Did Wes Get Fast-Tracked At The Academy Or Not?

[Schimpfy]

I agree to a point, but there've gotta be standards somewhere. We obviously don't know them, but I think it's safe to argue that the species of cadets we've seen stories revolve around have similar aptitudes regarding physical differences aside from telepathy. With that said, the structure of the programs are likely comparable in length and scope although there are bound to be exceptions. You raise good points, though.

 

[Timo]

I think it's safe to argue that the species of cadets we've seen stories revolve around have similar aptitudes regarding physical differences aside from telepathy.

In this particular respect, it's remarkable how dissimilar, say, Wes and Kes are despite the superficial similarity. And how could physical aptitude tests be fair to Ben Sisko if he's pitted against Solok who basically was born three times stronger? (Or to Solok who was born to much thinner air and may be poisoning himself with every deep breath?)

Then again, physical requirements might be lax in general. We see plenty of Starfleeters who wouldn't qualify as "fit" today, due to evident body fat or age (and never mind assorted prosthetics). Some are explicitly shown disproving our hasty conclusions - Picard, a decade older than the man who plays him, has strength, stamina and agility in abundance. Others are not, though. Perhaps entry requirements reflect this, too?

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Schimpfy]

Oh, I don't mean to imply physical ability. I meant to convey the humanoid aspects that a standard program could be structured around, but even then we were limited in scope to what we saw. The question is also then raised about how many campuses there really are for Starfleet Academy. I'd have to do some digging, but were there really ever any non-humanoid species portrayed at the academy? I know it's production cost and all, but I'm curious if there are any non-humanoid centric SFA locations aside from San Francisco.

 

[Timo]

It is pretty difficult to find nonhumanoids in Star Trek in general; I do not recall any instances of such in Starfleet uniform or Starfleet service, not even as dialogue mentions. That is, we never learned that the exotic but unseen Vilix'pran would have been nonhumanoid, say. But half the things we mistook for bushes at the San Francisco installation might have been cadets for all we know...

As for other installations, the Okudagrams do not mention competing, entirely separate Academies - and indeed one of the main purposes of the Academy might be to bring all the thousands if not millions of cadets physically together for patriotic propaganda. And never mind that this makes Riker's "eighth being best in class" almost astronomically significant, even if "class" means "Mrs Phillips' class" rather than "the class of 2347".

Other training facilities abound as Okudagram mentions, though. Mainly we hear of these in "Eye of the Beholder", the TNG rather than the TAS episode, that is. There's a Starfleet annex at Beta Aquilae II, Beta Ursae Minor II and Psi Epsilon III, a Starfleet OSHC, and a Starfleet Technical Services Academy. Distribution of this sort would make it statistically difficult for our heroes and random guest stars to refer to shared experiences at "The Academy" - so perhaps the off-Earth annexes concentrate on drastically different phenotypes, there mainly being molluskoids at Psi Epsilon III or whatever?

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Schimpfy]

But half the things we mistook for bushes at the San Francisco installation might have been cadets for all we know...

No budget for alien of the week? Run down to the store and grab a bush!

I've wondered if the outlying training facilities are similar to remote campuses of the same "school."

 

[UssGlenn]

I lean towards the double major theory. I also suspect he would have started as a lieutenant JG upon graduation instead of ensign.

I think his time on the Enterprise only kicks in after his graduation. Basically the starship time and experience needed by a newly graduated ensign before they get promoted to LT. JG would be credited to Wesley immediately upon graduation.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

so perhaps the off-Earth annexes concentrate on drastically different phenotypes, there mainly being molluskoids at Psi Epsilon III or whatever?

Because it would make sense from a practical standpoint if not an IDIC, get along with everyone perspective.

Regarding the standards for fitness of applicants, there'd be something akin to a golf handicap in the admission/accessibility requirements so everyone could be on as equal footing as possible.