Clan castes - how are they defined?

[Frabby]

This interesting thread here (Gunners on Clan dropships = Warriors?) and the many good arguments brought forward got me thinking:

Is there any clear definition of any of the Clan castes anywhere?

What determines your caste as a Clansman? (The impression given is that changing caste is near impossible, save for getting one chance to test up for Warrior.)

[Vition2]

This interesting thread here (Gunners on Clan dropships = Warriors?) Is there any clear definition of any of the Clan castes anywhere?

Completely clear? No, but the closest you will probably get is in Warriors of Kerensky, where it breaks down the castes and sub-castes - some ambiguity remains though.

What determines your caste as a Clansman? (The impression given is that changing caste is near impossible, save for getting one chance to test up for Warrior.)

Testing and aptitude.  The early years of many clanners appear to heavily observed, noted and used to rate a child for it's most effective role in the clan. 

[chaosticket]

Huh, I dont know if you know much of the backstory. The Clans are made up of genetically engineered humans. They are created to fulfill certain caste roles by combining DNA from donors.

The testing varies. The Jade Falcon trilogy novels illustrates the Warrior Caste as being born and raised in Creches. Clans dont have birth parents but rather are raised in groups of their genetic Siblings called "sibkos" short for SIbling Companies. After they are born they train from childhood for whatever role their were created for. Warriors are basically raised in Boot Camps by experienced Clan Warriors. Mechwarriors are the highest aspiration for the Warrior caste. Anyone that fails their Trial of Position(Live fire combat test in a battlemech against others) is instead related to either a subcaste like vehicle crew or shifted to a lesser caste like Laborers or battlemech maintenance.

Mechwarriors are the top tier of the warrior caste. Vehicle crews are lesser, but some clans have greater priorities. Just amoung the warrior caste there is an Aerospace Fighter genetic type as well as the Elemental powered armor infantry type. Clan Snow Raven has a type just for Warships.

The other castes are less clear as the Clans are heavily focused as a Warrior Culture. Scientists exist to design and dsign technology and maintain the system for creating more clan personnel.

The Laborer Caste is made up of people that fail in other castes but likely are also made up designed Clanners. This is the most likely place for people conceived and born without test tubes system Mechwarriors are.