Brotherhood of Steel hierarchy

As a military-born organization, the Brotherhood of Steel uses ranks to distinguish its various members. The different localized splinter factions use ranking systems which differ to some extent from that of the original Brotherhood.

West Coast
Initiates are trainees who are expected to perform well enough in the training process to be promoted to Senior Initiates, and later to Apprentices. After proving themselves, Apprentices are promoted to Journeyman Knights or Scribes. The next rank is Senior Knight/Scribe, and finally the leader of each of these orders is the Head Knight and Head Scribe.

Scribes are responsible for copying the ancient technologies, maintaining the current technology and even experimenting with new weapons and other useful devices. 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.

Knights are responsible for manufacturing the weapons and other pieces of technology, although they also take part in combat activities. After many years of service and experience, the best Knights are promoted to Paladins - the pinnacle of the Brotherhood military. Paladins are in charge of all security and outside activities. The Paladin ranks are Junior Paladin, Paladin, Senior Paladin, and Head Paladin. As all Paladins are also Knights, the Head Paladin is usually also the Head Knight. Paladins who survive to their later years become Elders, and they number among the Brotherhood ruling council. The leader of the council and the Brotherhood itself is the High Elder, usually descended from the Maxson family.

Capital Wasteland
The Capital Wasteland detachment utilizes a slightly different system than the original Brotherhood out west, for instance, the Paladins are not a separate caste but a rank. Paladins are leaders of squads or elite warriors and must earn their rank. Knight Sergeants are in command of larger groups of knights and paladins,or in command of a base like Knight Sergeant Wilks. The next rank, Knight Captain, is given veteran soldiers and they command their own base and troops, but only in some cases: 3 of the 4 known Knight Captains are in Lyons Pride. The fourth, Knight Captain Durga, is head of supply. In this splinter faction, the Head Paladin is instead titled "Star Paladin".

Midwest
The Midwestern Brotherhood of Steel 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 (even lower one being Squire) and are not allowed to use Power Armors. The Inquisitors are the Brotherhood's law enforcement and intelligence.

High Elder
The High Elder is the leader of the entire Brotherhood of Steel and the other Elders. Since all other known High Elders came from the Maxson family, it has been speculated that Rhombus was descended from Roger Maxson as well. There were most likely some High Elders between Rhombus and Jeremy Maxson.

Known High Elders:
 * Roger Maxson (2077 - 2135)
 * Maxson II (first name unknown, 2135 - 2155)
 * John Maxson (2155 - ?)
 * Rhombus (? - 2208)
 * Jeremy Maxson (ca. 2231 - ?)

Elder
The Elders form the Brotherhood's ruling council. Individual Elders are occasionally leaders of localized splinter factions of the Brotherhood. Under normal circumstances, the ability to become an elder is reserved for Paladins, although there are exceptions, such as Elijah, who was a scribe.

General
Generals control all of the Brotherhoods 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.

Sentinel
Sentinel is a rank used by the Capital Wasteland Brotherhood of Steel, ranking between Paladin and Elder. The only member of the Brotherhood to have achieved this rank at the time of Fallout 3 is Sarah Lyons, who leads the Lyons' Pride elite unit.

Head Paladin
The Head Paladin is responsible for dealing with the paladins in the same way the Head Knight does but the Head Paladin chooses which paladins should lead each knight squad and which areas would be good for a new base of operations. The Head Paladin has meetings with the High Elder, Elders, Head Scribe, Generals and Head Knight and both the Head Knight and Head Paladin report to the High Elder and Generals, no one else. The Head Paladin and Knight don't tend to go out into the field of battle they only enter battle when there is an extremely hard foe like a Super Mutant Army, The Enclave or Caesar's Legion. When they do enter a battle it is almost certain that they will have a huge army protecting them and will very rarely be seen on the front line, they normally sit back with the Generals and give strategic orders to the soldiers.

Head Knight
The Head Knight is responsible for dealing with which knights should be sent on missions, to defend bases or to secure areas of interest and to report all incidents involving the knights to the Generals, Elders or High Elder depending on the severity of the situation. The Head Knights also are a part of meetings with the High Elder, Elders, Head Scribe, Generals and Head Paladin like Knight Commanders and Knight Captains in the Midwestern Brotherhood of Steel and Capital Wasteland Brotherhood of Steel.

Inquisitor
The highest rank that is still occupied by several battle-hardened soldiers. An Inquisitor is a special rank of the Midwest Brotherhood, and they are usually extremely sadistic. They're in charge of interrogation and intelligence within the Brotherhood, and are not restricted by very many of the Brotherhood's code when it comes to their job.

Paladin Commander
Paladin Commanders control squads of paladins and group together in the A ring to discuss battle plans, they also report directly to the Head Paladin.

Knight Commander
Knight Commanders control groups of knights in the brotherhood and group up inside the A ring to discuss battle plans and such at a round table area. They report to the Head Knight.

Star Paladin
Star Paladin is a rank held in the Capital Wasteland Brotherhood of Steel. It is ranked below Sentinel, but above Paladin. Star Paladin Cross, who can be recruited by the player, is presumed to be the only holder of this rank in Fallout 3. The rank of Star Paladin appears to be very similar to the Paladin Lord rank in other Brotherhood of Steel cells, due to what Star Paladin Cross says about Elder Lyons allowing her to pursue separate projects (like following the Lone Wanderer).

Paladin Lord
Paladin Lords are paladins which lead special operations outside of the army. They only report to the High Elder and Head Paladin. Their operations are sometimes kept secret from the Generals, because they can go against 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.

Knight Captain
Knight Captain is a rank used by the Capital Wasteland Brotherhood of Steel. In Fallout 3, there are four known members of the brotherhood who have achieved this rank, which are Knight Captain Dusk, Gallows and Colvin from Lyons' Pride as well as Knight Captain Durga. They have full command of a company of knights and paladins under their command. Taking orders only from a Sentinel or Elder. As leader, she is free to take part in major operations or a large field of leadership.

Knight Sergeant
Knight Sergeant is a rank used by the Capital Wasteland Brotherhood of Steel, denoting a position above Paladin and below Knight Captain. The rank gives a command of two to three squads of knights and paladins. As well as the command of base or outpost like GNR.

Senior Paladin
Senior Paladins are Paladins which show promise to become Paladin Commanders, Paladin Lords or Sentinels. They are very well respected among other Paladins and Knights, and can increase the morale of soldiers greatly.

Senior Knight
Senior Knights are Knights which show promise to move up to be Paladins, Knight Commanders or Knight Captains. They are very well respected among the other Knights, and in the western Brotherhood of Steel they are some of the top mechanics and engineers. An example of a senior knight is Lorenzo from Fallout New Vegas

Paladin


Paladins are a class of members of the Brotherhood of Steel. They are likened to the Scribes and Knights of the Brotherhood as being on the same level, but with a different purpose. They are the protectors of the Brotherhood, fighting and protecting its interests across the wasteland, equipped with Power Armor and an array of lethal weapons.

As mentioned in Chris Avellone's Fallout Bible 8, "the scribes develop technology, the knights build it, and the paladins use it."

Contrary to the original Brotherhood, Owyn Lyons has changed the rank system - Paladins are no longer a separate caste, but a rank (albeit a high one) instead.

Operations Officer
The only known person of this rank is Operations Officer Edwards in Fallout 3.

Knight
Knights are responsible for manufacturing the weapons and other pieces of technology. After many years of service and experience, the best Knights are promoted to Paladins - the pinnacle of the Brotherhood military. The next rank is Senior Knight, and finally the leader the order is the Head Knight. As all Paladins are also Knights, the Head Paladin is usually also the Head Knight. Knights wear mostly Power Armor. The large gear in the Brotherhood of Steel symbol represents the Knights.

In the Capital Wasteland Brotherhood of Steel and Midwestern Brotherhood of Steel, "Knight" is a strictly military rank and the Scribes are the ones responsible for manufacturing technology there. This rank is most likely the equivalent of real-life non-commissioned officers (corporal to sergeant).

Junior Knight
Not much is known about this rank only that it is higher than Journeyman Knight.

Journeyman Knight
Not much is known about this rank only that it is higher than Initiate.

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 BoS.

Squire
The only Capital Wasteland Brotherhood of Steel member of this rank in 2277 is Arthur Maxson, which would imply that the rank is reserved for children and is lower than Initiate. It is possible that this rank is used similarly in the original Lost Hills Brotherhood. Squire was originally a title which ranked above Initiates and were to receive training out in the field unlike the Initiates.

In the Midwestern Brotherhood of Steel, Squires are one step above Initiates and are the least experienced and trained of the Brotherhood active military.

Senior Initiate
Senior Initiates are Initiates which have completed basic training and move on to more advanced training.

Initiate
Initiate is one of the lowest ranks in the Brotherhood of Steel's rank system. The precise definition of the rank appears to vary between the regional chapters.

The West Coast division uses the term to indicate a mere trainee as having been initiated into the Brotherhood, whereas the other two reserve that title until the recruit has completed initial training. The most plausible explanation lies in the fact that the West Coast division is significantly more insular than the others; the bulk of its new recruits are the offspring of existing members, and only rarely are outsiders accepted into the organization. By contrast, circumstances have forced the other two divisions to actively recruit from among the local population.

Both the West Coast and Midwestern divisions divide the rank into "buck" Initiate and Senior Initiate. It is not known whether the East Coast division follows this practice.

In the West Coast division, Initiate is the base rank of one who has only just been accepted into the Brotherhood as a trainee. After completing initial training, Initiates are slated to become either Scribes or Knights, and are promoted to Apprentice in the appropriate branch. Initiates on the West Coast were also not allowed to leave the Lost Hills Bunker and experience field combat they would have to rank up to Squire before they could actually fight without having a barrier between the bullets.

Unlike in the other BoS divisions, East Coast Initiates may even be issued power armor if their assignment merits it (as in the case of the ill-fated Initiate Reddin of the Lyons' Pride). They also were sent out into the field of battle to experience fighting the mutants for real, because of the low numbers of soldiers each Initiate must pull their own and to get them use to fighting this extraordinary enemy.

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. Initiates may advance to the rank of Squire.

In the Texas division, Initiates are members which are accepted and must prove themselves on the field. He receives a basic training in use of weapons and fight. He left immediately the main base shortly after the training, for a mission to prove their value and increase their rank over their prowess.

In the Mojave Wasteland, the ranks are the same, however there is one unique Mojave rank, Apprentice.

Head Scribe
The Head Scribe is the highest ranking civilian class of the BoS. The Head Scribe is responsible for choosing which Scribes work on which project and which scribes should be apart of each order. The Head Scribe also chooses the High Scribes or Proctors of each order and must also oversee each project each order is working on. The Head Scribe is a very intelligent person and has master all the orders Sword, Shield and Quill and may also take on a project of his/her own like Head Scribe Rothchild with the Liberty Prime Project. The Head Scribe is one of the people who must attend the meetings with the High Elder, Elder Council, Generals, Head Paladin and Head Knight. The Head Scribe Reports to the High Elder and Elder Council only.

High Scribe
The High Scribes are the Proctors of the Orders. There are three High Scribes: one of the Sword, Shield and Quill. They oversee and approve of each project that the Scribes in their order are working on, and assign the right Scribes to the right project. Each High Scribe must report to the Head Scribe on each project and to get approval to move ahead with a new project. The High Scribes will work on their own projects which are often completed very quickly because the High Scribes will prioritize them, and get all the Senior Scribes to work on their project. In some cases the High Scribes have been called to meetings with the High Elder and the Elder Council; The Capital Wasteland BoS tend to have their three High scribes (Peabody, Jameson, and Bowditch) in every meeting with Elder Lyons.

Senior Scribe
Senior Scribes are some of the most advanced Scribes. They are always chosen for the most important projects and are the next in line to become proctors of orders when the old proctor retires or dies. They often taken on the most promising Journeyman Scribes to be their apprentices and choose what order they should be in (normally its the order the Senior Scribe is in) they will teach their apprentices everything they know and will continue to teach them until they are near to become Senior Scribes themselves. On rare occasions the Senior Scribe will rank up to Head Scribe and their Apprentice will rank up to High Scribe when this occurs the apprentice will be given special treatment and the Elders usually separate the two to stop the bond the two have to make things fairer for the other High Scribes.

Scribe
Scribes are tasked with creating and keeping records of the technology used by the Brotherhood. The attitude of many scribes in the Brotherhood can be described as techno-centric, while a great number study history and culture the majority of scribes focus their studies on subjects related to the acquisition, repair or creation of technology.

Journeyman Scribe
Journeyman Scribes are Scribes in training. They are often taken in by one of the Senior Scribes and made apprentices. They are then taught to be full Scribes. If they are not apprenticed by a Senior Scribe they are often chosen to work on projects that are very insignificant. Journeyman Scribes start off in no order but will either pick which order to go in themselves or their master will choose for them.