Forum:SH:Military ranks vs positions: how to solve a mess

Currently, our articles are all over the place when it comes to distinguishing military rank (=where you stand in the military hierarchy) and position (=your post of employment). For example, executive officer/first officer is described as a rank, when it simply means (AFAIK) whoever is second in command aboard a vessel, regardless of actual rank. For example, in Thrawn, the First Officer (=position) aboard the Blood Crow is Senior Lieutenant (=rank) Deyland. Similarly, the commanding officer is whoever is in charge, which Thrawn also makes clear.

Many other articles are affected by the confusion, like chief gunnery officer, first and second weapons officer, intake officer, taskmaster, commander-in-chief, controller, communications Officer, deck officer, loyalty officer, overseer, quartermaster, Second Officer, tactical officer, yeoman... The list goes on and on. In fact, the more I look at it, the more I suspect our "military ranks" category is mostly filled with positions.

(Now, in some cases, I must admit that the sources themselves are a bit problematic. For example, the Databank itself states that Yogar Lyste was promoted from Supply Master to Lieutenant, which makes zero sense if the former is a position and the latter a rank. But it wouldn't be the first rime the Databank is wrong.)

So, what exactly do you think we should we do? Rename the "military ranks" category into "military ranks and positions"? Create a separate "military position" category? -- Lelal Mekha  (Audience Room) 11:40, April 11, 2017 (UTC)