LI Jon. I 2015 (Armed Forces)

The purpose of this Act is to reform the administration and rank structure of; and to establish symbols and provisions for uniform and equipment standards for the Austenasian Armed Forces.

XI Jon. I 2013 Paragraphs 5, 6, 7, 9, 12; and LXIII Jon. I 2015 Paragraphs 5, 6, 8 are hereby repealed.

XI Jon. I 2013 Paragraph 10 is amended as follows: “Enlisted personnel and officers must obey orders issued by a member of the Austenasian Armed Forces who outranks them unless they conflict with orders issued by a higher ranking officer.”

The Austenasian Armed Forces are comprised of the Austenasian Army, the Imperial Navy and the Imperial Air Force.

The branches of the Austenasian Armed Forces are commanded by their respective administrative chiefs;

1. The Austenasian Army is commanded by the Chief of Staff of the Austenasian Army, who holds the rank of Magister Militum;

2. The Imperial Navy is commanded by the Chief of Naval Operations, who holds the rank of Admiral; and

3. The Imperial Air Force is commanded by the Chief of Air Staff, who holds the rank of Marshal.

The Ministry of Defence Rank Code is henceforth established as the unified rank structure of the Austenasian Armed Forces, divided into officers and enlisted.

Officers in the Austenasian Armed Forces receive commissions from the Emperor and are vested with command of units, vessels, aircraft, and assistants to officers who are vested with said command.

1. The rank grade AO-7 consists of the ranks of Magister Militum in the Austenasian Army, Admiral in the Imperial Navy and Marshal in the Imperial Air Force. Officers of the grade AO-7 are the most senior in their respective branches. The grade of AO-7 is reserved for the administrative chiefs and the Minister of Defence should he/she be a member of a branch of the Austenasian Armed Forces.

2. The rank grade AO-6 consists of the ranks of Dux in the Austenasian Army, Vice Admiral in the Imperial Navy and Vice Marshal in the Imperial Air Force. Officers of the grade AO-6 are vested with command of large geographical areas, or can be executive officers in the staff of the administrative chiefs should they desire to establish such a staff.

3. The rank grade AO-5 consists of the ranks of Legate in the Austenasian Army, Rear Admiral in the Imperial Navy and Air Commodore in the Imperial Air Force. Officers of the grade AO-5 are vested with command of legions in the Austenasian Army, fleets in the Imperial Navy and air brigades in the Imperial Air Force, or can be officers in the staff of the administrative chiefs should they desire to establish such a staff.

4. The rank grade AO-4 consists of the ranks of Tribune in the Austenasian Army, Commodore in the Imperial Navy and Group Captain in the Imperial Air Force. Officers of the grade AO-4 are vested with command of cohorts in the Austenasian Army, task forces in the Imperial Navy and groups in the Imperial Air Force.

5. The rank grade AO-3 consists of the ranks of Centurion in the Austenasian Army, Captain in the Imperial Navy and Wing Commander in the Imperial Air Force. Officers of the grade AO-3 are vested with command of centuries in the Austenasian Army, flotillas and large vessels in the Imperial Navy and wings and large aircraft in the Imperial Air Force. The grade of AO-3 is the most junior in the Austenasian Army.

6. The rank grade AO-2 consists of the ranks of Commander in the Imperial Navy and Squadron Leader in the Imperial Air Force. Officers of the grade AO-2 are commanders of smaller vessels in the Imperial Navy and squadrons and smaller aircraft in the Imperial Air Force.

7. The rank grade AO-1 consists of the ranks of Lieutenant in the Imperial Navy and Flight Lieutenant in the Imperial Air Force. Officers of the grade AO-1 are the most junior in the Imperial Navy and the Imperial Air Force, and are deputy and interim commanders of vessels and aircraft and are assistants to unit commanders in their respective branches.

Enlisted personnel in the Austenasian Armed Forces who have joined the Armed Forces by means of enlistment. Enlisted personnel consists of junior enlisted personnel and senior enlisted personnel, or non-commissioned officers, who assist commissioned officers and maintain discipline.

1. The rank grade AE-5 consists of the ranks of Sergeant Major in the Austenasian Army, Master Chief Petty Officer in the Imperial Navy and Chief Master Sergeant in the Imperial Air Force. Senior enlisted personnel of the grade AE-5 are the most senior in their respective branches. The grade AE-5 is reserved for the senior enlisted advisors of the commanders of units.

2. The rank grade AE-4 consists of the ranks of Sergeant in the Austenasian Army, Chief Petty Officer in the Imperial Navy and Master Sergeant in the Imperial Air Force. Senior enlisted personnel of the grade AE-4 are enlisted leaders, serving under their respective AE-5 and unit commander, who ensure that enlisted personnel of their respective unit are disciplined and follow the commands of officers and senior enlisted personnel.

3. The rank grade AE-3 consists of the ranks of Corporal in the Austenasian Army, Petty Officer in the Imperial Navy and Staff Sergeant in the Imperial Air Force. Senior enlisted personnel of the grade AE-3 serve as assistants to senior enlisted personnel of the grade AE-4.

4. The rank grade AE-2 consists of the ranks of Private in the Austenasian Army, Seaman in the Imperial Navy and Airman First Class in the Imperial Air Force. Junior enlisted personnel of the grade AE-2 serve as more senior soldiers/sailors/airmen. The grade of AE-2 is the most junior in the Austenasian Army.

5. The rank grade AE-1 consists of the ranks of Seaman Apprentice in the Imperial Navy and Airman Apprentice in the Imperial Air Force. Junior enlisted personnel of the grade AE-1 are the most junior in the Imperial Navy and the Imperial Air Force, and serve as basic sailors/airmen.

The posts of senior enlisted advisors to the administrative chiefs are hereby established, and shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the respective administrative chief.

1. The Sergeant Major of the Army shall be the senior enlisted advisor to the Chief of Staff of the Army, and shall hold the rank of Sergeant Major.

2. The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Imperial Navy shall be the senior enlisted advisor to the Chief of Naval Operations, and shall hold the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer.

3. The Chief Master Sergeant of the Imperial Air Force shall be senior enlisted advisor to the Chief of Air Staff, and shall hold the rank of Chief Master Sergeant.

The War Council shall convene during times of war and is responsible for the overall command of the Armed Forces during wartime. The War Council is comprised of the Monarch, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Defence, the administrative chiefs and the senior enlisted advisors to the administrative chiefs.

The Joint Administrative Chiefs shall convene during times of peace to advise the Monarch and the Ministry of Defence on military matters, and shall consist of the administrative chiefs.

Uniform standards for the branches of the Austenasian Armed Forces shall be established by their respective administrative chiefs or by the Ministry of Defence.

The branches of the Austenasian Armed Forces shall henceforth have their own flags to serve as symbols of the respective branches. The flags of the Austenasian Armed Forces shall be flown below the Austenasian Star but on equal level to each other.

1. The flag of the Austenasian Army shall consist of a red field with the Austenasian Star in the canton and the coat of arms of the Empire, sans motto and scroll, in front of two crossed swords or in the fly.

2. The flag of the Imperial Navy shall consist of a blue field with the Austenasian Star in the canton and a unicorn holding anchor and rope, colored or and gules and argent in the fly.

3. The flag of the Imperial Air Force shall consist of a grey-blue field with the Austenasian Star in the canton and the roundel of the Imperial Air Force – that is, Roundel in Austenasian colors, a large disk or with Austenasian star gules, Chi Rho sable and Alpha and Omega sable – in the fly.

The branches of the Austenasian Armed Forces may adopt marches to serve as the official songs of the respective branches on the order of the respective administrative chief.

The Ministry of Defence may, in conjunction with the respective administrative chief, establish uniform standards for the branches of the Austenasian Armed Forces.

The Ministry of Defence may, in conjunction with the Joint Administrative Chiefs, establish equipment standards for the Austenasian Armed Forces.