Help, please: Starfleet term for an officer that's promoted but hasn't quite taken their new post yet

[evilchumlee]

I think that's a totally fine way to phrase.

I question the need for it to have a specific term. Wouldn't this "Second Officer Select" just be... whatever his job was up until such as time as he has the new job? Is an impeding future job actually relevant?

 

[Jedman67]

IRL, the designation of "Brevet" is sometimes assigned before an individuals rank to signify (usually) a field promotion pending ratification by the promotions board or Legislature. It can also be used to indicate a future billet if you want.
For example, you could have "Brevet Commander Smith" or "Brevet Supply Officer Smith"
It's a little clunky but I think it works.

 

[evilchumlee]

IRL, the designation of "Brevet" is sometimes assigned before an individuals rank to signify (usually) a field promotion pending ratification by the promotions board or Legislature. It can also be used to indicate a future billet if you want.
For example, you could have "Brevet Commander Smith" or "Brevet Supply Officer Smith"
It's a little clunky but I think it works.

For outright rank, not position as the thread generally seems to be more about, the precedent in Trek is "Provisional" or "Acting".

All of the Voyager Maquis crew were Provisional ranks, basically field commissions. Wesley Crusher was an "Acting Ensign"

It doesn't really work for a future job though, "Acting" doesn't make sense if it's something one will be doing rather than something they are doing.

I'm still really curious as the context of WHY one needs a title for a future job? What relevance does that have? Genuine question.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

I'm still really curious as the context of WHY one needs a title for a future job? What relevance does that have? Genuine question.

Establishing their qualifications and status to someone, such as during an important meeting- explaining your expertise and establishing your influence relevant to the discussion - so, for instance, if the officer who is soon to take up a significant posting is negotiating a trade deal in the sector said posting it located in, it shows they have an interest in this beyond "it's my job" - they're going to have to deal with the consequences of whatever is decided, not just hit and run.

If they're being interviewed by the media, knowing who this person is and what they are about to be gives context to what they're being asked about. If they've been given this job, they must be an authority worth listening to.