Brotherhood of Steel hierarchy (Midwest)

The Brotherhood of Steel in the Midwest relies on a strict hierarchy, which has been heavily modified from its Western origins to accommodate the different political and economic context in which the splinter chapter operates - particularly the aggressive expansionism and influx of raw recruits from lands it conquers.

Ranking system
The Midwestern branch has a rank system that differs from the original Brotherhood ranks. In the Midwest, the scribes act as both scientists and engineers, taking the place of both western scribes and knights. Midwestern knights are just a military rank lower in the hierarchy than paladins and are not allowed to use power armor. The inquisitors are the Brotherhood's law enforcement and intelligence. The "general" rank seems to be made from the real life general rank, and the "commanding officer" is the military leader of the Midwestern Brotherhood of Steel and also the only one rank higher than generals, responsible for giving mission orders to everyone, and also the only one that can give their opinion on the elders' politics. Also, the assignment into a commanding officer is done by the elders and only a general can become a commanding officer. Like all Brotherhood of Steel, the Midwestern elders are the leaders and the thinkers of all decisions.

Recruit
Officially not members of the Brotherhood proper, recruits must first complete initial training. Upon completion, they are immediately promoted to Initiate.

Initiate
In the Midwestern division, initiates are members who have completed initial training (and are thus one step above recruits), and the lowest rank that can be assigned to combat duty.

Senior initiate
Senior initiates are initiates who have completed basic training and move on to more advanced training. These initiates may advance to the rank of squire.

Squire
In the Midwestern Brotherhood, squires are one step above initiates and are the least experienced and trained of the Brotherhood active military.

Senior squire
Senior squires are squires which are ready to become knights and are taught all the requirements and oaths to be a knight of the Brotherhood of Steel.

Junior knight
The first rank among the knights, issued to senior squires who demonstrate competence. In the Midwestern division, "knight" is a strictly military rank and the scribes are the ones responsible for manufacturing technology there.

Knight
The buck knight rank, representing a competent fighter.

Senior knight
Experienced knights may be promoted to a position of seniority, overseeing the activities of their juniors.

Knight commander
Knight commanders are the highest ranking knights in the Eastern Brotherhood.

Junior paladin
The initial rank for a knight promoted to paladin status.

Paladin
The "base" rank of veteran soldiers of the Eastern Brotherhood, granted access to power armor and the finest weapons available.

Paladin commander
Paladin commanders are senior paladins tasked with leading other forces into the fray.

Paladin lord
Paladin lords are paladins who lead special operations outside of the main Brotherhood of Steel military. They only report to the high elder and head paladin. Their operations are sometimes kept secret from the generals because they often clash with Brotherhood military regulations. They are given specially selected squads that will follow the paladin lords without question and are forbidden to talk about their missions to other members of the Brotherhood.

General
Generals control all of the Brotherhood's military. They report to the high elder and the Elder Council and will only make a move if it's approved by them. They obtain the title of general by showing outstanding performance in military tactics and combat. They help decide the titles of the most promising recruits from initiates and squires all the way up to the head paladin and head knight.

Scribes
Scribes are tasked with creating and keeping records of the technology recovered and used by the Brotherhood and experimenting with new weapons and other useful devices to be used in the field by the knights and paladins. Scribes rarely leave the safety of the BoS bunkers, but they are sometimes called into the field to examine a piece of technology or perform a task beyond the skills of the Brotherhood soldiers. The attitude of many scribes in the Brotherhood can be described as techno-centric. While a great number study history and cultures, the majority of scribes focus their studies on subjects related to the acquisition, repair, or creation of technology.

Some scribes in the Midwest chapter organize themselves into unions similarly named to American labor unions.

Elder
The elders form the Brotherhood's ruling council. Individual elders may also be experts in certain areas and provide services, such as Celsius, the head of frontline medicine in the Eastern Brotherhood's bunkers.

Inquisitor
A characteristic element of the Eastern Brotherhood of Steel, inquisitors are roughly equivalent to a secret police unit. Feared even by members in good standing, inquisitors are in charge of processing prisoners of war, captives, and even people liberated by squads in the field, to identify and isolate threats to the Brotherhood. If someone is found to be an asset, they are released into Brotherhood service, though they seldom retain pleasant memories of their time with the inquisitors.

The inquisitors are also charged with silencing dissidents and suppressing embarrassments to the Brotherhood. This includes rounding up friends and families of anyone who challenges the Brotherhood's autocratic rule, for the purposes of internment, interrogation, and eventually hard labor or execution.

The inquisitors are mentioned in Fallout Tactics and were to appear in Fallout Tactics 2, the canceled sequel.