Starfleet Acadamy..................

[Captain Seafort]

I guess that's what happens when you teach command branch officers biochemistry, exobiology and latin instead of the difference between "boldness" and "suicidal idiocy", and to obey orders.

[Sionnach Glic]

Just look at Red Squad, the supposed "best and brightest"...

Judging by their actions, I'm of the opinion they were conisidered the "best and brightest" in much the same way we consider certain kids to be "special".

[Sonic Glitch]

Just look at Red Squad, the supposed "best and brightest"...

Judging by their actions, I'm of the opinion they were conisidered the "best and brightest" in much the same way we consider certain kids to be "special".

[Mikey]

Nicely done, Rochey. But yeah, I agree that it would make sense to not have "Basic Tactical Competence" as an elective course (if they offer it at all.)

I certainly got the impression that it was a dedicated academy, in that non-SF personnel have no entry. I'd say it was even more unlike a modern university in that Starfleet research seems to have no relationship with the academy. I agree with Seafort that it seems more like a US service academy (West Point or Annapolis) in that it combines a "traditional" liberal arts education with officer training.

As to O'Brien having attended - he was a lieutenant once or twice.

[Sionnach Glic]

Just how many freaking times did O'Brien change ranks?
And was there ever any explaination given?

[Mikey]

Just the one drop from an office to an NCO rank, IIRC...

and, no.

[Mark]

I've heard one opinion. It was that until DS9 enlisted ranks didn't exist (don't know how he explained Simon Tarsis), but when they were re-enstated, certain officers were dropped to NCOs.

Don't look at me. Not my theory. I think it's retarded. Just sharing the rubbish.

[Teaos]

There is also the family man theory, he had a family, decided he didnt want to be an officer so dropped down to NCO for more personal freedom.

[Graham Kennedy]

I recall reading that Gene originally wanted to model Starfleet on the air farce, with the "all pilots are officers" mentality replaced by an "all shipboard crew are officers" policy. Whether than meant that he expected Starbase crew to have enlisted personnel I don't know. TOS did have people referred to as "crewman", which may have indicated that they decided to have enlisted folk after all, or maybe "crewman" was intended as just a generic reference, like "shipmate".

Do we have any experienced military folk who could expound on the differences between officer and enlisted in the navy? Is it just a matter of "enlisted do the grunt work, officers give orders"? Are there huge differences in training, in skills, in experience?

[kostmayer]

I recall reading that Gene originally wanted to model Starfleet on the air farce,

Deliberate typo? Or did you mean "On-the-air farce"?

[Mikey]

I've heard one opinion. It was that until DS9 enlisted ranks didn't exist (don't know how he explained Simon Tarsis), but when they were re-enstated, certain officers were dropped to NCOs.

Don't look at me. Not my theory. I think it's retarded. Just sharing the rubbish.

Wouldn't work. IIRC, O'Brien went from Lt. to CPO within TNG.

[Aaron]

Do we have any experienced military folk who could expound on the differences between officer and enlisted in the navy? Is it just a matter of "enlisted do the grunt work, officers give orders"? Are there huge differences in training, in skills, in experience?

Officers hold a commission granted by (in the Commonwealth) the Queen which bestows them the privledge of commanding the troops. Enlisted troops hold no such fancy document.

Training wise the officers are basically upper management, they plot out what to do and a general idea of how and the enlisted accomplish the goal. Enlisted personnel training is usually orientated to hands on work, you won't see the sci-fi staple of officers pitching in to fix something unless the shit has truely hit the fan (IE: your ship is a burning wreck).

MInd you even within this system there are a bunch of other things happening. The further up the NCO ladder you get, the less actual work you do and the same for officers. So what we saw O'Brien doing in DS9, in the RL military that work would have been done by a bunch of Privates/Corporals.

[Tsukiyumi]

...too many Indians, not enough chiefs (no offense, Tsu, I didn't make up the phrase.)...

It's actually a pretty good analogy.

[Mikey]

Yeah, but I wouldn't have used the term "Indians" myself. Unless I was trying to irritate my wife.

[Tsukiyumi]

I suppose "braves" would work.