names, ranks, & titles

WWII name origins

Many of the military names in FMA are related to WWII fighter planes, and the relationship between the characters and the aircraft's capabilities are sometimes intriguing. Note: the discussion of ranks are per the first anime series (Fullmetal) and not the mangaverse/Brotherhood canon.

Bradley

Bradley Fighting Vehicle M-2/M-3 is a light-armored, midrange tank designed for mechanized infantry and armored cavalry combat. Main armament is a 25mm cannon, with supplementary armament of a TOW missile and a 7.62mm machine gun. The Bradley is a modern tank. ^[1]

Bradley may have a WWII connection as well. Omar Bradley was originally teacher at U. S. Military Academy and the Infantry School, but he rose quickly through the ranks due to his brilliant tactician skills and his reputation as a commander with whom his soldiers could readily identify. By 1945, Bradley was in charge of the 12 U.S. Army Group in the European arena, commanding roughly 1,300,000 men.

"His troops broke out of the Normandy beachhead, liberated Paris, defeated a German counteroffensive during the winter of 1944-1945, seized the first bridgehead over the Rhine River, and drove through central Germany to establish the first Allied contact with troops of the Soviet Union." ^[2]

After WWII, Bradley took administrative positions, becoming the US Army's Chief of Staff in 1948. He was the fourth officer ever to reach the rank of 5-star general in the Army, a promotion only possible during wartime.

Fury

The FJ-1 Fury was first commissioned in 1945, but the final version was not delivered until 1948, and never saw action in WWII. A twin-engine jet designed for carrier landings, the Fury was armed with six .50-caliber machine guns with 1,500 rounds total. By 1949, the FJ-1 was already being phased out in favor of the F9F-3 Panthers. ^[3]

Fury, the youngest officer of Mustang's staff, is often mistranslated in fansubs as Huey. Curiously enough, Huey also has connections to military aircraft. The Huey (HU-1) was a support and carrier helicopter that first saw action in the Vietnam Conflict. ^[4]

Havoc

The Mi-28 Havoc was a fighter helicopter, fitted with one 30mm NPPU-28 cannon, SA-16 Gimlet AAMs, AT-6 Spiral AT missiles, and 130mm or 80mm rockets. First deployed in the late 60's. ^[5]

Hawkeye

The E-2 Hawkeye was designed for airborne early warning, command and control. Carrying no armaments, it is classed as reconnaissance. "The Hawkeye provides all-weather airborne early warning and command and control functions for the carrier battle group. Additional missions include surface surveillance coordination, strike and interceptor control, search and rescue guidance and communications relay." ^[5]

Hayate

The Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate was possibly the best Japanese fighter aircraft during the last year of the Pacific theater. The Hayate was fully the equal of even the most advanced Allied fighters, and superior in many aspects; it was well armed and armored, fast, and maneuverable. ^[6]

Hughes

The P-73 Hughes was an experimental aircraft, whose designation number was skipped in favor of a more 'commercially attractive' number, and the P-75 was released instead. There was a P-73, but "it was so secret that even today there are few details available about it. The P-73 was almost as mysterious in its time as the shadowy 'Aurora' is today. However, the reason for all this secrecy was [predominantly as] a result of the neurotic personality of the owner of the company which produced the aircraft. This was none other than the brilliant but eccentric movie tycoon, inventor, and industrialist Howard Hughes." ^[6]

Mustang

The P-51 Mustang was a one-man long range fighter in the patrol/pursuit category, carrying six .50-caliber machine guns and ten five-inch rockets, or 2,000 pounds of bombs. "The P-51 was the first U.S. fighter aircraft to fly over Europe after the fall of France. The Mustang destroyed 4,950 enemy aircraft in the air during World War II, more than any other fighter in Europe." ^[5]

Military Ranks

The following are the clases of military titles in Japan, appended to the surname. Known ranks for characters are listed, and notes of fansub errors that may have been confusing. Character names in red are those that have not been fact-checked; if you see an error in a character's rank, or know of a difference in rank between the first animeverse and the mangaverse, use the site contact form to send corrections or information. Please be sure to include the character's name, rank, and the episode or chapter in which the rank was identified.

Dai-Soutou - Commander-in-Chief

Three stripes: one thin, one large, one thin; four stars. The apparent head of the government in FMA, Bradley's title is translated variously as Fuhrer, King, or Leader. (Later explanations in the manga make it clear that Bradley's first name is "King," which parallels Mustang's first name, Roy, which has a root-meaning of "King".)

Dai-Soutou is not a common military title in recent Japanese ranking systems, but one possible origin may be that of a title used for heads of monasteries. Incorrectly translated as 'colonel' in AnimeUSA's episode 13, when Mustang speaks of the day he'll become Dai-Soutou. Also translated as 'President' in Toriyama's scanlations.

Taisho - General (four stars)

The highest possible rank during peacetime. In U.S. terms, a five-star general receives the title of "General of the" corresponding branch. This is roughly equivalent to being the branch's Chief of Staff. A fifth star can only be granted during wartime.

Chujo - Lieutenant-General (three stars)

The commandant of East City and Mustang's commanding officer, Grumman, was a Lieutenant General. Gruman's title is most often translated as "Commander", which may be a conflation of "commandant," a position that often reflects the person's actual job (eg commandant of a military base) and not necessarily rank. (Depending on the size and location of the base, differing ranks may be assigned the position of 'commandant'.)

Shoshu - Major-General (two stars)

Hakuro's rank at the time of episode 5. Hughes' rank at time of retirement, which meant he leaps two ranks in his final promotion; normally upon retirement, an officer is promoted but only one rank. This promotion is often disregarded by officers in retirement; they usually continue to use the title of their last actual active rank, instead.

Junsho - Brigadier General (one star)

Three stripes: one thin, one large, one thin; no stars. Basque Gran's rank. In the AnimeUSA fansub for episode 13, Gran is referred to as Lance Corporal, General, and Commodore. Lance Corporal is an inaccurate translation, but the other two are somewhat correct. (Brigadier) General is the term for the US Army, Air Force, and Marines; Commodore (or Rear Admiral) is the equivalent rank in the Navy.

In Japanese terms, a general (of any rank) may be designated with an archaic title of Shogun. This was once the highest military rank, second only to the Emporer. The honorific may still be in usage to designate anyone who has reached the rank of General.

Additionally, the FMA world has five levels of generals, but the lowest rank (Brigadier) has no stars on the epaulets (tabs across the shoulders). Instead, the first star is granted to Major-Generals, which would make the Fuhrer/Generalissimo the equivalent of a five-star General.

Taisa - Colonel

Four stripes, three stars. Mustang is promoted to Colonel in episode 9. Hughes is promoted to Colonel around episode 13.

Chusa - Lieutenant-Colonel

Four stripes, two stars. Mustang's rank when Edward reaches Central for the first time. In the manga, Hughes' is introduced as a Lieutenant-Colonel in Chapter 6.

Shosa - Major

Four stripes, one star. The default rank of all National Alchemists, even those not actively enrolled in the military. Armstrong is also a Major. Marcoh's and Mustang's rank during the Ishvar Conflict.

Tai-i - Captain

Chu-i - First Lieutenant

Three stripes, two stars. Hawkeye is promoted to First Lieutenant in episode 9. The Governer of Youswell, Yoki (episode 9), is a First Lieutenant.

Sho-i - Second Lieutenant

Three stripes, one star. This is Hawkeye's rank when Edward first comes to Central. In the U.S. military, Second Lieutenant is the lowest rank for generalized commissioned officers. Havoc and Breda (episode 13), on Mustang's staff, are Second Lieutenants, as is Maria Ross (episode 19).

Jun-i - Warrant Officer

Three stripes, no stars. In the U.S. military, Warrant Officers are specialized (like enlisted), but are considered commissioned officers. Farman's rank (episode 13).

Socho - Sergeant-Major

One stripe, three stars. Highest possible rank for enlisted. Fury's rank (episode 13).

Gunsho - Sergeant

Brosh, Maria Ross' partner, is a Sergeant.

Other ranks

Gocho - Corporal
Heicho - Lance Corporal or Leading Private
Jotohei - Superior Private
Ittohei - Private First Class
Nitohei - Private Second Class

titles and honorific usage

To contrast between Ed and Al, Ed (in informal situations, usually around Al and other close people) uses very masculine, informal speech patterns. He also uses slang more than anyone else. Al, even when he's using informal speech, still is polite. He always strikes me as using sweet little mama's boy Japanese.
— Lethael

Hawkeye refers to Ed and Al with the -kun honorific, denoting her affection and their youth, despite the fact that Edward technically outranks Hawkeye. At the same time, she uses 'kimi' as a pronoun towards them, indicating her age over theirs. She always refers to Mustang by his rank.

Havoc refers to Edward as boss, taishou. Havoc is also considerably out-ranked by Edward's de facto rank of Major, so the apparent casualness may be — like Hawkeye — a way to both satisfy rank but refrain from too much deference, given that Havoc is both older and more experienced than Edward.

Armstrong refers to Pinako and Winly with the -dono honorofic, an archaic term roughly equivalent to using "Miss" as a title, in English. Refers to Edward as Elric-san or Edward-san., which may be Armstrong's means to get around rank/age issues with someone so much younger. Armstrong appears to have a strongly traditional family, and may see that nobility-etiquette as equal in politeness (but without the age issues), thus acceptable as an alternative to referring to Edward by rank (shosa).

Edward Elric refers to his brother as Al, or Alphonse, and calls Winly by name as well (no honorifics for either). He refers to Mustang as Colonel (taisa) in person; by title and name when speaking of Mustang. Edward uses title-and-name combination when speaking of, or with, Mustang's staff.

Alphonse Elric always refers to Edward as Brother (niisan), but used the diminutive term (niichan) in flashbacks, prior to their alchemical training. Alphonse refers to Winly by name, and like Edward, uses the title-and-name combination when speaking to or of Hughes, Mustang, or any of Mustang's staff.

Roy Mustang, prior to Edward gaining his National Alchemist title, used Edward-kun; uses Fullmetal (hagane) almost exclusively after title was granted. Refers to Hughes as Lt. Colonel Hughes, but drops the title during one-on-one occasions. In flashbacks (ep25), Mustang calls Hughes by his first name, Maes. Mustang uses the title-and-name combination for all members of his staff.

Appreciation

The section on name origins benefited from commentary and additions by Branch, Arex-kun, SV-chan, and FA Ashanthya. The section on ranks was written with assistance from SiriusJazz, Hime D., Kelly, and Saya Aensland. The information on titles and honorifics was corrected and expanded via help from Saya Aensland, Jedera, Branch, Panserbj0rne, and Lethael.

sources

For more information on military ranks in US and Japanese military branches: