Starfleet = USA + USN?

First U.S. Navy Jack (traditional):




Historically probable first U.S. naval jack:



Navy = fleet.

United States stars:




Stars + Navy = Starfleet:



The primary authority of Starfleet, which is Starfleet Command, is located in San Francisco, USA.

Starfleet vessels use the designation "USS", just like the U.S. Navy.

"But they said it stands for United Space Ship or United Star Ship in Starfleet!"

Yeah, they said.

 

Well given that the Hornblower books are often mentioned in relation to ST and the USN is based on the RN. Then Starfleet=The RN circa 18th century

 

Starfleet's a mixture of the British Navy during the age of sail, and the US Navy especially during the second world war in which many of the TOS production senior people served (the war not necessarily the Navy).

The federation is more the "space UN" than the USA. Although Kirk embodies an idealize American identity.

 

The Hornblower comparisons, IMO apply more to the characters themselves than how Starfleet is organized, though I'll concede much of the "world" of TOS season 1 was more or less a US Navy ship mixed in with British colonialism in space.

 

As a former US Coast Guard Petty Officer, I've always thought Starfleet was most like the USCG.

 

I think you could argue that Starfleet (especially the TNG variety), is a logical successor to either the United States Public Health Service or, better yet, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps.

 

Here's a bit about the USCG. Just replace "maritime" with "Federation" or "interstellar", and you'll see what I mean:
The United States Coast Guard carries out three basic roles, which are further subdivided into eleven statutory missions. The three roles are:

• Maritime safety
• Maritime security
• Maritime stewardship

The eleven statutory missions as defined by law are divided into homeland security missions and non-homeland security missions.[1]

Non-homeland security missions include: Marine safety, search and rescue, aids to navigation, living marine resources (fisheries law enforcement), marine environmental protection, and ice operations

Homeland security missions include: Ports, waterways, and coastal security (PWCS); drug interdiction; migrant interdiction; defense readiness; and other law enforcement.

A given unit within the Coast Guard may be carrying out several missions at once. For example, a 25-foot (7.6 m) RHIB assigned to maritime security may also watch for out-of-place or missing aids to navigation, pollution, and unsafe boating practices.

 

^ Interesting, reading your list of responsibilities I could see which episode the responsibility appeared in. Inspecting an aid to navigation was the mission bring performed at the beginning of The Gamesters Of Triskelion. Living marine resources law had a part in Party Time.

 

This. Of course, there are also times Starfleet doesn't seem like any navy that we currently know of.

 

None of our current or past navies operated in interstellar space.

 

None of them ever encountered Tribbles before too.

 

Can anyone join those or what? I need something meaningful to do with my life but without going through any sort of boot camp.

 

There is also this image from ENT: "Breaking the Ice":



It actually says "USA" on the space suit.

Why would a fourth-grade student from Ireland send this drawing to the Enterprise? LOL!

 

IMO, given that Starfleet is an armed defense organisation, I think you could reasonably suggest that it's a hybrid of the USCG, NOAA/NASA and the PHS. It also appears to function as something of a 'Space FBI' on occassion.

Yeah, I think that one might have been a step too far. Particularly as it was an Irish student (not an American).

 

In the mid 22nd century, Ireland is a part of the United States of Angola.

 

Perhaps USA= United Space Agency (possibly a shorter synonym for UESPA)?

 

Listen to this intel audio log from Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare:

"You can turn anything into a weapon, it just takes imagination. Some of the most successful military campaigns succeeded simply because no one ever imagined it was possible. If you're planning to take out the most powerful naval force on the planet, forget about doing it in the open water, strike from the depths of the ocean or strike before it's even had a chance to leave port. By collapsing the bridge on the fleet I will accomplish two things. The first is strategic: disabling the U.S. Third fleet; the second, symbolic. For a century, the Golden Gate Bridge has stood for U.S. technological innovation and might. Destroy a powerful symbol of strength, and you turn it into an even more powerful symbol of weakness. Make an adversary feel weak and they will become weak."
— Jonathan Irons​

 

The 40 year old they actually had draw it messed up.

 

Terrorists brought down buildings in New York, we built a new one even taller.

Strength isn't not being knocked down, it's getting back up.