Rank Expectations
OVERVIEW
The Vanguard Rank Advancement Guidelines serve to calibrate ranking across the org such that everyone who receives a rank is backed by the full confidence of the organization, giving their rank the meaning and the respect it deserves. It helps to prevent ill-will towards our ambitious members by justifying their placement, and allows us to give career guidance and training to individuals who want to grow.
GROUND RULES
- 01
Ranks are not given for vanity.
- 02
Rank advancement beyond Talon Hoplite is neither guaranteed nor compulsory, regardless of certification, engagement, or reputation.
- 03
Ranks and Certifications are meant to help the Organization properly staff large scale, org funded operations, and are not required for any other activity.
- 04
Any member may be appointed to any rank at the discretion of the VLC.
- 05
The following are only guidelines, and there will always be room for exceptions as needed, especially as we continue to grow and fill ranks with qualified leadership.
STEP 01 — NOMINATION, APPROVAL & VOTE-OF-CONFIDENCE
Nomination is a formal declaration of support for a candidate’s promotion. Generally, a nomination for promotion will come from the person directly in command of the candidate, but it may come from any Wing member of the appropriate rank or higher. The Nominator provides justification for the candidate to the Approver and serves as the candidate’s representative in the promotion consideration. A Nominator may pre-nominate a member who is approaching qualification for a promotion.
Approvals are the formal processing of a nomination. A candidate must be under the command of the person who approves or denies their promotion, and the Approver must ensure all qualifications are met, including certifications, active duty time, knowledge and skill expectations.
A Vote-Of-Confidence (Vote-Of-No-Confidence) is a formal statement of an individual’s faith in a candidate’s ability to perform in their prospective role. It provides an opportunity for key individuals affected by a candidate’s assignment to convey their support of or any potential issues with a candidate. A majority vote-of-no-confidence does not prevent the Approver from confirming the promotion, but should be a significant red flag.
STEP 02 — PROMOTION CEREMONY
Whenever possible, promotions will be carried out in game, at one of our scale Promotion Ceremonies or during an ad hoc ceremony during the following week. Promotions may be carried out in bulk, as in the case of a number of Talons being promoted to Hoplite or Adept. The member giving the promotion should be the higher of “Claw Master” or “Rank + 1”, and preferably in the direct line of command of the member. For example, a Claw Master can preside over the promotion of a Talon Hoplite to a Talon Adept, a Lance Master or higher should preside over the promotion of a Talon Adept to a Claw Master.
No fewer than 5 members should be present at any promotion, including the presider and the member to be promoted. A location with some aesthetic merit should be used. The forest locales on Hurston, rooftops of ArcCorp, the granite hall of the Loreville Business District, or the Hangar Bay of an Idris are all examples. Walking out onto the pad at Port Olisar is an example of a poor choice.
Promotions may be handled in groups. For example, if there are 20 members across all Wings who are graduating from Recruit to Hoplite, a single presider may handle the occasion in the service of player availability, or else, multiple presiders may oversee the promotions for those in their respective lines of command.
Officers with rank equal to or higher than the presider should stand behind the presider, with members receiving the promotion standing in front of them, and members witnessing standing behind and facing the presider and Officers.
Members may receive their promotion out-of-game, over Discord, if there are significant but understandable technical or extenuating circumstances that prevent their attendance in game.
Tier 01 / Enlisted
Talons
Talon Recruit
- Timing
- Initial Rank, maximum 1 month from join
- This is the rank given to all members as soon as they have completed their initial onboarding intake.
Talon Cadet
- Approver
- Squad Chief, Squadron Captain or higher approves promotion
- Source Rank
- Sourced from Talon Recruit
- Requirements
- Member has completed Vanguard Recruit Orientation and pledged their Wing
- Additional Notes
- If a member has been active as a Talon Recruit for 1 month and has not completed Vanguard Recruit Orientation, they should be Offboarded at the Onboarding Team’s discretion.
Talon Initiate
- Timing
- Minimum 1 week from join
- Source Rank
- Sourced from Talon Cadet
- Requirements
- Cadet pledge choices are formalized at the next promotion cycle following their graduation from BOOT (VRO & VCA)
- Additional Notes
- Member has completed Vanguard Cadet Academy.
Talon Hoplite
- Timing
- Minimum 1 month, maximum 3 months from promotion to Talon Cadet
- Approver
- Squad Chief, Squadron Captain or higher approves promotion
- Source Rank
- Sourced from Talon Initiate
- Requirements
- Member has graduated from their respective Wing Academy, if instituted.
- Upon promotion to Hoplite, members should be inducted into the units of their choice
- Members may also choose not to continue in the Academy system, and remain ungrouped as a Generalist.
- If a member has been a Talon Cadet or Talon Initiate for 3 months and does not qualify for promotion to Hoplite, an officer should have a conversation with them and determine if they wish to stay a Talon or work toward becoming a Talon Hoplite. A member may remain a Talon and stay in their wing as long as they wish, providing they do not fall into inactive status. If the Talon falls into inactive status, the timed offboarding policy will resume.
Talon Adept
- Timing
- Minimum 1 month from most recent promotion
- Approver
- Squad Chief, Squadron Captain or higher approves promotion
- Source Rank
- Sourced from Talon Hoplite
- Requirements
- Member should be fully competent in their role. May require some proficient, advanced, or expert ranks in several certifications for that role. Graduate of respective Academies, if instituted.
Tier 02 / Non-Commissioned
Raptors
Raptors may be nominated by their Claw Master or higher, or may nominate themselves for evaluation. Raptors will often be consulted for help in calibrating expectations for Certifications.
Bronze Raptor
- Timing
- Minimum 1 month from most recent promotion
- Approver
- Squad Chief, Squadron Captain or higher approves promotion
- Source Rank
- Sourced from Talon Adept
- Requirements
- Member is expected to be certified in at least one high-level role for their Wing.
- Vote of Confidence
- Requires vote-of-confidence from their Claw Master.
Silver Raptor
- Timing
- Minimum 1 month from most recent promotion
- Approver
- Group Chief, Group Captain or higher approves promotion
- Source Rank
- Sourced from Raptor, Bronze
- Requirements
- Member is expected to be certified in multiple high-level roles for their Wing, is best-in-org caliber.
- Vote of Confidence
- Requires vote-of-confidence from their Master and Squad Chief.
Gold Raptor
- Timing
- Minimum 1 month from most recent promotion
- Approver
- Wing Chief, Wing Command or higher approves promotion
- Source Rank
- Sourced from Raptor, Silver
- Requirements
- Member is best-in-game caliber at their primary role.
- Vote of Confidence
- Requires vote-of-confidence from their Master, Squad Chief, and Group Chief.
- Achieving a Raptor, Gold rank is a tremendous achievement. Once it has been determined that a member is eligible for Raptor, Gold promotion, the VLC should be informed so that the appropriate level of ceremony may be observed.
Tier 03 / Senior NCO
Masters
Masters may be nominated by their Squadron Captain, Squadron Chief or higher.
Claw Master
- Timing
- Minimum 1 month from promotion
- Approver
- Squad Chief, Squadron Captain or higher approves promotion
- Source Rank
- Sourced from Talon Adept or Raptor
- Requirements
- Member must have proven experience through brevet commands of a wing based unit as well as be able to demonstrate clear understanding of the Officer Code of Conduct, and demonstrate proficiency in the majority of certifications associated with their wing's roles..
- Vote of Confidence
- Requires vote-of-confidence from their commanding commissioned officer and non-commissioned officer.
- Graduate of NCO Training Academy.
Lance Master
- Timing
- Minimum 1 month from promotion
- Approver
- Group Chief, Group Command or higher approves promotion
- Source Rank
- Sourced from Claw Master
- Requirements
- Member must have proven experience through brevet commands of a wing based unit.
- Vote of Confidence
- Requires vote-of-confidence from the joint Squadron Chiefs and their Squadron Captain.
Senior Master
- Timing
- Minimum 3 months from promotion
- Approver
- Wing Chief, Wing Command or higher approves promotion
- Source Rank
- Sourced from Lance Master
- Requirements
- Member must have long term proven experience as a lance master.
- Vote of Confidence
- Requires vote-of-confidence from the joint Chiefs, and Captains within the wing.
- Additional Notes
- Requires (at least one) Vanguard Distinguished Service Medal.
- Achieving a Senior Master rank is a tremendous achievement. Once it has been determined that a member is eligible for Senior Master promotion, the VLC should be informed so that the appropriate level of ceremony may be observed.
Tier 04 / Senior NCO
Chiefs
Chiefs may be nominated by a Captain or Commander of the same level they would be working at or higher, or a Chief of a higher rank.
Squad Chief
- Timing
- Minimum 1 month from promotion, Minimum 6 months from join
- Approver
- Group Chief, Group Command or higher approves promotion
- Source Rank
- Sourced from Lance Master, Senior Master
- Requirements
- Member should be a stalwart example of the Vanguard Prime Directive, Wing Values, and Officer Code of Conduct, and have been a key organizer of at least two Wing Unit Goal level operation. Member should have high engagement, and good reputation within the organization.
- Vote of Confidence
- Requires vote-of-confidence from Star Captain they would be working with, peer Squadron Chiefs, Joint Group Chiefs, and Wing Chief.
Group Chief
- Timing
- Minimum 1 month from promotion, Minimum 6 months from join
- Approver
- Wing Chief, Wing Command or higher approves promotion
- Source Rank
- Sourced from Squad Chief, or occasionally Lance Master, Senior Master,
- Requirements
- Member should be a stalwart example of the Vanguard Prime Directive, Wing values, and the Officer Code of Conduct, and have been a key organizer of at least three Wing Unit Goal level operations. Member should have high engagement, and good reputation within the organization.
- Vote of Confidence
- Requires vote-of-confidence from Group Captain they would be working with, peer Group Chiefs, and Wing Chief.
Wing Chief
- Timing
- Minimum 2 months from promotion, Minimum 12 months from join
- Approver
- VLC approves promotion
- Source Rank
- Sourced from Group Chief
- Requirements
- Member should be a bastion of Vanguard and Wing values.
- Vote of Confidence
- Requires vote-of-confidence from all Wing Leadership and the Joint Commanders.
Tier 05 / Commissioned
Captains
Our Junior Commissioned Officers. Captains drive our Academies, our Certification Development, and our Units.
Nominated by a Captain of higher rank.
Star Captain
- Timing
- Minimum 3 months from promotion, Minimum 7 months from join
- Commission
- Requires a commission from the Warden
- Source Rank
- Sourced from Lance Master, Senior Master, occasionally from Squad Chief
- Requirements
- Member should be a stalwart example of the Vanguard Prime Directive, Wing Values, and Officer Code of Conduct, and have been a key organizer of at least one Wing Goal level operation.
- Vote of Confidence
- Vote-of-confidence from Squad Chief they would be working with, peer Star Captains, Joint Group Captains, Chiefs, and Wing Chief.
Vice Captain
- Timing
- Minimum 3 months from promotion, Minimum 7 months from join
- Commission
- Requires a commission from the Warden
- Source Rank
- Sourced from Star Captain, or occasionally from Group Chief
- Requirements
- Member should be a stalwart example of the Vanguard Prime Directive, Wing Values, and Officer Code of Conduct, and have been a key organizer of at least two Wing Goal level operations.
- Vote of Confidence
- Vote-of-confidence from Group Chief they would be working with, Joint wing Captains and Wing Chief.
Group Captain
- Timing
- Minimum 3 months from promotion, Minimum 7 months from join
- Commission
- Requires a commission from the Warden
- Source Rank
- Sourced from Vice Captain
- Requirements
- Member should be a stalwart example of the Vanguard Prime Directive, Wing Values, and Officer Code of Conduct, and have been a key organizer of at least three Wing Goal level operations.
Tier 06 / Commissioned
Commanders
Commanders oversee operations for an entire Wing. Working at one level of remove, they set strategy, advocate for their Wing's interests, and work with each other and the Marshals toward Vanguard's long-term goals.
May only be nominated by the highest ranking existing Commander, or else are directly appointed by the VLC or Wardens. All Commanders start at the rank of Star Commander and are brevetted to the rank they need to serve at.
Tier Requirements
- Timing
- Minimum 6 months from promotion for Star Commander and minimum 1 year from promotion for Vice Commander and Wing Commander. Minimum 1 year from join
- Approver
- Unanimous VLC Vote required for promotion approval
- Source Rank
- Star Commander sourced from Vice Captain, Group Captain, or occasionally Wing Chief
- Commission
- Requires a commission from the Prime Warden
Star Commander
Vice Commander
Wing Commander
Tier 07 / Appointed
Marshals
The highest rank a member can rise to. Marshals form the core of the Vanguard Leadership Council and oversee the entire organization at a strategic level.
Tier Requirements
- Requirements
- Appointed directly by the Prime Warden.
Star Marshal
Vice Marshal
High Marshal
Tier 08 / Appointed
Wardens
Our founders and stewards, responsible for the identity and mission of Vanguard. If the Marshals are our legislature, the Wardens are our executives — empowered to course-correct when we drift from our ideals.
Star Warden
Vice Warden
Prime Warden
Stepping Down & Stepping to the Side
A member with the rank of Squad Chief has been recognized for significant contributions to their Wing and to Vanguard as a whole, but also has a significant amount of responsibility. At times, real life obligations may mean they are not able to provide the leadership expected of them.
Members can request to step down to a role with responsibilities they are more comfortable with. This can be to any rank they have previously held. Reports should be moved appropriately to reflect the changes.
Their Commanding Officer can propose a step to the side instead, which keeps them at their current position of leadership, but removes their direct reports and places them in an advisory capacity.
- Chiefs maintain their rank and do not change who they report to.
- Star Captains move to Squad Chiefs and report to the current CO for their wing, or move into their Wing’s HQ element.
- Vice Captains and Group Captains move to Group Chief and report to the current CO for their wing as part of their HQ element.
- Star Commanders, and Group Commanders, and Wing Commanders move to Wing Chief and report to the current CO for their wing as part of the Wing’s HQ element.
All direct reports for a member Stepping Down or Stepping to the Side are distributed to other leaders.
Rank Decay
While it is highly preferable for a member who is unable to serve in their assigned role to use the method above to move down in or to the side of our Chain of Command, NCOs and COs who are unreachable or failing to meet the Commitments of Leadership for their role may be stepped down one rank every 3 months at their Commanding Officer’s discretion.
The flow of this should be downward and ignore mirrored ranks, such that a Star Commander would move to Group Captain, and both a Star Captain and a Squad Chief would move to Senior Master. If a Claw Master role is being stepped down, move the member to the highest Raptor rank they have ever attained, or else, Talon Adept.
Recommended Minimal Staffing Examples
Our current staffing structure can handle several thousand members. As we continue to grow, Officer Depth should increase proportionally to Wing membership counts. As such, while Wing's Officers are definitely eligible for promotion to their full ranks, they are not required to unless a Wing has a critical number of members.
- A Wing with less than 38 members is not expected to staff its Group Command. Group Captains may be of rank Star Captain, acting Wing Chief may be of rank Squad Chief, and the Wing Commander may be of rank Star Commander.
- A Wing with less than 129 members is not expected to staff its Unit Commands. Group Captains may be of rank Vice Captain, but must be fully staffed. The Wing Commander may be of rank Vice Commander and should have a Star Commander as XO, with an acting Wing Chief of rank Group Chief. The Wing HQ element may be a Lance with no Star Captain required.
- Any Wing with 129 members or more should have a fully staffed Command, including Wing HQ command roles.
