Command Major at the Academy?

[trr]

I fully understand that this is all fantasy and fiction and we can make up whatever we like. Having said that, for gaming purposes I'm trying to figure out how Starfleet Academy works with respect to one's "major" or specialization. I understand that there are things like the Bridge Certification Exam or the formal Command School that is mentioned a few times. My question is whether a Cadet at the Academy is able to "major" in Command while being a cadet?

I sort of assumed that a cadet would focus in a specific area (helm, engineering, science, etc) and interested or talented officers would grow into command positions and be trained accordingly. I realize that there is a certain well-roundedness to Academy education but I would assume that a cadet couldn't get a "command" degree (for lack of a better word) while just being a cadet. By that I'm basically saying someone would primarily learning administration, command, law, diplomacy, tactics, etc and leave the Academy as a leader/manager. Do you have thoughts or evidence to support either side?

Also, I'm wondering how this relates to the Command Branch. So if you can be a Command major in the Academy, are you obligated to learn helm/nav (for example) since that's really all we ever see Command branch characters doing besides being the CO or XO. Are there cadets trained solely as Helm/Nav officers without Command aspirations or is Helm/Nav just a position that lower-rank Command Branch officers work through while waiting to rise ranks?

I'm basically just looking for some discussion on how Command Branch characters begin and progress and what the "majors" are at the Academy. Any thoughts appreciated. This is primarily for some groundwork for an RPG game I'm working on. Thanks!

 

[The Wormhole]

My question is whether a Cadet at the Academy is able to "major" in Command while being a cadet?

Probably. This presumably was the case with the cadets who took over as acting captain and XO of the Valiant, episode of the same name. Also could explain Riker's quick ascendancy through the ranks, seven years after graduating he was already a Commander, XO of the flagship, and had already turned down one promotion to Captain.

 

[trr]

so do you imagine that those command specialists are trained as pilots as a rule?

 

[The Wormhole]

so do you imagine that those command specialists are trained as pilots as a rule?

Well, Riker was considered a skilled pilot, in Chain of Command he's even noted to be the best pilot on the Enterprise.

Another interesting example I forgot to mention earlier, Picard apparently went directly to command division upon graduating, as he wore a white shirt under his monster maroon jacket in Tapestry. Helmsman wore a different colour in those days. Although throughout TNG, Picard is frequently mentioned to be a respectable pilot himself. Although, in the Tapestry timeline, Picard eventually went to science division instead.

 

[Timo]

We should note that Jim Kirk in both timelines underwent the specifically command-related no-win scenario test while a Cadet. In contrast, we saw Saavik take the same test while already a commissioned Lieutenant, and learned that certain other heroes had never taken the test at all, yet still had command qualifications.

This would IMHO support the idea that one can choose a dedicated Command path as part of one's graduate studies, and Kirk took this approach. It is also possible to major on something else, and Saavik probably majored in sciences and only took on an interest in command after graduation, thus undertaking a postgrad command course with the adjoining exam. Spock, too, majored in sciences at least in the prime universe, and accumulated command credentials by alternate means, never taking the intensive special postgrad course on the subject.

The test available to staff officers in TNG does not equal the sort of command training that Kirk got. Instead, it qualifies the staff officer for bridge watch duty, a fairly menial job that can be used for accumulating experience for ultimate command qualifications (thus probably helping Crusher get her eventual red shirt). And it is a course available at the Academy already, allowing Bashir to be a bridge officer off the bat but OTOH allowing Pulaski and McCoy to skip that type of competence altogether. And no, it's not a requirement for Commander rank, as exemplified by these latter two doctors. It's just a means of gaining further brownie points that in some cases amount to a promotion from LtCmdr to Cmdr, in others perhaps to a promotion from Ensign to Lt (j.g.), and in others still being insufficient for spanning the officer's current "points gap" to the next rank.

From the examples of Kirk and Riker, I'd assume people with command aspirations are required to do side work of multiple types to gather the necessary experience: a stint in security might be just as mandatory as a stint at the helm. People in other fields need not diversify quite as much.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

I would think a Command Major would be a very popular and much sought after course.

In my head it would teach leadership skills, administration, Federation law, diplomacy, tactics and strategy, as well as all the other skills and abilities needed to mould someone into a capable and confident leader. It would also be one of the toughest courses to get through, with cadets being pushed hard and thoroughly psychologically assessed as to their mindset, to ensure the right sort make the grade.

 

[Shawnster]

So, perhaps first year cadets are offered only general studies in all the fields such as engineering, navigation, etc... After first year, the cadets can choose which branch they would like to specifically focus on. Perhaps there is a test or exam to see if these cadets have enough knowledge to proceed along their elected course. Subsequent years at the Academy focus on the chosen field as well as continuing some general studies. It's probably best if (nearly) every Starfleet officer knows how to pilot a shuttle, for example.

Medical skills are probably treated like they are today with extended training beyond the 4 years at the Academy.

Kirk went back to the Academy for a while. He taught classes but may have been taking additional courses himself. Maybe this is a command track. The Academy 4 year program is basic training and officers can return to further their education in specific fields after those 4 years. Saavik, being a Lt. and a cadet may have done the same thing and returned to pursue training in a specific field like command.

Even today a 4-year college gives you a diploma and an associates or bachelor's degree. To pursue a masters or doctorate requires further education.

 

[Timo]

The one thing we know is that there's no set length for studies. People clearly aiming for command may take three, four or five years (Kirk, Kirk, Merrick). People clearly not aiming for command may take four years. Or then much less (nuMcCoy seemed to hop in alongside nuKirk, but was already a commissioned Lieutenant Commander when Cadet nuKirk was still struggling with his no-win test).

The studies are probably highly customizable, and spit out Ensigns with wildly differing skills but still a shared core competence that may be no greater than that of the "90-day wonders" ITRW and perhaps acquired just as quickly.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[J.T.B.]

I realize that there is a certain well-roundedness to Academy education but I would assume that a cadet couldn't get a "command" degree (for lack of a better word) while just being a cadet. By that I'm basically saying someone would primarily learning administration, command, law, diplomacy, tactics, etc and leave the Academy as a leader/manager. Do you have thoughts or evidence to support either side?

My guess would be "no." I see the Academy as training cadets in a particular discipline, probably mostly scientific, technical and engineering, that prepare them to do their job as junior officers. Leadership opportunities as ensigns will be small-scale, and most of the lessons that make a better commander can be learned only by experience and actually managing people. If there were a "command major," it would probably be chosen disproportionately by cadets who picture themselves as going straight to the top, but some number of them would no doubt be found unsuitable.

Performance at progressively higher levels of responsibility is the best way to find the best leaders, and I don't see that changing. After gaining experience at lower levels, I would imagine that more command-specific graduate schools would be available to the most qualified.

This is muddied somewhat by Trek using the term "command" for the division of a ship that handles flight and weapons control, but it is also very clear that commanding officers need not come from that division alone.

 

[MacLeod]

The first couple of years could be more general, and only in the last couple of years do cadets specalise in a particular field.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

The show has never been that specific about different tracks you can take as a cadet. Starfleet Academy has always come off to me as general preparation across all disciplines. Janeway and Picard both have science backgrounds. Half the cast of each show has been captain in some future regardless of their background.

Maybe those who show command talent at the academy get on the command track sooner than others.

 

[The Wormhole]

Janeway and Picard both have science backgrounds

Actually, throughout most TNG there's a strong indication Picard has a background as a pilot. In 11001001 when he has to take the helm at the end he comments about it being a while since he last sat there, indicating he had at some point in his past. In The Battle, he refers to his execution of the Picard Maneuver "what any good helmsman would do" (admittedly an odd statement since he was Captain when he executed the maneuver). Booby Trap he feels it necessary to take the helm himself rather than leave it to Wesley or any of the other qualified conn officers who are aboard. And of course The First Duty, where he instantly recognizes the maneuver the cadets were performing as the Kolvoord Starburst, not to mention during the inquiry when everyone is shocked about what the other cadets are saying in their testimonies, it's he who explains to Dr. Crusher why no real pilot worth their salt would do things as they're being described. It's true, Tapestry showed Picard being a science officer in the alternate timeline, but that's the only indication of any kind of science division involvement he's ever had.

 

[trr]

Which makes me wonder if all command-destined officers serve as helmsmen for a substantial portion of their service. Sure, Sisko and Spock are plucked from their specialties to act as command officers, but all the other helmsmen we see are destined for command positions. Really the only one who doesn't seem interested, suited, or destined for command is Paris. And he mentions that he has a degree in Astrophysics (in the pilot I think?) and he obviously has warp/starship engineering skills. So he's the only example I can think of that is clearly trained at the Academy as a pilot without having command intentions. I'm not a Trexpert so I might be off on that, but that's what I'm basing my questions on right now.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Good point, that's all evidence he might be a pilot, there's also evidence he might have a background in science.

First, in Tapestry he is in the astrophysics department. He has shown major interest in archaeology in Captain's Holiday, QPid and in The Chase has an archaeology professor he has such a close relationship with he tries to bring him along to solve an archaeological puzzle. On several occasions we've seen he passes his time trying to solve long standing math and science puzzles. Sure, the writers had no way to know Fermat's Last Theorem would be proven in less than a decade, but nobody who isn't obsessed with math and science would spend so much time trying to figure out why a planet has a strange orbit.

All of his interests certainly appear to be in the sciences.

In Lower Decks, they consider two people for the ops position. One is a helm officer and the other is in security. O'Brien was in security before becoming an engineer (That's not just going by his nameless appearances in season one, also his history as a solider in the previous Cardassian war). Worf is moved from bridge to security then to command, Geordi from bridge to engineering. There's no evidence in any of Trek they require any particular background for any particular job.

 

[The Wormhole]

Really the only one who doesn't seem interested, suited, or destined for command is Paris. And he mentions that he has a degree in Astrophysics (in the pilot I think?) and he obviously has warp/starship engineering skills. So he's the only example I can think of that is clearly trained at the Academy as a pilot without having command intentions.

Ironically, in the novels he eventually becomes Voyager's XO.

 

[Timo]

I'd argue that all the heroes need to both major and minor in something before graduating, and that for many at least one of the subjects chosen is a chore rather than a calling. And that taking Helm may be the easy choice for those wishing to round out their studies. And that the goals of these people are set at simple things like glory of command, cool uniforms and pretty yeomen, meaning they get ahead in that game and leave less/differently driven academicians in their wake...

Really, while Starfleet might wish to make its on selection on who gets to command, the material it gets is significant in its own right. As we learn, it's a game of favoritism anyway, with folks like Mallory promoting kids of friends like Kirk.

(That's not just going by his nameless appearances in season one, also his history as a solider in the previous Cardassian war)

A hobby-horse rears its ugly head... Why should we assume that the nameless appearance was in Security duty? O'Brien wore yellow there, but it's just as likely that he was a transporter chief, assigned to one delegation (surely the Selay would refuse to share a transporter room with the Anticaans, and surely Starfleet would wish to agree) and immediately worried about seeing a member of another delegation in their turf. I mean, we have to wonder how the Anticaan even got there - if O'Brien were Security, why didn't he intercept the delegate at the no-go doorway already? The real Security must have been thwarted somewhere else already, with O'Brien just having a random encounter when it's already almost too late.

O'Brien knew little or nothing about engineering back in his trooper days. Also, back in those days, he didn't wear gold. His intriguingly ambiguous backstory might suggest he got gold for becoming Captain Maxwell's trusted transporter specialist after saving his life with transporter skills. Once donning the new uniform, I doubt he would go back and forth much - he's not the type, requiring prompting from alternate Picard in order to pick up engineering in "All Good Things...".

Timo Saloniemi

 

[C.E. Evans]

At the Academy, the "command branch" may be closer to "general studies" for those cadets not specifically (or originally) going into engineering, sciences, security, operations, etc.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

When it comes to Academy matters I tend to use the Susan Wright novel "The Best And The Brightest", which does have the cadets in general studies in the first year (which I think would cover basic piloting, engineering, operations, etc, as well as being heavy of Starfleet protocols and procedures). After that they get to specialise and drop topics that doesn't align with what they want to go into.

 

[The Wormhole]

Why should we assume that the nameless appearance was in Security duty?

IIRC, Colm Meaney was listed in the credits of that episode as "Security Guard."

Also, back in those days, he didn't wear gold. His intriguingly ambiguous backstory might suggest he got gold for becoming Captain Maxwell's trusted transporter specialist after saving his life with transporter skills.

As Captain Maxwell described O'Brien as his "tactical officer" he likely did wear gold while serving on the Rutledge. Of course, being described as a tactical officer is problematic enough given O'Brien isn't an officer, which has been established prior to The Wounded.

 

[Spike730]

Helmsman wore a different colour in those days.

Enterprise-C helmsman Castillo wore also white. So maybe the TWOK colour system had been simplified by the 24th century.