GLOBAL DEFENSE INITIATIVE
RANKS & PERMISSIONS
“Great leaders gain authority by giving it away”
— VADM James B. Stockdale, 1987
ENLISTED PERSONNEL
The recruit rank is a shortly-held rank dedicated to new additions to the Global Defense Initiative’s military force, giving them the crucial time needed to adapt to their new environment.
The only expectation of a recruit is to learn of their duties as soldiers.
The rank of Private defines the first step in a soldier’s career in the GDI, having completed their training and gained the trust of their leaders to act on the battlefield.
A Private First Class is a soldier who has distinguished themselves from their peers.
While not ready to step into the non-commissioned officer ranks, they are highly competent and able to assist other lower-ranking officers.
This rank comes with no special permissions.
The Specialist rank is meant to help transition junior enlisted personnel into the non-commissioned officer ranks.
Unlike their corporal counterparts, specialists do not hold authority over their peers.
Permissions
- Allowed to train recruits.
- Under the supervision of an E-5, allowed to lead small fireteams on non-combat missions.
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
After completing their basic leadership course, specialists are automatically promoted to this rank.
Corporals serve as junior non-commissioned officers and act as a bridge between junior enlisted personnel and non-commissioned officers.
Permissions
- Allowed to lead fireteams of up to 5 people including themselves.
- Allowed to submit recommendations for disciplinary review of any personnel below their rank.
- Allowed to submit honorable mentions for promotions and awards.
- Allowed to request the usage of the Humvee vehicle.
Having proven themselves as competent non-commissioned officers, the majority of squad leaders around the GDI are sergeants.
Permissions
- Allowed to lead squads of up to 9 people including themselves.
- Allowed to authorize the usage of the Humvee vehicle.
- Allowed to request the usage of the M113 APC.
- Allowed to issue field promotions up to the rank of Private First Class.
Staff Sergeants are highly experienced leaders who have been entrusted with mentoring their fellow non-commissioned officers.
Permissions
- Allowed to lead extended squads of up to 14 people including themselves.
- Allowed to issue mass-training to junior NCOs and enlisted personnel.
- Allowed to authorize the usage of the M113 APC.
- Allowed to issue field promotions up to the rank of Specialist.
Often picked as a platoon sergeant, personnel holding the rank of Sergeant First Class often possess great leadership skills and a large amount of combat experience.
Permissions
- In the absence of a commissioned officer, allowed to lead an unrestricted amount of personnel.
- Allowed to issue mass-training to NCOs and enlisted personnel.
- Allowed to authorize the usage of the M2 Bradley, M1A2 Abrams, T-90MS. The operators of the vehicles must be from the 17th Engineering Corps.
- Allowed to issue field promotions up to the rank of Corporal.
SENIOR NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
A First Sergeant is a senior non-commissioned officer, often in charge of logistics and discipline within an independently-operating GDI unit.
A Sergeant Major is an highly experienced leader, holding the most senior of non-commissioned officer ranks in the Global Defense Initiative.
They are often placed in key command positions and will often be seen filling roles similar to those of commissioned officers.
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
A Second Lieutenant is a commissioned officer straight out of Officer Candidate School, or as of more recently within the GDI, an enlisted soldier who has received a battlefield commission in order to fill the growing gaps in the GDI's junior command.
Permissions
- Allowed to review disciplinary recommendations and provide appropriate action.
- Allowed to issue field demotions by one rank to any enlisted personnel originally holding the rank of Sergeant or below.
- Allowed to issue administrative off-site detention of up to 7 days.
- Allowed to discharge offending personnel.
- Allowed to issue field promotions up to the rank of Staff Sergeant.
A Lieutenant is a slightly more experienced commissioned officer, often filling vital field positions.
Much confusion arises from the Lieutenant Commander rank within the western nations, holding an O-3 rating and effectively signifying the merge of the Global Defense Initiative's branches into a single unified command structure.
As the name implies, a Lieutenant Commander often serves as the second-in-command in an independent field unit.
A Commander is often placed in charge of an independently-operating field unit. Officers of this rank are often highly experienced and respected.
The Captain rank is one of the most versatile ones.
They may typically command battalions, though alternatively they could hold flight commander positions, command large ships, research stations and more.
A Major is the most senior field leadership rank, often serving as deputy base commanders, division managers in the GDI headquarters and so forth.
A Colonel is an senior leadership rank, often serving as base commanders, branch managers in the headquarters, or other senior positions.
Brigadier Generals are staff officers commonly assisting in commanding division-level elements.
Major Generals are staff officers commonly commanding division-level elements.
Lieutenant Generals are staff officers commonly commanding corps-level elements.
The General is the most senior commissioned officer within the Global Defense Initiative.
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