The history of the STAR TREK universe is filled with the exploits of Star Fleet, but what about other organizations that directly contribute the to the security of the United Federation of Planets? There are two such other organizations that coexist with Star Fleet in maintaining the security of the Federation and a third that is responsible for the enforcement of law within the UFP.
The UFP Ground Corps is the "army" of the UFP. They deal in military operations on a planetary surface. They are commanded by a Chief in Command (who holds the rank of General), the same as Star Fleet. They differ, however, in the names of the ranks. They are in order, from highest to lowest: Officers: Officers must attend Ground Corps Academy, which is located at Sao Paulo, Brazil, Earth.
Warrant Officers: Warrant Officers must attend a two year program of study at the Academy, after completing a tour as an enlisted soldier. They are technical specialists and aerospace pilots, and rarely hold command. Ground Corps is in command of their own aerospace craft for close air support and orbital insertion of troops.
Non-Commissioned Officers and Enlisted soldiers: They must attend training at Utopia Planitia, Mars for a period of time dependent upon their specialty (6 to 13 months). Non-Commissioned Officers (Sergeant and above) receive specialized training at the Academy for promotion to the next higher rank.
Ground Corps performs all planet based military operations including Raids, Covert Operations, Reconnaissance, Assaults, Defenses, Ambushes, Prisoner Rescue, etc. The need for Ground Corps is often overlooked, but they have a purpose simply because a planet is not "secure" until all hostile elements have been eliminated. Ground Corps soldiers are highly trained specialists and not an organization that plays second fiddle to Star Fleet. There is a hefty rivalry between Ground Corps and Star Fleet Security "Marines". Although SF Marines are trained in similar skills, a starships marine complement is not large enough to conduct surface missions beyond Platoon size. The SF Marines use the same rank structure as Ground Corps, but is completely under the command of Star Fleet. Star Fleet Security ("Marines") is considered a distinct branch of Star Fleet, but has many of it's own traditions. Star Fleet Security has it's own Academy located at Tycho, Luna.
Ground Corps is transported by Star Fleet spacecraft to the area of operations and once in orbit, control of the ship switches from Star Fleet to the senior Ground Corps Officer. Ground Corps primarily sees Star Fleet as transportation and orbital fire support.
Star Fleet Security is a separate branch within Star Fleet that is tasked with providing security for all Star Fleet facilities and ships as well as providing limited capabilities for the conduct of combat operations on planetary surfaces. They have the same rank structure as Ground Corps although the level of command differs. Their highest ranking officer is the Commandant of the Corps (C of C) who holds the rank of General. There is only one General in Star Fleet. The average compliment of Marines on a ship depends upon it's class and the mission. The average marine compliment per ship class is as follows:
The senior marine is the commander of the ship's troops while the next highest rank (Major for Battleships and Heavy Cruisers, Captains for Cruisers and Frigates, First Lieutenants for Destroyers), is Chief of Security.
Officers: Officers must attend Ground Corps Academy, which is located at Tycho, Luna.
Warrant Officers: Warrant Officers must attend a two year program of study at the Academy, after completing a tour as an enlisted soldier. They are technical specialists and pilots, and rarely hold command.
Non-Commissioned Officers and Enlisted soldiers: They must attend training at Tycho, Luna for a period of time dependent upon their specialty (6 to 13 months). Non-Commissioned Officers (Sergeant and above) receive specialized training at the Academy for promotion to the next higher rank.
UFP Intelligence is another branch of the UFP that deals with Intelligence, Counter Intelligence and Covert Operations. They do not have a formalized organization but rather they draw upon the resources of both Star Fleet and Ground Corps for both manpower and equipment. They do not have any personnel below the rank of Sergeant (for Ground Corps and Star Fleet Security personnel) or Junior Petty Officer (for Star Fleet personnel). They are organized into two classes of operational teams. The first of these is the Operational team which is formed for a single operation. The second of these is a Prime team which is a team of individuals who undergo intense training in military and intelligence skills at "Prime Central" located at Tycho, Luna. Prime teams are considered the "best of the best" in the United Federation of Planets and undertake extremely difficult and sensitive missions all over the Federation and beyond.
The following is a list of the enlisted ranks for Star Fleet:
The UFP has many member worlds with vastly different systems of law. When an individaul leaves a planet, that individual is no longer held responsible to the laws of his/her home system, but rather the laws of the United Federation of Planets. These laws are fairly simple and easy to live by as the vast majority of them are already enforced on all UFP member worlds.
There are situations when a suspect/fugitive will depart his/her home system and be sought by their home system's law enforcement agencies. When the individual is deemed enough of a threat that Federation resources must be utilized to aid in his capture, the following is fairly routine. First the home system must make an announcement to the UFP Beaureau of Justice and Investigative Services. This is done on a routine basis by all Federation member worlds. When there is a substantial threat that an individual or group poses and the local authorities either request aid or if the UFP BJIS feels that the local authorities are unable to handle the situation, they will dispatch a group (or an individual) to either aid the local authorities or to take charge of the situation.
The UFP BJIS is broken down into several groups, each responsible for a different area of law enforcement.
Federation Rangers are usually dispatched either alone or in groups of no more than four. They are all qualified pilots and are equipped with small warp capable ships to provide their own transportation. They are extremely well armed and trained and are almost never seen on or near the core worlds. They are almost exclusively used on the frontier to combat piracy and lawlessness of a general sort.
Federation Marshalls are responsible for the tracking of fugitives and are generally equipped with warp capable ships, although if travelling covertly, they will make use of civilian or military transportation depending upon the situation.
Federation Sheriffs are responsible for vast areas of space with few habitable worlds. They are aided by a number of deputies that are also well trained. Many are equipped with low warp speed ships to aid in the patrolling of large tracts of space. Sheriffs are generally based out of starbases.
Federation Constables are tasked primarilly with the apprehension of wanted suspects. They typically do not undertake the high risk operations that Federation Marshalls are often tasked with. They may also be used for general policing duties in the periphery and frontier of the Federation where regular Federation Police have not had time to be formed and equipped.
Federation Police are a regular police organization that is responsible for general law and order on and immediately surrounding Federation Property. They often work directly with Star Fleet Security "Marines" in Garrison, and they have a working relationship, if not too friendly.
The relationships between a local (planetary) police force and the Federation law enforcement presence is never stable and may sway from friendly and cooperative to disdain and belligerence with each and every encounter. The UFP assets are, on average, better trained, equipped and outfitted, but some exceptions do occur.
There have also been occasions where felons fleeing one system has been welcomed with open arms in another with UFP BJIS assets looking on in stunned confusion. When this occurs, there is usually a joint operation conducted with UFP Intelligence and UFP BJIS trying to discover why and who is guilty, or if indeed, a crime was even committed.