The term adjudant was originally used in French-speaking armed forces as a non-commissioned officer rank similar to a staff sergeant or warrant officer but is not equivalent to the role or appointment of an adjutant. An adjutant general is commander of an army's administrative services.
Adjutant is a military appointment given to an officer who assists the commanding officer with unit administration. The term adjudant is used in French-speaking armed forces as a non-commissioned officer rank similar to a staff sergeant or warrant officer but is not equivalent to the role or appointment of an adjutant.
All Union branches use the services and term Adjudant. The Union Army appoints adjudants to ranks Captain and higher.
Fleet Officers with ranks above Captain may also retain an Adjudant. Generals and Admirals might have an entire Adjudant staff. For example, Admiral McElligott relies on a staff of over fifty adjudants. On a side note, Admiral Stahl has not a single one. His planet side office has a staff of four administrative assistants. (He insists on that distinction.
As Adjudants of admirals may be used in similar fashion as man servants, who assist the commanding officer with personal services. By Union tradition, Commanding officers of Capital vessels are entitled to an Adjudant, but less than 20 percent of all Union COs insist on one.[1]
Adjudant is a function and not a rank. Adjudants assigned to the Admiral of the Fleet might rank as high as Commander, Union Academy offers a special adjudant class focusing on administrative skills.
[1] While only 20 percent of all Union command officers ask for an adjudant, it should be noted that almost all Thauran officers regardless of branch insist on Adjudants