[quote=@mdk]
Just FWIW, don't get too bent out of shape around rank. In situations like this, rank doesn't represent much more than your experience and your pay. The chain of command is all that matters. NCOIC, OIC, and whatever team-leader positions come up -- those are the marks of authority, and 'sergeant' or 'corporal' is really just a detail. 

TLDR -- don't sweat rank in your character sheet, it's not a big deal in practice. 
[/quote]

Exactly. Especially in a situation of wartime attrition and an expanding Rebel Alliance. Also bear in mind that the Alliance is often looking to cadre new units with experienced people, so getting promoted might be a good way to get yanked out of a unit in the name of bringing experienced people into new organizations.

Probably not so much of an issue with the Uslam Liberators, but there's a lot of autonomy, I'd think, for platoon leaders to give stripes up to corporal without worrying about having to justify it to higher command anyway.

Especially when you consider that the Rebel Alliance isn't really getting paid anyway. So that doesn't even come into it.