Qualifications (Terran Alliance)
Qualifications are a representation of someone’s skills and abilities. Originally these were essentially minor awards for the armed forces, until the disaster response teams in the Alliance realized they needed a more effective way of determining what skills they had available in a given area, especially when dealing with ‘remote backwaters’ such as parts of Mars and the Alpha Centauri colony.
Passed in 2025, the GRAB Act (Government Registry of Abilities) opened up the formerly military-only qualification system to civilians and ‘other inhabitants of Terran Alliance-overseen land’ (allowing for Proximans to earn qualifications as well). The name refers to the fact that once a qualification is earned, law enforcement, first responders, the armed forces, and the pretty much the government in general essentially have the ability to ‘grab’ the qualification-holder to have them respond to a situation.
Employers are mandated to comply with GRAB pickups, and are compensated for the temporary commandeering of their staff. Qualification-holders are also compensated for their work – with compensation being orders of magnitude larger than the fee to take the test to earn the qualification. It is not required to use the phrase “your government needs you” when activating a someone covered under the GRAB Act, but it has become a trend.
Anyone can earn a qualification, civilian or military, and the number of available qualifications grows by the year. To earn a qualification, a test must be passed. These tests are run at regular, publicly-posted intervals, all over the alliance. Once earned, a qualification is good for 3 years, after which point it needs to be renewed. The fee for a test to earn a qualification is minor, ranging between 50 credits and 200 credits.
Qualifications are represented by small badges, easily displayable on military uniforms and civilian clothing. While civilians are not required to display their qualifications, it is starting to become ‘in fashion’ to do so. Qualifications are also tied to a citizen’s identification, both digital and physical. Their ID card will list their qualifications, while the digital ID on their comlink will do the same. This allows there to be a constantly-updated list of who in a given location has what qualifications, should the need arise to use them. Some qualifications are still restricted to the military, as there would be no foreseeable need to call upon a civilian with that skill set.
Badges, Devices, Insignias, and Ribbons – These indicate what form the qualification takes when worn. A Badge is a fabric addition to a piece of clothing. A Device is an addition to either a Badge or an Insignia, and is usually metal. An Insignia is a metal decoration, typically cufflinks, tiepins, or brooches, though there is no rules regarding the form – the only thing that is set in the rules is the logo, which is usually available in a wide range of forms. Ribbons are fabric additions like Badges, but they are designed to be worn as shoulder insignias.
Advanced Zero-G Operations
This indicates proficiency with maneuvering units, spin recovery, and zero-g rescue operations. At its very core this requires training in Acrobatics, but in practice its a GM fiat thing.
Aircrew Badge
This indicates proficiency with at least one crew role (other than pilot) found aboard fighters, corvettes, fixed-wing aircraft, rotary aircraft, and airspeeders. Functionally this requires either GM fiat, Weapon Proficiency (Heavy), the Mechanics skill, or the Use Computer skill. ALternatively, Perception and Use Computer can be used to qualify for the Operations role.
Aviation Badge
An outdated name still in use, this indicates proficiency with piloting any category of vehicle from the list of vehicle types in the Pilot skill except for Ground Vehicles and Hovering Vehicles. Technically the badge is earned multiple times for each category, but typically this is represented in the form of extra bronze star devices on the badge.
Expert Aviation Device
This indicates proficiency with three of the categories for the Aviation Badge.
Master Aviation Badge
This indicates proficiency with five of the categories for the Aviation Badge.
Certified Ethical Hacker Insignia
Originally this was the ‘proper civilian equivalent’ to the TAAF’s Information Warfare qualification, but following the opening of the Information Warfare qualification to civilians it has changed its curriculum. Nowadays, the CEH Insignia requires the Information Warfare qualification as a prerequisite and mandates that the recipient be held to high standards regarding ethical conduct during their duties. The CEH Insignia also covers non-electronic methods of information warfare, such as infiltration, social engineering, other 'old-school' methods of compromising systems. Functionally this requires the Hackcraft and Use Computer skills, plus either the Deception or Persuasion skill.
Communications Badge
This indicates proficiency with the infrastructure behind modern communications systems, including basic computer systems. Functionally this requires the Use Computer skill.
Combat Diver Insignia (Military Only)
This indicates proficiency with combat dive systems, such as zero-bubble rebreathers and underwater fighting techniques. If a recipient had the Diver Insignia prior to earning this, this insignia takes the place of it. It has the same grades as the Diver Insignia: Beginner, Advanced, Rescue, Guide, and Instructor. Earning this requires the character to be trained in Swim and have some form of military rank. The grade of the insignia is determined by the Swim check bonus of the character (+5 Beginner, +10 Advanced, +15 Rescue, +20 Guide, +25 Instructor).
Diver Insignia
This indicates that the holder is proficient with SCUBA and similar technologies, taking the place of preexisting diver certifications. It comes in five grades, listed in ascending difficulty: Beginner, Advanced, Rescue, Guide, and Instructor. Earning this requires the character to be trained in Swim. The grade of the insignia is determined by the Swim check bonus of the character (+5 Beginner, +10 Advanced, +15 Rescue, +20 Guide, +25 Instructor).
Field Medic Badge
This indicates proficiency with field medicine, a good skill set to have for anyone who would be going into rural and wilderness areas. This is the most common qualification found among civilians. Earning this requires the character to be trained in Treat Injury.
Expert Field Medic Device
This indicates proficiency with both field and combat medicine. While it is open to civilians, it is not commonly found among them outside of first responders. Earning this requires the character to be trained in Treat Injury and either have Experienced Medic, Skill Focus (Treat Injury), Surgical Expertise, or Wilderness First Aid feats.
Information Operations Badge
Originally a military-only qualification called Information Warfare (there was a civilian counterpart called Information Management), the Information Warfare qualification indicates proficiency in information warfare (defined as the offensive use of computer systems and hacking to hamper enemy operations) and information defense (defined as the defensive use of computer systems to counter information warfare). The division between the military and civilian qualifications was successfully torn down by the information security industry, which sought to train civilian IT workers in offensive techniques so that they could better defend against them. Functionally this badge requires training in Hackcraft and Use Computer.
Linguistics Badge
This badge indicates that the recipient is fluent in at least 5 spoken languages. ====Xenolinguistics Device==== – This addition to the Linguistics Badge indicates that the recipient is proficient in at least one language of non-Human origin.
Mage Insignia
Managed by the SDA, this Insignia indicates that the holder has demonstrated a basic proficiency with magic, and can be called upon to deal with magic-related problems in a crisis.
Marksmanship Ribbon
Another common award found in civilians (though arguably useless for them since GRAB activations almost never look for trained marksmen), this ribbon comes in three types, pistol, rifle, and long-ranged rifle. Functionally this requires proficiency with the weapon category and Weapon Focus. Long-Ranged Rifle also requires the Far Shot feat, or specific sniper-related training.
Melee Combat Ribbon
Comes in three types, knife, bayonet, archaic. Earning this requires either 1st-degree mastery of a combat school focused on that weapon category, or Weapon Focus in an appropriate category.
Military Engineering Ribbon
Worn on the shoulder sleeve, this badge indicates proficiency in military engineering duties such as bridge-building, minefield operations, demolitions, field defenses, and general construction, as well as road, airfield, and landing area construction and repair. While it is a ‘military’ qualification, it is actually open to civilians as well. This requires both training in and Skill Focus with the Mechanics skill, along with training in Knowledge [Physical Sciences].
Ordnance Disposal Badge
This represents proficiency in bomb and explosive disposal techniques. Earning this requires Knowledge [Physical Sciences], Knowledge [Technology], and Mechanics, plus skill focus in at least one of those skills.
Parachutist Badge
This indicates proficiency in solo parachute use, comprising both single-drop and mass-drop usage. Earning this requires Acrobatics.
HALO Device
This addition to the Parachutist Badge (a halo above the parachute) indicates that the wearer is qualified to participated in both HALO and HAHO drop operations. Earning this requires training and Skill Focus with Acrobatics.
ORBIT Device
This addition to the Parachutist Badge (two orbits crossing over the parachute) indicates that the wearer is qualified to participate in Orbital Reconnaissance Battalion Insertion Tactic drops. This requires HALO/HAHO training and qualification as a prerequisite. Originally this was a military-only qualification, a successful campaign by thrill-seeking civilians in 2028 opened it up to civilians as well. Earning this requires sucessfully landing three out of five ORBIT drops under increasingly difficult training scenarios.
Pathfinder Ribbon (Military Only)
Commonly referred to as the “Guerilla Ribbon,” this qualification indicates competency with guerilla-style warfare and military operations in remote, difficult-to-reach areas. Earning this requires completion of the Pathfinder Course, which is a mini-adventure in and of itself.
Psionics Badge
Most recipients of this badge choose to not display it, since it could make them a target of hate crimes. This indicates that the bearer is psionically-active and can be called upon to deal with psionics-related problems in a crisis.
Ranger Ribbon [Military Only]
Worn on the shoulder sleeve, this ribbon indicates proficiency in small-unit infantry combat tactics in woodland, mountain, and swamp operations. Earning this requires completion of the Ranger Course, which is a mini-adventure in and of itself.
Scout Ribbon
Often seen as a prerequisite to the Ranger Ribbon in the military, the Scout Ribbon represents proficiency in overland navigation in woodland, mountain, and swamp terrains, along with survival skills for the same terrains. Earning this requires training in the Survival skill, along with training in Knowledge [Planetary Sciences].
ShipOS Management Badge
This indicates that the bearer has completed a series of courses regarding shipboard computer systems and has displayed proficiency with ShipOS management and crisis resolution. Earning this requires the Pilot and Use Computer skills.
Unarmed Combat Ribbon
This qualification indicates competency in unarmed combat. Earning this requires the Martial Arts II feat.