Rank
- This article is about the ranks an X-COM soldier can achieve, for alien ranks see Alien Ranks
Your soldiers can advance to higher ranks with experience, assuming you have a large enough number of soldiers to justify the promotion.
Higher ranked soldiers that are still in battle help keep morale high in an event of a a causalty. However, when they are killed or incapacited it means that the other soldiers suffer a big morale loss which could mean that they will panic or go berserk. You may find it useful for your highest ranked officers to act as a Rear Commander.
UFO: Enemy Unknown / X-COM: UFO Defense
| Rank | Notes |
|---|---|
| Commander |  Only one allowed over all X-COM Bases, requires at least 30 soldiers in all bases |
| Colonel |  Most experienced Captain is promoted to Colonel if opening present. 1 Colonel for 23 soldiers. |
| Captain |  Most experienced Sergeant is promoted to Captain if opening present. 1 Captain for 11 soldiers. |
| Sergeant |  Most experienced Squaddie is promoted to Sergeant if opening present. 1 Sergeant for 5 soldiers. |
| Squaddie |  Promotion is gained upon attacking any alien. |
| Rookie |  Starting rank for all new recruits |
| Rank | Notes |
|---|---|
| Captain |  Only one allowed over all X-COM Bases, requires at least 30 soldiers in all bases |
| Commander |  Most experienced Lieutenant is promoted to Commander if opening present. 1 Commander for 23 soldiers. |
| Lieutenant |  Most experienced Ensign is promoted to Lieutenant if opening present. 1 Lieutenant for 11 soldiers. |
| Ensign |  Most experienced Able Seaman is promoted to Ensign if opening present. 1 Ensign for 5 soldiers. |
| Able Seaman |  Promotion is gained upon attacking any alien. |
| Seaman |  Starting rank for all new recruits |