Structure of Starfleet

[Vastator]

Have been reading Christophers The Buried Age and noticed the mention of Starfleet Long-Range Threat Assessment and Response Division which got me thinking of how Starfleet was divided into its many branches. I mean how are the different branches sub-divided and what their purposes are? How do they relate to Federation organizations like the mention of Federation security?

Memory Alpha lists a few such as Starfleet Tactical, Starfleet Security, Starfleet Intelligence, Starfleet Operations etc.

So my question is how do you see Starfleet being structured? What inspiration do you go to when envisioning how Starfleet is structured? Since Starfleet seems to be descended from the United Earth Starfleet, does this mean the Federation member races had no input on how it was created?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

So my question is how do you see Starfleet being structured? What inspiration do you go to when envisioning how Starfleet is structured?

The Navy seems like a good idea. Starfleet is a spacegoing organization, true, but I've always thought that a naval model is the most efficient system to use. Starfleet *does* operate ships, you know. Ships in space, true, but still ships. And that's why we have navies.

Since Starfleet seems to be descended from the United Earth Starfleet, does this mean the Federation member races had no input on how it was created?

Perhaps they did, but I don't see the big deal. The UFP's founding worlds probably all had unique military structures; some consensus had to be reached, and quick. Earth's Starfleet seemed to have an efficient system; why *not* use it? Simply expand its reach to include all Federation member worlds. Using an existing system would be more efficient than creating a whole new one from scratch.

 

[captcalhoun]

my organisation chart.

note it's been crunched to 800x600 if you wanna see the full-size version let me know and i'll have to PM it or email...

 

[Sci]

It's a good chart, though the Federation President ought to be at the top of it, not the Security Council. (The Security Council is capable of issuing orders, but that seems to be a rarely-used power; the President is the one who serves as commander-in-chief according to "Paradise Lost.")

 

[Vastator]

my organisation chart.

note it's been crunched to 800x600 if you wanna see the full-size version let me know and i'll have to PM it or email...

Very nice, could you PM it to me please? Looks quite good

Also, has the term Starfleet Marine Corp ever been in the books? I know the FASA rpg line had such an organization.

 

[Trent Roman]

Interesting chart. I've never heard of a Starfleet Infantry division; sounds a lot more militaristic than I prefer my 'Fleet. I was under the impression that Special Operations was under the purview of Intelligence (or Intelligence and Security combined) since Nechayev was involved and she is (unless I'm totally remembering this wrong) in SI.

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[JD]

Weren't the guys (and girls) on the planet where Nog lost his leg supposed to be Starfleet Infantry?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Weren't the guys (and girls) on the planet where Nog lost his leg supposed to be Starfleet Infantry?

They sure looked like it.

And while the term "Starfleet Marine Corps" has never been used onscreen, I have always believed it exists. It simply makes sense. And of course there's *Colonel* West in ST VI to consider.

One thing, though: I'm not convinced that the Federation President is also the Commander in Chief of Starfleet. In ST VI, there is an Admiral who is introduced as the c-in-c, and he is clearly not the President.

 

[William Leisner]

Curious that Starfleet Science didn't make the org chart...

 

[Sci]

Weren't the guys (and girls) on the planet where Nog lost his leg supposed to be Starfleet Infantry?

They sure looked like it.

And while the term "Starfleet Marine Corps" has never been used onscreen, I have always believed it exists. It simply makes sense. And of course there's *Colonel* West in ST VI to consider.

One thing, though: I'm not convinced that the Federation President is also the Commander in Chief of Starfleet. In ST VI, there is an Admiral who is introduced as the c-in-c, and he is clearly not the President.

He's explicitly described as the commander-in-chief in DS9's "Paradise Lost." Further, the term "commander-in-chief" doesn't necessarily only apply to one person. Up until a few years ago, for instance, the commanding officers of the United States Armed Forces' Unified Combatant Commands were referred to as commanders-in-chief of their UCC. United States Army General Norman Schwarzkopf held the position of Commander-in-Chief of United States Central Command during Operation Desert Storm, for instance. The CinCs of the UCCs were later renamed "Combatant Commanders" by the Bush Administration because they wanted to preserve the term "commander-in-chief" for the President alone for propaganda purposes.

Given the reference to the C-in-C of the Federation Starfleet in Star Trek VI (and to Admiral Cartwright being called "Commander, Starfleet" in Star Trek III) and the reference to President Jaresh-Inyo as being the commander-in-chief in "Paradise Lost," the logical conclusion would be that "Admiral Bill" in ST6 is the commander-in-chief of Starfleet (thus, the officer in overall command of that service), whilst the Federation President remains commander-in-chief of all of the Federation's various military/pseduomilitary services (such as the Federation Navel Patrol mentioned in VOY).

 

[Corran Horn]

I think there's an org chart in the FJ manual. I'm too lazy to look.

 

[Rosalind]

Curious that Starfleet Science didn't make the org chart...

Who cares about science?

 

[Stevil2001]

...(and to Admiral Cartwright being called "Commander, Starfleet" in Star Trek III)...

Actually, it's Morrow who's referred to as "Commander, Starfleet". Cartwright's position is never specified; I'd always imagined him as chief of operations.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Curious that Starfleet Science didn't make the org chart...

Who cares about science?

I'm sorry, I couldn't read that post with a straight face.

 

[Rosalind]

Curious that Starfleet Science didn't make the org chart...

Who cares about science?

I'm sorry, I couldn't read that post with a straight face.

I'm glad someone understood that.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Given the reference to the C-in-C of the Federation Starfleet in Star Trek VI (and to Admiral Cartwright being called "Commander, Starfleet" in Star Trek III) and the reference to President Jaresh-Inyo as being the commander-in-chief in "Paradise Lost," the logical conclusion would be that "Admiral Bill" in ST6 is the commander-in-chief of Starfleet (thus, the officer in overall command of that service), whilst the Federation President remains commander-in-chief of all of the Federation's various military/pseduomilitary services (such as the Federation Naval Patrol mentioned in VOY).

I'm down with that.

 

[Newspaper Taxi]

The Organization Chart doesn't seem to mention Section 31. Coincedence, or...?

 

[KRAD]

^ Why should it? Section 31 isn't part of Starfleet....

 

[captcalhoun]

the chart also misses off Starfleet Communications. they should be subordinate to Ops.

it's worth noting that the chart was created solely for my own reference purposes for my fan-fic; hence Intelligence Strike Teams, Starfleet Infantry and the seperate Spec Ops division...

 

[Newspaper Taxi]

^ Why should it? Section 31 isn't part of Starfleet....

Not according to Star Trek.com

Deputy Director Luther Sloan
Played by William Sadler
Episode: DS9 542 - Inquisition


Amoral agent in a secretive division of Starfleet Intelligence called Section 31 who repeatedly tried to recruit Dr. Julian Bashir into the covert agency. In 2375 Sloan committed suicide rather than give up the cure for the Founders Disease, but Bashir and Miles O'Brien recovered the information anyway.

Memory Alpha disagrees as well:

Section 31 was the code name of an officially nonexistent and uncondoned rogue agency within Starfleet Intelligence that claimed to protect the security interests of the United Federation of Planets. The group's historical precedent derived from the 22nd century, when an ancestral organization within the Earth Starfleet acted covertly in the interests of United Earth.

Officially, it doesn't exist. If you were to talk to Garek, he would say quite offcially, that he is but a simple tailor. Memory Alpha also says that's it's Within Starfleet Intellgience. Which I guess is where it should branch off of on the map. Maybe use a red line to emphasize it's shadier nature.

I would quote the Wikipedia too but the Wikipedia is often looked down upon.

Edit: The quote tag was messed up at first.