Is Starfleet a military organization?

[The Wormhole]

In the US, border protection and law enforcement are done by non-military groups. Well, it's supposed to be. There may be some militarization among those that would make Archer faint.

I assumed we meant more in the generalized sense, IE it's Starfleet ships which do border patrol along the Federation's borders in space, muck like the Navy or Coast Guard patrol the ocean borders of a country's waters, or that Starfleet has an obligation to protect the Federation and its citizens in the same way the military of a country does its home nation and citizens. I didn't think we were suggesting Starfleet is Federation ICE or something.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Don't forget, Starfleet also has ground troops. We heard about them all the time on DS9, and even saw them in "Nor the Battle to the Strong".

What they are called is unclear, although I prefer to call them Starfleet Marines (hey, we have COLONEL West in ST VI, amirite? ).

Actually I believe the troops who accompanied Kirk and crew to Paradise City in ST V were also Starfleet Marines.

THERE'S your "combined service".

 

[Nerys Myk]

What they are called is unclear, although I prefer to call them Starfleet Marines (hey, we have COLONEL West in ST VI, amirite? ).

Actually I believe the troops who accompanied Kirk and crew to Paradise City in ST V were also Starfleet Marines.

THERE'S your "combined service".

Neither are exactly a ringing endorsement for Starfleet's groundpounders.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

In the US, border protection and law enforcement are done by non-military groups. Well, it's supposed to be.

No, that's just for when a military force isn't invading. Pearl Harbor was a big deal, because it materially compromised defense of the US West Coast.

 

[JesterFace]

Well, yeah. Starfleet's more of a navy than an army.

By army I meant the entire military, in Finnish "army = armeija" which is pretty much everything the military does, not just ground forces. Interesting language thingy right there.

Wouldn't protecting borders and citizens be a military duty rather than something done "when there is no need for a military?"

Starfleet could be something like coast guard, they watch the borders and then act as the military only if someone goes where they're not supposed to.

 

[fireproof78]

So they are not the military right until they are.

 

[JesterFace]

So they are not the military right until they are.

Why not? Starfleet can be many different things. It's a part of what they do. Does that make Starfleet military?

 

[fireproof78]

Why not? Starfleet can be many different things. It's a part of what they do. Does that make Starfleet military?

Yes.

 

[1001001]

Did I mention just how much I appreciate this thread coming back?

 

[Vger23]

Did I mention just how much I appreciate this thread coming back?

View attachment 24763

 

[The Wormhole]

Don't forget, Starfleet also has ground troops. We heard about them all the time on DS9, and even saw them in "Nor the Battle to the Strong".

What they are called is unclear, although I prefer to call them Starfleet Marines

Considering they used naval ranks, they wouldn't be Marines. The novels call them "Starfleet Ground Forces."

Actually I believe the troops who accompanied Kirk and crew to Paradise City in ST V were also Starfleet Marines.

According to behind the scenes sources, yes, though they were never identified as such on screen.

Starfleet could be something like coast guard,

Well, in some countries the Coast Guard is a military.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Well, in some countries the Coast Guard is a military.

Such as the US.

 

[Shamrock Holmes]

Considering they used naval ranks, they wouldn't be Marines. The novels call them "Starfleet Ground Forces."

Agreed.

Depending on assignment, they could be SEALs, Seebees, CG Port Security Unit, CG National Strike Force or even FBI HRT.

Such as the US.

Yup. See above.

 

[Commander Troi]

Hahaha. Actually, it relates to the OP, which quoted the Star Trek Guide from the same month.

OP? I thought that was "Original Poster", which is me.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

OP? I thought that was "Original Poster", which is me.

OP can also mean "original post," meaning the first post of a thread, depending upon the context.

 

[Commander Troi]

Did I mention just how much I appreciate this thread coming back?

View attachment 24763

Blame @Maurice!

 

[1001001]

Blame @Maurice!

I do.

Believe me, I do.

 

[Commander Troi]

OP can also mean "original post," meaning the first post of a thread, depending upon the context.

Gracias!

 

[JesterFace]

Yes.

I don't like making the administrator angry but I feel like I must reply.
If Starfleet has many different duties, scientific research, mapping the Milky Way, negotiations and/or peace talks, first contacts with civilizations, perhaps helping those in need and also protects borders and Federation citizens, if necessary by force. Clearly less than half of what they do is militarish but if someone wants to call it military, go ahead.

Weird example: Someone is having a barbeque and wants to eat a steak, sausage, fish, clams, all kinds of meat products and eventually french fries. Does that last thing on the menu make him a vegetarian? Same with Starfleet, they do a whole lot of things and then fight if necessary, is it military? But clearly many people have already made their mind about this so no worth debating.

 

[fireproof78]

If Starfleet has many different duties, scientific research, mapping the Milky Way, negotiations and/or peace talks, first contacts with civilizations, perhaps helping those in need and also protects borders and Federation citizens, if necessary by force. Clearly less than half of what they do is militarish but if someone wants to call it military, go ahead.

All of these things have been done by the military in various forms throughout human history. The United States of America's Army has a Corps of Engineers responsible for assisting in research, project building and evaluation. Is the US Army an engineering organization?