What are you doing here, Bones?

[David Strickhouser]

Yes, in fact the captain usually doesn't have a fixed watch during which he's expected to be on the bridge.

On TOS, I always believed Kirk was primarily "first shift" with some bleed-over into "second", with Spock relieving him periodically, but both on duty "first".
Perhaps, Lt. Hadley or Mr. Hansen had the bridge for other watches.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

On TOS, I always believed Kirk was primarily "first shift" with some bleed-over into "second", with Spock relieving him periodically, but both on duty "first".
Perhaps, Lt. Hadley or Mr. Hansen had the bridge for other watches.

Kirk and Spock stand the bridge watch during which all interesting things shall occur.

Note that in "The Corbomite Maneuver," something interesting happens (the cube is encountered) while only Spock is on the bridge. This is because Kirk is the boss, and he can do his doctor appointments during work hours rather than waste his down time like the rest of us have to.

 

[Nyotarules]

McCoy makes it pretty clear in "A Taste of Armageddon" that, unlike Scotty, he is not an officer "of the line" and isn't qualified to make command decisions. That shouldn't make a difference as to whether he can be on the bridge, though. If it's OK with the captain that he hangs around there, who's going to say different?

As an Engineering Officer Scotty should not be qualified either and yet he was the ship's number three. Am I in error in this?

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

Kirk is the boss, and he can do his doctor appointments during work hours rather than waste his down time like the rest of us have to.

Nah, it's 'cause McCoy couldn't get him to come in any other time. Probably made up a ruse to trick him into coming.

 

[The Old Mixer]

As an Engineering Officer Scotty should not be qualified either and yet he was the ship's number three. Am I in error in this?

IIRC, in the U.S. Navy, an engineering background is preferred for some commands, e.g., nuclear submarines.

 

[EnsignHarper]

As an Engineering Officer Scotty should not be qualified either and yet he was the ship's number three. Am I in error in this?

In the non-canonical novel, The Kobayashi Maru, it is shown that Scott indeed initially went to Command School, but after using a field theory he devised when he was a wee lad to ALMOST beat the scenario, he he started on his true path.

 

[UnknownSample]

As an Engineering Officer Scotty should not be qualified either and yet he was the ship's number three. Am I in error in this?

Maybe you're basing that on some real-world thing I don't know about. It sounds, however, like saying Spock's a science officer, and so shouldn't be put in command either. Scott is a lieutenant commander, I think.

 

[Nyotarules]

Maybe you're basing that on some real-world thing I don't know about. It sounds, however, like saying Spock's a science officer, and so shouldn't be put in command either. Scott is a lieutenant commander, I think.

Yeas, I guess the structure of Starfleet even tho based on the US Navy has a few differences. I believe a ship's navigator and pilot/helmsman are not officer positions but an enlisted post?

 

[J.T.B.]

IIRC, in the U.S. Navy, an engineering background is preferred for some commands, e.g., nuclear submarines.

Substitute "all" for "some" and that's about right. USN surface and submarine officers are engineers first and foremost, and don't get to command a ship unless they've been a chief engineer or one of the principal assistants (propulsion, electrical, damage control).

Yeas, I guess the structure of Starfleet even tho based on the US Navy has a few differences. I believe a ship's navigator and pilot/helmsman are not officer positions but an enlisted post?

The navigator is an officer and department head. A helmsman is enlisted and actually turns the wheel as ordered. A nautical pilot is a civilian who is an expert at guiding ships in and around a specific area.

 

[Nyotarules]

Substitute "all" for "some" and that's about right. USN surface and submarine officers are engineers first and foremost, and don't get to command a ship unless they've been a chief engineer or one of the principal assistants (propulsion, electrical, damage control).



The navigator is an officer and department head. A helmsman is enlisted and actually turns the wheel as ordered. A nautical pilot is a civilian who is an expert at guiding ships in and around a specific area.

So 'Lt Sulu' should be Crewman Sulu lol Or in the 22nd century the powers that be decided flying a starship was too important for an officer not to be in control

 

[The Old Mixer]

When it comes to the helm, maybe it's more akin to being a fighter pilot--they're officers.

 

[J.T.B.]

When it comes to the helm, maybe it's more akin to being a fighter pilot--they're officers.

Or bomber pilots, as GR had been. One of my pet theories is that the two at the main console are basically interchangeable and can do all of each others' functions, and helmsman and navigator are just catchier titles for pilot and co-pilot.

 

[JonnyQuest037]

helmsman and navigator are just catchier titles for pilot and co-pilot.

Or, y'know, helmsman and navigator. That works too.

 

[J.T.B.]

Or, y'know, helmsman and navigator. That works too.

Sure, just speculating on some reason the terminology might have diverged so much from the naval origin. It is a more aircraft-like arrangement than anything nautical, with the astro-compass or whatever it is extending between the two instead of the throttle levers.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

Astrogator. (That I know from novels.)