As a commander of a regiment, the Colonel (COL) must be expert in both tactics and strategies, as well as seeing that his unit is fed, clothed and properly equipped. Some colonels may also find themselves commanding a planetary garrison, a provincial militia or a sub-element of a Regimental Combat Team (RCT). Colonels of a 'Mech regiment are often assigned command of a world's entire defense. Though these combat officers can win great glory and public admiration when successful, their defeats can sometimes mean the loss of an entire Commonwealth planet, and so they also have the most to lose. For many LAAF officers, the rank of colonel is the peak of their career. Higher ranks are political as much as military postings, and many officers choose not to move into such areas. Colonels wear two silver pips.

Leutnant-Generals (LT-GEN) act as aides to the commanders of the Commonwealth's four interior military districts and can serve in a wide range of posts. They are responsible for marshaling all support units as well as commanding reserve and garrison units on planets in the district. They can command Regimental Combat Teams (RCTs), act as deputy commanders for interior military regions or take command of an entire service branch. Leutnant-General is the lowest rank at which an officer can assume command of an entire service branch, such as Military Intelligence or the Rep-Dep Corps. A Leutnant-General wears an additional third pip placed point down beneath the other two pips, forming a "T" on the wearer's collar.

Hauptmann-Generals (HPT-GEN) command the five Kerngebiete (military districts) and are responsible for protecting the civil and military infrastructure on the worlds in their charge. They must juggle the needs of dozens of units and liaison with planetary governments to ensure operations continue smoothly. With military actions in their area of responsibility rare, hauptmann-generals must be as much diplomats as military commanders. Their duty is to ensure the protection of civilian, industrial and military targets against an enemy attack. It is also their responsibility to blunt enemy offensives long enough for the stronger Theater forces to regroup and counterattack. These officers wear four pips, forming what has come to be known as the First Steiner Cross.

Kommandant-Generals (KM-GEN) serve as aides to the commanders of a combat theater, overseeing many of the operations within the region. Indeed, with the general commanding the theater as much a military governor as LAAF commander, many of the day-to-day responsibilities fall to the kommandant-general. Most notably among these is ensuring that the units remain in fighting trim. Kommandant-Generals must see to it that all the units in the theater are well supplied. They also command reserve and garrison units of every planet within the theater. Kommandant-Generals wear the Second Steiner Cross, which differs from the first because of the addition of the Black Pearl.

LAAF Generals (GEN) wield immense power. They command the front-line military theaters and serve as the heads of the most important military branches. to allow them to react to enemy operations, the theater commanders are the only LAAF commanders allowed to instigate military operations without prior reference to the High Command, though they are subject to an after-action review. Furthermore, these Generals have the title of Margrave, but this is a political title relating to function in the Theater and not one permanently bestowed on the officer. They are de facto military governors of the all the worlds in their command. As such, they wield immense political power, but both the JAG Corps and LIC maintain a close watch on their activities to limit any abuses. Generals are usually the last officers that command specific combat units. They wear the Third Steiner Cross, which differs from the second by the addition of an 'orbit', a disc of silver, beneath the cross's center.

Except for the Archon, General of the Armies (GEN-A) is the highest rank in the LAAF. Unless overruled by the Archon, the General of the Armies has full command of the LAAF forces and is responsible for guiding and shaping its strategy. The current General of the Armies, Nondi Steiner, also serves as the Commander Pro Tem of the LAAF and regent in the Lyran Alliance. This rank is reserved for the core of the high command, who are the military's most senior and respected officers. Under the Archon's leadership, Generals of the Armies shape and guide the Commonwealth's military strategy. Their insignia is the Fourth Steiner Cross. This is formed by adding a second orbit, made from Tharkan obsidian, beneath the Cross's center.

The Archon (ARCN) is the Commander of the LAAF, and so usually plays an active part in the military and its actions. Most Archons have military experience and are thus qualified to head the military. Most Archons are well aware, too, that the army is as much a bureaucracy as it is a fighting force, which requires that they attend carefully to the politics within the LAAF. The command and rank of Archon is shown by the Final Steiner Cross. This insignia is made distinct from those of senior officers by dividing the four pips of the cross into halves, and filling the space between them with gold.

In some special circumstances, the Archon may not be able to make vital military decisions; in that case, the Pro Tem carries out the task. This is usually the General of the Armies, but it can be anyone of the Archon's choosing. However, not all Archons exercise this option. Many of the Lyran military's worst disasters can be traced to poor decisions by the Archon. As a mark of the highest trust, the Archon allows the Commander Pro Tem to wear the Final Steiner Cross on his uniform. That way, all who see the cross know that the wearer is in command and that his decisions are backed by the Archon's full support and power.