Officers

Officers are Starfleet Personnel who hold a commission in one (or more, in certain circumstances) of the Federation's Starfleet Services: Starfleet, Starfleet Marine Corps, or Starfleet Starfighter Corps. The Starfleet Corps of Engineers are part of Starfleet.

Officers are given ranks to denote seniority and chain of command. Promotions to higher ranks are usually awarded on merit basis. the higher rank an officer holds, the more respect and authority that officer has. Among officers of the same rank, the officer who has held the rank the longest is the senior officer.

Officer ranks are broken down into three categories. the categories are listed below, in detail.

FLAG AND GENERAL OFFICERS
Flag Officers and General Officers are the senior commanders in the services. they command large groups of ships, units, and personnel, and are the major decision makers in the services. All other personnel are subordinate to these officers.

STARFLEET FLAG OFFICER RANKS

0-11 Fleet Admiral

O-10 Admiral

O-9 Vice Admiral

O-8 Rear Admiral, Upper Half

O-7 Commodore (Soon to be disestablished in favor of Rear Admiral Lower Half)

MARINE AND STARFIGHTER CORPS GENERAL OFFICERS

O-11 Field Marshall

O-10 General

O-9 Lieutenant General

O-8 Major General

O-7 Brigadier General

SENIOR AND FIELD GRADE OFFICERS
Senior Officers (Starfleet)and Field Grade Officers (Marine and Starfighter Corps) are the senior field commanders, often commanding Starships, Starbases, Fighter Wings and Groups, and Battalions and Regiments. In larger units, they may serve as Staff officers.

STARFLEET SENIOR OFFICERS

O-6A Fleet Captain

O-6 Captain

O-5 Commander

O-4 Lieutenant Commander

STARFIGHTER AND MARINE CORPS FIELD GRADE OFFICERS

O-6A Senior Colonel

O-6 Colonel

O-5 Lieutenant Colonel

O-4 Major

JUNIOR AND COMPANY GRADE OFFICERS
These are entry level officers often assigned to preparatory commands. Starfleet Junior Officers serve as Department and Division Officers aboard ships, Starbases, and Shore Establishments. Marine Company Grade Officers serve as Company COs, XOs, and Platoon Leaders, as well as Battalion Staff Officers. Starfighter Corps Company Grade Officers serve as Squadron and Flight Leaders, and Flight Elements.

STARFLEET JUNIOR OFFICERS

O-3 Lieutenant

O-2 Lieutenant Junior Grade

O-1 Ensign

MARINE AND STARFIGHTER CORPS COMPANY GRADE OFFICERS

O-3 Captain

O-2 1st Lieutenant

O-1 2nd Lieutenant

Most newly commissioned officers enter at the rank of ensign or second lieutenant. The exception is Doctors and people with advanced degrees. a 6-year degree (masters)earns a commissioning as a Lieutenant JG or 1st Lieutenant. An 8-year degree (Doctorate, M.D., etc) Earns a commision at Lieutenant or Captain.