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Qualification badges -military

aramis said:
Actually, Paul, Ratings and Rank are not equivalents.

A rating is what you're judged competent to do. In some uses, it includes proficiency measures, stated as if a rate. In some fields, ratings start at apprentice; in others at 3rd class, and rise to 1st class, then chief. In some uses (I've seen this on USCG DD214's), Apprentice is listed as 5th class, and able as 4th class.
Click to expand...
Things must have changed. I'm a post-Coastie, 4.5 years of service, 1988-1993, got out as an E4/Third Class Petty Officer (Subsistence Specialist- apparently now renamed to Food Services Specialist).

At that time, the ranks were:

E1- Seaman Recruit
E2- Seaman Apprentice/Fireman Apprentice*
E3- Seaman/Fireman

E4- Petty Officer Third Class
E5- Petty Officer Second Class
E6- Petty Officer First Class

E7- Chief Petty Officer
E8- Senior Chief Petty Officer
E9- Master Chief Petty Officer

Then Warrant Officers, followed by Officers, but who cares about them...:D

Your rate was your specialty, designated by a special symbol included on the chevrons on your sleeve. Rank was the sleeve chevrons, and also chevron pins on the collar tabs of your shirt, and usually a chevron pin on your cover (that's a hat to all you non-military types).

*Fireman was the term for those planning to become engineering-types, Seaman for those planning on becoming deck-types.

Hope that helps a bit...

Gary
TRACEN CAPE MAY Romeo 129
SS3
 
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Nightwind1 said:
Things must have changed. I'm a post-Coastie, 4.5 years of service, 1988-1993, got out as an E4/Third Class Petty Officer (Subsistence Specialist- apparently now renamed to Food Services Specialist).

At that time, the ranks were:

E1- Seaman Recruit
E2- Seaman Apprentice/Fireman Apprentice*
E3- Seaman/Fireman

E4- Petty Officer Third Class
E5- Petty Officer Second Class
E6- Petty Officer First Class

E7- Chief Petty Officer
E8- Senior Chief Petty Officer
E9- Master Chief Petty Officer

Then Warrant Officers, followed by Officers, but who cares about them...:D

Your rate was your specialty, designated by a special symbol included on the chevrons on your sleeve. Rank was the sleeve chevrons, and also chevron pins on the collar tabs of your shirt, and usually a chevron pin on your cover (that's a hat to all you non-military types).

*Fireman was the term for those planning to become engineering-types, Seaman for those planning on becoming deck-types.

Hope that helps a bit...

Gary
TRACEN CAPE MAY Romeo 129
SS3
Click to expand...

Both the Navy and Coast Guard "officially" do NOT have rank for enlisted. Rate, Rating, Billet, and Grade, yep. Haven't since 1917, either, when the current Rate/Rating/Grade system went in. And I assure you, your records will indicate whether you had pass your rate boards for higher levels in field. There are a few that don't have specified qualifications and tests for higher than 3rd class... but they're rare. Most swab jocks, however, fail to attempt to understand the difference, and lump it all under "Rank." Rather erroneously.

Then again, it's not like the BMR tests were terribly hard; most 3rd year cadets can pass the BMR (Basic Military Requirements) test right through Chief (after which, promotion is political anyway). No rate I've heard of has qualification tests past Chief. What most think of as "rank" is actually worn grade.

Oh, and for Apprentice and Able, you left out Airman, Hospitalman, and Constructionman. The actual grade title for E3 was, when initially passed, Able Seaman. The term is used still, informally, to distinguish the grade from the clade of E1-E3, who are also collectively called seamen.

Which is another reminder: there are times where billet determines what's worn. If a man's an E5 (PO2) qualified as a TC2, and also as a HM3, and is in a HM billet, he's going to be wearing the HM3 insignia same as an E4... but will draw his E5 pay. (Happened to an acquaintance of mine... Navy AK1, in a YN2 slot... wore YN2, drew pay as an E6. Couldn't make E7 until he passed the tests and boards for both YN1 and CYN, or getting a CAK slot (which wasn't happening; he was cross rated due to a disabling injury taking him off sea status...)
 
Badges and other Bling

Well from my perspective the US Military is to bling bling.
While I have in RL Three Badges: One denoting I got it on with the taliban, Combat Medical Badge the other two are skill badges Senior Parachutist and Flight Medic ( I am not a dirty nasty leg and Qualified Medical Flight Crew)

My suggestion is Keep it Simple Silly...
CommandoBadge.jpg

My list

1. Astro-Navigation Badge (Pilot & Navigation)(IISS, IN)
2. Aerospace Pilot's Badge (Ship's Boat) (IISS, IN, IMC, IA)
3. Jump Troops Qualification Brevet (There is a orbital Assault school Mentioned in the CT Dryone Alien Module)
4. Combat Action Badge (Army/Marines)
5. Commando Qualification Brevet (Commando Course Completion)

I am sure one could go really all out. But I favor a KISS policy on badges.
 
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In the end I did adopt skill badges as worn on the general duty uniform, but with a primary job skill prominent on the left upper sleeve, and any other skills of note on small badges near the cuffs (max 2 per sleeve). Royal Navy cadets, and Luftwaffe enlisted in WW2 use/used a similar system of cuff mounted skill badges.

Officers have no skill badges. This is so their command ability is not impaired by an enlisted soldier looking at the officer and seeing exactly what his skill levels are, perhaps undermining his authority. Reversed, it is handy for an officer to be able to quickly assess the abilities of enlisted men newly assigned to him.
 
Mithras said:
I finally finished my hypothetical uniform and badge scheme for the 'Capella Authority Star Force'. Its a small 20 world federation.

http://www.weebly.com/uploads/3/4/3/3/3433372/star_force_guide.pdf

The badges begin on page 13 I think.

An Imperial Starburst to anyone who can identify the nation whose funky logo I purloined for the CASF... :)
Click to expand...

its a national logo? i can't place it. i think it's a commonwealth country, buy can't prove it. go on, tell me. please?

i recognise at least one of the unit patches, though. 44 Air Assault Sqn: US 13th Airboune Div.

and 1 inf coy looks like a british Royal engineers TRF.
 
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You get the Imperial Starburst for Extreme Cleverness..!

It looks kinda futuristic, the Ukrainian trident, not very heraldic at all, and since it adorns alot of the Ukrainian military badges and regalia, it meant I could 'borrow' insignia for my Capella Authority.

Meteoric Assault said:
Its Ukrainian... for sure
Click to expand...
 
Mithras said:
You get the Imperial Starburst for Extreme Cleverness..!

It looks kinda futuristic, the Ukrainian trident, not very heraldic at all, and since it adorns alot of the Ukrainian military badges and regalia, it meant I could 'borrow' insignia for my Capella Authority.
Click to expand...


I can't really be awarded the "cleverness" ... My wife is a Ukrainian bombshell, which means I am well versed in Ukrainian Symbols. Knowing about it comes with the "ring" of powerlessness and the Darklord Spouseron.
 
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