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Pulling Rank

Discussion in 'Star Wars Saga In-Depth' started by Leroy_Calrissian, Jan 14, 2009.

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  1. Leroy_Calrissian

    Leroy_Calrissian Jedi Youngling

    Registered:
    Oct 29, 2008
    Today I would like to address the titles used in the Star Wars Universes' military. I have noticed several glaring errors and contradictions in the use of Officers titles in the Republics (both old and new, Clones and regular troopers alike) and the Rebellion. I know the stories take place a long time ago in a galaxy far far away but it seems to me that GL and the writers of the EU are trying to use a system analogous to the US/NATO system of Rank. First I am going to supply a table showing the US/NATO system of Rank for the Army, Navy and Air Force. Then I will discuss how the ratings should be used and what groups should be analogous with each other. First are enlisted men, these include Non-Commissioned Officers or NCO's (they are not addressed as Sir on any level)

    Army /Navy/ Air Force
    Private /Seaman Apprentice/ Airman
    Private First Class /Seaman/ Airman First Class
    Specialist/Corporal /Petty Officer 3rd class/ Senior Airman
    Sargent /Petty Officer 2nd class/ Staff Sargent
    Staff Sargent /Petty Officer 1st Class/ Technical Sargent
    Sargent 1st Class /Chief Petty Officer/ Master Sargent
    Master/First Sargent /Senior Chief Petty Officer/ Senior Master Sargent

    Next we have Commissioned Officers

    Army /Navy/ Air Force
    2nd Lieutenant /Ensign/ 2nd Lieutenant
    1st Lieutenant /Lieutenant Jr Grade/ 1st Lieutenant
    Captain /Lieutenant/ Captain
    Major /Lieutenant Commander/ Major
    Lieutenant Colonel /Commander/ Lieutenant Colonel
    Colonel /Captain/ Colonel
    Brigadier General /Rear Admiral(lower half)/ Brigadier General
    Major General /Rear Admiral (upper half)/ Major General
    Lieutenant General /Vice Admiral/ Lieutenant General
    General /Admiral/ General


    Sorry if the tables look sloppy, I did them pretty quick.

    So as you can see the Star Wars univers is not even close to using this system even though they use several of the titles. Lets use Empire Strikes Back as an example. In the begging of the film Solo is referred to as Captain and Skywalker as Commander. So far no contradiction. If both are in the Navy Solo is one pay grade ahead of Skywalker. Later on Solo is promoted to General and this is where some of my problems lie. If he was a Commissioned Officer in the Army then he was ranked below Skywalker despite having 10 years and more military experience on him. He also jumped several pay grades from a Captain (typically in charge of Company which is about 200 men) to General who would be commanding whole battle groups and entire theaters of operation.

    Lets take a look at the Prequel Trilogy shall we? The biggest mistake they is having a Clone Commander (Naval Rank) named Cody leading an entire regiment. Commander's work on ships, not land operations. Cody should have been a Lt. Colonel (which are always referred to as Colonel) or Colonel depending on the size of the unit he was commanding. I believe he was in charge of a Battalion so Lt. Colonel would be the correct rank. Since a Commander is and equal rank to Lt Colonel they were half corect, right level of rank, wrong title. This mistake was also made with Appo of the 501st.

    Finally we will go back to the OT and take a look at ROTJ and the mistakes made in rank during the battle of Endor. Why is Lando a General and Ackbar and Admiral? Why is a General involved in a Starship battle if that is su
     
  2. DarthBoba

    DarthBoba Manager Emeritus star 9 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Jun 29, 2000
    ...Beyond that the military aspect of Star Wars (at least in the films :p) is basically well-done filler to get us to the next part about spiritual damnation or deliverance? :p

     
  3. BigBoy29

    BigBoy29 Jedi Youngling star 3

    Registered:
    Dec 3, 2004
    I always just assumed Ackbar was an Admiral in the Calamari Navy. The part about Lando being a general is kinda dumb.

    They did'nt think or put foresight into the rankings, and it came off as sloppy as you pointed out.

    I will go to WookieP. to see if in fact Solo made Captain when he did time in the Imperial NAvy. But anyways, any private ship owner can be called Captain.
     
  4. DarthBoba

    DarthBoba Manager Emeritus star 9 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Jun 29, 2000
    No, Han didn't make Captain; I can tell you that right now without checking Wookiepedia.
     
  5. Qui-Gon_Reborn

    Qui-Gon_Reborn Manager Emeritus star 6 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Dec 11, 2008
    No, he did not. He was a still a Lieutenant when he burned his ID card and left the navy.
     
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