Previously, I have put up some guidance on how to create new recruit under the Global Defense Initiative in a number of roles that are more immediately relevant to my developing campaign or game world. These are enlisted men of low rank. I have also created an (upcoming) article on providing these men with an officer to lead them, but before we get there I think it would behoove us to look at the intermediate - the Non-Commissioned Officers, who are of E-4 through E-9.
This is primarily focused on the more "gameable" ranks of E-4 through E7, that is, Corporal through Sergeant First Class. There isn't often much action above these levels! Further this is written with an eye towards combat units, as it is extremely unlikely I will ever run some kind of GDI pencil-pusher adventure. Though this is generally based on US Army ranks and their responsibilities, I have naturally adapted it a bit to reflect some differences in GDI's implementation (and to simplify things for play). With luck this should make things a little clearer and easier to understand and make use of.
Unlike most of the other related articles, this one isn't a very strict model for minimum requirements, but rather a general guide to the sorts of traits expressed in various leadership positions. More of a notes to self than the other articles. There may be refinements to the whole thing as time goes on. Let's get in it.
Who Becomes a GDI NCO?
Individuals who achieve NCO status are soldiers with good bearing and an ability to take responsibility for themselves and others. They are intelligent, motivated, and skillful personnel selected by their superiors to take on further responsibilities.E-4 Corporal
The NCO ranks for GDI begin with E-4 Corporals. This is the entry level for individuals to begin a path of NCOship, and is typically conveyed upon individuals who demonstrate capacity for handling greater responsibilities and have at least a modicum of leadership qualities. They have a history of good conduct as a Private, demonstrate maturity and dedication to GDI's operational goals. There are no hard-set requirements dictating the qualifications of a Corporal, as it represents only the base entry level of leadership positions.Corporals are typically given control over a team - a group of four other men in the infantry, for instance. Ideally, they have put in at least two years of service before promotion, and have spent at least the last six months as an E-3. Promotion from E-3 to E-4 Corporal is usually initiated by a squad's Sergeant, to replace a demoted or absent Corporal. This is ratified by the platoon leader, who submits the paperwork to company headquarters for personnel record modification.
E-5 Sergeant
Sergeants form the backbone of any military force, and GDI is no different. Sergeants manage multiple teams, such as an infantry squad.
Would-be Sergeants are usually selected for organizational, leadership, and job-skill qualities. They have demonstrated their worth in their role as a Corporal, have been in service three or more years, and have been an E-4 corporal for at least eight months. In times of peace or before deployment, they are required to attend the 4-week GDI Basic Enlisted Leadership Course (BELC or "Belk"). Completing this course confers the rank of Sergeant.Combat units suddenly finding themselves in need of a replacement sergeant will either receive one from a pool of replacements or promote an existing member as an "Acting Sergeant". An Acting Sergeant is a sergeant in every meaningful way, except the pay is only the average between Sergeant and Corporal, and the rank will be revoked after their rotation - though they can request to attend BELC and retain this rank (and receive back-pay for their wage differential).
E-6 Staff Sergeant
Sergeants looking to move up the chain may become a Staff Sergeant after sufficient time and effort. Staff Sergeants within GDI are usually associated more with administrative roles than combat ones, even within a combat unit. They typically support company headquarters and above, and oversee sergeants and those below them in roles such as supply management, communications, motor pool, and the like. These are usually individuals who have served for four years minimum (ten months at least as a Sergeant), and have performed well in their time as a sergeant. It is worth remembering that Staff Sergeants serving in and coming from combat units are still considered combat soldiers, and may be called on to perform combat duties when required - something their time in lower grades may well assist.Combat squads may be lead by a Staff Sergeant, such as an infantry rifle squad. This is typically as a result of a Sergeant who has shown particular merit (especially in a combat situation), but is for some reason not able to become a Sergeant First Class and move on to helping lead platoons - typical reasons include lack of openings, or a desire for the platoon to retain the individual's talents while also offering them reward for their performance. These individuals usually have service length and performance records comparable to the more administrative forms.
E-7 Sergeant First Class
Sergeants or Staff Sergeants have the opportunity to become Sergeant First Class - which in combat units are often called "Platoon Sergeants" as they assist Platoon Leaders - after demonstrating capabilities in their role as a sergeant. They typically are seasoned soldiers with well several years of service in their resume (ideally, anyways). This is considered the lowest level of "Senior NCO", and are advisors to the platoon leader as well as the interface between the Lieutenant and the platoon's enlisted.
Promotion to Sergeant First Class typically involves a minimum six years of service, ideally with at least one year as a Sergeant. The position is one of importance, and promotion to it is not taken lightly. In addition to service time and prior education in the Basic Enlisted Leadership Course, a prospective SFC will be an individual of strong character and great capability in their job role. For instance, an infantryman would be skilled in patrol leadership, tactical execution, position building, troop care, equipment upkeep, and squad interpersonal relationships.
E-8 Master Sergeant or First Sergeant
A Master Sergeant is a Battalion senior NCO. They are typically (but not exclusively) promoted from E-6 Staff Sergeants who have performed primarily administrative roles and have at least 7 years of service, and have attended the four-week GDI Advanced Enlisted Leadership Course (AELC). They are ordinarily specialized in certain subjects, such as artillery or particular vehicles. For instance, an infantry battalion Master Sergeant with a background in the M113 APC may well be second in knowledge only to the battalion's Warrant Officer, and may well be more versed in the related practical matters.Acting Master Sergeants are a possibility (in the same way Acting Sergeants are with the same general obligations and shortcomings), but are relatively rare - Master Sergeants are not typically in the more dangerous areas of a combat deployment, thus there's usually time to train up replacements for those cycling out. Certain theaters of the First Tiberium War often proved otherwise, however.
A First Sergeant is typically the ranking NCO for a Company. They are typically promoted from E-7 First Sergeants who have served at least 7 years and have both a good conduct history and demonstrated an outstanding capacity for leadership over the company's enlisted. They have attended AELC, and are tasked with advising the company commander, passing information down to the platoon sergeants, leading training courses for the company's enlisted, and leading ceremony gathering.
E-9 Sergeant Major or Command Sergeant Major
E-9 is effectively the highest grade of enlisted within GDI, and represents the Sergeant Major and Command Sergeant Majors. Command Sergeant Majors act as advisors to the lead officers in a Battalion or larger unit, weighing in on all manner of topics dealing with the enlisted. They are typically former E-8 First Sergeants. These are enlisted men with a mind for administration, human relations, and of substantial general leadership qualities. They are often put in a degree of charge for junior officers within their command unit, guiding their schooling with practical experience.
Sergeant Majors represent the highest grand of enlisted within Battalion or larger units that lead men directly, often being in ultimate control of a specific aspect of their force's roles, capabilities or equipment - for example, a Sergeant Major is ultimately in control of a Division Motor Pool, overseeing several E-8 Master Sergeants in charge of teams involved in maintaining, operating, and repairing them.
Sergeant Majors are often former E-8 Master Sergeants, having performed the very roles they oversee personnel do.
The Early Years: Shortage of Qualified Individuals
GDI occupied an unfortunate position from its initiation - most NCO ranks are closely associated with time in service and personal experience, something a bulk of the new recruits do not have. This was somewhat ameliorated by induction and retraining of prior and current servicemen from UN member states, but was insufficient to keep pace with GDI's rapid growth. This resulted in a large number of NCOs early on being selected from most promising enlisted and given a simplified leadership course, some ending up as high as E-6 or E-7 within a year of service. Experiences from the First Tiberium War improved matters, as did the years leading up to the conflict, though issues still remained, particularly with the "Troop Surge" initiated in early 2001.GDI's NCOs in GURPS
Here is the general layout, in GURPS terms, I would expect (or suspect) to be the norm for people who have obtained their position through the usual channels (rather than some form of corruption).E-4
In addition to time served, a prospective corporal is expected to have some ability to lead and motivate members of his team, perform his job well, and take charge of whatever he is given care of. This is represented by at least a modicum of Leadership and Administrative abilities. As this section is focusing on combat oriented NCOs, I suspect they've also begun to pick up a degree of tactical awareness - while the Soldier skill allows troops to execute tactical orders, team leaders may at times find themselves needing to improvise their own solutions to deploying their team in the absence of guidance from above.
E-5
Sergeants are an essential, typically leading squads of around 12 men. Prospective sergeants have furthered their natural leadership abilities through coursework via the Basic Enlisted Leadership Course and time spent leading and managing personnel as an E-4 Corporal. Their leadership abilities are expected to be greater than the Corporals they oversee - represented by a full point in the skill. Their overall capabilities as a soldier are held to a higher standard, represented by a higher skill requirement. As combat sergeants will need to deploy their men by their own judgement within the requirements of their platoon command, they're likely to possess greater tactical know-how. This is also usually the first position obligated to assist in written action reports, so the skill is emphasized during BELC training, as is a degree of Teaching, to assist in improving skillsets of the soldiers in their charge.
E-6
Staff Sergeants are primarily associated with support rather than direct combat, even if they're within a combat unit. These men oversee groups of sergeants (themselves overseeing other lower ranking men) in support of a Company's administrative efforts. They may be in charge of overseeing communications teams, logistics groups, vehicle crews, or mechanics - when this is the case, they typically improve their primary job skill from their previous role's requirement by one level - this is not reflected in the template above! For example, someone who before must have had Mechanic at IQ must take it at IQ+1.
Staff Sergeant is also used as a rank to distinguish E-5 sergeants who have stood out in the line of duty but are not able to advance further due to lack of vacancies at E-7. This is uncommon, but is still possible. Typically those Sergeants are strong Leaders, Administrators, Tacticians, or otherwise noticeably above standard.
E-7
The E-7 Sergeant First Class represent strong combat leaders. They are veteran soldiers usually in charge of platoons, and directly assisting the platoon's officer - they are the Platoon Sergeant, and are the lowest level "Senior" NCO in GDI service. E-7s represent years of dedicated service and a wealth of practical experience. They are more capable instructors than the sergeants they are raised from, being responsible for conducting platoon-level training and skills sustainment.
E-8
Individuals who have made it to E-8 have been in service for many years (minimum of 7), and have advanced steadily and proven their worth in lower positions. They have gone on to attend the Advanced Enlisted Leadership Course (AELC), are in good character standing, and have been selected for promotion.
Master Sergeant
There's also very likely to be a "character" requirement involved. As mentioned in the Basic Training post, having good character is associated with various traits such as Honesty, Savior-Faire, higher levels of Soldier, Codes of Honor, and other generally positive things. Men who make it this far are very unlikely to be thieves, cheats, or other unsavory types!
First Sergeant
Much like the Master Sergeant, they are good characters - they have much the same traits as Master Sergeants and a comparable ability to "rub shoulders" with the brass.
E-9
For our purposes, the E-9 is the end of the line. For Command Sergeant Majors and Sergeant Majors, you need to mix well with senior command, know your job, and be able to lead and guide others below you. Further, you will be advising your commanding officers, so a degree of decorum as well as extensive knowledge will be important. Same ideas as above, but more!
Much like those in your direct junior you have to have a good personality - no one racking up demerits (or while we're at it, war crimes) is going to be nominated for an E-8, let alone an E-9.
Command Sergeant Major
Sergeant Major
Closing
This is an extremely simplified (and unrefined) overview of how these ranks play out, in the general sense. Leadership in the military is something a little labyrinthine and not always terribly "game friendly", so I have stripped it down to this simple model that should suffice to get characters on the tabletop. Perhaps, as time goes by and I understand things better, I'll come back to refine this article a bit, but it should do for now. Mind, this is only *based* off of the way the United States Army does it, and includes a bit of GDI's own spin - which I'll use as my standing excuse for gross inaccuracies!As before, consider this more of a general guide - a note to self - more than a technical minimums like all of the other articles. Individual service groups would without a doubt have their own specific variations on these, and if a player ever undertook some of these ranks it might not line up as exact. Who's to say, though?
Thanks for reading!
Cheers!
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