Career Path

[James Wright]

When someone enters Starfleet as a cadet how is their career path chosen?
How are Captains chosen to command starships?

James

 

[Tom]

Well its probably similar to the military, where as your skills are evaluated and you go todards the area you are best suited at. We know starfleet has all sorts of extensive pych tests to also help determine it, plus you would now what are you lean to best.

 

[USS Kongo]

I would think that it depends mainly on the person. If they are the stuff that command is made of, then they will rise to the top--which is command of a starship.

Either that, or they wind up becoming the guy sweeping the floor in ST2: The Wrath Of Khan.

Sean

 

[Myasishchev]

Something I always wondered is where all the redshirts in the 24th century come from. What departments are under the auspice of the Command Division? Flight control and..?

 

[iguana_tonante]

Something I always wondered is where all the redshirts in the 24th century come from. What departments are under the auspice of the Command Division?

Nothing canonical, but I suppose that besides the obvious Command Department (COs and XOs) ther is Helm (Paris), Strategic Ops (Worf on DS9), JAG (Philippa Louvois from The Measure of a Man), maybe Yeomans and Adminstrative Staff.

 

[C.E. Evans]

I think sometimes a person knows what they're going to be prior to joining Starfleet. If someone is already scientifically or mechanically inclined before going to the Academy, they will pursue that field as a career path.
With Sisko and Janeway, though, there are indications that neither started off in command when they graduated from the Academy. Janeway was said to have been originally a science officer, while it's possible that Sisko began as an engineering officer...

 

[sbk1234]

Magic Eight Ball.

 

[mirandafave]

Famous Captains of the Federation find them in a bar brawl, pick them up and give a motivational speech telling them to enlist. Thereafter, it gets a little hazy what route you go.

Maybe Boothby plays a part - "Pick a flower, any flower, oh a venus fly catcher? Security officer - tactical mind. Cactus a prickly, crookedy engineer career for you."

 

[clint g]

They probably fill out a sheet indicating what jobs they want most. Depending on how well they do and depending on the needs of starfleet they may get what they want or they may get stuck in some crappy job.