Ranks & Rank Equivalence Overview
Many GE Divisions and
Institutions conduct routine operations
independently, yet are intermixed through the common Galactic Empire... Naval
ranks constitute the "centrepiece" ranking system of the GE. Other ranks that
can be compared to naval ranks in terms of being senior, equal, or subordinate
are considered part of the rank equivalence system. (E.G.- An Army
Colonel is senior to a naval Lieutenant, equal to a naval Captain,
and subordinate to the ISB General.) As a rule of thumb, all
officers who wear a rank plaque on their left breast are senior, equal, or
subordinate to one another regardless of their division.
Officers should note their overall placing in rankings, as titles between
divisions often differ. For convenience, a visual chart of the Rank
Equivalence System has been published below...
Rank Equivalence Chart
* - Denotes a rank currently in disuse.
** - Denotes a pre-Endor rank that has been officially dissolved out of
existence.
[ITALICS] - Denotes a rank that is "frozen", and not currently
achievable by any officer.
{ } - Denotes a rank that has been granted an honorary elevation of
seniority.
Other Ranks
Most – but not all – GE ranks are part of the rank equivalence system.
When a rank is not part of the system, it cannot be compared to a naval rank in
terms of being senior, equal, or subordinate, and no rank equivalence is
said to exist. Officers with no rank equivalence to each other are expected to
function in mutual co-operation.
The chief area of ranks separate from the rank equivalence system is
the majority of ranks, positions, and titles held by civilians (including
Imperial Dignitaries). Moffs are a very particular
and prominent exception.
Terms of Address
The operations of most major sections of The Galactic Empire find
their roots in military structure & protocol... To help address the various
questions of correctness raised by officers, Grand Admiral Daemon herein detailed
the officially–accepted terms of address in the Imperial forces...
- Unless otherwise stated, there are two correct methods for addressing a
senior or superior officer:
- By the title "sir". Alternately, "ma'am" is correct in the
specific case of a female senior or superior; however, due to the unisex nature
of the military, "sir" qualifies as proper protocol regardless
of the gender or species of one's superior.
- By their rank. The statement "Yes, Admiral" is equally valid to "Yes,
sir". Unless a situation demands a high level of formality, all varieties of
Admiral, General, Captain, and Colonel may be referred to simply as "Admiral",
"General", "Captain", and "Colonel", respectively.
The option to address by rank is rarely exercised toward superior
non-commissioned officers.
- In the case of a Moff, the sole correct term of
address from all those other than his superiors is "Your Excellency"
(which may be abbreviated "Y.E." in all but the most formal of
situations). This is in recognition of a Moff's exceedingly high political
status throughout the Empire.
In referencing a Moff as a third-party, "His
Excellency" (or "H.E.") may be similarly used, particularly in
documents or transmissions of high formality.
- In addressing a junior or subordinate officer, a superior may elect
to address the officer solely by name if the situation does not demand
formality, although officers who are more military-minded will find this to be
overly informal as a rule. Many superiors will therefore elect to address
a subordinate by rank, or by rank & name. Beyond a simple maintenance of
formality, a superior who takes the time to place a subordinate's rank before
their name shows that they acknowledge the officer's achievement of that
rank.
If the subordinate is a non-commissioned officer, there is the
alternative (and typically exercised) option of prefixing their name with "Mr."
(or "Ms."). A non-commissioned officer's name is usually only prefixed
with their full rank as part of a formal document.
- Where no rank equivalence exists between two officers, it is
recommended that address by rank or by rank & name be employed, unless a
relationship of informality has been established between them, taking into
account that:
- Imperial Dignitaries will often carry their own, unique titles and
terms of address, as detailed in individual High
Command descriptions. Although no rank equivalence exists, Imperial
Dignitaries are to be regarded with all due respect, as their name suggests.
- A Planetary Governor or
System Governor's formal term of address is
"Governor".
The words "Distinction and Honour" have long been associated with the
Imperial Navy of old, but now more than ever, they are an objective for
the entirety of the Empire to maintain... An objective that begins with
each Imperial officer's high personal standards, and pride in their Empire, of
which these protocols are an overt reflection.
Any further questions of Imperial rank or protocol may be freely directed to
the Supreme Commander.