I wonder if fucking up those Tau even "did it" for those Dark Eldar? As in gave them soul energy to appease the Prince, however that works. I assume not nearly as much as humans would.
@Kot
That's more upward mobility than I really thought the Imperium had. Seems a bit ideal-scenario. The ruling families of hive worlds are known to hunt fellow humans for sport, and all.
In real life enlisted soldiers are promoted up an enlisted command chain, not granted officer status- a lieutenant straight from the expensive academy can command a Chief Master Sergeant. Officers come from the elite, not from heroics, unless they're able to get a university education while serving. The IG's general strategy seems more like "murder countless soldiers to improve morale" than "invest in their education". There are plenty of wealthy elite to draw officers from, powerful families who don't take rejection well.
...Though apparently, the Commissariat are recruited specifically from war-orphans O_o Orphans seem to get all the opportunities
Not sure if commissars are often promoted into the normal officer chain. They have had a proper education, so I'm guessing yes.
Anyway, I'm skeptical about how possible it is to rise in the ranks of the Imperium. Whereas in the Tau army, it's time and merit based:
Provided the warrior survives four years of active duty, he undergoes the first Trial by Fire, which can be anything from mere gladiatorial affairs to trial by constant combat. If the Shas'la survives his first Trial by Fire, he is promoted to the rank of Shas'ui, or Veteran. For every consecutive four years of service, the Fire Warrior undergoes another Trial. The higher one's rank within the Fire Caste, the more likely one is to become a Battlesuit pilot.[6b] Only those Fire Warriors who prove themselves in battle and pass their first Trial by Fire are eligible to don the Her'ex'evre or Mantle of Heroes and pilot the battlesuit.[8b] Upon attaining the rank of "O", a member of the Fire Caste may be allowed to retire from active duty and become an advisor to the Tau military's command structure, the Shas'ar'tol. Other than death, this is the only way to leave the Tau military.[6b]
I'm not even sure that's *smart*, there's a reason we train officers specially. I suppose they absorb strategy and command experience from their caste upbringing. Warrior culture etc. They probably get equivalent training during downtime (which happens in real life, just not for everyone).
But yeah, the Tau caste system actually encourages upward mobility. It just broadly determines what line of work the individual will be in... The one they're genetically adapted for. A water caste tau won't be farming or doing construction, but any water caste member has the same opportunity to rise from secretary to diplomat with time and merit. The commies.
It's almost as hard to switch careers in the Imperium. There are just more difficulties in the way of climbing the role you're assigned, unless you happen to be of a wealthy or "noble" family.
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