rank and insignia

Starfleet ranks are based upon the 20th century United States Naval ranks, and ranks displayed here are taken from Robert Fletcher's costuming notes on Starfleet uniforms from Star Trek I - IV. These rank insignia (in a simpler form) were carried throughout the movies until the final scene on the Enterprise-B in Star Trek VII. Fleet Captain is a designation from the Star Trek Encyclopedia (Second edition).

Commissioned Officer ranks and standard duration at that rank:

	Ensign - Commissioned cadet rank - duration 1 - 4 years
	Lieutenant Junior Grade (j.g.) - duration 2 - 4 years. usually referred to as "Lieutenant"
	Lieutenant Senior Grade - duration 3 - 6 years
	Lieutenant Commander - duration 4 - 8 years (can be permanent)
	Commander - duration indefinite
	Captain - duration indefinite
	Fleet Captain - usually only a temporary rank
	Commodore - duration indefinite
	Rear Admiral - duration indefinite
	Vice Admiral - duration indefinite
	Admiral - duration indefinite
	Fleet Admiral - duration indefinite
	Commander in Chief, Starfleet - Usually 4 year posting

Maquis rank insignia used on the USS Voyager:

	Ensign
	Lieutenant Junior Grade (j.g.)
	Lieutenant Senior Grade
	Lieutenant Commander
	Commander
	Captain

Non-Commissioned Officer ranks:

Able Spaceman (Official title) - usually only referred to as Crewman
Petty Officer 2nd Class
Petty Officer 1st Class
Chief Petty Officer
Senior Chief Petty Officer
Master Chief Petty Officer

Archivist's note: All ranks award to Maquis and Equinox crew are field ranks. While the captain can award a field rank or promotion, such as Jean-Luc Picard did with acting Ensign W. Crusher, such ranks are subject to review by Starfleet Command and may not stand once Voyager returns to the Alpha Quadrant.

Note: According to Startrek.com, B'Elanna Torres (and presumably the other Maquis, and Tom Paris) has a brevet rank. In the United States army, rank by brevet is conferred, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, for "gallant actions or meritorious services." A brevet rank gives no right of command in the particular corps to which the officer brevetted belongs, and can be exercised only by special assignment of the President, or on court martial, and detachments composed of different corps, with pay of the brevet rank when on such duty. (Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc)