Engineers are highly specialised technologists, responsible for the maintenance and repair of critical ship systems and the operation of the vessel's power generation and distribution systems.
The engineering branch has one of the widest range of specialisations, reflecting the number of systems aboard the vessel - engineers are responsible for maintaining the systems used by other branches.
Exploration is one of the primary reasons for the ISDC's existence, and the Science Branch provides the expertise necessary to analyse and document deep-space discoveries. The Science Branch encompasses a number of scientific disciplines necessary for the exploration of deep space including astrophysics, astronomy and planetary sciences such as geology, exobiology and climatology for the exploration of new planets.
The Science Branch is responsible for using the vessel's array of sensor equipment to analyse stellar phenomenon and planetary discoveries remotely, as well as making direct observations and gathering samples from planets.
The Tactical Branch is responsible for the defence of the vessel through the operation of weapons and countermeasure systems and for providing detailed and accurate information about the vessel's operating environment
Tactical crew are responsible for detecting, analysing and tracking tactically significant objects (such as other vessels), providing detailed information about their identity, configuration and disposition and where necessary providing firing solutions should they be identified as a threat. Tactical crew also assess any other aspect of the vessel's operating environment that may assist the commanding officer in the formulation of tactical strategy.
Lieutenant Neeraj Anahira is a tactical officer, coordinating the vessel’s tactical operations and serving as ‘tactical point’ on the bridge during combat situations, ensuring that the Conn has current information on the vessel’s Tactical Operating Environment (TOE) and available strategic options.
A tactical officer is also responsible for the management of tactical crew and systems aboard the vessel.
Interested in Neeraj’s role as a tactical officer?
Most missions will require tactical capability, a key component of which is maintaining the Tactical Operating Environment. This involves monitoring the space around Endeavour, detecting and tracking other vessels using EMDAR and keeping the conn updated.
Another key tactical duty is defending the ship from attack. Endeavour’s primary weapons are powerful railgun-launched guided missiles (referred to as torpedoes) which are configured and fired from the bridge tactical console. Countermeasure systems provide defence against incoming fire.
Tactical officers are rated on multiple systems, so for simpler missions they could cover both EMDAR and weapons functions from the bridge tactical console.
More complex missions may require separate EMDAR and weapons operators, with the tactical officer covering one of these in addition to their point duties.
Advanced missions may require the tactical officer on the bridge coordinating crew teams running EMDAR, weapons and other tactical systems.
As an officer you’ll need broad operational knowledge and experience. You career will involve training at the Academy across a range of ship systems and gaining mission experience.
It starts by signing up as a cadet. It's obligation free and provides access to more information about the mission and Endeavour's technology as well as access to the Academy and assistance from instructors.
You’ll be asked to choose a ship system that interests you and begin training. An aspiring tactical officer would likely want to attain a rating on either EMDAR or Weapons early to secure mission time.
When you successfully complete a training course you’ll be qualified (or ‘rated’) to operate that system on missions. You’ll also be promoted to Ensign.
As a new ensign you’ll look to join a crew and undertake missions. Each mission completed gives you experience points (XP) which count towards promotion.
You’ll also need to keep training, as additional ratings are also needed for promotion. Having both EMDAR and Weapons ratings would give broad mission coverage, for example, and while there are other tactical ratings available it’s recommended that you get at least one rating from another branch.
What you choose and in what order will depend on your interests, but some suggestions include:
Once you make Lieutenant, you’ll be able to start logging watch XP - a class of experience gained when in command of a mission. This type of experience gains you access to command training and a coveted command rating.
You’ll also be able to gain XP outside of missions as an instructor, supporting crew as they begin their new careers.
Choosing your first rating doesn’t lock you into any particular career track or role. Choose something that interests you so that you can try simulator missions and get a feel for what you enjoy most.
There are no barriers to changing career tracks at any time. Your accumulated experience and ratings are fully transferable.
Spaceframe, environmental system, core system configuration, maintenance and repair.
The Warrant Officer program allows technical specialists to operate and contribute within a military chain of command while having their experience and seniority recognised appropriately. This means they are able to undertake active duty aboard vessels (unlike civilian advisors).
The concept is drawn from naval tradition, where a valuable technical specialist might enter the service directly as a ranking officer by receiving a warrant from the admiralty.
Warrant Officers join the ISDC from advanced careers in specialist technical or scientific fields. Unlike the military careers of their commissioned colleagues, warrant officers have undertaken exclusively civilian career development prior to their entry to the ISDC.
Despite their advanced knowledge, warrant officers will need to be familiar with ship systems specific to their specialistion and so must complete training on those systems before they can undertake missions.
A combination of training and mission experience determines advancement.
When training is completed on a ship system a qualification known as a rating is awarded, so called because it means the successful trainee is now ‘rated’ to operate that system during missions.
Ratings are awarded at basic and advanced levels.
Active duty on missions is logged as evidence of experience, represented as experience points (XP). Awarded XP depends on a mission’s duration and complexity.
At senior ranks experience may also be gained by service as an instructor.
Initial entry is as a candidate. Warrant officers receive the same common training as any other crew or cadet. After this has been completed, the candidate will be asked to select an appropriate rating to train towards. When this is complete, the newly promoted Junior Warrant Officer will be able to join missions and begin gaining experience.
Accumulated experience allows an advance in rank to Warrant Officer.
Advancement to Senior Warrant Officer requires additional experience and attainment of an advanced rating within the warrant officer’s specialisation.
Master Warrant Officer is not a rank, but a Senior Warrant Officer with a master rating.
Unlike basic and advanced ratings there is no formal training course to achieve a master rating, which is awarded on the basis of mission experience and the contribution of a technical or scientific innovation within the warrant officer’s specialisation.
There is no policy preventing changing between career tracks. Ratings and accumulated experience can be transferred without penalty, with equivalent rank awarded subject to candidate suitability.
Crew are the technical specialists of the ISDC and receive applied technical training in their chosen professional fields right from the beginning of their careers.
A crew specialist will develop in-depth knowledge of the ship systems within their specialisation and will be counted on not just for maintenance and repair but to provide technical options for unexpected situations faced during missions.
Crew undertake technically focused careers typically within a single specialisation. Crew careers emphasise experience over formal training.
Senior crew can also be expected to supervise teams and to contribute to the training of less experienced crew.
When training is completed on a ship system a qualification known as a rating is awarded, so called because it means the successful trainee is now ‘rated’ to operate that system during missions.
Ratings are awarded at basic and advanced levels.
Active duty on missions is logged as evidence of crew experience, represented as experience points (XP). Awarded XP depends on a mission’s duration and complexity.
At senior ranks experience may also be gained by service as an instructor.
Initial entry is as ordinary Crew. After common training, crew will be asked to chose a specialisation and select a rating to train towards. Promotion to Qualified Crew follows on award of the rating.
By accumulating mission experience crew can advance in rank to Senior Crew.
Petty officers are team leaders responsible for the performance of the ship systems they support and the training of their crew.
To become a Petty Officer an advanced rating within the same specialisation is required in addition to experience.
Master Chief Petty Officer (or Master Chief) is not a rank, but a CPO with a master rating.
Unlike basic and advanced ratings there is no formal training course to achieve a master rating, which is awarded on the basis of experience and the contribution of a significant technical innovation within the candidate’s specialisation.
There is no policy preventing crew from changing to an officer career track. Ratings and accumulated experience can be transferred without penalty, with equivalent rank awarded subject to candidate suitability.
Officers are the coordinators of the ISDC, ensuring the successful completion of missions and projects. Officers are also responsible for the health, safety and career development of those under their command.
Within the ISDC officers are military specialists (as opposed to warrant officers who are civilian technical or scientific specialists) focused on developing the leadership skills necessary to ensure effectiveness in dangerous and tactically complex environments.
While crew typically undertake very technically focused careers, officer careers aim for a broader range of skills and experience. This wider operational context positions officers to manage the people and resources contributing to their mission, department or project.
Officers can expect to train and work across different systems as influenced by their interests and missions.
A combination of training and mission experience determines advancement.
RatingsWhen training is completed on a ship system a qualification known as a rating is awarded, so called because it means the successful trainee is now ‘rated’ to operate that system during missions.
Ratings are awarded at basic and advanced levels.
Active duty on missions is logged as evidence of an officer’s experience, represented as experience points (XP). Awarded XP depends on a mission’s duration and complexity.
At senior ranks experience may also be gained by service as an instructor.
Initial entry is as a cadet. After basic training, the cadet will be asked to select a rating to train towards. When this is completed the newly promoted ensign is now able to join missions and begin to gain experience.
By accumulating experience and attaining additional ratings officers can advance in rank up to lieutenant.
To advance further the officer will need an advanced rating in addition to experience.
Promotion to Lieutenant Commander and beyond also requires passing a promotion board, which considers whether the officer's service record makes them suitable for further advancement.
After attaining the rank of Lieutenant Commander officers may be eligible for training towards a command rating, which is required to advance to Commander and beyond.
To achieve a command rating candidates must complete a challenging series of evaluation missions. Award of a command rating is reflected in a variant of service badge insignia.
Engineering, science and medical departments require specific technical knowledge and skills from their officers.
Training for specialist officers is less generalized than for other officers and typically focused solely within the specialistion.
There is no policy preventing specialist officers attaining command.
There is no policy preventing officers from changing to a crew career track. Ratings and accumulated experience can be transferred without penalty, with equivalent rank awarded subject to candidate suitability.
Mustering a crew ready to undertake deep space missions is as high a priority as building Endeavour itself.
The ISDC supports professional development with a variety of career options underpinned by the Academy, providing training in the technology, systems, procedures and protocols unique to Endeavour's mission.
The complex systems aboard Endeavour require a well trained crew with a wide range of skills and aptitude. To achieve this The ISDC offers a number of career tracks.
Career development is a combination of training and experience.
The first step in any ISDC career is completing a training course on a ship system, which awards a qualification known as a rating - so called because it means the successful trainee is now ‘rated’ to operate that system during missions.
Training will be an ongoing feature of an ISDC career, opening up the range of missions that can be joined and contributing to promotion.
Active duty on missions is logged as experience, in the form of points (XP). The number of XP awarded depends on the length and complexity of the mission. XP count towards promotion.
Officers are the coordinators of the ISDC, ensuring the successful completion of missions and projects.
This career track is focused on developing a broad range of skills and experience as well as the leadership skills necessary to ensure effectiveness in dangerous and tactically complex environments.
Crew are the ISDC’s technical specialists, whose highly-focused training and experience allows them to amass considerable expertise in their chosen field. As crew careers progress their training and skills become more targeted, allowing them to contribute to system development in their field.
The most critical operational positions aboard a vessel will be held by senior crew.
Warrant Officers join the ISDC from advanced careers in specialist technical or scientific fields. Unlike the military careers of their commissioned colleagues, warrant officers have undertaken exclusively civilian career development prior to their entry to the ISDC.
Warrant Officers are most commonly found in engineering, scientific or medical roles.
