Next rank up the ladder

[Hibernicus]

We describe DECANUS of the Contubernium as a squad leader. .. ask people to think of him as a senior private, maybe a corporal.

[FlaviusCrispus]

At VI Victrix (CA), you start out as a Probatus and remain so until you have acquired most of your equipment (tunic, cuirass, helmet, shield, weapons, footgear, belt) and sufficient training to be advanced to Miles Gregarius status. We held our yearly official promotion ceremony at the recent LORE event. We prepared papyrus diplomas for all our promotees with the following language:

Cum senatu populoque Romano Imperator Caesar P. Aelius Hadrianus Augustus, Divi Traiani Parthici filius, Divi Nervae nepos, Pontifex Maximus tribunicia potestate, ter consul, Pater Patriae, dat ordinem milem gregarium [Tiberio Claudio Patroclo], qui ob exercitationem inter legionarios atque arma, instrumenta et tela idonea conlata se ostendit verbo factoque per suos mores ac suam modestiam dignum militia Romana et Legione Sexta Victrice Pia Fidele.

Edita ante diem X Idibus Novembris, Ab Vrbe Condita MMDCCLX, Anno Domini MMVII, in Eburaco, in Provincia Britannia, in castris Legionis Sextae Victricis Piae Fidelis, iussu Auli Plaetori Nepotis, Legati et Proconsulis.

Hi senatores ac testes declarant virtutem illorum:

T. Flavius Crispus

C. Manlius Magnus

A. Arrius Diogenes

Vibria Iovianna

D. Postumus Scaevola

We also payed each new Milite 75 denarii, in the form of three gold aurei, which is 1/4 their annual salary.

Additional ranks are grouped by pay grade. The next step, Decanus, gets a one-time "bump" of 25 denarii (one aureus) per year. The Tesserarius (commander of the Watch), Signifer, and Imagnifer are all sesquipilari, making pay-and-a-half (also Cornicen, but we're waiting on our frst horn-blower); likewise our Benificiarius (accountant). Aquilifer and Optio are both duplicarii, rating double pay. Centurio Pilus Prior (lucky me!) makes 10 times the legionary pay rate.