Does Rank have privileges in the future?

[J.T.B.]

Also one last thing you. Did not answer my last question: would you let a science officer command a ship.

If the science officer was qualified to be in the line of command.

Also one last thing do you think that the first officer position should be a stand alone position or should it be a duty given to another officer like the security chief, helmsman, etc.

It should be a full-time job. The captain and F/O shouldn't stand watches either.

 

[Gabriel]

If the science officer was qualified to be in the line of command.



It should be a full-time job. The captain and F/O shouldn't stand watches either.

Well for once we are in nearly total agreement. Xo has enough to do with out have to do a department heads job. And I always found it unnecessary for the captain to stand watch. I mean give junior command officers more of what they want to do: command Although the first officer should maybe watch a few shifts a week so I guess so he/she would feel more connected to the crew. I don’t know if I were first officer I would spend at least a few shifts on the bridge if not to just have more time being in command

 

[Discofan]

This is a good question so everyone put your opinion in it
do you think that the first officer position should be a stand alone position or should it be a duty given to another officer like the security chief, helmsman, etc.

I think that like Trip told the false bimbos in "Two Day And Two Nights" there should be a Captain of the week. Everyone in the senior staff, IE with knowledge of the position should have a shot at it, ditto for the first officer and every other position of the bridge. Most decisions should be taken collectively, only the urgent ones (which are rare) would be taken by the Captain in charge. The idea that Janeway could decide like a despot to aid the borg for example given the catastrophic consequences for the galaxy, is just absurd! The idea that strict tyrannic military rules apply on a ship that doesn't even belong to the military really takes the cake.

 

[Farscape One]

I completely agree that the XO position should be by itself and not tacked on as another job for a department head.

Outside of Spock and T'Pol, First Officer has been a job by itself with one person.

I do wonder, though, if it is more than coincidence that Spock and T'Pol doubled as Science Officer. Or only Vulcans can perform both those duties at once.

 

[Commishsleer]

I'd put it this way: If you were a patient, would you want a physician who had spent the last 20 years running ships and then passed a medical test, or someone who had spent their career treating patients? And to consider the reverse, would you want your ship commanded by a career physician who had passed a test if there were someone available who had spent their career learning about and progressing toward commanding ships?

The US Navy tried a system where medical officers commanded hospital ships early in the 20th century. The idea was, the medical officer was in command of the hospital, which happened to be located on a ship, and the ship itself was run by a contracted merchant crew under a civilian master. Basically the medical officer would decide where to go and what to do, and the merchant captain would get the ship there. In WW1 navy (reserve) crews took over for the civilians, so a naval line officer was in charge of navigating the ship. In 1921 there was a dispute on USS Mercy AH-4 between the medical commanding officer, Cdr William Garton (MC) and the senior line officer, a highly experienced reservist and master mariner, LCdr Athol George. The medical officer wanted George to sign the log with the noon navigation position, but the vessel was in heavy fog in coastal water and George refused because he had his hands full trying to safely conn the ship and didn't know the exact position. Garton ordered him to sign it and he refused again. George was found guilty by court-martial of disobeying an order from a superior. The Secretary of the Navy overturned the verdict on the basis that previous regulations which had allowed medical corps officers to command hospital ships were inconsistent with laws and precedents that staff corps officers couldn't exercise military command over line officers; in effect, Garton's order wasn't a lawful order. Lieutenant Commander George was restored to full duty, and never again would a non-line officer hold a command position in a US Navy vessel.

Very interesting.

I'm wondering what the purpose of hospital ships would be in the time of TNG.
I think the doctors of Trek would do different things than doctors on medical ships would do in the World Wars or even now.
Crusher/McCoy/Phlox/hologram guy were out the on the coal face curing diseases.
If Crusher were Captain of the medical ship should her time be spent wondering about say the coolant leak on Deck 7 or curing a previously unknown disease. I mean someone has to worry about keeping the ship running but if its Crusher you might be wasting her talent.
I imagine doctors on medical ships nowadays are not creating cures but applying known cures to diseases

 

[Gabriel]

I think that like Trip told the false bimbos in "Two Day And Two Nights" there should be a Captain of the week. Everyone in the senior staff, IE with knowledge of the position should have a shot at it, ditto for the first officer and every other position of the bridge. Most decisions should be taken collectively, only the urgent ones (which are rare) would be taken by the Captain in charge. The idea that Janeway could decide like a despot to aid the borg for example given the catastrophic consequences for the galaxy, is just absurd! The idea that strict tyrannic military rules apply on a ship that doesn't even belong to the military really takes the cake.

Tyrannic military rules. I would watch to who I would say that to. While with me I don’t really care about words but I promise some do so be careful, Because I’m not military and I found that kinda offensive. By the way I do not want to start the “is starfleet a military organization” debate although considering that when you fight a country you don’t Fight NASA type organization (which starfleet is sometimes analogize to) you fight the military and when you fight the federation you fight starfleet. Also last time I checked species 8472 wanted to destroy the entire galaxy so I’m with Janeway on that. Also on the captain of the week thing I don’t like it and I assume the real captain can override if necessary

 

[Discofan]

Military rule is tyrannic by its very nature, to a point where you could accuse me of being redundant. When given an order you're expected to respond immediately like a robot, anything less can be considered seditious or even treasonous. In time of war, that could mean the death penalty. If that's not tyrannic then I don't know what is.

 

[Gabriel]

Military rule is tyrannic by its very nature, to a point where you could accuse me of being redundant. When given an order you're expected to respond immediately like a robot, anything less can be considered seditious or even treasonous. In time of war, that could mean the death penalty. If that's not tyrannic then I don't know what is.

That how you stay alive in war and that kind of rules have kept countries safe for along time, although it is definitely not for every body and can very harsh. And by the way disobeying a order during war time can get people killed so yes treason can be a reasonable definition for disobedience during war. Also time has show that in real military’s that just “i was just following orders” is not ok if those orders cause harm especially if harm is caused to civilians. So while the military expects their solders to follow order they also expect them not to be robots and make sure it is an lawful order. By the way you didn’t answer my captain of the week answer: can the real captain override the captain of the week if nescessary. One last thing do have a problem with military? I don’t find that wrong or anything just wondering.

 

[Nyotarules]

Remember the bunk beds on the Enterprise and the Excelsior?



Yeah, that's pretty bad when you don't even have a room of your own.

What kind of rinky-dink organization is this anyway?

One where the captain can pick a recent graduate as XO and then the higher ups pick the same XO as captain

Don't take on higher responsibility! Don't use your experience for the benefit of more than one ship! Don't change the character and setting formula!

You cannot explore behind a desk at HQ, Picard considered himself an explorer, he liked being on a starship

I believe the fastest promotion will remain (likely forever) Kirk in Beyond who almost got promoted from Captain to Vice Admiral!!! To think that only a few years before he was a cadet!

Because Starfleet is a rinky dink organisation, no wonder Section 31 set itself up

 

[The Wormhole]

I think that like Trip told the false bimbos in "Two Day And Two Nights" there should be a Captain of the week. Everyone in the senior staff, IE with knowledge of the position should have a shot at it, ditto for the first officer and every other position of the bridge. Most decisions should be taken collectively, only the urgent ones (which are rare) would be taken by the Captain in charge. The idea that Janeway could decide like a despot to aid the borg for example given the catastrophic consequences for the galaxy, is just absurd! The idea that strict tyrannic military rules apply on a ship that doesn't even belong to the military really takes the cake.

It's hardly "tyrannic military rule" it's just how shit's done. A ship can only have one captain, that's true regardless if it's a military or civilian ship. Even civilian ships treat the Captain as God and the Captain's Word is holy scripture. And they most certainly not a "Captain if the Week" type thing. Hell, I can't think of any situation where that's done. Walmart or any big box chain store doesn't have doesn't rotate its management as a "Store Manager of the Week." Cities do not have a "Mayor of the Week." Corporations do not have "CEO of the Week."

Janeway had every right to make the decision of helping the Borg and was not required to allow her crew to vote on the matter. She's the Captain of the ship, it's her decision to make and hers alone.

 

[Gabriel]

It's hardly "tyrannic military rule" it's just how shit's done. A ship can only have one captain, that's true regardless if it's a military or civilian ship. Even civilian ships treat the Captain as God and the Captain's Word is holy scripture. And they most certainly not a "Captain if the Week" type thing. Hell, I can't think of any situation where that's done. Walmart or any big box chain store doesn't have doesn't rotate its management as a "Store Manager of the Week." Cities do not have a "Mayor of the Week." Corporations do not have "CEO of the Week."

Janeway had every right to make the decision of helping the Borg and was not required to allow her crew to vote on the matter. She's the Captain of the ship, it's her decision to make and hers alone.

Well said better that I could I guess that why your an admiral LOL and as a captain once said “We're here to preserve democracy, not practice it.

 

[GNDN18]

A ship can only have one captain, that's true regardless if it's a military or civilian ship.

 

[The Old Mixer]

Loyalty to one blurry, out-of-focus man....

 

[GNDN18]

Loyalty to one blurry, out-of-focus man....

All it takes is one man with a vision. Not necessarily 20/20 vision, mind you.

 

[Discofan]

All it takes is one man with a vision. Not necessarily 20/20 vision, mind you.

As long as it's not hindsight vision, "What I should have done!"...

 

[galad2003]

Can't we just agree that Star Trek handles rank horribly? Especially enlisted.

 

[Shamrock Holmes]

Definately.

 

[Gabriel]

I’m just glad unlike other trek discussions websites we all use appropriate language

 

[Discofan]

Can't we just agree that Star Trek handles rank horribly? Especially enlisted.

True. The idea for example that Picard would still be "Lieutenant Junior Grade", at past sixty is just absurd! It would mean that everyone in Starfleet with a rank above Lieutenant would be a hero that risked their lives to save a group of people at one point or another... That's just not possible. Even in wartime, people like that are the exception, not the rule!!!

 

[Farscape One]

We also can't really take that seriously because it was a Q created reality. He likely made him such a low rank to drive the point home.