Military ranks of the New Galactic Imperium

The New Galactic Imperium used a system of ranks in its military, the Imperial Space Force. Due to space combat being considered more important than ground warfare, the army was integrated into the navy and considered to be a branch of the fleet.

All men in the Imperium were required to perform two years of military service.

Spaceman Second Class
The insignia of a spaceman second class consisted of epaulettes with no bars on the shoulders and no stripes on the cuffs of their sleeves. This was the starting rank for conscripts serving their 2 years of mandatory military service upon reaching the age of 20.

Spaceman First Class
The insignia of a spaceman first class consisted of epaulettes with no bars on the shoulders and one stripe on the cuffs of their sleeves. Conscripts serving their 2 years of mandatory military service upon reaching the age of 20 would be promoted to this rank after surviving one year of service.

Able Spaceman
The insignia of an able spaceman consisted of epaulettes with no bars on the shoulders and two stripes on the cuffs of their sleeves.

Leading Spaceman
The insignia of a leading spaceman consisted of epaulettes with no bars on the shoulders and three stripes on the cuffs of their sleeves.

Petty Officer Second Class
The insignia of a petty officer second class consisted of epaulettes with one bar on the shoulders and three stripes on the cuffs of their sleeves.

Petty Officer First Class
The insignia of a petty officer first class consisted of epaulettes with one bar on the shoulders and two stripes on the cuffs of their sleeves.

Warrant Officer
The insignia of a warrant officer consisted of separate epaulettes and chest plates with a cane shaped flourish, with no bars on the end of each shoulder.

Ensign
The insignia of an ensign consisted of separate epaulettes and chest plates with a cane shaped flourish, with one bar on the end of each shoulder.

Sub-lieutenant
The insignia of a sub-lieutenant (lieutenant junior grade) consisted of separate epaulettes and chest plates with a cane shaped flourish, with two bars at the end of each shoulder.

Lieutenant
The insignia of a lieutenant consisted of separate epaulettes and chest plates with a cane shaped flourish, with three bars on the end of each shoulder.

Lieutenant commander
The insignia of a lieutenant commander consisted of separate epaulettes and chest plates with a W-shaped flourish, with one bar on the end of each shoulder.

Commander
The insignia of a commander consisted of separate epaulettes and chest plates with a W-shaped flourish, with two bars on the end of each shoulder epaulette.

Commanders often served as either first officers to captains or to admirals.

Captain
The insignia of a captain consisted of separate epaulettes and chest plates with a W-shaped flourish, with three bars on the end of each shoulder epaulette. A captain could command an individual flagship or battleship.

Commodore
The insignia of a commodore consisted of unified epaulettes and chest plates, with no bars on the shoulders.

Imperial commodores could command a a small squadron of ships of around 400 vessels that formed part of a larger Vice Admiral's named fleet. They could also serve in imperial staff positions and in ground forces like the imperial armored grenadiers.

Rear admiral
The insignia of a rear admiral consisted of unified epaulettes and chest plates, with one bar on the end of each shoulder. Imperial rear admirals could command a a fleet of around 1,000 vessels that formed part of a larger Vice Admiral's named fleet. They could also serve in Imperial staff positions and ground forces.

Vice admiral
The insignia of a vice admiral consisted of unified epaulettes and chest plates, with two bars on the end of each shoulder. Imperial vice admirals could command a a fleet of around 1,000 to 5,000 vessels that is identified by its admiral's last name. They could also serve in Imperial high staff positions and ground forces.

Admiral
The insignia of an admiral consisted of unified epaulettes and chest plates, with three bars on the end of each shoulder. Imperial Admirals command a a large fleet of around 2,000 to 10,000 vessels that is identified by its admiral's last name. They could also serve in Imperial high staff positions and ground forces.

High admiral
The insignia of a high admiral consisted of unified epaulettes and chest plates, with three bars on the end of each shoulder, plus a flourished diagonal bar on either side of the neck. Imperial High Admirals could command a large fleet of around 10,000 to 15,000 vessels that was identified by its admiral's last name. They could also serve as departments heads in the Imperial high staff and ground forces. High Admirals would also serve as a campaign and theater overall commander.

This was the highest rank that a pure ground force commander could reach, and such a commander would have had command of all ground forces in the Empire.

Fleet admiral
The insignia of a fleet admiral consisted of unified epaulettes and chest plates, with three bars on the end of each shoulder, plus a flourished diagonal bar on either side of the neck plus a cloak.

Imperial Fleet Admirals command the Empire's different staff department post like the Chief of Staff, the Chief of Military Affairs, the Chief Fleet Commander and the Deputy Chief Fleet Commander. Fleet Admirals would also serve as a campaign and theater overall commander.