The more you participate in SFMC, the more you will notice members utilizing two types of ranks:  Fleet and SFMC.  Within the SFMC, you have both active duty and reserve members.  Active duty members utilize strictly SFMC ranks, which will be discussed below, exclusively participating as a member of their SFMC unit and their STARFLEET Chapter as a STARFLEET Marine.  A reserve member is a Marine who utilizes their Fleet rank, participating primarily as s STARFLEET Fleet member.

Rank in the SFMC is structured similarly to STARFLEET's Fleet ranks.  If a member of SFI wishes to participate in the fan club as a STARFLEET Marine, they will utilize the group forces rank structure discussed below.  Using the SFMC rank does not change your responsibilities or change your rights as a member of SFI, it merely designates you as a STARFLEET Marine.  Study the ranks and insignias chart carefully, paying specific attention to the abbreviations, as they will often be utilized for daily correspondence, academy courses, awards, and decorations.

Many times, you will hear a simplified comparison between both the Fleet and Marine ranks systems, with the Fleet and/or SFMC making reference to grades instead of rank.  While a rank is a title such as a Colonel or Captain, a grade is the alphanumeric designator like 0-6, which carries between both the Fleet and Marine ranks.  As an example, and O6 is a Captain in the Fleet or a Colonel in the SFMC.

The SFMC utilizes a rank structure that mirrors the 20th century US Marines, which compares with STARFLEET's usage of the 20th century Navy ranks for Fleet members.  In that, there are three categories of ranks:  Enlisted, which includes the Noncommissioned Officer Corps (NCO); the Commissioned Officer; and the Warrant Officer.

The enlisted ranks are separated into grades E1 through E9.  From the lowest grade to highest, the enlisted ranks are as follows:  Private (PVT); Private First Class (PFC); Lance Corporal (LCPL); Corporal (CPL); Sergeant (SGT); Staff Sergeant (SSGT); Gunnery Sergeant (GSGT); Master Sergeant (MSGT); First Sergeant (1SGT); Master Gunnery Sergeant (MGSGT); and Sergeant Major (SGM).  The ranks Private through Private First Class are known as the Junior Enlisted ranks.  The ranks of Lance Corporal through Sergeant Major are known as Noncommissioned Corps, or NCO Corps.  Within the NCO Corps, the ranks of Lance Corporal through Sergeant are referred to as Junior NCOs; the ranks of Staff Sergeant through Sergeant Major are referred to as Staff NCOs.  Additionally, the ranks of Gunnery Sergeant through Sergeant major are referred to as Senior NCOs.

When a Marine reaches the rank of Master Sergeant (E8) or Master Gunnery Sergeant (E9), there are two possible career tracks:  Command and Technical.  At the grade of E8, a Marine may choose to either become a First Sergeant (Command) or a Master Sergeant (Technical).  The Marine then should continue to follow the appropriate track at the grade of E9:  Sergeant Major (Command) or Master Gunnery Sergeant (Technical).  For more information on these ranks, please refer to the SFMC Enlisted Manual linked within the Brigade Library.  Despite named differently, there is no functional difference between either ranks at either grade in the SFMC.

The Officer ranks are separated into grades O1 through O11.  From lowest to highest, they are Second Lieutenant (2LT); First Lieutenant (1LT); Captain (CPT/MCPT); Major (MAJ); Lieutenant Colonel (LTC); Colonel (COL); Brigadier (BDR); Brigadier General (BGN); Major General (MGN); Lieutenant General (LGN); and General (GEN).  Within the Officer Ranks, the ranks of Second Lieutenant through Captain are referred to as Company Grade Officers.  The ranks of Major through Colonel are referred to as Field Grade Officers.  The ranks of Brigadier through General are referred to as Flag Officers.  There is no SFMC equivalent to STARFLEET's rank of Fleet Admiral, the rank held by the Commander, STARFLEET.

Something to keep in mind:  A STARFLEET Marine Captain (O3) is quite differently from a STARFLEET Captain (O6).  This has created an interesting conundrum for the SFMC in the rank of Captain (O3).  Much like when this happens in the real world counterparts we respectfully emulate, SFMC has adopted a method to reduce the confusion.  In situations where a Marine Officer with the rank of Captain (O3) is announced aloud, such as in award presentations and formal functions, they are referred to as Marine Captain.  In correspondence, they designate their rank as "Captain, SFMC" or by the abbreviation of "MCPT" while a Captain (O6) within the Fleet utilizes "CAPT".

Another rank utilization from the real world military history of the 20th Century, the Warrant Officer (WO) serves in those fields and billets that are specialized in scope, or require a Marine in a grade above the Staff Noncommissioned Officers.  Warrant Officers are technical specialists within the SFMC, serving in positions that might normally be filled by an Officer, thus freeing the Officer for more essential tasks such as brigade, unit, or departmental administration.  Warrant Officers are promoted almost exclusively from the Marine Corps' Enlisted ranks of Sergeant and Staff Sergeant, having typically served between three and five years.  Warrant Officer promotions are Chapter promotions, not Fleet or SFMC.  It is intended that those selected for Warrant Officer demonstrate advanced knowledge of the SFMC, and leadership in their chosen career field.

The Warrant Officer grades are:  Warrant Officer (WO), Chief Warrant Officer Two (CWO-2), Chief Warrant Officer Three (CWO-3), Chief Warrant Officer Four (CWO-4), and Chief Warrant Officer Five (CWO-5).  While the SFMC does not promote, we suggest the following criteria be utilized in the selection for Warrant Officers by Chapter COs and MSG OICs for the promotion of any enlisted marine to the rank of WO-1:

1.  3-5 years in service to the STARFLEET Marine Corps.
2. Hold the minimum rank of Sergeant.  Be promoted, by the Chapter CO, to the rank of WO-1.
3. Complete OTS, PD-100, IN-100, LD-100, and NCO-100.
4. Complete a minimum of the -20 level course in their chosen branch.

Additionally, it is suggested that promotion to CWO-2 through CWO-5 requires a minimum of two years in grade for promotion.  Promotion to CWO-2 should require the Marine to complete the -30 course for their branch, as well as PD-201, LD-200, NCO-201, and IN-201.  It is further suggested that CWO-3 candidates have completed OCC, PD-210, LD-211, and NCO-251.  Warrant Officers whom reach the ranks of CWO-5 have only one option for further advancement:  Become a fully Commissioned Officer.  Otherwise, a CWO-5 may continue in that rank and assignment until they decide to retire.

See the Marine Force Manual 2020 in the Fleet Library to view the insignia chart for the various ranks in the SFMC.