Third Officer
How it works in practice is the First Officer and the Second Officer are constant competitors vying for the top spot, which means the Third Officer and the Fourth Officer have to work as a team, to keep morale up and everybody on task. My Fourth Officer was a grizzled old dude who'd seen plenty and was perfectly happy where he was at. And, he was perfectly happy to show me the ropes. I learned everything about being an officer from him, and then I watched him get blown up.Third Officer is the rank (under the umbrella "ranked officer" with First, Second, and Fourth Officers) where most of the groundwork of troop management happens. This is widely considered to be a perfect position for those who want to learn leadership skills without dealing with constant politicking.
Appointment
Although typically one can be ceremonially raised to the rank (as is common in peacetime), battlefield promotions are not unheard of.
Duties
The Third Officer is responsible for the hands-on implementation of the orders of the First and Second Officers, as well as coming up with schemes to fulfill overall mission objectives. These schemes are acted upon by such pop-up groups as Task Units within the ranks of the clan's unit. The Third Officer also takes practical responsibility for the unit at large, due to the preoccupations of their superiors. It is widely joked that the Third Officer is the First Officer of the unit's brain cell.
Responsibilities
The Third Officer is often responsible for the coordination of troops on a grand scale, when the First Officer and Second Officer are unavailable due to their jockeying for position. Though lacking in status, Third Officer is an ideal rank for cultivating leadership skills and working toward goals, even though most of the credit for such goes to the ranks above.
Third Officers must also think in terms of what will accomplish a given objective, often presented to them by First and Second Officers or Droghi.
Benefits
Being Third Officer is a prime opportunity to learn how to be an officer, next perhaps to the position of Fourth Officer. While it is not as prestigious as being First Officer (and does not offer the chance to challenge for the role of Leader), it lays a lot of groundwork for a career as an officer or Droghi, should one live that long.
Type
Civic, Military, Not Commissioned
Status
Still in Effect
Form of Address
Officer
Reports directly to
Related Organizations
Related Professions
Related Military Formations
I feel much more inclined to like third officers than the two ranks above them. :D
Third and Fourth Officers are the sweet spot of the whole affair. You get your learning opportunities, career skills, and your chance to make a good impression without having to worry about any shenanigans.