Officers vs. Enlisted?????

Just a couple of comments:
1) yes, Virginia, the other branches have ranks between line and flag. The mnemonic device for non-naval ranks is "Be My Little General" which leads to Brigadier General, Major General, Lieutenant General, and General.
2) during WWII, we had Admirals of the Fleet and Generals of the Army.
3) for some good information/discussion of the differences between Fleet Captains and Commodores, check out the ST:TOS core book.
4) as a prior enlisted man who is returning after receiving his college degree to fly, I must admit I have a unique perspective on the whole enlisted/warrant/officer debate. To become a warrant officer in the US Navy, one must first be a chief petty officer and apply for the position. If accepted, the chief is warranted/commissioned. The only real difference between a warrant officer and any other officer is that after a warrant makes chief warrant officer 1, he is guaranteed to be promoted to the rest of the chief warrant officer ranks. Another way for an enlisted man to get commissioned is to become a Limited Duty Officer (LDO). This is a lot like a warrant officer, except it may be applied for at the petty officer first class rank. Also, he actually has to get reviewed to be promoted. Both a warrant and LDO usually serve under a line officer and have senior enlisted personnel under them.
If you have any further questions, please ask.

Welcome aboard, Arndog. It's good to have more military experience on the board.

I've never heard of the LDO. What kind of duties do they have in real life? What would they do in a ST campaign?

------------------

:) <<<<

LUGTrek isn't really dead. Not as long as we remember it.

This reminds me of the fact that George Washington was the only ever six star general.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Robbert Raets:
This reminds me of the fact that George Washington was the only ever six star general.

---

Okay you've got me there, why 6?

5 I can understand, 6? Perhaps because he was in charge of the whole shindig?

------------------
SIRSIG :D
AKA: SirPostalot
AKA: The MapMaker
AKA: The Trek Cartographer
AKA:...Well I could keep going forever ;)

The fundamental differences in officers can be surmised thusly:
1) there are Line Officers and Staff Officers
2) Line Officers can take command; Staff Officers cannot
3) Warrant Officers and Limited Duty Officers are ALWAYS Staff Officers
4) Warrant Officers are guaranteed promotion from WO-1 to CWO-3
5) LDOs are promoted like regularly commissioned officers
That's about all I can think of. Any further questions?

It's just a bit of trivia mentioned in a radio show, so I think it was just meant as sort of a reward for him, being the founder of the U.S.A.

------------------
'Who would have thought... A brave Ferengi!'
Gowron, to Quark, son of Keldar.

Come to think of it, maybe the fact that the American president is supreme commander of the U.S. military forces coinsides with this...

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Robbert Raets:
Come to think of it, maybe the fact that the American president is supreme commander of the U.S. military forces coinsides with this...

---

Washington's rank was independant of his Presidency. The President of the United States, though Commander-in-Chief, does not hold military rank of any sort.

------------------
"I'd rather die standing than live on my knees..."
Shania Twain

To throw another monkey wrench in this discussion...in the Canadian military Warrant Officers (from lowest to highest are warrant officer, master warrant officer, and chief warrant officer) are senior NCOs and are not officers at all. Master and Chief Warrant Officer is the army and airforce are also addressed as Sir but don't rate a salute (although you better have your heels together when you talk to one of these gentlemen http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/smile.gif ).

Hi Brad. I like the Canadian Warrant Officer set up a lot better than I like the US way.