BTW/AWSF Ratings - Wiki of Yore

Unskilled labor on ships is done by drones; the small amount of such work for which drones are not suitable can be done on a secondary basis by the specialist crew. There are not normally any unrated spacers on ships, apart from training ships. (A lot of training is done in VR simulations, allowing a great deal of simulated hands-on mentored work to be done in early non-ship-based training.)

To get assigned to a ship you have to complete some kind of specialist training. Spacer recruits who repeatedly fail to achieve this goal wash out of the Space Force Training Program, which has no great difficulty meeting its recruiting targets (which are low, since the SF is downsizing.)

A spacer can have multiple ratings due to cross-training. More senior enlisted are especially likely to have multiple ratings, not only because of having had more time to obtain them, but because such evidence of versatility is looked upon favorably in consideration for promotion. Some ratings are difficult to obtain without attending the associated classes in at the Spacer Training College, but thanks to pervasive use of virtual reality and tutorial programs, none formally require attendance there. (A final real-world practicum may be required, the facilities and instructors for which may not be available on all vessels.)

Name	Abbreviation	Competencies
Spaceborne Infantry, Combat Engineering	IE	Construction, demolotion, etc under combat conditions, orbital or planetside
Spaceborne Infantry, Heavy Weapons	IH	Specialist in using and maintaining heavy weapons
Spaceborne Infantry, Medic	IM	Specialist in trauma / battlefield medicine
Spaceborne Infantry, Power Armor Mechanic	IP	Maintain the powered environmental suit armor worn by spaceborne infantry
Spaceborne Infantry, Security & Policing	IS	Stand security watches as needed, Maintain order on and guard ships and installations, carry out boarding/inspections
Operator, Astrogation	OA	Stand ship control watch, use autohelm, plan manoeuvres and celestial observations
Operator, Communications	OC	Stand communications room watch, operate communications and special security equipment
Operator, Control & Situation	OS	Stand situation coordinator watch, operate control room displays and equipment
Operator, Tactical	OT	Operate weapons, prepare attack plans, coordinate tactical information in control room (warships only)
Pilot, Atmospheric	PA	Operate atmospheric craft, including takeoff, atmospheric entry, etc.
Pilot, Orbital	PO	Operate orbital craft, including rendezvous and docking procedures, etc.
Specialist, Administrative	SA	Do ship's office work, keep records, manage finances.
Specialist, Culinary	SC	Plan, prepare and serve meals.
Specialist, Hibernation	SH	Monitor hibernating people, conduct routine pre-hibernation exams, induce and conclude hibernation
Specialist, Logistics	SL	Plan supply loads, disburse supplies, monitor consumables status, handle related communications
Specialist, Medical	SM	Perform basic medical and dental procedures, conduct health status exams
Technician, Armor and Protective Equipment	TA	Maintain personal protective equipment, space suits, and powered armor
Technician, Power Systems	TD	Stand Power Distribution Operator watch, maintain electrical distribution system, large electromagnetic machinery and power electronics
Technician, Electronics	TE	Maintain electronics
Technician, Informatics	TI	Maintain computers and software
Technician, Laboratory & Monitoring	TL	Maintain safety systems and process sensors, instrument calibration
Technician, Mechanical	TM	Maintain mechanical systems including cryogenic refrigeration
Technician, Nuclear Drive	TN	Stand Propulsion Plant Operator watch, maintain some drive components
Technician, Photonics	TP	Maintain optical and laser equipment
Technician, Robotics	TR	Maintain drones and automated mechanical systems
Technician, Life Support	TS	Stand Life Support Operator watch, maintain and monitor the life support system
Technician, Thrusters and Chemical Engines	TT	Maintain RCS thrusters, chemical / thermochemical engines and systems
Technician, Weapons	TW	Maintain weapons and weapon systems (warships only)

Ratings can have subspecialty qualifications. E.g. TN/He3 - Nuclear drive technician, helium3/deuterium fusion subspecialty. SM/D - Dental hygienist.

Spacer Training and Careers

People who wish to enlist with the Space Force complete preliminary applications and screening online before an in-person physical exam and proctored aptitude test are conducted at an AWSF intake center on each planet. Candidates who pass and who desire to enlist do so and are transported at intervals to one of two AWSF Training Facilities, one on Thane for the Spaceborne Infantry, and the other on the Capital Station orbiting New Iridia, for all other Spacers. There, they complete orientation and basic training over the course of 30 working days, and an additional 35 working days of broad training particular to their broad role (Infantry or Spacer). Attrition is about 10%.

Having completed these two stages, the recruit, now a trainee, is enrolled in a training program based on a combination of SF needs and recruit aptitudes and interests. Programs vary significantly in length, from 70 to 300 working days. Cumulative attrition is about 17%. Having completed this training, enlistment bonuses are paid out and the newly-minted Spacers are assigned to fill the AWSF's needs. Enlistment is for five years of active duty from completion of training. Enlistments after the first are for a negotiable amount of time down to 1 year minimum. Time spent in hibernation is counted toward the enlistment period, and AWSF personnel get full pay in hibernation, distinguishing it from some other spacefairing organizations. Excessive time spent in hibernation (more than 1/3rd of the enlistment term) entitles the spacer to a Chronological/Biological Age Discrepancy credit, reducing their enlistment term and paying a compensatory bonus. The AWSF usually makes human resources decisions to avoid having to pay out for CBAD (i.e. by rotating different spacers through long-duration missions where possible) but some Spacers without strong social or family attachments actively seek out long-duration missions to complete their enlistment term with a minimum of actual working (i.e. time spent not hibernating.)

Reenlisting spacers showing aptitude for leadership become eligible more senior positions, i.e. as NCOs. The Space Force also aims to draw 40-50% of its commissioned officers from the enlisted Spacers and the AWSF Academy prioritizes applicants who have completed an enlistment. Many spacers, after completing their enlistment, go on to jobs in the commercial space transport industry, to technical jobs on planets and stations, or to higher education. The AWSF expects about 30-40% of spacers who complete their first enlistment to eventually continue with the AWSF in some capacity.