MechWarrior (rank)

Depending on the faction, the rank of MechWarrior—the pilot of a BattleMech—can be equivalent to several different pay grades. Also included is a MechWarriors battle dress uniform, if known.

Capellan Confederation
MechWarriors start as a sao-wei, the lowest officer rank. Prior to 3061, this rank was known as subcommander. The Warrior House equivalent rank is ban-zhang, though Warrior House MechWarriors are often addressed as "janshi", meaning "warrior". Prior to 3061, Warrior House MechWarriors held the rank of "squad leader". MechWarriors wear a three piece body shell covering shoulders, torso, and waist. Hand and leg protectors protect against chaffing while in the cockpit.

Draconis Combine
A MechWarrior who does not own his ’Mech is a Master Sergeant, one that owns their ’Mech is a Talon Sergeant While inside the cockpit MechWarriors wear a sleeveless and legless battle suit with no rank insignia. Outside the cockpit they wear a noncombat uniform; a dark grey jersey with a red stripe running diagonally across the chest, a dark grey trousers red piping, calf-length black boots, a wide black belt, and a black visor cap with the symbols of their regiment, battalion, and company. Their rank insignia is on the left collar, the symbols of the Combine and their Warlord on their shoulders.

Federated Suns
MechWarriors who graduate a service academy are Sergeants. They wear a Cooling Undershirt, a short sleeved red undershirt that supplements the cooling vest, and most wear spurs. Their cooling vest and shorts reflect their Brigade: red, white, and blue for Davion Brigade of Guards, gray for Ceti Hussars, two-tone green for Crucis Lancers, and light green for Syrtis Fusiliers. Rank insignia are worn on upper arm epaulettes to prevent the cooling vest from covering shoulder epaulettes.

Free Rasalhague Republic
In the KungsArmé MechWarriors may hold the rank of korpral, but are addressed as kavellrist, which is the Swedish word for a cavalry soldier.

Free Worlds League
MechWarriors start as corporals, but are addressed as "MechWarrior". MechWarriors who have graduated from a military academy receive the rank of lieutenant, junior grade. They wear a gold tunic without sleeves or legs, gold boots, and heavy brown gauntlets. Their rank insignia is worn on the left gauntlet. Oriente MechWarriors wear an Oriente gray tunic and boots with their rank on the right shoulder. Andurien MechWarriors wear purple tunics and light blue boots with their rank on their right shoulder.

Lyran Alliance
MechWarriors are typically either a sergeant or, if they are on track to become an officer, a leutnant.

Lyran Commonwealth
MechWarriors start as a leutnant, the lowest officer rank. They wear t-shirts and shorts of differing colors to indicate rank; blue for junior officer, red for senior officer. MechWarriors are issued a laser pistol and throwing knife which are typically worn in an ankle holster.

Clans
MechWarrior is the lowest rank in the Clan military, equivalent to an aerospace fighter pilot, a vehicle commander, or an Elemental. However, because a single 'Mech constitutes a Point in Clan military structure, technically every Clan MechWarrior is equal in rank to warriors of other branches and Point Commanders in those other branches. However, only the vainest Clan MechWarriors actually use the title of Point Commander.

Aurigan Coalition
MechWarriors start as a cornet, the lowest officer rank

Marian Hegemony
MechWarrior graduates of the Collegium Bellorum Imperium receive the rank of Legionnaire.

Outworlds Alliance
MechWarriors, like all of those who enlist in the Alliance Military Corps, receive the rank of defender, the lowest enlisted rank. MechWarriors wear the same dark green fatigues with gold piping that other soldiers of the AMC's Alliance Ground Defense Arm and Alliance Service Arm wear. The AMC provides MechWarriors with cooling vests and neurohelmets, which are usually quite old and date from the early days of the Succession Wars.

Taurian Concordat
MechWarriors are Cornets.

Mercenaries
In mercenary units, MechWarriors are addressed by the profession instead by any rank. Because they rank below a corporal, a MechWarrior is the equivalent to a private. However other mercenary units may grant their MechWarriors the rank of sergeant.

Star League
Star League Defense Force MechWarriors received the rank of sergeant upon graduating from a military academy.

Second Star League
In the Second Star League Defense Force, MechWarriors held the rank of sergeant.