Senior Master Chief Petty Officer

A Senior Master Chief Petty Officer or E-9 is often the most senior enlisted person on any ship. They are not only very experienced in their specialty, but has achieved a command responsibility, often becoming the right-hand of the commanding officer as Ship's Bosun. A senior master chief petty officer is referred to by their rank, but also as "Bosun", and by their rate. So a Boatswain's Mate who earned their rocker and crown would be called "Chief," but also "Senior Master Chief Boatswain's Mate."

Honorverse

In peacetime, a Master Chief Petty Officer would have served at least 22 years, with 36 months Time in Grade. However, since there are a limited number of vacancies, there is a competitive test to determine who can be promoted, and they need to be approved before the Chief Petty Officer Promotion Board. The Grayson Space Navy uniform is blue with gold stripes with crossed swords. The Royal Manticoran Navy is black and the color of the stripes and rockers change depending on the specialty of the spacer. The SMCPO is usually the Bosun, except in unusual circumstances, such as Senior Master Chief Steward MacGuinness serving with Honor Harrington.

TRMN

If the spacer has completed their Senior Master Chief Petty Officer Exam, and served as an Master Chief Petty Officer for 24 months Time in Grade, they are promoted to this rank. Frequently, senior master chiefs hold the position of Ship's Bosun.

References

TRMN Ranks
Type	Grade	Navy	Marines/Army	Type	Grade	Fleet	Marines/Army
Officers				Enlisted
Flag Officers	F6	AotF	MOTC MOTA	NCO Ranks	E10	SMCPON FSMCPO CSMCPO SMCPO	SGTMAJRMMC SGTMAJRMA CSGTMAJ RSGTMAJ
	F5	FADM HADM	MSHL FMSHL		E9	MCPO	SGTMAJ
	F4	ADM	GEN		E8	SCPO	1SGT
	F3	VADM	LTGEN		E7	CPO	MSGT
	F2	RADM	MGEN		E6	PO1	SSGT
	F1	CDRE	BGEN		E5	PO2	PSGT
Field Grade Officers	O6	CAPT CAPTJG	COL		E4	PO3	CPL
	O5	CDR	LTCOL	Non-Rate Enlisted Ranks	E3	S1C	LCPL
	O4	LCDR	MAJ		E2	S2C	PFC
Company Grade Officers	O3	LT	CPT		E1	S3C	PVT
	O2	LTJG	1LT	Training Ranks	N/A	MID
	O1	ENS	2LT
Warrant Officers
W5		W4		W3		W2	W1
MCWO SMCWO		SCWO MCWO		CWO SCWO		WO1 CWO	WO2 WO