Jedi ranks

Like most other organizations in the galaxy the Jedi Order had different ranks and titles as well as specialized positions.

Structure of the Order - The Hierarchy
In order to show a person's strength in the Force, the Jedi Order placed a set of ranks/levels for Jedi to progress through. Each one meant different responsibilities and a different potential in the Force.

Jedi Youngling
Youngling / Initiate / Apprentice This is an unofficial title and an unofficial rank. This refers to a child with Force potential. (Also referred to as a Jedi Hopeful.) Youngling is just Galactic slang for children of any sort. At a very young age, the Jedi initiates are brought from their homes and are assigned to a group for training. If a youngling is not chosen by a Jedi Knight to be their Padawan by 13 years of age, the youngling is placed into another, lesser role in the Jedi Services. Depending on where the student's talents lay, this may be the Agricultural Corps, the Medical Corps, or the Exploration Corps.

Jedi Padawan


An apprentice who undergoes intensive one-on-one training under a Jedi Knight or Master after graduating from the academy. As tradition, a Human Padawan grows a long strand of braided hair that is finally cut off during the ceremony of knighthood, when a Padawan becomes a Jedi Knight. A Jedi may have only one apprentice at a time, and is required to promote the current apprentice before taking another. Some Jedi Masters took more than one Padawan at a time if it was allowed of the Jedi Council, but was extremely rare. Some Dark Jedi and Jedi took two or more Padawans against the wishes of the council.

This rank practically disappeared during Luke Skywalker's masterhood in his Jedi Praxeum on Yavin 4. The equivalent for a Padawan was a Jedi apprentice. The term Padawan was reintroduced sometime between 40 ABY and 130 BBY.

Jedi Knight
Disciplined, experienced Padawans may become full-fledged Jedi once they have completed "the trials", which are usually intensified tests, physical and otherwise, of candidates' skills, knowledge, and dedication. The trials resemble around the Trial of Flesh, the Trial of Courage, the Trial of Skill, and the Trial of Self. Occasionally, performing an extraordinary (usually heroic) act can earn a Padawan learner Jedi Knight status, such as when Obi-Wan Kenobi, toward the end of his training, defeated Darth Maul, Dark Lord of the Sith, during the Battle of Naboo. Jedi Knight is the most common rank of Jedi; hence, the title is also used, mostly by non-Jedi, to refer to any member of the order that has at least met the compulsory requirements of the Jedi Council.

Jedi Master
A Jedi Knight may become a Master after successfully training a Padawan learner to Knight status. Though this is the most common manner, it is not always the case. If the council sees that a Jedi Knight has become more powerful and has gained more knowledge and discipline in the Force, then they can be nominated by one or more council members to take the trials again. But this time, the trials will be more difficult. It should also be said that most Jedi Masters, like Qui-Gon Jinn, never become members of the Council, as it is not a requirement to be a Master. The rank can also be achieved through the performance of extraordinary deeds or self-proclamation, though the latter is extremely rare.

Jedi Council Member
When a Jedi Council Member vacates their seat, the council looks for an exceptional Jedi Master to fill the empty position. Presiding Council members elect prospective candidates when openings become available. In its history, the Council has accepted Knights into its ranks, but this had become more and more uncommon by the time of the Clone Wars. While there are no explicit ranks among the Jedi Council (as it is, at least theoretically, a conclave of equals), there are clear centers of authority. Master Yoda, during his tenure on the Council, was generally regarded as the Council's senior-most member, or better known as the Grand Master, and Mace Windu as his second. During the time of the New Jedi Order, Luke's idea of "first-among-equals" position as the Grand Master is also unquestioned, if not totally agreed with. Some members were permanent, or lifetime, members while the rest served limited terms, after which they stepped down and another member would be elected to the council.

Jedi Grand Master
Grand Master, also known as the Supreme Master, was a title used in both the Old and New Jedi Orders.

Jedi Grand Master was the title given to the acknowledged leader of the entire Jedi order. Formally known as Grand Master of the Jedi Order, only the highest-ranking Jedi Masters took the title, although how exactly one earned it is unknown. The Grand Master was apparently the "first among equals" of the Jedi High Council. Yoda held this title in the days of the Republic. After the rebirth of the Jedi, Luke Skywalker held the title including the days of the Galactic Alliance, following the Yuuzhan Vong War; although he did not fully accept the title until after the Swarm war.

Military and warfare
"You must realize there aren't enough Jedi left to protect the Republic. We are keepers of the peace, not soldiers."

- Mace Windu to Supreme Chancellor Palpatine In times of war, Jedi would receive military ranks and govern armies of the Galactic Republic's military, depending on their level/strength. As seen in the Mandalorian Wars, the Jedi Civil War, the New Sith Wars, and the Clone Wars they fought and died for what they knew was right, this was because they served the Republic and if fighting wars meant keeping peace, that was what they did.

Military ranks

 * Jedi Commander – A Padawan serving as a Commander in the Grand Army of the Republic, the Jedi Commander is assigned to follow/accompany a Jedi General until knighted. Once a full-fledged Jedi, the Padawan is then referred to as a General.


 * Jedi General – a Jedi who had been placed in command of a Republic army. This would often consist of the Jedi leading the army into battle


 * Senior Jedi General – a high-ranking Jedi serving as general in the Clone Wars, the Senior Jedi General was typically a Jedi Master who was very experienced in warfare and battle tactics.


 * High Jedi General – A member of the Jedi Council serving as a Jedi General during the Clone Wars. The Jedi High General would not only command their own army, but also supervise other Jedi Generals and offer insight, strategies, and tactics to them. They also lead and organized the armies to battle.


 * Jedi Lord – A Jedi who served as a commander in the Army of Light during the New Sith Wars. The Jedi Lord assumed this title mainly out of political motivation. The rank was abolished after the war.

Guardian positions and military skills
In addition to the ordinary military/war ranks, there were a number of ranks and titles to do with other military/guardian positions.


 * Jedi Ace – a Jedi who had specialized in starfighter combat, combining piloting skills with mastery of the Force.
 * Jedi brute – a Jedi being responsible for guarding the Jedi Temple, the Jedi brute would focus on physical strength and aggressive lightsaber combat.
 * Jedi Gatemaster – the Jedi who served as the keeper of the main entrance at the Jedi Temple.
 * Jedi sniper – another class of Jedi specializing in long-range telekinetic lightsaber combat.


 * Jedi Guardian/Warrior Master – a Jedi who was especially skilled in battle, the Guardian (Warrior Master at master level) would concentrate mainly on martial training and combat in general without losing focus on diplomacy and the philosophies of the Force.
 * Jedi Weapon Master – a Jedi Master who focused solely on battle, the Weapon Master was among the greatest fighters of the Order, but also had very limited insight into philosophy and non-combat-related Force skills.

Healing


Jedi healers were normally stationed at the Jedi Medical Corps Infirmary, but would also serve in the field. For instance, around the time of the Clone Wars, Jedi healers would serve aboard MedStar frigates and, occasionally, in Republic's mobile surgical units ("Rimsoos"). Known Jedi healers were Barriss Offee, Stass Allie, and Tr'a Saa. They were stationed at the Jedi Temple's Jedi Medical Corps Infirmary. At least some of them were members of the Circle of Jedi Healers.

Jedi healers -Some Jedi would focus on the more humanitarian aspects of the Force, specializing in Force powers based on Force healing. In addition to knowledge of such Force powers, Jedi healers also had extensive knowledge of medicine and medical technology.

Culture, knowledge, and history
Some Jedi would specialize in lore, such as the history of the Galaxy, the Force, and the Jedi Order, producing invaluable knowledge.


 * Jedi archaeologist – a Jedi who had specialized in gaining historical knowledge through archaeology, the Jedi archaeologist was often a member of the Explore Corps and involved in expeditions of various kinds.
 * Jedi historian – a Jedi who had specialized in chronicling the history of the Galaxy and the Jedi Order, the Jedi historian knew virtually everything about the past of the Jedi Order.
 * Jedi librarian – a Jedi who had specialized in administrating vast databases of knowledge, the Jedi librarian was in charge of an important Jedi library, such as the ancient Great Jedi Library, the library of the Jedi Enclave on Dantooine, or the Jedi Archives.
 * Jedi geologist – a Jedi who had specialized in geology.
 * Jedi Consular/Sage Master – a Jedi Master dedicated to the mysteries of the Force, the Consular (Sage Master at master level) had deep insights into the philosophies of the Force and was a highly skilled user of many Force powers.

Diplomacy and politics
Jedi were often called upon to act as impartial diplomats. They would serve as negotiators during disputes, and their judgments were often recognized as just and fair. When acting as diplomats, Jedi took the utmost care to be impartial and fair-minded.

Jedi Watchmen - were charged with overseeing a particular system or sector, thus serving as a type of liaison officer between the system or sector and the Jedi Council as well as the Republic in general. Jedi Watchmen were often highly skilled in diplomacy and possessed knowledge of the culture of the system or sector they oversaw. Often Jedi Watchmen originated from the system or sector they were tasked with overseeing.

Training
In addition to the Master-Padawan model, some Jedi had specialized in teaching aspects of the Force and the skill required to be a Jedi. So they passed their knowledge to the next generation who will eventually succeed them as knights, masters, and teachers themselves.


 * Jedi instructor – a Jedi accountable for giving general teachings to Younglings, Padawans, or the occasional older beings. Sometimes Council members, who were frequently at the Jedi Temple, where initial instruction commonly took place, served as Jedi instructors. However, most such mentors were stationed at a Jedi Praxeum or academy.
 * Jedi Battlemaster – a Jedi highly skilled in lightsaber combat, the Battlemaster was the lightsaber combat instructor of a Jedi Praxeum or academy.
 * Jedi trainer – a Jedi student or Jedi Knight responsible for teaching and instructing a certain aspect of the Force, the Jedi trainer was a vital component in the education of Jedi Knights in the early years of the New Jedi Order.

Crime-fighting and investigation
"By the power invested in me by the Galactic Senate. I am placing you under arrest."

- Mace Windu to Darth Sidious shortly before their duel

The Jedi Order would also actively partake in the crime-fighting. They would generally police the Galaxy, but there were also groups of Jedi specializing in crime detection, investigation, solving, and prevention.


 * Jedi investigator – a Jedi specially appointed by the Council to uncover hidden and obscure threats to the Galaxy such as powerful criminal syndicates, corruption and conspiracy against the Republic and other shady menaces. The Jedi investigator would often work alone and undercover to infiltrate suspicious organizations or would be busy investigating some act of crime.
 * Jedi Protector - a Jedi Protector was a Jedi Assigned by the Council to protect an individual whose life is threatened. They would usually possess great combat skills in order to fight off any attacker. An example of this would be Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi being assigned as Protectors of Queen Amidala of the Naboo. And also later when Anakin Skywalker is assigned to be the Protector of Senator Amidala.
 * Jedi Sentinel – a Jedi Sentinel strived to achieve balance between the Jedi Guardian and the Jedi Consular, possessing skills in lightsaber combat as well as knowledge in the Force. This type of Jedi functioned like both the Jedi investigator and the Jedi Shadow, rooting out and destroying both crime and the dark side of the Force. In addition, the Jedi Sentinel also had skills in various other studies.
 * Jedi Shadow – a Jedi whose job was to seek out and destroy any sign of the dark side of the Force, the Jedi Shadow was the Jedi Order's primary weapon against the dark side up until the Clone Wars.