Starfleet characters, and personnel from similar organizations, have a rank within their organization. Once the characters’ roles have been determined, military or Starfleet characters should determine their ranks. A character can be of any rank, though there are a few restrictions in specific circumstances. The choice made in Step Five: Experience may limit which ranks the character may choose from.
Civilian characters do not need to select a rank, though they may have a title they wish to be referred as, such as Doctor, Professor, Ambassador, or the like.
Starfleet Officers
FLEET ADMIRAL: The highest flag officer rank
ADMIRAL: Flag officer
VICE-ADMIRAL: Flag officer
REAR ADMIRAL: Flag officer
COMMODORE: Flag officer. Occasionally this rank is referred to as “rear admiral, lower half.”
FLEET CAPTAIN: Fleet captain is a rare rank given to the most respected captains. Sometimes this is an honorary title more than an actual rank.
CAPTAIN: Most commanding officers hold this rank; commanding officers who do not are often referred to as captains out of tradition.
COMMANDER: This is the lowest rank a commanding officer may have under normal circumstances.
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER: This rank is the lowest rank that may be taken by an officer with the Veteran talent. Commonly referred to as “commander” for brevity.
LIEUTENANT: A mid-level ranked officer.
LIEUTENANT (JUNIOR GRADE): This rank is the highest rank that may be taken by an officer with the Untapped Potential talent.
ENSIGN: This is the lowest rank available to any commissioned officer.
CADET: Starfleet Academy students are referred to as cadets, usually with their year (first-year cadet, third-year cadet, etc.). Upon graduation, cadets are commissioned as ensigns, or rarely, as lieutenants (junior grade).
Starfleet Enlisted Crew
Enlisted Starfleet personnel use the following ranks. All enlisted crew are outranked by any commissioned officer (even the newest ensign), but more experienced enlisted personnel have expertise and influence far beyond their actual rank.
MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER: The most senior non-commissioned officer (NCO). Normally addressed as master chief or simply chief.
SENIOR CHIEF PETTY OFFICER: Noncommissioned officer. Normally addressed as chief.
CHIEF PETTY OFFICER: Non-commissioned officer. Normally addressed as chief. This is the lowest rank that may be taken by an enlisted character with the Veteran talent.
PETTY OFFICER (1ST CLASS, 2ND CLASS, OR 3RD CLASS): Non-commissioned officer. The highest rank that can be taken by an enlisted character with the Untapped Potential talent.
CREWMAN (1ST CLASS, 2ND CLASS, OR 3RD CLASS): Often, personnel of this rank will be addressed by a title according to their duties, such as boatswain (pronounced “bo’sun”) specialist, technician, or yeoman.