Starfleet Rank Index
Introduction
Ranks in StarFleet follow a specific order, and are of three types: Flag Officer, Officer, and Enlisted. Enlisted crewmen are not trained in any command fields, and fulfill the mundane duties of a starship. Officers are trained for command, and it is assumed that some will someday reach the ranks of captain or above. Flag officers often fulfill administrative duties, and sometimes command task forces of ships. Promotions are awarded for quality of service, not for length of time served.
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
Although the rank of Commodore was mentioned in TOS, it seems to have been lost by the time of TNG. Commodore is used within the U.F.O.P. group to highlight officers with long service records, who perform special tasks within the club.
Fleet Captain
Another rank which is U.F.O.P. specific and is not mentioned in the universe of Star Trek. The rank of fleet captain is for those long serving captains, who have been in the field of command for long periods of time and who have distinguished themselves with honor.
Officer Ranks
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 Junior Grade
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.
Cadet 1st Class
Cadets 1st Class are cadets in their final year at Starfleet Academy. They have a leadership role in the Cadet Corps. Cadet's 1st Class usually have at least 1 training cruise behind them and have earned at least 90 academic credits. A Cadet 1st Class may lead a Cadet Flight Squadron or special Cadet Operations Squad.
Cadet 2nd Class
Cadets 2nd Class are cadets in their third year. In their third year at the Academy, cadets undergo advanced training in their field as well as detailed instruction on the current state of the Galaxy. Cadets 2nd Class may elect to take a training cruise in place of a class in Starfleet Operations. These cruises last between 4 and 16 weeks and give Cadets real space experience.
Cadet 3rd Class
Cadets 3rd Class are cadets in their second year. In their second year at the Academy, cadets participate in field duty. A Cadet may be posted in a training role to a Starship or Starbase, or may be lucky enough to earn membership in a Cadet Squadron or Cadet Operations Squad.
Cadet 4th Class
Cadets 4th Class are the lowest level of Cadet. They are 1st year students with no seniority or special privileges. Cadet's 4th Class undergo what are certainly the worst conditions in Starfleet. Cadet's 4th class endure cramped Barracks, very intensive physical conditioning, and difficult classes. The ordeal almost always produces a hardworking, dedicated cadet however.
Enlisted Ranks
Chief Petty Officer
Chief Petty Officers are the highest-ranking enlisted personnel in Starfleet. They have many years of service (usually over 15) and a wealth of experience in their field. A Chief Petty Officer usually commands 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
Petty Officers 1st Class comprise most of the non-commissioned Officers in Starfleet. Petty Officers 1st Class may serve in a variety of roles, including Senior Medical Technician, Transporter Operator, Security Officer, or Science Technician.
Petty Officer 2nd Class
Petty Officers 2nd Class are the lowest level of non-commissioned Officers in Starfleet. A Petty Officer 2nd Class usually serves as a relief crewman to another post such as Transporter Operator.
Crewman 1st Class
Crewmen 1st Class 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 2nd Class upon re-enlistment is common, but not guaranteed.
Crewman 2nd Class
Crewmen 2nd Class are enlisted personnel with typically less than 2 years of service. Crewmen 2nd Class generally perform menial tasks such as basic maintenance or act as security officers. Promotion to Crewman 1st Class after 18 months of service is routine.
Crewman Recruit
Crewmen Recruits are newly enlisted personnel who are attending the Starfleet Academy Enlisted Training Program. At the conclusion of their 6 months of training Crewmen Recruits will be promoted to Crewmen 2nd Class and posted to the fleet.
Forms of Address
Note: The information refers to addressing an officer directly. When referring to an officer in the third person, however, you would always use the full rank name. The information found here was found at StarBase Sigma.
===Flag Officers=== (Fleet Captain and above) Commodores are addressed and referred to as 'Commodore.' All admirals, regardless of their rank, are directly addressed as 'Admiral,' not 'Vice Admiral', 'Rear Admiral', etc. A 'Fleet Captain' is directly address as 'Captain'.
===Senior Naval Officers=== (Lt.Cmdr - Captain) Captains and full commanders are addressed as 'Captain' and 'Commander', respectively. A lieutenant commander is addressed as 'Commander.' At his pleasure, a captain and above may address a LtCmdr. as 'Mister' but he should know that he is giving offense to the officer, by implying that he is a junior officer.
The Captain of a vessel is called 'Captain' in direct address, regardless of grade. Some smaller ships have captains which are not actually of the captain rank; however, while on their vessels they are addressed as 'Captain.'
===Junior Naval Officers=== (Ensign to Lt.) Junior officers are addressed either by their ranks or as 'Mister Smith'. They should refer to each other in this manner. At the pleasure of senior officers, female junior officers may be called 'Ms. Smith.' Officers with the rank Lt.JG are addressed as 'Lieutenant' when addressed by their rank.
Cadets
Cadets are addressed as 'Mr./Ms. Smith'.
Starfleet Marine Protocol
Marines are addressed by their rank. They are not called 'Mister'. All generals, regardless of their rank, are addressed as 'General', not 'Major General', 'Brigadier General', etc. In direct address, Lt.Col's are called 'Colonel' and 2 Lt.'s are called 'Lieutenant'.
Enlisted Crewmen
Enlisted crewmen are addressed solely by their rank. Enlisted crewman can be called by last names, *without* 'Mister' attached. All 'Crewmen' and 'Privates' are called such, regardless of their grades.