Kelvin Timeline all but confirmed

[Campe]

It's like my profile, I'm completely new to this page, Kirk being first officer day one is like if someone read the three posts I've ever made on this site and made me an admin.

That's not exactly the best comparison. Kirk still went through three years of training in Starfleet. I admit, I don't necessarily love the Kirk battlefield promotion. But there are many questionable things that happen in Star Trek that bother me as much if not more than this does.

 

[Nyotarules]

A field promotion/commission is given to the next oerson in line, not some total newbie a day out of the academy.

(In the style of Frozen) Let it go, let it go! Its official Kelvinverse canon, although you can look forward to Kirk being Admiral of the fleet in the next movie....

 

[fireproof78]

A field promotion/commission is given to the next oerson in line, not some total newbie a day out of the academy.

A battlefield promotion (or field promotion) is an advancement in military rank that occurs while deployed in combat. A standard field promotion is advancement from current rank to the next higher rank; a 'jump-step' promotion is advancement from current rank to a rank above the next highest.

Secondly, field commissions have been done in Star Trek before, and is often at the discretion of the commanding officer. Kirk's may be a jump that strains suspension of disbelief, but it isn't unprecedented in Star Trek, or real world miliatries.

 

[BillJ]

It's like my profile, I'm completely new to this page, Kirk being first officer day one is like if someone read the three posts I've ever made on this site and made me an admin.

It's a movie... life goes on. We buy transporters, warp drive and alien baby hybrids, yet Kirk jumping to captain is something we cannot swallow.

 

[fireproof78]

It's a movie... life goes on. We buy transporters, warp drive and alien baby hybrids, yet Kirk jumping to captain is something we cannot swallow.

Nope. Can't.

 

[Jesse1066]

A field promotion/commission is given to the next oerson in line, not some total newbie a day out of the academy.

When Pike left the ship, Spock took command (naturally, since he was First Officer). When Spock relinquished command, Kirk, as acting First Officer, took command. What still makes no sense is why Kirk was made acting First Officer in the first place and why he stayed in command when Spock returned to duty and even after returning to Earth. He honestly should have been sent to finish up at the Academy before taking a commission as an ensign.

 

[Nerys Myk]

When Pike left the ship, Spock took command (naturally, since he was First Officer). When Spock relinquished command, Kirk, as acting First Officer, took command. What still makes no sense is why Kirk was made acting First Officer in the first place and why he stayed in command when Spock returned to duty and even after returning to Earth. He honestly should have been sent to finish up at the Academy before taking a commission as an ensign.

I was under the impression that Kirk and his class had all but graduated at the time of the Vulcan attack. Kirk has the rank of Lieutenant, so he might already be commissioned.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I just have a hard time believing there weren't any other senior officers on board. What, there wasn't a single LCDR or CDR?

 

[Noname Given]

When Pike left the ship, Spock took command (naturally, since he was First Officer). When Spock relinquished command, Kirk, as acting First Officer, took command. What still makes no sense is why Kirk was made acting First Officer in the first place and why he stayed in command when Spock returned to duty and even after returning to Earth. He honestly should have been sent to finish up at the Academy before taking a commission as an ensign.

Why? Because Pike was in legal command of the Enterprise at the time he left; and that was the order he gave RE: Chain of Command while he was way: Spock--> Kirk. Captain's prerogative.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I just have a hard time believing there weren't any other senior officers on board. What, there wasn't a single LCDR or CDR?

Just Olsen, I guess.
For me it's the film's biggest flaw. I get the need to have the character become CAPTAIN Kirk, but they need a better way.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ That's easy enough: Kirk could have become Captain by POSITION but not by RANK.

They'd still call him Captain, of course, because a ship's commanding officer (regardless of rank) is always called Captain.

 

[Jesse1066]

Why? Because Pike was in legal command of the Enterprise at the time he left; and that was the order he gave RE: Chain of Command while he was way: Spock--> Kirk. Captain's prerogative.

He absolutely had the authority, I just think it was an odd decision. It seems like Kirk was picked because he happened to be nearby. Obviously he turned out to be the right choice though.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Kirk was the only commissioned officer in the quadrant.

 

[Nerys Myk]

^ That's easy enough: Kirk could have become Captain by POSITION but not by RANK.

They'd still call him Captain, of course, because a ship's commanding officer (regardless of rank) is always called Captain.

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[Shamrock Holmes]

When Pike left the ship, Spock took command (naturally, since he was First Officer). When Spock relinquished command, Kirk, as acting First Officer, took command. What still makes no sense is why Kirk was made acting First Officer in the first place and why he stayed in command when Spock returned to duty and even after returning to Earth. He honestly should have been sent to finish up at the Academy before taking a commission as an ensign.

Given that Kirk was 22 when he entered the Academy, rather 15-18, I've always assumed that KT!Kirk already had a civilian degree and would have left Command School as an Officer of the Watch/Duty Officer with the nominal rank of LTJG or LT.

^ That's easy enough: Kirk could have become Captain by POSITION but not by RANK.

They'd still call him Captain, of course, because a ship's commanding officer (regardless of rank) is always called Captain.

A fair point. I also speculated on another thread that Kirk's "Starship Captain" rank actually sits between "Commander (OF-4)" and "Captain (OF-5)", with either or both of "Fleet Captain" and "Commodore" as the "Captain (naval)" equivalent.

 

[Jesse1066]

Given that Kirk was 22 when he entered the Academy, rather 15-18, I've always assumed that KT!Kirk already had a civilian degree and would have left Command School as an Officer of the Watch/Duty Officer with the nominal rank of LTJG or LT.

I hadn't thought about that before. It makes sense to me, and I think it definitely improves the situation.

 

[ISS Enterprise]

Just Olsen, I guess.
For me it's the film's biggest flaw. I get the need to have the character become CAPTAIN Kirk, but they need a better way.

Agree 100&

Best if Kirk was Lt. On tge Potemkin heavily damaged in battle vs. Narada at Vulcan. Escaped via shuttle or something w a few others. Enterprise picks up survivors etc. Then Kirk made 1st officier tgen Captain O Captain.

OR

Kirk made 1st officer under Pike in STID Pike dies in Khan attack Kirk moved up

Either way ST09 Kirk from academy to Captain VERY hard to get with

 

[tenmei]

I was under the impression that Kirk and his class had all but graduated at the time of the Vulcan attack. Kirk has the rank of Lieutenant, so he might already be commissioned.

Wasn't there supposed to be a scene suggesting that Kirk was already a Lieutenant and had just come back from a cruise on the Farragut to attend command school, which is where he undertook the Kobayashi Maru. I think Orci said something along those lines in an interview.

 

[ISS Enterprise]

Think he said Kirk had served a semester on the Potemkin while at the academy n rec a medal, but scene or whatever was cut

 

[JD]

As much as I love the rest of the movie, I do have to agree that Kirk's jump straight to Captain at the end was ridiculous. It's not enough to make me love the any less, but it is a bit odd.
I don't really think they had to have them still at the Academy when the Narada attacked Vulcan. They could have either done what @ISS Enterprise said, or even just have Kirk & Co as junior officers newly assigned to the Big E who end up in the regular positions after the rest of the crew is captured or killed. I think the whole storyline could have still played out the same way, more or less, and it would have made the end a lot less ridiculous.