Military Ranks

The BattleTech universe, because of its origins as a combat board game, provides a rank structure in the role-playing game and novels. Military ranks are used to distinguish a hierarchy within a branch of the armed forces and generally denote some level of responsibility and accountability for the individual. When the Star League collapsed, each house relied upon its own internally-used rank systems.

The hierarchy of ranks used within a house is specific to that house and generally aren't shared between houses. Mercenary units may choose to either use the house rank structure or, especially in the case of older units, may use one of their own creation. Mercenary officers, however, tend to use ranks that are easily related to existing rank structures used by the houses.

Capellan Confederation[edit]

The military of the Capellan Confederation is known as the Capellan Confederation Armed Forces (CCAF). Though it is small and often under-equipped, the CCAF is actually among the most powerful of militaries in a one-on-one encounter. The CCAF is unique in that it places more power in the hands of the commander at the regiment level and less at higher levels than do most other militaries. Capellan units are often named after their commander; for example the first regiment of the Victoria Commonality Rangers is known as Kingston's Rangers. The CCAF is also famous for its use of Military Orders. Military Orders are collections of warriors organized on allegiance to a particular set of principles.

CCAF units are composed of 'Mech, conventional, infantry and aerospace forces, and has long relied on mercenaries, more than other Inner Sphere militaries.

Draconis Combine[edit]

The Draconis Combine's military (called the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery, or DCMS) is much-feared in the Inner Sphere, due to its strong adherence to personal honor and overarching commitment to the Coordinator. Discipline is very strict in the DCMS and harsh punishments are often meted out for small infractions. At the highest levels of military command, officers who fail in their duties often request and are sometimes granted the right to commit seppuku, or ritual suicide; only through such atonement can an officer regain some of their lost honor.

Federated Suns[edit]

In terms of strength of arms, the Federated Suns is one of the most powerful nations in the Inner Sphere. The First Princes of House Davion have always been committed to the military of their realm and every Davion is required to serve in the armed forces in order to claim the title of First Prince. The Armed Forces of the Federated Suns (or AFFS) is a highly disciplined, professional force that benefits greatly from technological advances from the New Avalon Institute of Science as well as the high degree of training its members receive.

Free Worlds League[edit]

The Free Worlds League has a strong emphasis on combined arms tactics, with almost all of their regiments featuring a large number of infantry, armor and aerospace assets, as well as one of the largest navies in the Inner Sphere. The focus on BattleMechs, however, does exist within their elite regiments.

Lyran Commonwealth[edit]

The Brandenberg Edicts of 2413 established the rank system for the LCAF from 2413 through the Fourth Succession War. Following the formation of the Federated Commonwealth, the rank systems of both the Lyran Commonwealth and the Federated Suns were merged into a single structure.

Rank Equivalence[edit]

While each of the houses uses a house-specific name for each of their ranks, the various hierarchies do allow for the comparison of ranks to one another. The table below shows the equivalent rank between the different house rank structures.

One note is that the Free Worlds League provided, in the Document of Incorporation, the allowance for each of the three founding states to maintain their pre-League military structures. Therefore, the Marik military ranks are based on the region to which an individual is assigned. The table contains the main Marik ranks. Distinctions between Marik and the Andurien and Oriente ranks are noted in footnotes.

Ranks of the Inner Sphere Houses (circa 3025)
Enlisted Personnel
Capellan Confederation Draconis Combine Federated Suns Free Worlds League Lyran Commonwealth
Recruit Recruit Recruit Private Private
N/A Private Private Private 1st Class Private 1st Class
Lance Corporal Lance Corporal Corporal Corporal Corporal
N/A Corporal N/A [1] Sr. Corporal
Noncommissioned Officers (NCOs)
Capellan Confederation Draconis Combine Federated Suns Free Worlds League Lyran Commonwealth
Lance Sergeant Sergeant Sergeant Sergeant Sergeant
Asst. Force Leader Master Sergeant N/A Staff Sergeant Staff Sergeant
Force Leader Talon Sergeant Sergeant Major Master Sergeant Sergeant Major
N/A Sergeant Major N/A Sergeant Major Staff Sergeant Major
N/A N/A N/A [2] Senior Sergeant Major
N/A N/A N/A [3] N/A
Warrant Officers
Capellan Confederation Draconis Combine Federated Suns Free Worlds League Lyran Commonwealth
N/A N/A N/A Lieutenant, J.G.[4] Warrant Officer
N/A N/A N/A N/A Warrant Off. 1st Class
N/A N/A N/A N/A Sr. Warrant Off.
N/A N/A N/A N/A Chief Warrant Off.
Junior Officers
Capellan Confederation Draconis Combine Federated Suns Free Worlds League Lyran Commonwealth
Subcommander N/A Cadet/Subaltern Lieutenant, J.G.[5] Leutnant
Commander Chu-i Leftenant Lieutenant, S.G.[6] First Leutnant
Captain Tai-i Captain [7] Hauptmann
N/A Sho-sa Major Captain [8] Kommandant
N/A N/A N/A Force Commander [9] Hauptmann-Kommandant
Senior Officers
Capellan Confederation Draconis Combine Federated Suns Free Worlds League Lyran Commonwealth
Major Chu-sa Leftenant Colonel Lieutenant Colonel [10] Leutnant-Colonel
N/A Tai-sa Colonel Colonel Colonel
N/A N/A Leftenant General N/A Leutnant-General
N/A Sho-sho Major General N/A Hauptmann General
Colonel Tai-sho General N/A Kommandant-General
N/A N/A Marshal General [11] General
N/A Warlord Field Marshal N/A General of the Armies
Chancellor Coordinator Marshal of the Armies Captain-General [12] Archon


Comparative Rank Table circa 3067
SLDF AFFS LAAF FWLM DCMS CCAF CCAF
Warrior House
Magistracy of Canopus Taurian Defense Force Marian Hegemony Outworlds Alliance FRR KungsArmé Com Guards/
WoB
Clans
Recruit
(Spaceman Recruit)
Recruit Recruit Recruit
(Spaceman Recruit)
Hojuhei Shia-ben-bing - Volunteer Recruit Miles Defender - - -
Private
(Spaceman)
Private Private Private
(Spaceman)
Heishi - - First Ranker Corporal - - Menig Acolyte Warrior
- Private, First Class Private First Class Private First Class
(Able Spaceman)
Gunjin
(Lance Corporal)
- - - - - - - - Point 1
Corporal
(Petty Officer)
Corporal Corporal Corporal
(Petty Officer, Second Class)
Go-cho
(Corporal)
San-ben-bing - - Section Leader Miles probatus Protector Korpral /
Kavellrist
- Point 2
- - Senior Corporal - - - - - - - - - - -
Sergeant
(Chief Petty Officer)
Sergeant Sergeant Sergeant
(Petty Officer, First Class)
Gunsho
(Sergeant)
Si-ben-bing Zhang-si Lance Corporal Force Sergeant Miles gregarius Guardian Sergeant - Point 3
Point 4
Point 5
- - Staff Sergeant Staff Sergeant
(Chief Petty Officer)
Shujin
(Master Sergeant)
- - Star Corporal Lance Sergeant - - - - -
- Sergeant Major Sergeant Major Master Sergeant
(Senior Chief Petty Officer)
Kashira
(Talon Sergeant)
- - Command Sergeant - - - - - Point Commander
- - Staff Sergeant Major - - - - - - - - - - -
Master Sergeant
(Master Chief Petty Officer)
Command Sergeant Major Senior Sergeant Major Sergeant Major
(Master Chief Petty Officer)
Sho-ko
(Sergeant Major)
Yi-si-ben-bing
(Master Sergeant)
- Banner Sergeant Battalion Chief Sergeant
(Air Chief)
- Preceptor Fanjunkare - -
- Cadet Cadet - - - - - - - - - - -
Lieutenant JG Subaltern Leutnant Lieutenant JG
(Ensign)
- - - - - Legionnaire - - - Star Commander
Lieutenant SG Leftenant First Leutnant Lieutenant Chu-i
(Sho-i)
Sao-wei (Kong-sao-wei) Ban-zhang Ensign Cornet
(Ensign)
Centurion Supervisor Löjtnant Adept Nova Commander (Coyotes/ Hell's Horses)
Captain
(Commander)
Captain Hauptmann Captain
(Lieutenant-Commander)
Tai-i
(Chu-i)
Sang-wei
(Kong-sang-wei)
Pai-zhang Commander Subaltern
(Air Master, JG)
Principes Section Leader Kapten - Star Captain
Major
(Captain)
Major Kommandant Force Commander
(Commander)
Sho-sa
(Dai-i)
Sao-shao
(Kong-sao-shao)
Lien-zhang Major
(Comcapt)
Brigadier
(Air Master, SG)
Legatus Director Major Adept Nova Captain (Coyotes/ Hell's Horses)
- - Hauptmann-Kommandant - - - - - - - - - Demi-Precentor -
- Leftenant Colonel
(Light Commodore)
Leutnant-Colonel
(Leutnant-Kaptain)
Lieutenant Colonel
(Captain/Flag Captain)
Chu-sa
(Sho-sa)
Zhong-shao
(Kong-zhong-shao)
Ying-zhang Force Major - - - Överste-Löjtnant - -
Colonel
(Commodore)
Colonel
(Commodore)
Colonel
(Kaptain)
Colonel
(Commodore)
Tai-sa
(Captain)
Sang-shao
(Kong-sang-shao)
Shiao-zhang
(Lord Colonel)
Colonel
(Rearad)
Colonel
(Space Master)
Prefect Chairman Överste - Star Colonel
(Star Commodore)
Lieutenant General
(Rear Admiral)
Leftenant General
(Rear Admiral)
- - Sho-sho
(Cho-sho)
- - - Comptroller
(Commodore)
- - - Demi-Precentor / Precentor Galaxy Commander
(Star Admiral)
- Major General
(Vice Admiral)
Leutnant-General
(Leutnant-Kommodore)
- - - - - - - - Generalmajor - -
- General
(Admiral)
Hauptmann-General
(Kommodore)
- Tai-sho (General)
Tai-sho (Admiral)
Jiang-jun
(Kong-jiang-jun)
Gao-shiao-zhang
(Lord General)
- - - - - - -
Major General
(Vice Admiral)
Marshal
(Fleet Admiral)
Kommandant-General
(Hauptmann-Kommodore)
General
(Vice Admiral)
- - - General
(Admiral)
Marshal General - General - saKhan
General
(Admiral)
Field Marshal General
(Admiral)
(Admiral) Tai-shu - - - - - - - Precentor Khan
Commanding General
(Commanding Admiral)
Marshal of the Armies General of the Armies
(Fleet Admiral)
Marshal
(Fleet Admiral)
Gunji-no-Kanrei Sang-jiang-jun - Senior General - Imperator Senior Chairman - Precentor Martial ilKhan
- Prince Archon Captain-General Coordinator Chancellor - Magestrix Protector Caesar President Överbefälhavare
(Elected Prince)
Primus

Notes[edit]

  • Ranks, when not preceding a name, are not capitalized.[13]
Ex: The major stood and rendered a salute to General DeChavilier.
  • Non-English ranks, with the exception of those used by the Federated Suns or Lyrans, are italicized.[13]

References[edit]

  1. House Marik Book, FASA, 1987  Note: Andurien provides Thegn as a rank at this level.
  2. House Marik Book, FASA, 1987  Note: Andurien provides Banner as a rank at this level.
  3. House Marik Book, FASA, 1987  Note: Andurien provides Master Banner as a rank at this level while Oriente provides Banner.
  4. House Marik Book, FASA, 1987  Note: Marik provides two separate Lieutenant, JG grades.
  5. House Marik Book, FASA, 1987  Note: Marik provides two separate Lieutenant, JG grades.
  6. House Marik Book, FASA, 1987  Note: Andurien uses only Lieutenant at this grade.
  7. House Marik Book, FASA, 1987  Note: Andurien provides Force Captain at this grade.
  8. House Marik Book, FASA, 1987  Note: Andurien refers to this grade as Flag Captain.
  9. House Marik Book, FASA, 1987  Note: Both Oriente and Andurien refer to this grade as Major.
  10. House Marik Book, FASA, 1987  Note: Neither Oriente nor Andurien use this grade.
  11. House Marik Book, FASA, 1987  Note: Andurien refers to this grade as Lieutenant General.
  12. House Marik Book, FASA, 1987  Note: Andurien refers to this grade as Major General. Oriente does not use it.
  13. 13.0 13.1 Per Line Developer Ray Arrastia, 02Aug2022 (screencap)

Bibliography[edit]