Close Orbit and Airspace Control Command
The Close Orbit and Airspace Control Command (COACC) is the branch of the Imperial Army responsible for planetary aerospace operations. The officer ranks displayed are for pilots and commanding officers in the COACC. Staff and liaison officers use the Imperial Army rank system.
| COACC Ranks | |
|---|---|
| Officers | |
| O9 » Air Marshal | |
| O8 » Air Commodore | |
| O7 » Wing Leader | |
| O6 » Group Leader | |
| O5 » Squadron Leader | |
| 04 » Flight Captain | |
| O3 » Flight Lieutenant | |
| O2 » Flight Officer | |
| O1 » Pilot Officer | |
| Enlisted | |
| E9 » Sergeant Major | |
| E8 » First Sergeant | |
| E7 » Leading Sergeant | |
| E6 » Staff Sergeant | |
| E5 » Sergeant | |
| E4 » Lance Sergeant | |
| E3 » Corporal | |
| E2 » Lance Corporal | |
| E1 » Private | |
| E1 » Recruit | |
Organization
There are different types of force hierarchies. They are used as a prefix to the unit level to indicate which hierarchy it belongs in.
- Imperial (IMP) forces (IMPAIRRON) are formally part of the Imperial Army. Its force hierarchy prefix is only used if other hierarchies are present onworld. Sometimes mercenary or colonial pilots fly with Imperial units if there is a shortage of pilots and they have enough flight time on Imperial standard aircraft.
- Colonial (COL) forces (COLAIRRON) are raised and funded by the world's population but trained and vetted by the COACC. They are subordinate to Imperial authority, but can command and control any assigned subordinate Imperial assets. Their unit title may differ depending on which hierarchy is commanding it (i.e., the 22nd Colonial Interceptor Squadron Terra might also be called the 3rd Australian (Canberra Station) Fighter Squadron). They usually are equipped with either surplus second-rate Imperial COACC aircraft or whatever the local tech level can produce and support.
- Auxiliary (AUX) forces (AUXAIRRON) are mercenaries that are hired to replace or augment local forces or provide air support for mercenary ground or sea forces. Their commanders and staff are usually Imperial or Colonial officers unless the mercenary unit has former Imperial Army COACC officers with good service records and enough staff experience. Their unit title may vary widely by employer, but the unit's nickname (e.g., "Wooley's Black Sheep Squadron") will be retained fo name brand purposes. They are usually equipped with obsolete Imperial or paramilitary-market aircraft that is usually a few tech levels better than the local industry can produce.
Air Crew
The subordinate crew of an aircraft. It can range from 1 to 2 crewmembers for a single-engined fighter-bomber to 8 to 12 crewmembers for larger craft like a multi-engined heavy bomber. In the case of large crews, they are broken up into specialized 2 to 5 crewmember teams to maintain a chain of command. It is commanded by the aircraft's pilot; other officers like the co-pilot, navigator, sensors operator, bombardier, etc. are subordinate to the pilot no matter what their rank is.
Ground Crew
A unit composed of the staff detailed to servicing and repairing an aircraft. Larger crews are often specialized to deal with subsystems (engine, weapons and ordnance, communications, sensors, etc.). It is commanded by an NCO.
Weapon Crew
A unit composed of the staff required to run a single Air Defense weapon system. It can vary from a machinegun crewed by a fire-team of 3 to 5 crewmen to a dozen crewmembers manning a missile silo or portable rocket launcher. They are usually grouped in Batteries, company-sized units commanded by a Captain or Major. They are organic units under the command of the COACC but are manned by Ground Forces Artillery personnel.
Flight
A unit usually made up of 2 to 5 aircraft and their service and support ground units. It is equivalent to a Company and its commander (the Flight Leader) is equivalent to a Captain or Major.
Air Squadron (AIRRON)
The Squadron is the basic building block of COACC units. It is a unit made up of 3 to 4 Flights of the same aircraft type, plus specialist support and transport aircraft and service and support ground units. It is equivalent to a Battalion and its commander is equivalent to a Lieutenant-Colonel.
Air Group
A unit made up of 2 or more Squadrons. It is equivalent to a Regiment and its commander is equivalent to a Colonel.
Air Wing
A unit made up of 2 or more Groups. The largest combat command, it is equivalent to a Brigade and its commander is equivalent to a Brigadier-General.
Air Division
A force made up of 2 or more Wings. The smallest staff command, it is equivalent to a Division and its commander is equivalent to a Major-General.
Numbered Air Force
A force made up of 2 or more Air Divisions. It is equivalent to a Corps, subordinate to a Named Air Force, and its commander is equivalent to a Lieutenant-General. It is designated using Roman numerals to keep it from being confused with an Air Division, which uses Arabic numerals.
Named Air Force
A force made up of all COACC forces in a planetary system. It is named after the system it is assigned to and all subordinate formations use the system name as a suffix (e.g., 2nd Colonial Squadron Terra). The largest staff command, it is equivalent to an Army or Army Group and its commander is equivalent to a Colonel-General or Field Marshal.
For commands that are below the formation of an Army or Army Group in size, the commander's rank is always one step higher than the command rank of the highest COACC formation. It also must be at least one step below that of the highest-ranking Ground Forces commander on the planet.
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