Space Military Nomeclature

[ArmorPierce]

Actually, with current trends, I think that the USA will be the first with a space force because we are already pushing for space weapons in which China among other countries are objecting to wanting to keep weapons out of space. Anywayz, Ships will not be manned and be controlled by either the ship AI or a combination of of ship AI and maintenance crew of robots. Men might still be the officers who makes the decisions, though.

[Wicked Pilot]

If I may be allowed to throw my two and a half cents in,

It seems most likely that a manned space military would need to exist only if there was an off world threat such as bad aliens of disgruntal Mars colonist. Assuming one is found and poses a danger, I would imagine that all the space farring nations would come together in their efforts to protect the earth. Kinda like how the European nations formed NATO.

I predict that this earth space force would use naval ranks, because eventually in the future sea navies will become obselete and abandoned, while armies and security forces would still exist. Therefore, traditional naval ranks would be used to destinguish space and terrestial forces.

[David]

IMHO I think it'll be a combination of Naval and Airforce ranks, like on Carriers. The ship ranks will be Naval, fighter pilot and technician ranks will be Airforce. Tho total Airforce rank structure shouldn't be ruled out entirely given the fact that the Navy will have little to do with space-based militaries. The fact that the airforce will be the foundation for a spaceforce is going to likely give rank.

I doubt fighters would be used in space.

I guess we're talking about sci-fi, and most sci-fi does have fighters.

[Xuenay]

I guess we're talking about sci-fi, and most sci-fi does have fighters.

Most sci-fi has fighters because they're cool.

Realistically speaking (which we are doing), however, fleets would not use fighters just because they're cool.

[ArmorPierce]

They might use fighters for fast short strikes, but fighters definitely won't be used heavily in a space combat. Gunshps/support craft will probably be more heavily used.

[Shortie]

They might use fighters for fast short strikes, but fighters definitely won't be used heavily in a space combat. Gunshps/support craft will probably be more heavily used.

Or some kind of smallish missile boat maybe.

I'd go for a mix of airforce and naval ranks, because I'd see the former evolving into planetary protection \ fighting near grav wells, and the latter doing the real deep-space stuff.

[Headshots_Sold_Here]

I get the feeling that the first space forces will not have fighters because the ships will not be very large, yet a space based fighter will be larger then an atmophereic fighter. Eventually some guy will reinstate fighters during one war or another, and procede to assfuck every opponent with "trench run disease" the NR pilot term for fighter ownage due to lack of small enough guns.
And why the fuck will china get the first space forces? care to enlighten me?

[Crown]

I would also like to believe that it would follow the Navy of today ranking system. It just seems more appropriate when dealing with 'ships'. I think the best example of a what-could-happen-scenario is Space: Above And Beyond. It still has an Airforce, but they are on planet the Navy and Marines are the ones that 'travel'.