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 early non-ship training.) Mindless 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.

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, which has no great difficulty meeting its recruiting targets (which are low, since the SF is downsizing.)

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 spacers, 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

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)

TN/He3 - Nuclear drive technician, helium3/deuterium fusion subspecialty.