Editing UNSC rank structure

{{Era|Human|UNSC|HCW|Post}}
The '''rank structure''' of the [[United Nations Space Command]]'s mainline branches of service (the [[UNSC Navy|Navy]], the [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine Corps]], the [[UNSC Army|Army]], and the [[UNSC Air Force|Air Force]]) is largely derived from [[Wikipedia:Template:United States uniformed services comparative ranks|the system]] employed by the 21st century [[wikipedia:United States Armed Forces|United States military]].<ref name="OSFM139">''[[Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual]]'', PART 8: UNSC ORGANISATION, UNSC Ranks (p. 139)</ref>

==Overview==
The UNSC's rank structure is similar to that used by 21st century militaries, primarily the United States military. Unlike contemporary military forces, however, the UNSC largely employs two main rank schemes throughout its organisation; NAVCOM rankings for organisations within [[UNSC Naval Command]] (namely, the UNSC Navy and [[Office of Naval Intelligence]]) and UNICOM rankings for [[Unified Ground Command]] subordinates (UNSC Army, Air Force, Marine Corps). UNSC ranks can be broadly categorized into several groupings;
*'''Enlisted:''' Regular personnel who perform the "front line" duties. This includes regular infantry personnel.
*'''Non-commissioned Officers:''' Non-commissioned officers (NCOs) are enlisted personnel that fill most intermediary leadership and administrative roles. Their responsibilities vary by service, occupational specialty and duty station. The UNSC relies heavily on NCOs, and they share many responsibilities with officers.<ref name="OSFM139"/>
*'''Warrant Officers:''' Warrant officers are technical specialists and subject matter experts who are given an officer's commission in recognition of their expertise and leadership role. They take the officer's oath of service and are rated above enlisted troops but are subordinate to full officers. The Air Force does not select or utilize warrant officers, and they are rarely found in the Marine Corps.<ref name="OSFM139"/>
*'''Officers:''' UNSC officers are commissioned, meaning that their authority is granted by a formal legal document issued on the authority of the [[President of the Unified Earth Government|UEG President]]. This commission is awarded after the completion of [[Officer Candidate School]] (OCS) and after taking the oath of service.<ref name="OSFM139"/>

==NAVCOM ranks==
UNSC Naval Command uses rank titles which are different to the other branches. Navy ranks and terminology have a long history which dates back to eras when ships sailed on the oceans of [[Earth]] rather than in space. These ranks are used by the UNSC Navy and ONI.<ref name="OSFM140">''[[Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual]]'', PART 8: UNSC ORGANISATION, NAVCOM Ranks (p. 140-141)</ref>
{{/NAVCOM}}

==UNICOM ranks==
UNSC ground forces rely on little administrative overheard and bureaucracy thanks to [[artificial intelligence]]s and automated services, which handle the majority of routine paperwork and coordination. The UNSC's standards of taining and high "tooth to tail" ratio of fighting troops to support personnel also allow senior enlisted and junior officers to be given much more responsibility and command authority that what was historically possible.<ref name="OSFM142">''[[Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual]]'', PART 8: UNSC ORGANISATION, NAVCOM Ranks (p. 142-143)</ref>
{{/UNICOM}}

==Spartan Operations==
Unlike NAVCOM and UNICOM, the [[Spartan Operations]] branch does not employ traditional ranks.<ref>'''Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide''', ''page 33''</ref> nstead, the Spartan branch works to take the informal leadership traditions of the [[SPARTAN-II]]s and adapt them into a structure than emphasises independance and unity of purpose over rigid adherence to the chain of command. Nevertheless, [[SPARTAN-IV]] personnel are given additioanl responsibilities and authority as they advance in their careers. All Spartans recieve a direct commission as an officer of the UNSC, though this authority does not typically extend out of their chain of command.<ref name="OSFM32">''[[Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual]]'', PART 2: THE SPARTAN-IV PROGRAM, Spartan Comand Structure(p. 32-33)</ref>

While aboard naval vessels, Spartans report directly to the ship's captain in all matters relating to the safety and security on-board the ship - superseding all other responsibilities and orders. In all other cases, the Spartan Commander has operational control of Spartan personnel, and Spartans cannot give or be given orders to/ from Navy or ONI personnel. Spartans are, however, encouraged to accommodate reasonable respects where they do note violate existing orders or the Spartan Code.<ref name="OSFM140"/>
{{/Spartan}}

==Trivia==
*The ''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]'' erroneously describes the structure and insignia of the UNSC's ranking system as being identical to those used in ''Halo'' multiplayer, ''[[Rank (Halo 3 Multiplayer)|Halo 3]]'' in the original printing and ''[[Rank (Halo: Reach)|Halo: Reach]]'' in the 2011 edition.<ref>'''Halo Encyclopedia''', ''pages 50-51'' (2011 edition)</ref>
*All Marine Corps ranks between Staff Sergeant and Sergeant Major are classified as Staff non-commissioned officers.

==Sources==
<references/>

[[Category:Ranks]]
[[Category:United Nations Space Command]]