Editing Military Ranks

The [[BattleTech]] universe, because of its origins as a combat board game, provides a rank structure in the role-playing game and novels. Military ranks are used to distinguish a hierarchy within a branch of the armed forces and generally denote some level of responsibility and accountability for the individual. When the [[Star League]] collapsed, each house relied upon its own internally-used rank systems.

The hierarchy of ranks used within a house is specific to that house and generally aren't shared between houses. [[Mercenaries|Mercenary units]] may choose to either use the house rank structure or, especially in the case of older units, may use one of their own creation. Mercenary officers, however, tend to use ranks that are easily related to existing rank structures used by the houses. 

==Capellan Confederation==
The military of the Capellan Confederation is known as the [[Capellan Confederation Armed Forces]] (CCAF). Though it is small and often under-equipped, the CCAF is actually among the most powerful of militaries in a one-on-one encounter.  The CCAF is unique in that it places more power in the hands of the commander at the regiment level and less at higher levels than do most other militaries.  Capellan units are often named after their commander; for example the first regiment of the [[Victoria Commonality Rangers]] is known as [[Kingston's Rangers]].  The CCAF is also famous for its use of Military Orders.  Military Orders are collections of warriors organized on allegiance to a particular set of principles.

CCAF units are composed of 'Mech, conventional, infantry and [[ASF|aerospace]] forces, and has long relied on mercenaries, more than other Inner Sphere militaries.

==Draconis Combine==
The Draconis Combine's military (called the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery, or DCMS) is much-feared in the [[Inner Sphere]], due to its strong adherence to personal honor and overarching commitment to the Coordinator. Discipline is very strict in the DCMS and harsh punishments are often meted out for small infractions. At the highest levels of military command, officers who fail in their duties often request and are sometimes granted the right to commit ''seppuku'', or ritual suicide; only through such atonement can an officer regain some of their lost honor.

==Federated Suns==
In terms of strength of arms, the Federated Suns is one of the most powerful nations in the Inner Sphere. The [[Dictionary#F|First Prince]]s of [[House Davion]] have always been committed to the military of their realm and every Davion is required to serve in the armed forces in order to claim the title of First Prince. The [[Armed Forces of the Federated Suns]] (or AFFS) is a highly disciplined, professional force that benefits greatly from technological advances from the [[New Avalon Institute of Science]] as well as the high degree of training its members receive.

==Free Worlds League==
The Free Worlds League has a strong emphasis on combined arms tactics, with almost all of their regiments featuring a large number of infantry, armor and aerospace assets, as well as one of the largest navies in the Inner Sphere. The focus on BattleMechs, however, does exist within their elite regiments.

==Lyran Commonwealth==
{{main|Lyran Commonwealth Military Ranks}}
The Brandenberg Edicts of 2413 established the rank system for the LCAF from 2413 through the [[Fourth Succession War]]. Following the formation of the [[Federated Commonwealth]], the rank systems of both the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] and the [[Federated Suns]] were merged into a single structure.

==Rank Equivalence==
While each of the houses uses a house-specific name for each of their ranks, the hierarchy does result in an mapping of ranks to one another. The table below shows the equivalent rank between the different house rank structures.

One note is that the Free Worlds League provided, in the Document of Incorporation, the allowance for each of the three founding states to maintain their pre-union military structures. Therefore, the Marik military ranks are based on the region to which an individual is assigned. The table contains the main Marik ranks. Distinctions between Marik and the Andurien and Oriente ranks are noted in footnotes.

{|border="1" 
|+'''Ranks of the [[Inner Sphere]] Houses (circa 3025)'''
|-
| style="background:#cdcdcd;" colspan='5' class='infoboxheading' | '''Enlisted Personnel'''
|-
! Capellan Confederation !! Draconis Combine !! Federated Suns !! Free Worlds League !! Lyran Commonwealth
|-
| align="center" | Recruit || align="center" | Recruit || align="center" | Recruit || align="center" | Private || align="center" | Private
|-
| align="center" | N/A || align="center" | Private || align="center" | Private || align="center" | Private 1st Class || align="center" | Private 1st Class
|-
| align="center" | Lance Corporal || align="center" | Lance Corporal || align="center" | Corporal || align="center" | Corporal || align="center" | Corporal
|-
| align="center" | N/A || align="center" | Corporal  || align="center" | N/A || align="center" | <ref>{{cite | title=House Marik Book | date=1987 | publisher=FASA | production code=pg 83}} Note: Andurien provides '''Thegn''' as a rank at this level.</ref> || align="center" | Sr. Corporal
|-
| style="background:#cdcdcd;" colspan='5' class='infoboxheading' | '''Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs)'''
|-
! Capellan Confederation !! Draconis Combine !! Federated Suns !! Free Worlds League !! Lyran Commonwealth
|-
| align="center" | Lance Sgt. || align="center" | Sergeant || align="center" | Sergeant  || align="center" | Sergeant || align="center" | Sergeant
|-
| align="center" | Asst. Force Leader || align="center" | Master Sgt. || align="center" | N/A || align="center" | Staff Sergeant || align="center" | Staff Sergeant
|-
| align="center" | Force Leader || align="center" | Talon Sgt. || align="center" | Sgt. Major || align="center" | Master Sergeant || align="center" | Sergeant Major
|-
| align="center" | N/A || align="center" | Sergeant Major || align="center" | N/A || align="center" | Sergeant Major || align="center" | Staff Sgt. Major
|-
| align="center" | N/A || align="center" | N/A || align="center" | N/A || align="center" | <ref>{{cite | title=House Marik Book | date=1987 | publisher=FASA | production code=pg 83}} Note: Andurien provides '''Banner''' as a rank at this level.</ref> || align="center" | Senior Sgt. Major
|-
| align="center" | N/A || align="center" | N/A || align="center" | N/A || align="center" | <ref>{{cite | title=House Marik Book | date=1987 | publisher=FASA | production code=pg 83}} Note: Andurien provides '''Master Banner''' as a rank at this level while Oriente provides '''Banner'''.</ref> || align="center" | N/A
|-
| style="background:#cdcdcd;" colspan='5' class='infoboxheading' | '''Warrant Officers'''
|-
! Capellan Confederation !! Draconis Combine !! Federated Suns !! Free Worlds League !! Lyran Commonwealth
|-
| align="center" | N/A || align="center" | N/A || align="center" | N/A || align="center" | Lieutenant, J.G.<ref>{{cite | title=House Marik Book | date=1987 | publisher=FASA | production code=pg 83}} Note: Marik provides two separate Lieutenant, JG grades.</ref> || align="center" | Warrant Officer
|-
| align="center" | N/A || align="center" | N/A || align="center" | N/A || align="center" | N/A || align="center" | Warrant Off. 1st Class
|-
| align="center" | N/A || align="center" | N/A || align="center" | N/A || align="center" | N/A || align="center" | Sr. Warrant Off.
|-
| align="center" | N/A || align="center" | N/A || align="center" | N/A || align="center" | N/A || align="center" | Chief Warrant Off.
|-
| style="background:#cdcdcd;" colspan='5' class='infoboxheading' | '''Junior Officers'''
|-
! Capellan Confederation !! Draconis Combine !! Federated Suns !! Free Worlds League !! Lyran Commonwealth
|-
| align="center" | Subcommander || align="center" | N/A || align="center" | Cadet/Subaltern|| align="center" | Lieutenant, J.G.<ref>{{cite | title=House Marik Book | date=1987 | publisher=FASA | production code=pg 83}} Note: Marik provides two separate Lieutenant, JG grades.</ref> || align="center" | Leutnant
|-
| align="center" | Commander || align="center" | ''Chu-i'' || align="center" | Leftenant || align="center" | Lieutenant, S.G.<ref>{{cite | title=House Marik Book | date=1987 | publisher=FASA | production code=pg 83}} Note: Andurien uses only Lieutenant at this grade.</ref>|| align="center" | 1st Leutnant
|-
| align="center" | Captain || align="center" | ''Tai-i''|| align="center" | Captain || align="center" | <ref>{{cite | title=House Marik Book | date=1987 | publisher=FASA | production code=pg 83}} Note: Andurien provides '''Force Captain''' at this grade.</ref>|| align="center" | Hauptmann
|-
| align="center" | N/A || align="center" | ''Sho-sa'' || align="center" | Major || align="center" | Captain <ref>{{cite | title=House Marik Book | date=1987 | publisher=FASA | production code=pg 83}} Note: Andurien refers to this grade as '''Flag Captain'''.</ref>|| align="center" | Kommandant
|-
| align="center" | N/A || align="center" | N/A || align="center" | N/A || align="center" | Force Commander <ref>{{cite | title=House Marik Book | date=1987 | publisher=FASA | production code=pg 83}} Note: Both Oriente and Andurien refer to this grade as '''Major'''.</ref> || align="center" | Hauptmann-Kommandant
|-
| style="background:#cdcdcd;" colspan='5' class='infoboxheading' | '''Senior Officers'''
|-
! Capellan Confederation !! Draconis Combine !! Federated Suns !! Free Worlds League !! Lyran Commonwealth
|-
| align="center" | Major || align="center" | ''Chu-sa'' || align="center" | Leftenant Colonel || align="center" | Lieutenant Colonel <ref>{{cite | title=House Marik Book | date=1987 | publisher=FASA | production code=pg 83}} Note: Neither Oriente nor Andurien use this grade.</ref> || align="center" | Leutnant-Colonel
|-
| align="center" | N/A || align="center" | ''Tai-sa'' || align="center" | Colonel || align="center" | Colonel || align="center" | Colonel
|-
| align="center" | N/A || align="center" | N/A || align="center" | Leftenant General || align="center" | N/A || align="center" | Leutnant-General
|-
| align="center" | N/A || align="center" | ''Sho-sho'' || align="center" | Major General || align="center" | N/A || align="center" | Hauptmann-General
|-
| align="center" | Colonel || align="center" | ''Tai-sho'' || align="center" | General || align="center" | N/A || align="center" | Kommandant-General
|-
| align="center" | N/A || align="center" | N/A || align="center" | Marshal || align="center" | General <ref>{{cite | title=House Marik Book | date=1987 | publisher=FASA | production code=pg 83}} Note: Andurien refers to this grade as '''Lieutenant General'''.</ref>|| align="center" | General
|-
| align="center" | N/A || align="center" | Warlord || align="center" | Field Marshal || align="center" | N/A || align="center" | General of the Armies
|-
| align="center" | Chancellor || align="center" | Coordinator || align="center" | Marshal of the AFFS || align="center" | Captain-General <ref>{{cite | title=House Marik Book | date=1987 | publisher=FASA | production code=pg 83}} Note: Andurien refers to this grade as '''Major General'''. Oriente does not use it.</ref> || align="center" | Archon
|-
|}

==Notes==
<div class="references-small"><references/></div>