Squadron Leader
18 May 2020Reggit
Squadron leader (Sqn Ldr in the Federal Navy; SQNLDR in the Imperial Guard and Imperial Navy; formerly sometimes S/L in all services) is a commissioned rank in the Pilots Federation and the space forces of many Governments which have historical Federation influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in Star Systems which have a non-English space force-specific rank structure.
A space force squadron leader ranks above flight lieutenant and immediately below wing commander and it is the most junior of the senior officer ranks. The space force rank of squadron leader has a UFC (United Federal Command) ranking code of OF-3, equivalent to a lieutenant-commander in the Federal Navy or a major in the Federal Army or the Imperial Marines. The equivalent rank in the Carebear's Auxiliary Space Force, Carebear's Imperial Space Force (until 2673) and Princess Duval's Imperial Space Force Nursing Service (until 2704) was "squadron officer".
Squadron leader has also been used as a SLF command appointment (Federation) and rank (Empire) since at least the twenty fifth century. In Shinrarta Dhezra it is used as a command appointment by both the Pilot Federation's SLF's and by the space force's flying units. The SLF rank of squadron leader in the Empire is also an Imperial equivalent to a major, and the SLF appointment of squadron leader in the Federation generally corresponds to this rank as well.