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Private
Private First Class
Lance Corporal
Corporal
Sergeant
2nd Lieutenant
1st Lieutenant
Captain
Major
Lieutenant Colonel
Colonel
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The C-SWAT rank structure is a variation from the Marine Corps rank structure with two definite changes. The first and most obvious change is that many of the ranks have been eliminated. Instead of nine enlisted ranks and ten officer ranks, there are only five and six, respectively. The second change, and the main reason for the first, is that a C-SWAT operative must climb through all of the enlisted ranks before he or she may become an officer. This way officers are better trained, more experienced and more prepared to lead.
During basic training, all trainees are privates. Upon graduation, 10% from each platoon are immediately promoted to Private First Class (PFC) depending on how well they demonstrated leadership skills and how well they ranked with their platoon academically, physically, and skillfully. Those that aren't promoted upon graduation automatically receive PFC in 4 months from the time of basic training graduation.
After basic training, privates and PFCs are sent to their Field Specialty schools where, upon graduation the top individual of each class is promoted directly to Lance Corporal. (All are PFCs by the time of their Specialty school graduation) All others are promoted to Lance Corporal within 8 months of receiving PFC or when they are assigned to a C-SWAT unit, whichever comes first. Note that some Field Specialty schools last more than 8 weeks, and it is possible for students to achieve the rank of Lance Corporal while still in training.
At least a year is required between Lance Corporal and Corporal, and at least two years as a Corporal is required before an operative can pick up Sergeant. Once the rank of Sergeant has been attained, an operative has spent enough time with C-SWAT to be considered a veteran. Sergeants are the ones who are unofficially in charge of making sure the 'Rookies' (Lance Corporals) don't screw up and get the whole team killed. When a new join has a question or needs advice, a Sergeant is the one to ask. At least two years is required as a sergeant before one can enter the officer ranks.
Before promotion into the officer ranks, Sergeants are sent to an officer training program where they re-learn the fundamentals of urban combat, target acquisition and hostage situations. They are trained not only to think for themselves in such conditions, but also to think for the entire team. They go through in-depth classes for positioning and hit and fade tactics, and team accountability in combat. Sergeants learn the mere basics of each field specialty so that they can have a better understanding for their operatives' duties and responsibilities and what they are capable of. For those that are not already specialists, the sergeants are all qualified in Heavy Weapons use, meaning that they are then authorized to use Heavy Weapons in operations. At the end of their two-month training, graduates are all promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and given their first set of gold bars.
Typically there are two officers in a SPAR team: a team leader or Officer in Charge (OIC) and an Assistant Officer in Charge (AOIC). Lieutenants are usually AOICs and Captains are team leaders, but there have been cases when a Lieutenant has filled the billet of team leader. Promotion within the officer ranks is largely dependent on openings available. It is possible for an operative to remain a 2nd Lieutenant for several years before an opening within the unit becomes available, allowing them a promotion to 1st Lieutenant. At least a year is required between 2nd and 1st Lieutenant and between 1st Lieutenant and Captain. At least 2 years are required as a Captain before one is eligible for the rank of Major, at which time they no longer serve as an operative. Majors serve Team Commanding Officers or TCO's. They are ultimately responsible for their SPAR team and they monitor police actions when there is a chance that C-SWAT may need to respond. A TCO will become the Operations Director when their SPAR team responds and will organize and observe their team's operational progress from a surveillance vehicle.
Each unit has one Lieutenant Colonel who serves as the Unit Commanding Officer (UCO). They are the highest ranking officers within a C-SWAT unit and very few actions make it past their level. They have the final say in assigning black marks or giving commendations to operatives within their unit, based on recommendations presented by the Team Commanding Officer. They usually get along extremely well with the SPAR teams and are willing to do anything they can to help them out of a bind - personal or job-related, but they are the last person one would want to cross. They have the power to meritoriously promote an individual or the power to drop them in rank in extreme cases. At least two years are required as a major before an officer is eligible for picking up Lieutenant Colonel, which is a highly competitive rank due to the fact that there are usually six Team Commanding Officers within a unit.
There is only one C-SWAT Colonel in the entire nation, the C-SWAT Commandant. He is the legislator for C-SWAT, determining what policies are to be set, how training practices are to be conducted, etc. The Commandant has the final say in any C-SWAT matter and can make or change any policy that he sees fit. The Commandant has one Lieutenant Colonel as his assistant, which he selects from all of the units nationwide. Promotion to this rank is the most competitive of them all and is an elected position. Each Lieutenant Colonel who is eligible is considered and the competition is narrowed down to six finalists. Each Unit Commanding Officer has one vote and the finalists with the most support is promoted and allowed to choose his or her assistant. The C-SWAT Commandant is a four-year position.
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