Why was O'Brien not an officer?

[Skywalker]

I think the TNG wardrobe issue was simply a matter of not wasting the costume budget on such a small character.

I think the intention in TNG was that O'Brien had attened the academy and was a comissioned officer.

If they wanted him as an NCO in TNG they could have just left the rank pips off.

Didn't they actually start referring to O'Brien as an enlisted man in TNG?

 

[Nerys Myk]

I think the TNG wardrobe issue was simply a matter of not wasting the costume budget on such a small character.

I think the intention in TNG was that O'Brien had attened the academy and was a comissioned officer.

If they wanted him as an NCO in TNG they could have just left the rank pips off.

Didn't they actually start referring to O'Brien as an enlisted man in TNG?

"Family" officially made O'Brien an enlisted chief.

 

[admiral_reliant]

O'Brien could have been in first contact but as part of the Defiant's crew, where he, and Dax would have been anyway, but as it cost alot to get Worf on the movie, they couldnt find the budget.

Each series of Star Trek has different rights and contracts for the staff, making thier release to other series or movies difficult.

This is also shown whenever there is a crossover episode - One TNG character, Picard in DS9 Pilot, and one DS9 character in Voy pilot, Quark, and Bashir being the only DS9 character in TNG episode "Birthright" (note: only part 1)

 

[LobsterAfternoon]

How much did it cost to get Worf?

 

[MacLeod]

A better cameo for O'Brein might have been Nemesis at the wedding, after all they got Wes.

 

[R. Star]

He's an officer, a Chief Petty Officer.

Tell a navy CPO that... he'd kick your ass.