Guide to MNG ranks and flight permissions

[Marine Nationale Gauloise]

Ranks of the Marine and flight permissions

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Messieurs, mesdames,

Valiant soldiers of the Marine Nationale, proud successor of the former Marine Royale. You've fought valiantly against multitudes of bitter enemies, conducted yourselves with honour and great merit through many a campaign, and thanks to your efforts, our name strikes fear and awe in the hearts of those who thought they could merely cast us aside so many centuries ago.

For centuries, our House had prepared herself for a full scale invasion of the Sirian Sector. Gallia had prepared herself for a war that was supposed to be far from her borders. The previous conflict which was our first one against the Sirian Houses was indeed far from Gallia, if we exclude the civil war with the Conseillards.

But today, the war has reached our home. For the very first time of its existence, Gallia is invaded. Invaded by House that pretends to act for the sake of all the Sirian souls that paid the price of the Gallic Re-Conquest, for the sake to prevent our House to repeat what she has done. I'll get this straight, they want Gallia neutralized, eliminated, deprived of its own integrity and of its capacity to ensure its own existence.

They don't realize they are so mistaken, however. They have been beaten once, they will be again. We thought they had tasted the CORE GALLIC VALUES some years ago and learned to fear and respect them.

You've certainly noticed a significant influx of recruits coming our way lately. They will be needed in the battles to come, as our Gallic citizens want this campaign to end on abrupt, decisive note. We will be the hammer that will strike ferociously at the last embers of the Kusarian's dishonourable ambitions.

As our ranks swell, our chain of command must adapt and evolve. The following structure has been created to better sort our personnel and keep track of your progression : it is now in effect. Each of you will receive new ranks and functions momentarily based on your previous assignments and records. You will find the details below.

Perhaps the fate of the galaxy is no longer at stake, but something far more important is, nowadays : Gallia.

Honneur, valeur, patrie, discipline.

Haut Commandement de la Marine Nationale.

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NEW RANKING STRUCTURE

Important note : titles can differ from the actual rank. It will be specified in every case.
Also : next to each rank is an abbreviation. Feel free to use it in your reports and comms as desired.

EQUIPAGE (RANK AND FILE)

The small hands. More important than they look, less important than they think they are.

Matelot - MOT : Lowest of the low. Traditionally very young, inexperienced recruits. Might be permitted to fly a fighter, but otherwise, helps with the running of a capital ship or low-level administrative duties. Commands : All fighters and freighters.

OFFICIERS MARINIERS (NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS /OM)

The gears that keep the machine running. Specialised personnel who know what they're doing. A loud bunch by tradition, they can get away with all kinds of jokes.

Maître - MT : The Maîtres can be either proven QMs who graduated after prolonged service and passed several qualification tests, or new recruits with previous experience, diplomas or mid-level military academy. They have a long and interesting career ahead of them at this point. Commands : All fighters, freighters and transports, fighter wings.

Maître Principal - MP : Can be called Cipal for short : The Maîtres Principaux are experienced, older elements, a vital link between the rank and file and the officers. Very relied upon by all, qualified and flexible. Commands : Up to gunboats and armored transports, also lewd jokes.

Major - MJR : A rank of prestige. Generally people at the end of their career who won't make it to officer. They're the old grumbling guard, beloved by their crews, feared by young officers, very respected by the old ones. Always pissed off by something. Commands : Respect, also gunboats. Exceptionally cruisers.

OFFICIERS SUBALTERNES (JUNIOR OFFICERS)

Those in charge of the lower ranks. Generally young, with more diplomas or qualifications than experience and humility. Should be respected by the lower ranks, but aren't always. Subject of most of the OM's jokes.

Aspirant - ASP : Called lieutenant. Very junior officer, still in training. Enjoys complete freedom of speech throughout the hierarchy. Not terribly important to the general affairs but they like to think they are. The good-willed butt of many jokes. Commands : up to gunboats, bad puns.

Enseigne de Vaisseau - EV : Called lieutenant. Proven aspirant, or a very seasoned major with a very long career. First one is starting to get the gist of authority but is still new at it. The latter is completely lost in this new world of polite, elegant people. Commands : up to cruisers, disrespect.

Lieutenant de Vaisseau - LV : Called capitaine. A significant step up from the Enseigne. These are both specialists and leaders. Often on the field, and a useful bridge between junior and superior officers. A fitting end-point for a career, but some go further. Commands : up to battlecruisers, retirement plans.

OFFICIERS SUPERIEURS (SENIOR OFFICERS)

The ones at the top. They worked hard to get there and they act like it. Unless they're nobles who inherited those titles or were granted them for whatever reason. In which case, pomp is to be expected.

Capitaine de Corvette - CC : Called commandant. Fresh senior officers. Close to their men and women, respected, but still unproven in high-level leadership. They still have a chance to rank up high. Commands : up to battlecruisers.

Capitaine de Frégate - CF : Called commandant. Proven senior officers. No real difference in responsibility to the CCs, but a stepping stone towards the real deal. Very respected for their experience. Can be the last rank held by an officer, as making it to CV requires passing a hard exam. Commands : up to battleships.

Capitaine de Vaisseau - CV : Called commandant. The cream. Talented, seasoned officers who've passed a series of very difficult tests : the War School. They excel at technical aspects, but also in strategy and leadership. Commands : Battleships, devotion.

OFFICIERS GENERAUX (GENERAL OFFICERS)

A very select few who've been entrusted to lead entire fleets or administrative sites. Necessarily former officers, unless in the case of a very precious gift to high nobility. Rarely in the field anymore, but can still happen when large fleets are mustered.

Contre-amiral - CA : Called amiral. Grizzled veteran of many fights or exceptional director. In charge of a lot of people and assets. Can still rank up. Commands : Battlegroups.

Amiral - CA : The top of the food chain. The very best a commoner can hope for, and he/she is going to have to dedicate their entire life to get up there. Is expected to manage entire fleets or divisions. Commands : Battlegroups.

Amiral de la Marine : Don't get your hopes up. Traditionally the highest possible rank of the MRG. Rules the entire show and reports directly to the Grand Duke. Not for your peasant hands. Don't even look him in the eye with your dirty peasant face. Commands : your entire peasant existence.

Updated: August 22nd 743 A.G.S

Royal Archives

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MARINE ROYALE GAULOISE

Nouveau message entrant.
Identifiant : Amiral Isabelle Montlaville de Chanteloup
Unité : Etat-major de la Marine Royale Gauloise
Destinataire : All personnel

Sujet : An important announcement

10 février, 741 A.G.S.
Ile-de-France

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Messieurs, mesdames,

I have important news for all of you, proudly serving under the banner of the Marine Royale. You've fought valiantly against multitudes of bitter enemies, conducted yourselves with honour and great merit through many a campaign, and thanks to your efforts, our name strikes fear and awe in the hearts of those who thought they could merely cast us aside so many centuries ago. Through your successes, we are now in a position of strength unmatched in the history of any of the Sirian Houses, whose petty achievements are but leaves in the wind compared to ours.

And yet, this is somehow not enough yet. Our enemies have united in the vain hope of escaping our revenge : they will not accept their responsibilities and finally share that which they took for themselves. The weak Bretonians are on their knees, their spirits broken, their ways out cut off. And meanwhile, the hideous Libertonian mouth breathers have predictably fallen into our diversionary trap. I promise you that the end of this campaign is in sight, and it cannot end any other way than our complete and utter victory.

You've certainly noticed a significant influx of recruits coming our way lately. They will be needed in the battles to come, as the King wants this campaign to end on abrupt, decisive note. We will be the hammer that will strike ferociously at the last embers of Bretonian resistance.

As our ranks swell, our chain of command must adapt and evolve. The following structure has been created to better sort our personnel and keep track of your progression : it is now in effect. Each of you will receive new ranks and functions momentarily based on your previous assignments and records. You will find the details below.

As a last note, I must inform you that Grand Maréchal Macron has seen fit to put me at the head of this new structure. Effective immediately, I will act as your chief of staff for the foreseeable future. Together, we will see justice done for our people.

Honneur, valeur, patrie, discipline.

Amiral Isabelle Montlaville de Chanteloup

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NEW RANKING STRUCTURE

Important note : titles can differ from the actual rank. It will be specified in every case.
Also : next to each rank is an abbreviation. Feel free to use it in your reports and comms as desired.

EQUIPAGE (RANK AND FILE)

The small hands. More important than they look, less important than they think they are.

Matelot - MOT : Lowest of the low. Traditionally very young, inexperienced recruits. Might be permitted to fly a fighter, but otherwise, helps with the running of a capital ship or low-level administrative duties. Commands : Brooms and officers' tea and coffee.

Quartier-Maître - QM : Former, proven matelots who graduated basic training in one specialty or other. Still very young, but in for much longer than the Matelots. They are generally the soul of a capital ship. Common among fighter wings. Commands :All fighters.

Quartier-Maître Chef - QMC / Can be called "chef" for short : Experienced QMs, whose responsibilities don't differ much. They get to boss around the QM and MOTs and do so with total impunity. Commands : All fighters, freighters and transports.

OFFICIERS MARINIERS (NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS /OM)

The gears that keep the machine running. Specialised personnel who know what they're doing. A loud bunch by tradition, they can get away with all kinds of jokes.

Maître - MT : The Maîtres can be either proven QMs who graduated after prolonged service and passed several qualification tests, or new recruits with previous experience, diplomas or mid-level military academy. They have a long and interesting career ahead of them at this point. Commands : All fighters, freighters and transports, fighter wings.

Maître Principal - MP / Can be called Cipal for short : The Maîtres Principaux are experienced, older elements, a vital link between the rank and file and the officers. Very relied upon by all, qualified and flexible. Commands : Up to gunboats and armored transports, also lewd jokes.

Major - MJR : A rank of prestige. Generally people at the end of their career who won't make it to officer. They're the old grumbling guard, beloved by their crews, feared by young officers, very respected by the old ones. Always pissed off by something. Commands : Respect, also gunboats. Exceptionally cruisers.

OFFICIERS SUBALTERNES (JUNIOR OFFICERS)

Those in charge of the lower ranks. Generally young, with more diplomas or qualifications than experience and humility. Should be respected by the lower ranks, but aren't always. Subject of most of the OM's jokes.

Aspirant - ASP : Called lieutenant. Very junior officer, still in training. Enjoys complete freedom of speech throughout the hierarchy. Not terribly important to the general affairs but they like to think they are. The good-willed butt of many jokes. Commands : up to gunboats, bad puns.

Enseigne de Vaisseau - EV : Called lieutenant. Proven aspirant, or a very seasoned major with a very long career. First one is starting to get the gist of authority but is still new at it. The latter is completely lost in this new world of polite, elegant people. Commands : up to cruisers, disrespect.

Lieutenant de Vaisseau - LV : Called capitaine. A significant step up from the Enseigne. These are both specialists and leaders. Often on the field, and a useful bridge between junior and superior officers. A fitting end-point for a career, but some go further. Commands : up to battlecruisers, retirement plans.

OFFICIERS SUPERIEURS (SENIOR OFFICERS)

The ones at the top. They worked hard to get there and they act like it. Unless they're nobles who inherited those titles or were granted them for whatever reason. In which case, pomp is to be expected.

Capitaine de Corvette - CC : Called commandant. Fresh senior officers. Close to their men and women, respected, but still unproven in high-level leadership. They still have a chance to rank up high. Commands : up to battlecruisers.

Capitaine de Frégate - CF : Called commandant. Proven senior officers. No real difference in responsibility to the CCs, but a stepping stone towards the real deal. Very respected for their experience. Can be the last rank held by an officer, as making it to CV requires passing a hard exam. Commands : up to battleships.

Capitaine de Vaisseau - CV : Called commandant. The cream. Talented, seasoned officers who've passed a series of very difficult tests : the War School. They excel at technical aspects, but also in strategy and leadership. Commands : Battleships, devotion.

OFFICIERS GENERAUX (GENERAL OFFICERS)

A very select few who've been entrusted to lead entire fleets or administrative sites. Necessarily former officers, unless in the case of a very precious gift to high nobility. Rarely in the field anymore, but can still happen when large fleets are mustered.

Contre-amiral - CA : Called amiral. Grizzled veteran of many fights or exceptional director. In charge of a lot of people and assets. Can still rank up. Commands : Battlegroups.

Amiral - CA : The top of the food chain. The very best a commoner can hope for, and he/she is going to have to dedicate their entire life to get up there. Is expected to manage entire fleets or divisions. Commands : Battlegroups.

Amiral de Gaule : Don't get your hopes up. Traditionally the highest possible rank of the MRG. Rules the entire show and reports directly to the King. Not for your peasant hands. Don't even look him in the eye with your dirty peasant face. Commands : your entire peasant existence.

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