In the Midwestern division, initiates are members who have completed initial training (and are thus one step above recruits), and the lowest rank that can be assigned to combat duty.
85% of recruits do not pass the training.
Upon completion, they are immediately promoted to Initiate. Officially not members of the Brotherhood proper, recruits must first complete initial training. Like all Brotherhood of Steel, the Midwestern elders are the leaders and the thinkers of all decisions. Also, the assignment into a commanding officer is done by the elders and only a general can become a commanding officer. The 'general' rank seems to be made from the real life general rank, and the 'commanding officer' is the military leader of the Midwestern Brotherhood of Steel and also the only one rank higher than generals, responsible for giving mission orders to everyone, and also the only one that can give their opinion on the elders' politics. The inquisitors are the Brotherhood's law enforcement and intelligence. Midwestern knights are just a military rank lower in the hierarchy than paladins, and given lower quality power armor if any at all. In the Midwest, the scribes act as both scientists and engineers, taking the place of both western scribes and knights. The Midwestern branch has a rank system that differs from the original Brotherhood ranks.
