Rank vs Rank

[boot]

I've often wondered about the RotJ rank badges.  I say "RotJ", but they were seen in TESB, too.

I wonder...are these Mon Cal ranks?  When the Mon Cals officially joined the Alliance after the first film, did the Alliance adopt their ranking system?  It is so different, and alien, from the pip/dot system seen in boty ANH and TESB.

Maybe there are two forces starting to form within the Alliance?  An "Army", which uses the dots, and a Navy, which uses what I'm calling the Mon Cali ranks?

[Starbeard]

I think you're onto something good with that interpretation. I like the idea of the organized rebellion growing from a humble force so small that it doesn't have any military branches, and troops frequently pull double duty in whatever roles they have a bit of skill in. We still see that in Empire when Luke is pulling ground recon expeditions at Echo base instead of leading Rogue Squadron. By Jedi, it's clear from the first scene with the fleet that they've grown greatly in size and organization, with special branches of military and everything.

Maybe the organized alliance was kickstarted by a particular planet's army, brought in by Mon Mothma or General Dodonna, and they just adopted their insignia for everyone. The 'navy' insignias from Jedi could be the same, Mon Calimari ranks used throughout the fleet because they were responsible for organizing it.

[Yora]

Never noticed those. They are different from the ones in Episode 4, but in Empire Strikes Back they use both.