reading this, i had an idea, perhaps when the kerbal in question has enough experience for another level(s), the outline of the (still empty) star(s) changes to another colour? So if the kerbal is level 2, but has enough experience for level 3, but has yet to return to kerbal, the outline of the 3rd start turns from black to yellow, or whatever colour the modder feels works best. of course, i don't think i've read the rest of the thread, so this could have all been resolved and i simply haven't read that far, so if so, my apologies for the redundant post