Difference between revisions of "Master Sergeant"

m (added inner sphere military Rank template.)
(7 intermediate revisions by 5 users not shown)
Line 3: Line 3:
  
 
==SLDF==
 
==SLDF==
In the SLDF a Master Sergeant was the highest ranking non-commissioned officer. Their duties and responsibilities were similar to those of a [[Sergeant Major]]. Soldiers had to spend at least four years in the SLDF to get to this rank. Master Sergeants usually commanded a company's best platoon. A 'Mech lance could be commanded by an experienced Master Sergeant.<ref>[[The Star League]], p. 112</ref>
+
In the SLDF a Master Sergeant was the highest ranking non-commissioned officer. Their duties and responsibilities were similar to those of a [[Sergeant Major]]. Soldiers had to spend at least four years in the SLDF to get to this rank. Master Sergeants usually commanded a company's best platoon. A 'Mech lance could be commanded by an experienced Master Sergeant.<ref>''The Star League'', p. 112</ref>
  
In the Second SLDF, the duties of a Master Sergeant remained the same. The Naval equivalent rank was '''Master Chief Petty Officer''',<ref>[[Field Manual: ComStar]], p. 80</ref> and was the rank held by the senior NCO aboard a [[JumpShip]] or [[WarShip]].
+
In the Second SLDF, the duties of a Master Sergeant remained the same. The Naval equivalent rank was '''Master Chief Petty Officer''',<ref>''Field Manual: ComStar'', p. 80</ref> and was the rank held by the senior NCO aboard a [[JumpShip]] or [[WarShip]].
  
The insignia used by Master Sergeants in the SLDF used the same shape, but the first SLDF insignia was green while the second SLDF insignia was black.<ref>[[The Star League]], p. 112</ref><ref>[[Field Manual: ComStar]], p. 80</ref>
+
The insignia used by Master Sergeants in the SLDF used the same shape, but the first SLDF insignia was green while the second SLDF insignia was black.<ref>''The Star League'', p. 112</ref><ref>''Field Manual: ComStar'', p. 80</ref>
  
 
{|class="wikitable"  
 
{|class="wikitable"  
 
|+ [[SLDF]] Rank insignia
 
|+ [[SLDF]] Rank insignia
! Rank !! Insignia (First SLDF)<ref>[[The Star League]], p. 113</ref>  !!  Insignia (Second SLDF)<ref>[[Field Manual: ComStar]]</ref>
+
! Rank !! Insignia (First SLDF)<ref>''The Star League'', p. 113</ref>  !!  Insignia (Second SLDF)<ref>''Field Manual: ComStar''</ref>
 
|-
 
|-
 
! [[Master Sergeant]]
 
! [[Master Sergeant]]
Line 19: Line 19:
  
 
==Lyran Commonwealth and Lyran Alliance==
 
==Lyran Commonwealth and Lyran Alliance==
This rank isn't used in the [[LAAF]]. A '''Staff Sergeant Major''' is the senior NCO in a battalion. Most of their responsibilities are administrative instead of combat-related.<ref>[[Field Manual: Lyran Alliance]], p. 30</ref>
+
This rank isn't used in the [[LAAF]]. A '''Staff Sergeant Major''' is the senior NCO in a battalion. Most of their responsibilities are administrative instead of combat-related.<ref>''Field Manual: Lyran Alliance'', p. 30</ref>
  
 
{|class="wikitable"  
 
{|class="wikitable"  
Line 28: Line 28:
 
|align="center"|[[File:StaffSergeantMajorLAAF.png]]
 
|align="center"|[[File:StaffSergeantMajorLAAF.png]]
 
|}
 
|}
 +
 
==Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery==
 
==Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery==
When Shiro Kurita founded the Draconis Combine, he established the rank system of the DCMS. After the BattleMech was invented, MechWarriors who didn't own their own 'Mechs were instructed to wear the Master Sergeant insignia, but they were addressed as "MechWarrior" instead of "Master Sergeant".<ref>[[House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)]], p. 126</ref>
+
When Shiro Kurita founded the Draconis Combine, he established the rank system of the DCMS. After the BattleMech was invented, MechWarriors who didn't own their own 'Mechs were instructed to wear the Master Sergeant insignia, but they were addressed as "MechWarrior" instead of "Master Sergeant".<ref>''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'', p. 126</ref>
  
After Theodore Kurita implemented his reforms of the DCMS, the rank of Master Sergeant was replaced by the Japanese term '''''Shujin'''''. ''Shujin'' wear a stylized ''katakana'' number "5" in lavender on a colored background appropriate to the wearer's branch.<ref>[[Field Manual: Draconis Combine]], p. 18</ref>
+
After Theodore Kurita implemented his reforms of the DCMS, the rank of Master Sergeant was replaced by the Japanese term '''''Shujin'''''. ''Shujin'' wear a stylized ''katakana'' number "5" in lavender on a colored background appropriate to the wearer's branch.<ref>''Field Manual: Draconis Combine'', p. 18, "Rank Insignia"</ref>
  
 
{|class="wikitable"  
 
{|class="wikitable"  
Line 54: Line 55:
  
 
==Capellan Confederation Armed Forces==
 
==Capellan Confederation Armed Forces==
In the [[CCAF]], these soldiers are known as '''''yi-si-ben-bing''''' thanks to the reforms enacted by [[Sun-Tzu Liao]] as part of his [[Xin Sheng]] movement. Though translated as Master Sergeant, the duties and obligations of this rank make it more like the SLDF rank rather than the DCMS Master Sergeant rank.
+
Originally known as '''Assistant Force Leader''', in the [[CCAF]] this rank was later retitled '''''Yi-Si-Ben-Bing''''' or Master Sergeant after the ''[[Xin Sheng]]'' reforms. Master sergeants serve as the senior enlisted representative of a battalion and will be attached to its command staff in an administrative role.  During combat, they may temporarily command a 'Mech lance or permanently command a lance of conventional tanks or artillery.  In non-combat units, the master sergeant will be in charge of a major department.  Within an armor or infantry regiment, one master sergeant will be recognized as "first among equals" and serve in the regimental command unit as a command master sergeant.<ref>''House Liao (The Capellan Confederation)'', p. 70</ref><ref>''Handbook House Liao'', p. 110</ref>
 
{|class="wikitable"  
 
{|class="wikitable"  
 
|+ [[CCAF]] Military Ranks  
 
|+ [[CCAF]] Military Ranks  
Line 63: Line 64:
 
|align="center"|[[File:Yisibenbing.png ]]
 
|align="center"|[[File:Yisibenbing.png ]]
 
|}
 
|}
 +
 
==Free Worlds League==
 
==Free Worlds League==
The [[FWLM]] identifies the senior NCO of a battalion as a Master Sergeant. Master Sergeants (and their naval counterparts, '''Senior Chief Petty Officers''') wear three gold chevrons on a purple background as their rank insignia.<ref>[[Field Manual: Free Worlds League]], p. 22</ref>
+
The [[FWLM]] identifies the senior NCO of a battalion as a Master Sergeant. Master Sergeants (and their naval counterparts, '''Senior Chief Petty Officers''') wear three gold chevrons on a purple background as their rank insignia.<ref>''Field Manual: Free Worlds League'', p. 22</ref>
  
 
{|class="wikitable"  
 
{|class="wikitable"  
Line 82: Line 84:
 
==Periphery Powers==
 
==Periphery Powers==
 
===Magistracy of Canopus===
 
===Magistracy of Canopus===
The [[Magistracy Armed Forces]] don't use this rank. Instead NCO's at this level are known as '''Star Corporals'''.<ref>[[Field Manual: Periphery]], p. 24</ref> Their rank symbol is a star set on the silver-edged diamond of a [[Volunteer]].
+
The [[Magistracy Armed Forces]] don't use this rank. Instead NCO's at this level are known as '''Star Corporals'''.<ref>''Field Manual: Periphery'', p. 24</ref> Their rank symbol is a star set on the silver-edged diamond of a [[Volunteer]].
 
{|class="wikitable" width="350"
 
{|class="wikitable" width="350"
 
|+ [[Magistracy Armed Forces]] Insignia
 
|+ [[Magistracy Armed Forces]] Insignia
Line 92: Line 94:
  
 
===Taurian Defense Force===
 
===Taurian Defense Force===
The Taurian Defense Force doesn't use this rank. A TDF Master Sergeant is known as a '''Lance Sergeant''' instead.<ref>[[Field Manual: Periphery]], p. 53</ref> A [[MechWarrior]] in training officially holds this rank, but has no additional command authority. In conventional forces, these soldiers assist company commanders.<ref>[[Field Manual: Periphery]], p. 54</ref> The Lance Sergeant wears a stylized bull's head in silver to show their rank.
+
The Taurian Defense Force doesn't use this rank. A TDF Master Sergeant is known as a '''Lance Sergeant''' instead.<ref>''Field Manual: Periphery'', p. 53</ref> A [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]] in training officially holds this rank, but has no additional command authority. In conventional forces, these soldiers assist company commanders.<ref>''Field Manual: Periphery'', p. 54</ref> The Lance Sergeant wears a stylized bull's head in silver to show their rank.
  
 
{|class="wikitable" width="350"
 
{|class="wikitable" width="350"
Line 110: Line 112:
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
<references />
 
<references />
 +
 +
==Bibliography==
 +
* ''[[Field Manual: Periphery]]''
 +
* ''[[Field Manual: Crusader Clans]]''
 +
* ''[[Field Manual: ComStar]]''
 +
* ''[[Field Manual: Draconis Combine]]''
 +
* ''[[Field Manual: Lyran Alliance]]''
 +
* ''[[Field Manual: Capellan Confederation]]''
 +
* ''[[Field Manual: Federated Suns]]''
 +
* ''[[Field Manual: Warden Clans]]''
 +
* ''[[The Star League]]''
 +
 
[[Category:Military Ranks]]
 
[[Category:Military Ranks]]

Revision as of 16:34, 1 August 2016

Inner Sphere Military Ranks
Enlisted
Field Officer
General Officer
For specific ranks see Military Ranks

A Master Sergeant is typically a high ranking non-commissioned officer in a military force. Only those soldiers who are very experienced or very good reach this rank. Oftentimes a soldier will consider reaching this rank the pinnacle of their career.

SLDF

In the SLDF a Master Sergeant was the highest ranking non-commissioned officer. Their duties and responsibilities were similar to those of a Sergeant Major. Soldiers had to spend at least four years in the SLDF to get to this rank. Master Sergeants usually commanded a company's best platoon. A 'Mech lance could be commanded by an experienced Master Sergeant.[1]

In the Second SLDF, the duties of a Master Sergeant remained the same. The Naval equivalent rank was Master Chief Petty Officer,[2] and was the rank held by the senior NCO aboard a JumpShip or WarShip.

The insignia used by Master Sergeants in the SLDF used the same shape, but the first SLDF insignia was green while the second SLDF insignia was black.[3][4]

SLDF Rank insignia
Rank Insignia (First SLDF)[5] Insignia (Second SLDF)[6]
Master Sergeant SLDF-MasterSergeant-1stSL.png SLDF-MasterSergeant-2ndSL.png

Lyran Commonwealth and Lyran Alliance

This rank isn't used in the LAAF. A Staff Sergeant Major is the senior NCO in a battalion. Most of their responsibilities are administrative instead of combat-related.[7]

LAAF Military Rank Insignia
Rank Insignia
Staff Sergeant Major StaffSergeantMajorLAAF.png

Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery

When Shiro Kurita founded the Draconis Combine, he established the rank system of the DCMS. After the BattleMech was invented, MechWarriors who didn't own their own 'Mechs were instructed to wear the Master Sergeant insignia, but they were addressed as "MechWarrior" instead of "Master Sergeant".[8]

After Theodore Kurita implemented his reforms of the DCMS, the rank of Master Sergeant was replaced by the Japanese term Shujin. Shujin wear a stylized katakana number "5" in lavender on a colored background appropriate to the wearer's branch.[9]

DCMS Officer Ranks by branch of service
DCMS Ranks DCA Ranks
Rank MechWarrior AeroSpace Fighter Infantry Armor Artillery Rank Naval Crew
Draconis Combine Admiralty
Technical
Service
Shujin
(Master Sergeant)
Shujin-mech.png Shujin-asf.png Shujin-infantry.png Shujin-armor.png Shujin-artillery.png Shujin
(Master Sergeant)
Shujin-naval.png Shujin-tech.png

Armed Forces of the Federated Suns

This rank isn't used by the AFFS. The nearest equivalent rank is Sergeant Major.

Capellan Confederation Armed Forces

Originally known as Assistant Force Leader, in the CCAF this rank was later retitled Yi-Si-Ben-Bing or Master Sergeant after the Xin Sheng reforms. Master sergeants serve as the senior enlisted representative of a battalion and will be attached to its command staff in an administrative role. During combat, they may temporarily command a 'Mech lance or permanently command a lance of conventional tanks or artillery. In non-combat units, the master sergeant will be in charge of a major department. Within an armor or infantry regiment, one master sergeant will be recognized as "first among equals" and serve in the regimental command unit as a command master sergeant.[10][11]

CCAF Military Ranks
CCAF Rank Warrior House rank Insignia
Yi-si-ben-bing
(Master Sergeant)
N/A Yisibenbing.png

Free Worlds League

The FWLM identifies the senior NCO of a battalion as a Master Sergeant. Master Sergeants (and their naval counterparts, Senior Chief Petty Officers) wear three gold chevrons on a purple background as their rank insignia.[12]

FWLM Military Rank Insignia
Rank Insignia
Master Sergeant MasterSergeantFWL.png

The Clans

The Clans do not use this rank.

ComStar/Word of Blake

Due to their past as a pseudo-religous organization, members of the ComGuards and Word of Blake Militia don't use this rank. A senior Acolyte or junior Adept would fulfill the duties of a Master Sergeant.

Free Rasalhague Republic

The Kungsarme doesn't use this rank.

Periphery Powers

Magistracy of Canopus

The Magistracy Armed Forces don't use this rank. Instead NCO's at this level are known as Star Corporals.[13] Their rank symbol is a star set on the silver-edged diamond of a Volunteer.

Magistracy Armed Forces Insignia
Rank Insignia
Star Corporal MagistracyOfCanopus-StarCorporal.png

Taurian Defense Force

The Taurian Defense Force doesn't use this rank. A TDF Master Sergeant is known as a Lance Sergeant instead.[14] A MechWarrior in training officially holds this rank, but has no additional command authority. In conventional forces, these soldiers assist company commanders.[15] The Lance Sergeant wears a stylized bull's head in silver to show their rank.

Taurian Defense Force Insignia
Rank Insignia
Lance Sergeant TaurianConcordat-LanceSergeant.png

Marian Hegemony

The Hegemony Armed Forces don't use this rank.

Outworlds Alliance

The Alliance Military Corps doesn't use this rank.

References

  1. The Star League, p. 112
  2. Field Manual: ComStar, p. 80
  3. The Star League, p. 112
  4. Field Manual: ComStar, p. 80
  5. The Star League, p. 113
  6. Field Manual: ComStar
  7. Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 30
  8. House Kurita (The Draconis Combine), p. 126
  9. Field Manual: Draconis Combine, p. 18, "Rank Insignia"
  10. House Liao (The Capellan Confederation), p. 70
  11. Handbook House Liao, p. 110
  12. Field Manual: Free Worlds League, p. 22
  13. Field Manual: Periphery, p. 24
  14. Field Manual: Periphery, p. 53
  15. Field Manual: Periphery, p. 54

Bibliography