Commander (and a scene saying that was filmed, but cut for time, but planned to be reenstated on the DVD release), placing what type of Admiral rank she held.
- Template:NoteCommander: The rank of Commander is somwhat unclear, and may in fact cover several rank positions within the Colonial Fleet.
- Given William Adama's apparent seniority (his ability to assume full command of the fleet on hearing of the death of Nagala) it could be argued has been equated to that of Vice-Admiral - thus making him senior enough to take over the role of Fleet Admiral without objection from other Battlestar commanders.
- However, given he is the commanding officer of a vessel, it could also be argued that Adama's rank equates to that of a U.S. Navy Captain.
- Equally, Adama's rank could easily equate to that of Commodore on the grounds that he was potentially the commander of the 75th Battlestar Group (assuming the Galactica was the flag ship for BSG 75). For the purposes of this rank table, therefore, it is assumed that "Commander" encompasses both the flag and commanding officer roles, giving Adama an equivalent rank of Rear Admiral (lower).
- Template:NoteColonel: The rank of Colonel is highly speculative. Colonel Tigh is referred to as Galactica's Executive officer - which would nominally place him on a par with the US Navy rank of Commander. However, if Commander is equal to the USN rank of Rear Admiral (lower) then Colonel would equate with a USN Captain or a US Army Colonel.
- Template:NoteMajor: The rank of Major, such as (and in particular) the rank of Galactica's CMO Cottle, was given in "Bastille Day". There have been no indications as to whether or not Cottle outranks Lee Adama, or vice versa. However Cottle is a medical officer and not a line officer. William Adama, as a Major, reinstated Saul Tigh into the Colonial Fleet after the post-Cylon War furlough with the rank of Captain (Deleted Scene, portion of it in aired episode).
- Template:NoteNon-Commissioned Ranks: The non-commissioned ranks have been assigned on the basis of individual roles performed. For excample: Chief Tyrol's role equates to that of a Senior CPO (and borders that of a Master CPO in some respects); while the role of the Master-at-Arms is generally awarded to a Chief Petty Officer (or possibly a Senior Chief Petty Officer), hence aligning Sergeant Hadrian with the rank of CPO.
See Also
- Military Ranks (TOS) - Ranks from the original series.