Where have all the yeomen gone?

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

Given today's technological advances, it's a wonder they would have yeomen at all by the 2260s.

Remembering how annoyed Kirk was at his flirty computer in "Tomorrow is Yesterday" and how imperfectly M-5 performed in "The Ultimate Computer", people you can talk to and reason with don't look so bad.

 

[trekshark]

Probably the same place all the commodores went.

To the 2400s?

 

[Lyon_Wonder]

Yeoman are non-commissioned enlisted Starfleet crewmen with no rank and I assume there’s crewmen who perform a similar function in the TNG-era even if the title of yeoman was officially discontinued at some point after TOS.

Rand had to take courses at Starfleet Academy at some point after TOS S1 to become an officer in the TOS movie-era too.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

Given the existence of 17 year old yeoman Tina Lawton, I wonder if yeoman positions can sometimes be sort of like internships for people who aren't sure if they want to pursue a Starfleet career.

 

[jaehaerys48]

25th century ships should have holographic yeoman.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

It would be an interesting novel - a (series of) mission(s) seen through the eyes of members of Starfleet's yeoman program.

 

[somebuddyX]

So because she'd be a girl/woman she has to become a yeoman and bring Picard his tea, while Wesley didn't have to do that? Hm?

No it's much more simpler that I haven't given any thought to Wesley doing anything, and since Leslie doesn't exist it's much easy to just imagine all these alternate ideas being used by her rather than grafting them onto Wesley. I quite like the idea of Leslie being Picard's assistant because it would put them organically in scenes together rather than having to make up plots like "Unnatural Selection" or whatever to get them to talk. I based this on the relationship President Bartlet has with Charlie in "The West Wing" and in my mind it benefits both characters in Picard learning how to deal with children/teenagers and Leslie has to handle authority figures and gain confidence.
Could Wesley have been his yeoman? Sure, and maybe he was, but we never saw it and as far as I know they never reference yeoman so it's possible the position got canned. If anything I'd suggest Nog in Season 5 could have been a yeoman to Sisko and I quite like imagining that.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

since Leslie doesn't exist it's much easy to just imagine all these alternate ideas being used by her rather than grafting them onto Wesley.

She's a blank slate, not being fleshed out as a character like he was and unlikely to have developed identically to him if she had existed.

 

[Pauln6]

I think it should be a given that all department heads would have Yeomen to help them run their departments. Geordi would otherwise spend half his day on staff assessments, rotas, and logistical matters instead of humping his beloved engines. Starfleet does not seem big on automated systems doing this kind of work.

I do like the suggestion that a modernised version of the yeoman should be a mixture of a naval yeoman and an army batman, so in addition to admin, they would accompany their boss on diplomatic missions as a personal pilot or bodyguard. There would be plenty of scope to develop the relationship with this dynamic.

I think the problem with TOS was that there was a decision to keep the yeomen as stupid, decorative victims to the point where scripts were tweaked to keep the yeoman as more of a valet than an astronaut. So, once the recurring yeoman and her unrequited love was axed, there was no real purpose for them beyond handing out a PADD or a cup of coffee, except as eye candy on the occasional landing party.

 

[fireproof78]

army batman,

The fact that I didn't know this was a term in the Army makes me sad.

 

[Pauln6]

The fact that I didn't know this was a term in the Army makes me sad.

I don't think it means that Rand was roaming the ship at night beating up criminals but I would have watched that spin-off.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

I think it should be a given that all department heads would have Yeomen to help them run their departments.

I suppose some of those random people carrying around tools and tablets could be yeoman/the 24th century equivalent thereof, in duties if not name.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I do like the suggestion that a modernised version of the yeoman should be a mixture of a naval yeoman and an army batman, so in addition to admin, they would accompany their boss on diplomatic missions as a personal pilot or bodyguard.

You really love this concept, don't you? Always seemed a bit forced to me. Clerk/Bodyguard. You have an entire division who's job is security. They gotta learn filing too?

The fact that I didn't know this was a term in the Army makes me sad.

Mostly a British thing.

I don't think it means that Rand was roaming the ship at night beating up criminals but I would have watched that spin-off.

Only if she has time to prepare.

 

[fireproof78]

I don't think it means that Rand was roaming the ship at night beating up criminals but I would have watched that spin-off.

Of course not...


...that's what the rec room was for.

Mostly a British thing

Ah. More familiar with RAF slang.

 

[Jedi Marso]

"Long time passing . . . ."

Beat me to it.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Of course not...


...that's what the rec room was for.


Ah. More familiar with RAF slang.

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[Tuskin38]

Was I the only one who was thinking;

Nope, the second I read the thread title "Holding Out for a Hero" popped into my head.

 

[ChrisPiiike]

What became of the role of yeoman after the TOS era? Did technological changes render their jobs obsolete? Did their job title change?

As Star Trek progressed, particularly in the subsequent series like "The Next Generation" (TNG), "Deep Space Nine" (DS9), and "Voyager," the role of yeoman transitioned and expanded. The advancement of technology and automation onboard starships reduced the need for certain administrative tasks that yeomen traditionally handled. The duties of a yeoman might be shared by operations officers, security personnel, or other support staff. The position of yeoman, as a distinct job title, became less prominent.
However, it's worth noting that the spirit of the yeoman role, involving support and assistance to senior officers, continued to be present throughout the Star Trek universe. The specific title of "yeoman" might have faded, but the functions they performed were absorbed into different crew positions as starships became more technologically advanced and streamlined.

 

[Pauln6]

You really love this concept, don't you? Always seemed a bit forced to me. Clerk/Bodyguard. You have an entire division who's job is security. They gotta learn filing too?

I only like it from a story perspective becauseit adds greater depth than please sign this. All Starfleet crew are trained across multiple disciplines. I'd have no more issue with a security trained yeoman than I do that O'Brien moved from security/tactical to engineering to chief engineer. Landon certainly held her own in a team that was mostly security officers.

Filing is probably less important than parallel parking.

 

[Henoch]

"The Last Yeoman" sounds like an episode title.

Here she is from TOS season 3, Wink of an Eye doing what she does best: