Chart of comparative Covenant military ranks and associated colors, listed from lowest to highest. Made using as little conjecture as possible. Colors and shades vary somewhat across media, but these are the colors most commonly associated with each rank. Little if any distinction is made between naval and army ranks, but some equivalent ranks are grouped together. Cells have been left uncolored where no information is known.
Below is a hypothetical universal rank system, based off of Halo: Combat Evolved's blue-red-gold system. Titles would vary by species, and practical authority would be contextual. An Unggoy Major might technically outrank a Sangheili Minor, but an Unggoy could never give orders to a Sangheili in the Covenant's caste system.
The abundance of gold armor may seem confusing, but Zealot ranks are relatively quite rare on the battlefield. In reality, armor color would be more of a shorthand for a soldier's general standing (enlisted, noncommissioned, commissioned). The subtlety of Covenant uniforms is most likely lost on human eyes. The intricacies of human military uniform patches, epaulets, chevrons, etc would probably be equally difficult for an alien race to recognize.
Interestingly, the blue-red-gold rank system of the Covenant forces is identical to the Mandalorian Neo-Crusaders. This color system is also seen in Toho's 1957 science fiction film, The Mysterians. I have to wonder if any other science fiction stories have this in common.
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