Commends and Ranks in Foxhole with additional details.

WOW, the Naval Update! Major updates continue to be amazing! nvm, hype died.

I've seen Level 17 and 21 OCDTs that fully deserve higher ranks for their commitment to doing the tasks of Foxhole. I would like the community to acknowledge their hard-work. With more front-line troops than logi/engineers, anyone that choose to voluntarily do those tasks should be viewed in better light and commended for their actions. Since writing this guide, I come to realize that pure infantry players are also under commended. And I heard some reports of a pure medic player who has 800hrs in game but is only a Corporal.

All information about another player is my Personal OPINION and to share examples of the most elite of foxhole gamers.

A work in progress
by RJ, a solo fill Lvl 22 Col (4.6k hrs)

What is a commend?

Commendations can be earned through positive actions such as; enemy kills, friendly heals/revives, building structures, destroying enemy structures, and supplying buildings. (foxhole.gamepedia)

A player can hold up to 100 commends to give but a maximum of 3 given per person per day (as of 060120).

How do I commend someone?

Press F1, search for the name of the player you want to commend and hit the arrow up sign in the menu (of said player). Be advised that you only got a limited number of commendations available in a given period of time. you can check yours at the top right corner of the F1 menu screen. (Erenior | Mav's Commendation - A guide for players).

As stated in another section, 100 commends limit max and 3 commends can be given per day per soldier.

What to do with commends?

Trade it with friends.

Or choose to commend someone who has contributed to the war. Be it supporting you or the team's effort. Drop a few commends and pm/type in team chat recognizing their efforts might brighten up their day and you can make new acquaintances/friends.

My personal decision-making tldr of whether to commend someone is based on:

a. Leadership
b. Partisan/Anti-Partisan
c. Combat feats
d. Logi/Building
e. Combat support

In my opinion, partisan/anti-partisan can come under combat support but it has such a high importance that i feel it should be high up the list tldr list.

Additional details below in their sections

How do you earn commends to give?

Fastest way to slowest way to earn commends to give
1. Manning the factory by drawing public materials (Bmats, Emats, HEmats, Rmats) and making supplies with them. Preferably asking region chat first if anyone needs them.
2. Getting the raw resources of salvage, components and sulfur from their nodes (not mines).

Preferably something that you can work on constantly.
3. Building, depends if you have the materials. I am unsure if digging trenches constantly earns you commends to give.
4. In my personal experience, being on the front gives you the least commends to give.

Based on my experience, the Quartermaster should be giving out the most commends, not that they need reminders as they are usually veterans. Those that mine nodes usually have sufficient commends to give their drivers. Thus, anyone that has done some logi usually have commends to give/trade :winky_face:

My personal view on average levels and hours played for ranks

With the changes to UI, we can't see the levels of other players now, which i feel is a bad decision in the context of my decision to commend someone based on the exp gaining actions they did.
Last I checked, I was 2/5 in my progression as Major, i reached Lt Col several days ago. Pretty sure I didn't receive many commends or as much as I expected to promote. Still cool though (subtle definitely a flex). Reached Colonel now at 3.8k hrs.

Level 1 (<10hrs): None/Pte/Lcp
Level 2 (<10hrs): Pte/Lcp/Cpl
Level 4 (30hrs): Sgt
Level 6 (30hrs): Ssgt
Level 8 (60hrs): WO2

Level 11 (100hrs): WO1 - ^^^ And below deemed Kids until wars like War 48/78 when vets take breaks.
Level 14 (150hrs): Ocdt - Most tedious rank. Took me 3 Wars.
Deemed the Teenager rank (Knows enough but not enough usually, veterancy of ocdt varies greatly)

Level 16 (1000hrs): 2Lt
Level 18 (1200hrs): Lt
Level 19 (2000hrs): Capt - Officially a salty vet.

https://imgur.com/a/WgZxOSi
Here is the link for all the ranks available which sums up the differences between ranks decently.

Levels get progressively harder and harder to earn as more and more exp is needed. After Captain, its mostly vets that appreciate the commends but won't care too much about it. Nvm, everyone loves commends. The relations you build while playing as a loyalist earns you much commends from others who know what you specialize in. The only exception to this rule, from my observation, seems to be Duri89, Lt Gen who does high value kills for both teams as he switches rather often.

Any soldier on the fast track are usually in clans/groups that commend each other or exceptional cases like Seikomasumoto (Fuel truck saint) and Major Cockface
KronusWinter, a logi demi-god (WLL) and TerranMarine, bayonet demi-god with awesome soundboard.

Generally, soldiers around/above the rank of Brig have been around forever and are recognized on sight for their leadership or crazy effort put into the war.

Leadership

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ylqs7mCBXng&t=109s
Colonel Cockface's "Become The Leader" Outro Cinematic - Standalone Version
Colonel Cockface is an awesome leader at wrangling randoms and puts up useful signposts throughout the colonial territory as well as the multiple leadership examples he shows in the video.

Having a microphone to communicate is pretty much a requirement as a leader.

Certain leaders have proven themselves over the many wars as seen in devstream 77.

Seed, colonial Field Marshal with the highest rank possible currently in Foxhole. The grittiest of vets that solo builds Storm Cannons and singlehandedly turns tides of war. Praise Seed.

Flashwhite FM
Idk, seems pretty cool dude and sets up repair stations for Tanks.

Vega FM

Horny Rooster FM
I respect Rooster as a committed logistics man and his tactical advice on world chat. Very dedicated player. "I get beat by ssgts all the time cause I barely play at frontline."

SOM apollo FM
[†SOM†] Apollo has stockpiled a Seaport in The Baths:
15 Basic Materials crates
Do you want to commend [ † SOM † ] Apollo? ✅
Draws it out and submits again for popup.
ok ok, as one of the more storied clan members from the Swords of Maro, he deserves his rank but he did it in a *** manner.

Rustardgaming as described by collie loyalists does everything. My fondest memory is Pre-T3 townhalls at the start of war, destruction of T1 town halls in Reaching Trail, deep in warden territory, boosting the morale of collie soldiers. As well as the random HQ spawn in Reaching Trail that collies use to harass the wardens with.

Aldelur is one of the more vocal warden leaders. As of war 70s, he formed the regiment V for warden vets. A great combat leader who leads ops and randoms well who i remember as a partisan vet.

Simplicity is THE Defender of the West to me. Westgate, a logi hub, is kept running with the efforts of Simplicity who lives in Westgate. Even in wars where Westgate is deep in enemy territory, he setup a FOB and did partisan work due to his familiarity of the region.

Zackreaver one of the more active 82dk engineers who has made a fortress of Callahan's passage even in the wars with the lowest Warden morale. Border bunker base extraordinaire.



These people deserve their high ranks and commends thrown their way because of their actions and leadership.



For the general population, those without exceptional leadership qualities should learn to follow first before leading. Without the knowledge and direction for a successful attack/raid/etc, no one will follow you after the failure. It might be fun, but higher success rates/confidence ensures more are willing to follow.

Personally, there's a good number of quality leaders in the Foxhole community. Keep a look out for them. Lower ranking leaders might have lesser game knowledge but they can be quality leaders nevertheless.

While I recommend using a microphone, if people follow you with non-voice communication, do your best and lead them well.

Partisan/Anti-Partisan

Tasks that might earn you commends as a partisan:
1. Destroy large stockpiles with photo proof and/or typing in world chat.
2. Kill trucks that are supplying an active front.
3. Steal equipment and bringing them back to friendlies.

Partisan/Anti-partisans are usually done successfully by high ranks as they understand the importance and that the flow of combat can be stopped at its most essential and vulnerable section due to fine partisanship. Lower ranks require herding to assist in hunting down partisans as they are often tunneling on a particular objective and do not see the bigger picture. I, myself am guilty as I am even as combat proficient compared to a SGT as told by another high rank. Logi/backline players require protection and they will happily supply the front with supplies for that SWEET commends of a frontline fob/bb.

Similarly, killing logi/backline demolition work is oftentimes overlooked by the others as they are unnoticed unless they choose to build watchtowers which spies will exploit. Getting into a well-fortified bunker base with smokes and wrenches or satchels when they unlocked will cause sufficient damage to be noticed.

Combat Feats

Feats that might earn you commends:
1. I promote recruits for their first kill i see to private.
2. Target the right enemy with weapons that threaten a high value target, eg: enemy soldier with RPG close to a tank. Bodyblocking the RPG shot if you fail.
3. Multiple kills with pistol, steal their equipment and killing more.
4. Several bayonet kills

Logi

With the logi delivery popup for players around the delivery point, players have shared that a player can go from Recruit to Captain in ONE war (~irl 30 days) if you are delivering supplies constantly.

Tasks that might earn you commends as a logi:
1. Successfully sneaking supplies to towns that are surrounded/blockade offroad
2. Delivering to the right frontline fob/bb
3. Facilities that provide what the faction needs.
4. Building Watchtowers for Logi
5. Taking care of mines/Refuelling fuel trucks for mines
6. Driving for QMs
7. Getting resources

Field Marshal KronusWinter is the definition of collie logi for 2019 as Winter Legion Logi (WLL) makes equipment for the team instead of a clan or any one group. Snugglepuffs has stepped up and formed a branch that does logi in a different region. WLL brings together logi boys that like being in groups. I dont know the leader of FMAT but they are the logi equivalent of WLL in the wardens.

However from my observation, solo logi like myself form a significant percentage as well. Solos contribute as and when they need to but lack recognition as they do not have people that recognize their effort to commend them. Selfless individuals like the level 17 and 21 Ocdts that I mentioned above, who work independently with self-directed goals. They do enjoy the game but what else keeps them here? I would like it to be friends and/or acquaintances they make in Foxhole.

Engineer/Building

Feature added in Trench update: Press F while using a hammer to switch to Upgrade mode. Upgrade mode shows who built the defense.

Tasks that might earn you commends:
1. Heavily fortifying a town efficiently with space for troops and logi.
2. Setting up a frontier base/FOB with the right defenses.
3. Frontline building (Foxholes, Trenches, sandbags, boxes, etc) right behind the combat boys.
4. Drive Bmats for builders.

Spamming defenses and trenches that is inefficient is not the way. Plan out a defense and get other builders on the same plan.

Combat Support

Medics
With the Trench update, Hospitals, Field Hospitals and Critically wounded soldiers are added. A medic's primary job is to conserve Soldier Supplies (Spawn tickets).

How to earn commends as a medic:
1. Revive someone performing an important task (eg: Howie spotter)
2. Revive someone under heavy fire while remaining alive.
3. Ferrying critically wounded back to hospitals and getting SS.

Combat Scavenger
How to earn commends as a combat scavenger:
Well you don't. People might even kill you for stealing their equipment. Lol, it happens. Do make sure to move the high costs equipment to a safer spot though.

Loot priority imo: Shells (Tank, howies, mortars, RPGs), Heavy Arms (RPG, Various MGs), Nades (Sticky, HE, Gas, Nades), Ammo (Stacks of 100max), Utility (Nade launcher, Binos, Filters, Wrench), Small Arms.

Spotter
How to earn commends as a spotter:
1. Team up with someone on a Howitzer and kill enemies.
2. Callout enemy positions using a grenade launcher/bino/sniper

End and Suggestions for a new Rank system.

I am just a dumb colonial Level 21 Major that spends most of my time doing logi. I am still trying to fit into a leadership role in wars with high amounts of new players (eg: War 45). I am fighting and partisaning more often as a warden but revert back to doing logi/building as a collie.

Hours played =/= proficiency. I would love a rank system that lets us assign ourselves to certain roles and ranks. With mandatory military service in my country, I served as a Sgt but would like to be lower in rank as my burst of leadership is not expected of someone of that rank. A system that allows for self-assigned and/or voted roles imo should be part of the game. The levels can remain as an indication of hours played but ranks perhaps can be changed to fit the time investment for a particular war or enjoyment of that particular role. Being a squad lead assigns you the rank of SGT while being a proficient soldier assigns you a max rank of CPL with medals assigned for completing say 30 tank killed. Officers are then truly voted in or chosen by the community for being great leaders and personalities that lead the team to victory. Anyone can volunteer to be a faction leader but others can choose to demote them as well.

Changelog

Or whenever I type what I update.

241023: 4600hrs, lvl 22 Col. Life of a solo no mic player and filthy faction switcher (a neutral)

290922: 2800hrs, lvl 22 Col

290621: This is a collie-bias guide. I intend to change that. Added people of note for wardens section after leaving it empty for pretty long.

120521: 2593hrs, Lvl 21 Lt Col.

010521: Added observation that loyalists earn more commends compared to neutrals.

210121: Updated current rank of Lvl 21 Maj and Partisan/Anti-partisan section and others. Being neutral/fighting for the outnumbered faction is fun in its own way.

200120: Updated Personal Levels to Rank list.

270120: Decided to join Wardens until I get a feel for Warden Leadership. Lemons movement and the great defense of Maiden's Veil of War 47 made me decide to shift allegiance as a Warden merc.

120320: Updated how logi usually earn more commends from my experience. Its hard being an unknown Capt in the wardens. People expect something outta you based on your rank.

[RJ - no mic]

Unfortunate. We used to be able to see levels and I commend anyone for having higher levels than rank. Your level is a rough estimate of what you do. If you are at say ~level 10 for a sgt/wo2, i would say you more than deserve 3 commends from anyone. Perhaps you need to share what feats (refer to above) you did.

[MauseLoch9000]

Im at 100 hours and still Sgt

[Infinitism]

im at 150 hours and im at wo2. how unfortunate

[Dakota]

great guide

[A lager knight]

[part 3, last]
This still dose not solve the problem and have massive holes that needs to be addressed, however I would not want to give too deeply into a system that will probably not be used. With a bit of thought I believe such system can be a far better solution to the existing system.

That is at least what i think as a more flash out suggestion.

[A lager knight]

[part 2]
Level system is fine but I think that rank should be as Hingle once stated (A 10cce vet):

Everyone is a private. Once you open a squad the guy in charge becomes a sergeant. As the squad grows so does the roles within the squad, making a highercy that has roles feeting to its size. Naturally if a squad is big, than the leader at the top has good leadership skills, which will be reflected by the number of people willing to follow him and his organization.

That system is also flawed as clans have massive advantage at that regard and recognition is not presented well. To solve that i would recommend anther meter which is "fame" - how commands operate today but with more balancing on the source of fame points to give.

[A lager knight]

[part 1, 1000 charter limit....]

A nice guild over all.
The major problem with front liners ranks is that small time leaders (and normal soldiers) don't get commands for destroying buildings, and only get a combat command once they killed 4 people full kills (that is, 4 people that you shot the last shot when downed).

The little commands combat only get are probably given to logi, as well, without logi there is no front. Normally logi does not command front line soldiers, leaving the massive commands in logi hand. A bad design choose with good intentions to combat clans stacking their ranking (it did not stop clans to do that tbh)

Assigning roles by themselves is still meaningless. I also saw privates with leadership skills as the players themselves are from diverse background. People who see themselves too highly will put the fancy ranks regardless. Not to mention that the rotten apples will abuse self-assignment of ranks.

[RJ - no mic]

@DanDaManatee That's why I made this guide. It gives people a guide to commend people instead of just their friends. It means you did your job and probably deserve some commends even if others didn't see what you did.
However if you are a spy/doing random *** like making Plasma constantly even after we have 100 crates... that's a report/ban right there imo.

[DanDaManatee]

Lmao im lvl11 and still a ssgt

[Technoci]

If you have mic, you can lead.