When one is speaking of the Front or Strategic Reserve forces, the basic term for officers in general is han.ra.kóm. For the Rear Services, the term is ra.yal.nom. But, if one is speaking of specific ranks, the root is usually ra+#+kóm for any branch. The # indicates the position of a number that indicates how many one is considered qualified to command. Deputies or adjutants usually add -ge to their rank names.

Of these, the first 4 are the ranks of officer cadets, not active duty personnel. After the mandatory minimum of 3 years as an enlisted man, promising officer candidates are offered the chance to go to a service academy. Service academy cadets are initially known as ra.ghi.kóm, a notation that they are not ready to command themselves, beginning in their second year, they are referred to as ra.na.kóm. In their third year, they are given command of a squad of 10 first year students, in their 4th year, the command of 2 squads of second year students.

Ranks of ra.t'u.kóm and above all require the equivalent of another 2 years of graduate level training. Many officers begin studying and training as soon as they reach the rank of ra.gha.kóm.

The navy uses the same ranks but it is understood that the number of men is not being accurately counted, only the equivalent responsibility (which is also true in many circumstances for the Army). The larger the warship, the higher the rank of its captain. Generally, a ra.mno.t'u.kóm is the equivalent of a commodore, he is in command of several ships of like kind but himself serves as the captain of one of them. The higher ranks are roughly the equivalent of Admirals.

It should be noted that the rank of ra.có.kóm is the title for the heads of each of the armed forces.

The ra.ket are similar to non-comms around the world. Generally they have less formal education than the officers but are the men who make the services work.

Nowans do not have many ranks for enlisted men. The han.mar is a fresh recruit who has not finished basic training. Most soldiers are always han.pir, a term which better translates as 'warrior'. The han.qír are those soldiers who show the most aggressive attitudes and initiative. Less than 10% of most units are ever promoted to han.qír although this is necessary for further promotion either to ra.ket or to one of the military academies.

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© 2001 Brad Coon

Revised August 29, 2001

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