Question about Rank??

[cdrwattz]

Just a couple of questions about rank.

What rank would you say the soldiers in a company command squad have? (That aren't the Captain)

What rank would you say the soldiers in a platoon command squad have? (That aren't the Lieutenant)

Cheers

-cdrwattz-

[sapperq21]

Well if your talking about grunts, in the platoon level the leaders a lieutenant, the platon Sgt is usually a Sgt 1st class and then there's fire team leaders who are staff sgts everyone else is usually a pvt.

[egon]

It could basically be whatever you want. Most armies have had something similar to command squads in many differetn configuration over the centuries.

For example, in teh British Army during the Napoleonic era had battalion and regimental colours carried into battle by a junior (both in rank and age) officer (usually an ensign or second/third lieutenant). He was guarded by an "honour guard" usually consisting of grizzled old veterans, most often sergeants or corporals armed with pikes or sometimes even halbeards. So, if your command squad includes a banner you could make that person a junior officer, the actual squad leader a slightly higher rank and the rest veterans of any rank.

You could also, for example, decide that a company command squad is made up of a bunch of elite veterans that are used by the company commanders as an elite strike force that are sent in wherever they are needed. This works especially well if you have two CCS. One then actually consists of the Captain and his bodyguard/advisors and the orther CCS is lead by a fearsome warrant officer, sergeant major or other high NCO and the rest are just privates and/or corporals.

If you are going for a more "lead from the rear" style command squad then the Company commander could be a Captain who has an Aide-de-campe who is a second lieutenant and then his second in command who is a first lieutenant and then a pair of ensigns that are tagging along as "trainees". Kind of like the younger officers in "Master and Commander".

So basically you can do whatever you want as long as you make up a cool reason for it.

[sapperq21]

this is how my unit (actual not imperail guard) is organized
company CO- captain
1st sgt
XO- 2nd Leutenant

platoons (2)
PL leader- 1st Leutenant
PLsgt- sgt1C
sections (2)
section sgt-ssgt
squad leaders- sgt
grunts pvt- specialist

[commisarblur]

Feb 14, 2013 6:56:00 GMT -5 cdrwattz said:

Just a couple of questions about rank.

What rank would you say the soldiers in a company command squad have? (That aren't the Captain)

What rank would you say the soldiers in a platoon command squad have? (That aren't the Lieutenant)

Cheers

-cdrwattz-

This has been a question almost every fluff crazed guard player has raised over the years at one point or another. In all honesty there is no real solid answer as to which rank of solider has authority to command so and so force of numbers. Mostly because :

A.) Every regiment raised tend to accord to their homeworld's ranking structure and organization. Which is why you would see squads lead by "Chefs" or "Primes" or "Vindicator chaplains". It's unsure as to the direct connection to official Munitorum records of standardize ranks but one would assume that anyone who goes by the title of "Grand Protector" Or "Hand of the king" tends to run the show.

B.) GW tends to be vague in this particular area. Common lore states that Sgt.s have command of squads but its unclear as to who has the bare minimal authority to take charge of a whole platoon. Its implied that captains take charge of platoons and that ranks above them take charge of the whole company. There have, however, been exceptions to this rule regarding BL published books and certain liberties taken with various forms of fiction.

Luck would have it that I own a copy of "The Imperial Infantryman's Uplifting Primer: Damocles Gulf Edition" Which gives a more clear example of how company structure should follow in a proper regiment setting.

Warmaster \ Crusade Level command
Lord General \Crusade Level command.
General \ General Staff
Marshal \General Staff
Captain General \ General staff. Multi Regiment Command
Lord Castellan \ General staff. Multi Regiment Command


Lieutenant General \ Regimental Command
Major General \ Regimental Command.
Colonel \ Regimental Command

Lieutenant Colonel \ Company Command level.
Major \ Company Command level.

Captain \ Commands Single Platoon size and attached
forces.
Lieutenant \ Commands Single Platoon size

Sergeant \ Operates and commands single squad size.

Corporal \ Operates and commands single squad if need be.

Trooper.

Note that this leaves open some in between roles such as Sergeant-Major or Warrant Officer titles. Lets not forget the Commissart and even Primaris Pskers but that's even more tricky. There is even staff officers which I've failed to mention at every level of command tier. Its best left up to the C.O. to how he/she would organise their army.

[Commisar "General" Dr Phillips]

So then what is the difference between the Captain and the Lieutenant in game terms and how would they be represented as model?

[Paradill]

Lieutenant would be PCS junior officer. Captain would be CCS officer.

[deadbeatbert]

Coming from a military background I use this scheme myself:

Regimental Commander - Colonel.

Battery (Company) Commander - Three Batteries: 2 Majors, 1 Captain

Platoon Commander: Five Troops (Platoons): 2 Captains, 3 Lieutenants (The PCS and CCS has 1 Warrant officer, 1 Bombardier(Corporal) and 2 Gunners (Privates))

1 Staff Sgt, 4 Sgts, 5 Bombardiers (Corporals), 3 Lance Bombardiers (Lance Corporals), 37 Gunners (Privates)

But then I'm a complete fluff nerd and name and rank all of the soldiers in my armies.

[Aeon]

Company Commander: Captain (O3)
Company Command Squad:
- Company 1st Sergeant (E8)
- Medic (Corporal)
- Radioman (Trooper 1st Class or Corporal)
- Standard Bearer (Sergeant)

Platoon Commander: Lieutenant
Platoon Command Squad:
- Platoon Sergeant (Staff Sergeant)
- Radioman (Corporal)
- Special Weapons (Trooper 1st Class)
- Other (Trooper 1st Class)

Squad Leader: Sergeant
Squad:
- Fire Team Leader (Corporal)
- Radioman (Trooper 1st Class)
- Special Weapons (Trooper 1st Class)
- Heavy Weapons (Trooper 1st Class)
- Basic Rifleman (Trooper 2nd Class/Trooper Basic)