[Psionics] [Space] Psi Trek - Worldbuilding

[Prince Charon]

SC Interstellar Survey Service question II

Does this seem like a good arrangement of ranks et al for the Survey Service? If changes need to be made (including changes or expansion of details in the 'Notes' section), what do you suggest?

Rank 5 [25]

Command Starpilot (starpilot badge with wreathed star)

Rank 4 [20]

Senior Starpilot (starpilot badge with star)
Station Master (spacecrew badge with wreathed star and upper chevron)

Rank 3 [15]

Starpilot (starpilot badge)
Master Spacecrew (spacecrew badge with wreathed star)

Rank 2 [10]

Assistant Starpilot (starpilot badge with lower chevron)
Senior Spacecrew (spacecrew badge with star)

Rank 1 [5]

Spacecrew (spacecrew badge)

Rank 0 [0]

Assistant Spacecrew (spacecrew badge with lower chevron)
Space Cadet (no insignia)


Notes

The spacecrew and starpilot badges are visually similar to the current American Space Operations Badge, with the exception that where the Space Operations Badges has a circular globe, the starpilot badge has a heater shield (with an arrowhead device similar to that on the Space Operations Badge), and the spacecrew badge has a circular Sol system (with a device representing the crewmember's primary area of expertise). The 'lower chevron' on the Assistant badges is a point-down chevron below the central circle or shield. The 'upper chevron' on the Station Master's badge is just the opposite, being a point-up chevron above the wreathed star.

Both starpilots and spacecrew go through the Space Survey Academy, learning a variety of needed skills. The distinction is that a starpilot is fully certified in piloting interstellar spacecraft (rather than only sub-light, or FTL but only within a star system), in Astrogation, and in command. (While all of these are required classes for all cadets, certification is far more rigorous than merely passing the basic class.) The small crew of a First-in Scout is likely to consist entirely of fully-qualified starpilots, in case of emergency, while a Survey Station might have no starpilots assigned (though the latter is unusual). It is not unusual to graduate from the Academy as spacecrew, and continue one's education until one passes the certifications exams for starpilot - indeed, this is where the Service gets most of its starpilots, as while graduating directly to Assistant Starpilot is possible, it is rare.

An important distinction between Master Spacecrew and the other spacecrew ranks is that one must pass the Command Exam to qualify for the rank. That does not mean that passing the Command Exam immediately allows promotion to Master Spacecrew - one must also be a Senior Spacecrew who is up for promotion.

Station Master is an unusual rank, but due to legislation, an official one. The commanding officer of a Survey Station (with the positional title of 'station commander') might be either spacecrew or a starpilot, but when a Master Spacecrew is assigned to command an unusually large station with significant crew, or that otherwise includes a level of command responsibility that requires a higher rank, they may be promoted to this rank.

The qualification devices on spacecrew badges come in a wide variety: a staff with one snake wrapped around it for medical, a coiled lightning bolt for engineering, a stylised eye for the sciences, a wrench for damage control, a dish antenna for communications, a leaf for life support, and so on.