Editing UNSC rank structure

{{Status|Canon}}
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==
{{Main|UNSC military organization}}
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 [[UNSC military organization|organization]]; NAVCOM rankings for organizations 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/Reuse|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/Reuse|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/Reuse|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 overhead and bureaucracy thanks to [[artificial intelligence]]s and automated services, which handle the majority of routine paperwork and coordination. The UNSC's standards of training 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 than what was historically possible.<ref name="OSFM142">''[[Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual]]'', PART 8: UNSC ORGANISATION, UNICOM Ranks (p. 142-143)</ref> Some UNSC Army and Air Force personnel additionally make use of ranks and/ or roles that do not fit into the UNICOM system of organisation.<ref group="unicomnote" name="odd">In the [[Fireteam (gameplay mechanic)|Fireteam]] mechanic in ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', Army troopers can be seen with the rank of "SPC", most likely meaning Specialist as used by modern militaries. In ''[[Spartan Ops]]'', a member of the UNSC with the rank of Airman can be seen. It is presently unclear where these roles lie in regards to the rank scheme provided by the ''Official Spartan Field Manual''.</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> Instead, the Spartan branch works to take the informal leadership traditions of the [[SPARTAN-II]]s and adapt them into a structure than emphasizes independence and unity of purpose over rigid adherence to the chain of command. Nevertheless, [[SPARTAN-IV]] personnel are given additional responsibilities and authority as they advance in their careers. All Spartans receive 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 Command 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 requests when they do not violate existing orders or the Spartan Code.{{Ref/Reuse|OSFM140}}
{{/Spartan}}

==Trivia==
*The ''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]'' erroneously describes the structure and insignia of the UNSC's ranking system as being identical to those used in ''Halo'' multiplayer, ''[[Rank (Halo 3)|Halo 3]]'' in the original printing and ''[[Rank (Halo: Reach)|Halo: Reach]]'' in the [[Halo Encyclopedia (2011 edition)|2011 edition]].<ref>''Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe'', pages 50-51 (2011 edition)</ref> It also lists the O-11 rank "Commanding General".<ref>''Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe'', page 49 (2011 edition)</ref>
*In ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''{{'}}s VISR mode, rank icons can be seen given for the various members of [[Alpha-Nine]]. The rank icons on display use the icons found in the multiplayer ranking of ''Halo 3'',  and for the most part match up with the ranks of the various squadmembers with the exception of [[Jonathan Doherty]] (see gallery for a full comparison).

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:H3ODST_Squad_Ranks.png|The various members of Alpha-Nine and their corresponding ''Halo 3'' multiplayer rank icons.
</gallery>

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

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