Starfleet Rank Pips

[Darkthorne]

Starfleet Flag Officer Ranks

Fleet Admiral		Fleet Admiral is the highest rank in Starfleet. Fleet Admirals have many years of distinguished service and an impeccable record. There are only 6 Fleet Admirals: the Judge Advocate General, the Chief in Command, the Commander Starfleet, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, the Director of the Corps of Engineers and the Fleet Commander.
Admiral		Admiral is the highest normal rank in Starfleet. Admirals have impeccable service records and decades of service. Flag Officers of Admiral rank are in command of all main divisions Starfleet with the exceptions listed above for Fleet Admirals. There are also 8 sector Admirals who are responsible for operations in their specific area, such as the Romulan Neutral Zone or Home Sector.
Vice Admiral		Vice Admirals are Flag Officers who have a specific mandate, such as a subsection of a Division, or an area of space. Vice Admirals also command task forces. Most Armadas and Task Forces are assigned to Vice Admirals
Rear Admiral		Rear Admirals are Flag Officers responsible for a limited and specific area for a limited time. Rear Admirals are usually promoted to Vice Admiral within two years. Rear Admirals may command major Starbases, Shipyards, Starfleet Bases on major worlds, or similar duties.
Commodore		Commodore is the most junior flag officer rank of Starfleet, under the admiralty, but senior to a captain. Commodores command groups of ships, as opposed to captains commanding single ships or units.   This could be thought of as a higher rank than captain, although it does not possess a permanent position in the rank hierarchy (a captain could also be directly promoted to the next highest rank, without spending time at a Commodore captain posting).   The rank of Commodore was used by Starfleet until at least the 2270's, when it was superseded.   As of the rank revision of 2385, it has been reinstated.

Line Officer Ranks

Rank	Command	Medical/Science	Engineering/Operations
Captain				Captains are the most senior of line officers. Captains most often command Starships or Starbases of medium to large size. Captains may also command planetary outposts or serve as division heads for the Starfleet Bases on major worlds.
Commander				Commanders are senior line officers. Commanders usually serve as the Executive Officer, Operations Officer, or Security Chief onboard a starship. Commanders may command small starships of under 100 crewmen, but this is rare. Commanders may also command small Starbases or minor outposts. Taking the Bridge Officer's Test is the only way for a science or medical officer to be promoted to Commander, pending completion of the other requirements
Lieutenant Commander				Lieutenant Commanders are senior line officers. Lieutenant Commanders usually serve as department heads aboard starship or on large Starbases. Lieutenant Commanders may be the executive officers on starships with a crew of less than 250, but usually Commanders fill that role.
Lieutenant				Lieutenants are the most common Commissioned Officers. Lieutenants can perform almost any Officer duty on a starship, save for being the Commanding or Executive Officer. In some cases Lieutenants can even be department heads, especially on smaller starships.
Lieutenant jg.				Lieutenants Junior Grade are junior Commissioned Officers. Lieutenants Junior Grade may be the Medical Officer or Science Officer on a mid to large space station, or man a Bridge Station. Officers typically spend around 2 years as a Lieutenant Junior Grade.
Ensign				Ensigns are the most junior of Commissioned Officers. Ensigns often serve as Flight Controller aboard starships, or Operations Officer on small Starships. Ensigns can also serve in relief or assistant capacities to most other positions aboard ship. It is rare, but not unheard of, for a Cadet at Starfleet Academy to be granted a temporary Commission of Ensign. This is only done in cases of truly outstanding grades. Officers typically spend around 3 years as an Ensign.

Enlisted ranks

Rank	Medical/Science	Engineering/Operations
Master Chief Petty Officer			The highest ranking in the enlisted branch, the Master Chief has served with distinction for many years. A handful of master chiefs serve within Starfleet, all acknowledged leaders in their fields and commanding the respect of those beneath them. Such NCOs oversee important departments and can enjoy treatment almost like that of a distinguished officer.
Senior Chief Petty Officer			Much like the Chief Petty Officer, the Senior Chief oversees departments of large numbers of enlisted personnel. Senior chief petty officers are few in number, have served in Starfleet for a long time, and are experts in their field. A senior chief could be viewed as the enlisted equivalent of a commander.
Chief Petty Officer			The Chief Petty Officers (CPO) oversees large groups of petty officers and departments underneath him. These NCOs typically have many years of service (usually over 15) and a wealth of experience in their field. When one becomes "chief" he garners a measure of respect for his accomplishments and proficiency. CPOs are sought out for their knowledge and experience. A Chief Petty Officer can command a major engineering or services department on a Starship or Starbase. Examples include the Transporter Chief of a Starship or the Chief of Operations of a Starbase.
Petty Officer (1st Class)			There are three ranks of Petty Officer: third, second and first Class. A petty officer should not be confused with a commissioned officer in Starfleet, such as a Lieutenant or a Warrant Officer. The term petty officer still refers to an enlisted person. They are promoted from crewmen to 3rd Class, then 2nd, and then 1st.
Petty Officer (2nd Class)
Petty Officer (3rd Class)			Petty officers are referred to as non-commissioned officers, or NCOs, because they frequently oversee several enlisted crewmen in their departments, and are trained to do so. Most petty officers report to a Chief Petty Officer or sometimes a commissioned officer. A petty officer undergoes more rigorous training, or has risen from the enlisted ranks to his current position.

Crewman 1st Class			Similar to a Crewmen 2nd Class, these crewmen are given slightly more responsibility and are more knowledgeable in their fields. Crewmen do not oversee any other enlisted personnel and report to petty officers above them. They are enlisted personnel who usually have between 2 and 4 years of experience. Crewmen 1st Class generally serve as Medical Technicians or Engineering Technicians. Promotion to Petty Officer 3rd Class upon re-enlistment is common, but not guaranteed.
Crewman 2nd Class			These crewmen can also be referred to as "Specialist". The crewman is overseen by petty officers and has limited duties, usually seeing to a specific system or area of function. Crewmen 2nd Class are enlisted personnel with typically less than 2 years of service. Promotion to Crewman 1st Class after 18 months of service is routine.
Crewman 3rd Class			The lowest rank of the enlisted personnel is Crewman 3rd Class. Upon enlisting in Starfleet all enlisted personnel hold this rank.