I recently purchased and read through AToW (PDF version), and I have two questions about rank trait requirements for mechwarriors and aerospace pilots. Military school-trained mechwarriors and aerospace pilots are required to have the rank trait for their basic training/basic training (naval) fields (p. 84). In addition, the general rank table (p. 124) seems to suggest that an enlisted mechwarrior/aerospace pilot should have at least a +5 TP rank trait (i.e., E5 rank or greater).
The sample mechwarrior presented in AToW (p. 94) has a +5 TP rank trait, which supports that idea, but the sample aerospace pilot (p. 96) only has a +4 TP rank trait. The sample aerospace pilot does not have all of the skills from the officer training field, so I assume the pilot’s rank is E4, which doesn’t seem to agree with the general rank table. All of that leads to my questions:
1. Is the E5 rank intended to be a hard and fast requirement for enlisted mechwarriors and aerospace pilots?
2. If not, then what would be the significance (if any) of an enlisted mechwarrior or aerospace pilot holding a rank below E5 (e.g., might that represent something like receiving a demotion, or going through family training rather than attending an official military academy)?
Thanks.
