What Rank is the Legendary Master Chief Petty Officer John-117?
As any Halo fan worth their salt knows, Master Chief Petty Officer John-117 holds the coveted rank of E-9, the highest possible enlisted grade in the UNSC Navy. With over 30 years of combat experience against the Covenant and Flood, Master Chief has more than earned his place as a senior non-commissioned officer (NCO) leading scores of troops into battle.
An Enlisted Rank That Rivals the Officers
Though an NCO instead of a commissioned officer, Master Chief‘s authority is unmatched by all except high-ranking captains and admirals. As a Master Chief Petty Officer, he wields incredible clout and respect across all branches.
In fact, his E-9 paygrade mirrors that of an Army Sergeant Major or Command Sergeant Major. Just like Master Chief, those senior NCOs act as seasoned advisors who lead from the front lines. No new butter bar lieutenant would dare question the heroic Master Chief!
Forged in Fire: The Making of a Legendary Spartan
Master Chief stands above ordinary troops because he was selected as a young teenager for the SPARTAN-II program in 2517. The UNSC hoped these elite super soldiers could turn the tide against the technologically superior Covenant fleet during their first invasion.
To craft the perfect human weapons, SPARTAN recruits underwent dangerous biological augmentation procedures. Their strength, reflexes, bone density and intelligence were highly enhanced beyond normal human levels. Out of the 150 children conscripted, only 33 emerged unbroken – including a young recruit known as John-117.
Augmentations That Rival the Covenant‘s Strongest Brutes
The benefits of John-117‘s augmentations are obvious when comparing him to even the mightiest Covenant Brute chieftain:
| John-117 Capabilities | Brute Chieftain Capabilities | |
|---|---|---|
| Reflexes | ~20 miliseconds reaction time | ~60 miliseconds reaction time |
| Strength | Can lift 3 times their body weight | Can lift ~2 times their body weight |
| Speed | ~35 mph running speed | ~30 mph running speed |
Even the Covenant‘s infamous silverback Brute leaders pose little challenge for the Chief thanks to his cybernetic enhancements. This superhuman prowess lets him tear through enemies that would decimate entire squads of regular marines with ease.
Who Outranks the Master Chief in the UNSC?
Despite Master Chief Petty Officer John-117‘s formidable presence, he still has superior officers within the UNSC naval hierarchy:
- **UNSC High Command (Admiralty)** – Fleet Admirals and Vice Admirals issuing theater-wide strategic orders.
- **Ship Captains/Cruiser Commodores** – Vessel commanders managing entire ships & small fleets.
- **Group Captains/Force Captains** – Battlefield commanders in charge of particular campaigns & joint forces on the ground.
While Master Chief has free reign to lead missions as he sees fit, he respects the higher authority granted to ranking UNSC commanders by their commissions. However, those officers wisely heed the Chief‘s counsel, especially in joint operations making use of his Spartan fireteams.
Salary and Benefits of a Chief Petty Officer Master Chief
We can estimate Master Chief‘s salary and benefits based on the real-world US Navy‘s E-9 pay grade in 2024 dollars:
- Base Pay: $6,050 monthly or $72,612 yearly
- Average Housing Allowance: $2,220 monthly or $26,640 yearly
- Basic Allowance for Subsistence (Meals): $291 monthly or $3,503 yearly
Which totals nearly $100,000 yearly! Of course, being conscripted as a child means Master Chief never sees a credit of that pay directly. However, the UNSC likely provides Spartans special perks and requisitions less constrained by budgets. Who‘s going to deny the Chief that customized Mjlonir armor kit?
The Significance of John-117‘s Name and Number
Ever wonder why Master Chief is called John-117? All Spartans got their surname replaced with a service number. His number 117 harkens back to 1967‘s sci-fi legend John Carpenter‘s tripfest movie Dark Star, focused on a space trucker named Talby. The ship‘s serial number in the film? DS-117!
Final Thoughts: Why Master Chief Petty Officer Stands Above All Others
While his E-9 rank matches that of any Navy Master Chief, John-117 stands apart as THE Master Chief Petty Officer. His three decades fighting genocidal aliens single-handedly and leading fireteams to victory on Halo rings & alien worlds makes him the most legendary Master Chief ever.
Backed by the body- and mind-enhancing process of the SPARTAN-II program, Master Chief‘s acts of heroism rival even ancient Greek epic warriors. I‘ll take the Chief over Achilles any day to kick alien tush and save humankind!
