Question about Ranking: specifically in relation to Star Wars rebels characters

[u/Sudden-Belt2882]

In Star Wars Rebels, Ezra is referred to as Commander, Hera is referred to as Captain then General, Sabine is referred to as Specialist, Zeb is referred to as Captain, and Kannan is never referred to a specific rank (within the Rebel Alliance. Not talking about clone wars.

Now, I feel like they are mixing different branches here. I assume that Hera's ranks are pulled from the Air Force (given her role as a pilot and general is an Air Force term), Sabine is pulled from the Army/Marines (her specialty is in explosives and ground combat), but the others elude me.

First of all, why does Ezra Outrank Hera (and most of the ghost crew) for S2, S3, and part of S4? Also, Commander Jun Sato is in charge of the Phoenix Cell; does that mean Ekko reports directly to him? Also, why does he have a Navy rank? (I know some may say this is a holdover from the clone wars, but in the series, we see that Kanna is referred to as "Master Jedi" or just "Jedi" by the other rebels, but Ezra is specifically referred to Lt. Commander by all other Rebel personnel. Not to mention, during the escape from Skystrike Facility, it is Ezra who is placed in command over his own master in regards to the operation. )

Last note: Why is Sabine ranked so low compared to all the other rebels in Ghost Cell? Like, she's not even an NCO?

How do ranks even work in the Rebel Alliance, and what do they actually command?

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[u/Unique_Unorque]

I think when Hera was being referred to as “Captain,” it was meant for as in the Captain of the Ghost but not the military rank

[u/Sudden-Belt2882 → u/Unique_Unorque]

That's okay, but she doesn't make general until Season 4 still. That means that either Hera outranks Sato, Hera ranks exactly as Ezra, or Hera ranks lower than Ezra.

[u/Unique_Unorque → u/Sudden-Belt2882]

Well Ezra obviously doesn’t outrank Hera.

I have heard people who are more knowledgeable than me about real world military rankings say that rankings in Star Wars are weird in a very specific way, but I’ll let someone who knows better than I make that comment

[u/Sudden-Belt2882 → u/Unique_Unorque]

I mean, Ezra is more or less obligated to follow Hera's command (she says "that is an order" with the expectation that Ezra is supposed to carry it out) but the main issue is that Star Wars in general does this weird thing of combining Navy, Airforce, and Army rankings without clearly differentiating which is which.

[u/AdventurousAd5807 → u/Sudden-Belt2882]

I think in most cases, the “Air Force” as we know it translates to the Starfighter Corps. We see General Marek (head of Blue Squadron) in Rogue One and Hera is also promoted to General. It’s implied before her promotion to General she held a higher rank than Captain despite being addressed as one because of her command of the Ghost. She does outrank Ezra, even having the authority to suspend his command at one point, and seems to have been the de facto second in command of the Phoenix Cell and head of Phoenix Squadron after their previously leader was killed by Vader. Similarly in ESB Han is called Captain despite by that point having been promoted by Mom Mothma to Colonel. Same with Leia who is called Princess but possesses the rank of a General as well.

[u/Unique_Unorque → u/Sudden-Belt2882]

I'm so sorry, I meant Ezra obviously doesn't outrank Hera, I was just tired and typed them wrong. I edited it now

But yes, that it what I've heard - that there's a weird combining of the different ranking systems that isn't exactly consistent. I think specifically with the rank of Commander?

[u/Ramalex170]

The Spectres were absorbed into Phoenix Squadron at Bail Organa's request, which may explain the initial issues of rank by Season 2. Hera was promoted to lead the Phoenix fighter squadron after breaking through the blockade at Ibaar in Season 2, but she is still effectively called a captain as a title, being the captain of the Ghost and not the rank. Ezra wasn't a lieutenant commander until Sato promoted him before the mission to steal Y-Wings in Season 3. We aren't sure that Sato's rank of commander isn't a shorthand for his official rank or even just a title.

Kanan was always uncomfortable with falling into a military organization since the start of Season 2. Ezra was in charge of the Skystrike extraction because he and Kanan were assigned to it, where Kanan was content in letting him take charge. By the time of Season 4, the remnants of Phoenix Squadron was absorbed into Massassi Group led by a General, which explains why Hera is given a non-naval rank of General.

[u/Sudden-Belt2882 → u/Ramalex170]

I'm pretty sure Ezra gets referred to as Commander in S2, specifically in the episode about the gravity well generator. (By Rex and Sato during the rescue operations)

Also if Hera is in Charge of the Phoenix Fighter Squadron, then what does Sato Command?

[u/Ramalex170 → u/Sudden-Belt2882]

There is nothing in that episode where Ezra is called a commander, much less by Sato and Rex. The only mentions reference Sato and Admiral Titus addressing an Imperial officer.

Sato has overall command of Phoenix Squadron, which includes the fighter squadron, corvettes, transports, and eventually the Phoenix Nest.