Hello, I have a few questions regarding Starfleet Academy cadets. 1) To what extent are they used for missions during wartime (such as in DS9 when the Red Squad had a mission)? Particularly older cadets. 2) Do the Cadets becomes Ensigns immediately upon graduation of the Academy (like at the graduation) or not until they get some sort of posting?
Oo also is there some like.. handbook or something with all known knowledge of Starfleet Academy / cadets? Like of the process? I tried Memory Alpha but there wasn't too much specifically about the actual cadet process.
I would imagine they would only be used in extenuating circumstances. Once they've graduated they get a commission, so yes. It's only been briefly touched upon in the franchise. So there's only bits and pieces. I'm not aware of any book that has gathered the pieces. Probably be a pretty short book anyway .
@Nerys Myk Sorry to bother you, but do you happen to know anything about "Cadet First Class" vs "Cadet Second Class" etc? See below from the TNG episode with Nick Locerno. I am guessing it has something to do with how well they did/are doing at the academy to earn First Class etc. "Nova Squadron was an elite Starfleet Academy. Each cadet flew a single-pilot spacecraft performing various formations and maneuvers as a demonstration of flight prowess and ability. In 2368, Nova Squadron consisted of Cadet First Class Nicholas Locarno, Cadet Second Class Jean Hajar, Cadet Second Class Sito Jaxa, Cadet Third Class Wesley Crusher, and Cadet Joshua Albert. It was this team which won the Rigel Cup."
West Point and Annapolis accelerated the graduation of cadets during WWII. I don't believe that cadets were ever deployed, but the curriculum was changed in order to get them into the field as commissioned officers (usually lieutenants and ensigns) as quickly as possible. ETA: cadets can be sent to deployed units for familiarization for summer instruction, but these units tend to be in support roles rather than directly involved in combat.
I assume it refers to what year they are in. Locarno was probably in his final year and was the senior cadet on the team. Wes was probably in his second year. Cadet First Class= Senior/Fourth Year Cadet Second Class= Junior/Third Year Cadet Third Class= Sophomore/Second Year Cadet Fourth Class= Freshman/First Year
Red Squad was a unique situation, given they actually have their own starship, which Nog even stated in the episode was unprecedented. Not only their own starship, but a state of the art warship. Otherwise, aside from cadets who are on assignment to ships or bases as part of their training, such as Nog in DS9's fifth season or Tilly in Disco's first season, I doubt many cadets see action in the field, wartime or otherwise, barring extenuating circumstances, like in Paradise Lost, where the entire Corps of Cadets was assigned to help out with the Starfleet security patrols because of the state of emergency on Earth.
Also, Nog was assigned to DS9 as a cadet during season five, before the war broke out (even though it was looking likely), then given a field commission during the early episodes of season six. All fits with cadets routinely getting field experience before graduation during peacetime, and accelerated commissions during wartime.
Actually, IIRC, Nog was assigned before the Dominion established their presence in the Alpha Quadrant and admitted Cardassia as a member world.
The ship was originally lead with Starfleet Officers, who were all killed in combat, so, the senior cadets assumed command. They should have returned to Starfleet, but didn't and exceeded their authority. The ship was not on a combat mission, either, rather a training mission but the Dominion War broke out during their cruise:
I didn't say it was on a combat mission, but it was a state of the art warship being used as a cadet training ship. And yes, warship is the proper term here, since the Valiant was Defiant class, the one class of Starfleet ship which actually is acknowledged to be a warship.
Sorry, I misunderstood. Yes, the training experiment was unprecedented, and after this episode, I predict Starfleet will consider the experiment as a horrible failure.
That is actually what I meant. Is there any reference for how/in what circumstances cadets are given field experience? I am assuming this increases during wartime, but actually Nog's post to DS9 was exactly the sort of situation I was referring to. I knew that Red Squad having their own starship was a wild unprecedented thing, I just meant like... I wonder how often cadets are seen working outside of the academy I guess, and if that increases during wartime. Is it specified anywhere the process of cadets getting assignements before graduating (such as Nog's case)? Ie; field experience.