Porkins and Rebel pilot standards

[Isolder74]

In WWII a certain General McArther was in command over an Admiral Kincad(sp?) as part of the Letye landing opperation but when Japaneese naval units were detected approaching Kincad was definatally in command of all the ships in that part of the operation.

At the same operation was a total naval force(3rd fleet) under command of Halsey who answered to Nimitz.

[PainRack]

We know Wedge Antilles is from Starfighter Command, which uses the rank of General for its leaders. Corporal Daala apparently transferred from the Imperial ground based organisation over to the admiralty when Tarkin poached her.

Similarly, Starfighter command does not appear to use exclusive Army ranks.

[Lord Revan]

we should also note that the alliance to restore the republic (to give it, its official name) isn't a unified nation like the empire or modern earth nations but rather a alliance of various rebel factions each with their own customs and traditions, so some rank oddities are unavoidble.

[Darth Hoth]

We know Wedge Antilles is from Starfighter Command, which uses the rank of General for its leaders. Corporal Daala apparently transferred from the Imperial ground based organisation over to the admiralty when Tarkin poached her.

Similarly, Starfighter command does not appear to use exclusive Army ranks.

If I recall correctly, General Wedge Antilles commanded naval forces, rather than starfighter detachments, after his promotion to General's rank, most famously the Lusankya battlegroup. This would suggest either that he transferred to Naval Command or that the New Republic command structure simply does not make any sense.

[thejester]

Not necessarily...most CVN captains in the USN are ex-aviators, if memory serves correctly.

[AniThyng]

Not necessarily...most CVN captains in the USN are ex-aviators, if memory serves correctly.

I can't fathom why two pages on we still have people who haven't grasped that we have a perfectly good real world example of "cross-branch" ranks in the form of the american naval aviation arm which is an air force unto itself... and yes, CVN captains are aviators, and theres a chance the admirals are as well.

[PainRack]

If I recall correctly, General Wedge Antilles commanded naval forces, rather than starfighter detachments, after his promotion to General's rank, most famously the Lusankya battlegroup. This would suggest either that he transferred to Naval Command or that the New Republic command structure simply does not make any sense.

Nope. We know he refused promotion to wing commander, remainding as squadron commander up to Thrawn Trilogy. He then took on a meteoric jump to General and began commanding all kinds of mission, from special forces with a frigate, clean up on Coruscant and full scale battle with naval groups.

Its not unusual for a naval aviator to control battleships. What's unusual is for an aviator to take on the scope of missions Wedge pulled. When he was attached to the Iron Fist campaign, he took on a much larger advisory role on top of starfighter command, ultimately becoming involved with Wraith Squadron. The problem is, nowhere in his military career was there any formal training for ground forces, yet, we found him involved with spec ops, engineering and logistic crews, the whole gamut of possibilities even back when he was just a lowly squadron commander. Of course, this may have something to do with the fact that Rogue Squadron was called upon for all types of missions, including the absurd mission to sabotage Coruscant shields, so Wedge probably picked up the training on the job.



General A'baht is weird though, since he was from the Dornean navy, but was inducted with a General Rank. Similarly, Bel Iblis appeared to have served his entire service in the space navy, but has a army/starfighter rank.
General Dodonna also commanded Victory Star destroyers, but had an Old Republic General Rank........ Before that, his rank was IIRC commander.

[AniThyng]

General A'baht is weird though, since he was from the Dornean navy, but was inducted with a General Rank. Similarly, Bel Iblis appeared to have served his entire service in the space navy, but has a army/starfighter rank.
General Dodonna also commanded Victory Star destroyers, but had an Old Republic General Rank........ Before that, his rank was IIRC commander.

Wasn't it specifically mentioned in the books that the Dornean "navy" due to cultural precedent uses "General" for its flag ranked officers.

[Darth Hoth]

Its not unusual for a naval aviator to control battleships.

Perhaps not; I shall confess I am not an expert on matters naval. However, what I read into your post was that he served as General rather than Admiral because he was in Starfighter Command, a separate organisation, which should have no authority over the battleships, unless I am mistaken.

What's unusual is for an aviator to take on the scope of missions Wedge pulled. When he was attached to the Iron Fist campaign, he took on a much larger advisory role on top of starfighter command, ultimately becoming involved with Wraith Squadron. The problem is, nowhere in his military career was there any formal training for ground forces, yet, we found him involved with spec ops, engineering and logistic crews, the whole gamut of possibilities even back when he was just a lowly squadron commander. Of course, this may have something to do with the fact that Rogue Squadron was called upon for all types of missions, including the absurd mission to sabotage Coruscant shields, so Wedge probably picked up the training on the job.

Personally, I put such things down to the generally loose and informal organisation of the Rebellion and the early New Republic. As was the case with Luke mentioned earlier, practical skill would weigh heavier than formal qualifications.

General A'baht is weird though, since he was from the Dornean navy, but was inducted with a General Rank.

Wasn't it specifically mentioned in the books that the Dornean "navy" due to cultural precedent uses "General" for its flag ranked officers.

Indeed it was.

[PainRack]

Perhaps not; I shall confess I am not an expert on matters naval. However, what I read into your post was that he served as General rather than Admiral because he was in Starfighter Command, a separate organisation, which should have no authority over the battleships, unless I am mistaken.

As a General from Starfighter Command, he presumably was promoted to a seniority where he could command capital ships. Starfighter Command is close intergrated with the navy after all. Its not unusual, since the current trend is for naval aviators to become carrier captains, and from there enter a fast-track for admiralty. The Republic presumably does things differently, in that their starfighter forces uses Army ranks, similar to the USAF.

Personally, I put such things down to the generally loose and informal organisation of the Rebellion and the early New Republic. As was the case with Luke mentioned earlier, practical skill would weigh heavier than formal qualifications.

In universe, its probably due to a lack of talent, especially trusted talent in the eyes of the Republic leadership. Its not unusual for nepotism and exceptional talents to become overly used. Chiang Kai Shek for example continously tapped his Whampoa Academy clique to fill various political and military positions. What was odd is the sheer variety. Crix Madine, Rieekan and Ackbar stayed within a somewhat "fixed" role, despite their many hats. Wedge didn't. He had commanded missions that were more suitable for ground forces, special ops, spies, engineers, logistic experts and etc.

Indeed it was.

Oops. Don't recall this.

[Darth Hoth]

As a General from Starfighter Command, he presumably was promoted to a seniority where he could command capital ships. Starfighter Command is close intergrated with the navy after all. Its not unusual, since the current trend is for naval aviators to become carrier captains, and from there enter a fast-track for admiralty. The Republic presumably does things differently, in that their starfighter forces uses Army ranks, similar to the USAF.

That might perhaps be the explanation.

In universe, its probably due to a lack of talent, especially trusted talent in the eyes of the Republic leadership. Its not unusual for nepotism and exceptional talents to become overly used. Chiang Kai Shek for example continously tapped his Whampoa Academy clique to fill various political and military positions. What was odd is the sheer variety. Crix Madine, Rieekan and Ackbar stayed within a somewhat "fixed" role, despite their many hats. Wedge didn't. He had commanded missions that were more suitable for ground forces, special ops, spies, engineers, logistic experts and etc.

Perhaps Wedge could be regarded as a "Skorzeny" character; he, like the Nazi commando, seems to be something of the Alliance's "Swiss army knife" or "secret weapon", which they use for the toughest situations around, whether they are within his particular field of expertise or not. He is something of a maverick. However, one can observe the same trend with others. For example, Han Solo: ground forces commander, commando ops, fighter ops, naval command; Crix Madine: fighter planning staff, commando ops, field espionage; Hiram Drayson: naval operations, fleet technical expertise, secret service... some of the top Alliance commanders appear to be all-arounders.

Oops. Don't recall this.

It was back in the Black Fleet books; I shan't swear on which one, although I have a feeling that it would be Shield of Lies.

[Jade Falcon]

Remember Babylon 5 did the same thing, early to mid series one did have some admirals in Earthforce, but later on, all Flag officers seemed to be of General rank. It certainly didn't make sense.

[Zwinmar]

While traditionally the army and navy have different ranks, one only needs to look at the marines and airforce to find that its a bit confused.

The marines for example, use a rank structure similar to that of the army, yet, they are a department of the navy. As well as they do fly fighters off of ships, are stationed on ships, etc..

What it comes down to is whatever Lucas decided that the ranks be called, and with the possibility of cross-decking, any rank is viable

[wjs7744]

Well, our airforce has ranks based of the navy, while IIRC the USAF uses army ranks. It's essentially arbitrary, and in space there is less distinction between fighter combat and naval actions anyway.

[Sea Skimmer]

Not necessarily...most CVN captains in the USN are ex-aviators, if memory serves correctly.

Since the dawn of USN carrier aviation carrier captains have been required to be aviators, this was intended to protect the new carrier community from all the senior battleship officers floating about. As far as I’m aware this practice has continued all the way to the present day. However, more then one destroyer or cruiser captain got his wings and made one carrier landing just so he could get such a command, never flying operationally. In the case of carrier group and task force admirals however, aviator status was desired but never required, and in practice many of the best admirals never flew.

[Lord Pounder]

Nope. We know he refused promotion to wing commander, remainding as squadron commander up to Thrawn Trilogy. He then took on a meteoric jump to General and began commanding all kinds of mission, from special forces with a frigate, clean up on Coruscant and full scale battle with naval groups.

I thought he was a Wing Commander. During the campaign against Zsinj the book Solo Command spefically stated that General Solo had put Wedge in charge of the four squadrons based on Mon Remonda, and before that he was leader of both Rogue and Wraith Squadrons.

[Broomstick]

However, more then one destroyer or cruiser captain got his wings and made one carrier landing just so he could get such a command, never flying operationally.

You know, making even just one successful carrier landing is a pretty damn impressive accomplishment. I can picture myself doing a lot of things in an airplane, but that's not one of them. I just don't think I'd be able to pull that off. Any idiot can drop bombs and shoot guns, but landing on a small, moving platform in the middle of an ocean.. that's just amazing, really.

[Jade Falcon]

I remember reading that carrier landings are one of the most dangerous landing situations you can get, so it's no mean feat. Those Nimitz class look bit, but I would imagine when you're in an aircraft in god knows what weather conditions it doesn't look so huge.

[Zwinmar]

I remember reading that carrier landings are one of the most dangerous landing situations you can get, so it's no mean feat. Those Nimitz class look bit, but I would imagine when you're in an aircraft in god knows what weather conditions it doesn't look so huge.

I havent piloted onto a carrier, but I have been on many helo's going in for landing, and let me tell you, the carrier looks possitivly tiny