Ranking Structure of Klingon Defence Force with comparisons with Starfleet and (roughly) Terran Standing Armies
(giving the United States Marine Corps as example, these do not compare with Starfleet in this instance)

All mentioned ranks:
Beq (2+1)
Lieutenant
Commander
Captain
Colonel
Brigadier
General
Governor
Admiral
Supreme Commander

Probable actual ranks:
1.Beq 2nd
2.B 1st Class
3.Lt 2nd Class
4.Lieutenant
5.Capt. (2nd class)
6.Captain (1st)
7.Colonel
8.Brigadier
9.General
10.Sup. Comm.

SF equivalents:
1.Ensign
2.Lt-Jnr. Grd
3.Lieutenant
4.Lt-Cdr
5.Commander
6.Captain
7.2pip Admiral
8.3pip Admiral
9.4pip Admiral
10.Fleet Admiral

USMC equivalents:
1.PFC/Corporal
2.Staff Stg/WO
3.Lieutenant
4.Captain
5.Major
6.Lt-Col
7.Colonel
8.Brig-Gen
9.Maj-Gen
10.General

Klingon forces include ground troops, prison guards/personnel/commandants, military lawyers and intelligence operatives
among their number.

Explanations/Justifications; firstly, the rank of “Beq, First Class” (‘full’ Beqs are mentioned in “Deep Space Nine” and Alexander
Rochenko [Lt-Cdr Worf’s son] enlists as “Beq, Second Class) would appear to be a non-commissioned rank above the rank
all warriors enlist in. Due to a Beq’s functions aboard a warship this is probably equivalent to some degree/kind of Warrant
Officer; i.e. they have a ‘warrant’ to serve aboard a warship, which includes duties aboard the actual bridge which would
be reserved for commissioned officers aboard a Starfleet vessel, while in the KDF as a whole they are of non-commissioned
rank. I am also assuming this on the basis of Worf “uprgrading” his sash to a silver baldric (although there may be some other,
obvious, reason I’ve forgotten) as it is apparent that Klingons respect the military structures of other civilizations.

Two grades of Lieutenant (entry probably after passing certain qualifications, with probable preference to warriors of noble
descent) are given as the role of “Commander” is more akin to a military governor (i.e. more compared to the rank of Captain in
Starfleet) and this apparently covers those commissioned ranks below those of command. Continuing with this theme, I’ve
placed two grades of “Captain” (this is Kurn’s apparent rank when he is promoted to head a squadron).

The other roles are fairly obvious, I’ve not included “Governor” as I am assuming this is a political position roughly outside the
military chain-of-command and only one Klingon Admiral is ever shown. Some other ranks may or may not be Intelligence only.

This can also be compared with the relationship between the ‘Starfleet’ (Navy/Air Force-bracketed numbers reflect position in Air Force) and ‘Army*’ (GROPOS/Security) in
Babylon 5’s ‘EarthForce’:

EarthForce ‘Flag’ Officers:
1.Joint Chiefs
2.General
3.Lt-General
4.Major-General
5.Brigadier-General

Command ranks
(Navy)
Colonel
Captain
Commander
Lt-Commander [1]
Major

(Army)
Colonel
Major
Chief Warrant Officer

Commissioned/Warrant Officers below ‘Command’ ranks
(Navy)
Lieutenant [2]
2nd Lt [3]
Ensign [4]

(Army)
Warrant Officer
Sergeant-Major
Gunnery Sergeant

Enlisted/Civilian personnel+NCO:
Officer Cadet
Aerodrome Cadet
Technical staff
Staff Sergeant
Sergeant
Private (1st class)
Private

Because, like in the KDF, petty officers in the ‘Army’ division of EarthForce can be promoted to command level; e.g. The Garibaldi
character is supposed to have the rank of ‘Chief Warrant Officer’ (which in a Navy is the highest rank for enlisted crew) but he
is second/third in command of the station, probably indicating that promotion in the ‘Army’ from the lower ranks is by combat
experience as well as merit and that lower commissioned ranks such as Captain do not exist as, unlike in the ‘Navy’ which is entirely
academy/’Aerodrome’ trained, there is probably no Officer class (*all ranks given are those apparently seen and mentioned, I am
assuming Gen. Franklin’s adjutant in ‘GROPOS’ is a ‘Staff Sergeant’)

KDF ranks in order:
1.Beq 2nd
2.Beq 1st Class
3.Lt 2nd Class
4.Lieutenant
5.Capt. (2nd class)
6.Captain (1st)
7.Commander
8.Colonel
9.Brigadier
10.General
11.Admiral
12.Supreme Commander

EarthForce ranks in order comparable to position in KDF:
1.Private (1st class)
2.Staff Sergeant
3.Lieutenant
4.Chief Warrant Officer
5.Major
6.[Lt-Cmdr to Cpt]
7.Colonel
8.Brigadier-General
9.Major-General
10.Lt-General
11.[four star] General
12.[five star] General


;but this is basically a reflection on how existing Terran Armies function, with myriad arrays of commissioned and non-commissioned
officers differentiating those giving the orders, those actually carrying them out, and those in certain ancillary or support roles.

e.g. the Israeli Defence Forces: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_Defence_Force - Ranks

Enlisted (Hogrim)
• Private (Turai)
• Corporal (Rav Turai)
• Sergeant (Samal)
• Staff Sergeant (Samal Rishon)

NCOs past mandatory service (Nagadim)
• First Sergeant (Rav Samal)
• Master Sergeant (Rav Samal Rishon)
• Sergeant Major (Rav Samal Mitkadem)
• Warrant Officer (Rav Samal Bakhir)
Chief Warrant Officer (Rav Nagad

Officers (Ktzinim)
• Second Lieutenant (Segen Mishneh)
• Lieutenant (Segen)
• Captain (Seren)
• Major (Rav Seren)
• Lieutenant Colonel (Sgan Aluf)
• Colonel (Aluf Mishneh)
• Brigadier General (Tat Aluf)
• Major General (Aluf)
Lieutenant General/General (Rav Aluf)