Myriad Universes III?

[Sci]

(Am I the only one who thinks it would be funny if Baris later went on to become Federation President? The image of Kirk having to salute the guy as his commander-in-chief would amuse me greatly.)

Now I'm sure that you're going to write a long and articulated response to this Sci as to why I am wrong, but the Federation President is not the Commander in Chief of Starfleet.

The Federation President is explicitly called Starfleet's commander-in-chief in DS9's "Paradise Lost."

(There, now, that wasn't too long and articulated, was it?)

As The Undiscovered Country showed us in the briefing before Enterprise rendezvous with Qo'nos One, the CnC of Starfleet is another, although very high ranking Starfleet officer and not as you believe the Federation President.

"Commander-in-chief" is a term that can occur multiple times within a hierarchy. The commanding officer of the U.S.'s unified combatant commands used to be called "commanders-in-chief" of their UCCs even as the U.S. President remained commander-in-chief of the overall armed forces.

 

[captcalhoun]

and Bush had it changed so that major command heads are no longer 'commander in chief'. CINCPAC, CINCLANTFLT, CINCCENTCOM and the rest are now commander in charge or something i believe.

 

[DimesDan]

(Am I the only one who thinks it would be funny if Baris later went on to become Federation President? The image of Kirk having to salute the guy as his commander-in-chief would amuse me greatly.)

Now I'm sure that you're going to write a long and articulated response to this Sci as to why I am wrong, but the Federation President is not the Commander in Chief of Starfleet.

The Federation President is explicitly called Starfleet's commander-in-chief in DS9's "Paradise Lost."

(There, now, that wasn't too long and articulated, was it?)

Tis been a while since I've watched those two episodes where as I watched VI just recently, so it would be safe to assume that things changed over the eighty years or so between VI and Paradise Lost.

(I can only imagine the length of your answer if I hadn't of commented on it's possible length before answering me.)

As The Undiscovered Country showed us in the briefing before Enterprise rendezvous with Qo'nos One, the CnC of Starfleet is another, although very high ranking Starfleet officer and not as you believe the Federation President.

"Commander-in-chief" is a term that can occur multiple times within a hierarchy. The commanding officer of the U.S.'s unified combatant commands used to be called "commanders-in-chief" of their UCCs even as the U.S. President remained commander-in-chief of the overall armed forces.[/QUOTE]

Well from a layman's viewpoint that just muddies the waters of the chain of command. The commander in chief should be the head of that military, just like the Queen is the commander in chief for the UK military and the head of the Army, Navy and RAF has a different title.

 

[Christopher]

I think it's pretty clear. "Commander-in-chief" means someone who's a commander of multiple entities, or a commander of other commanders. Those lower Cs-in-C are in charge of different sets of combined forces, and the president is in charge of all of them together. He (or she) is the C-in-C of the US military, while someone lower would be the C-in-C of the Pacific Fleet, the C-in-C of the Atlantic Fleet, etc. As long as you use the entire title, the distinction is clear.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

So what did you all think about Admiral Morrow's line (in ST III) that he is "Commander, Starfleet"?

 

[William Leisner]

Am I the only one who thinks it would be funny if Baris later went on to become Federation President?

What a ridiculous idea.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Am I the only one who thinks it would be funny if Baris later went on to become Federation President?

What a ridiculous idea.

Seconded.

 

[William Leisner]

Am I the only one who thinks it would be funny if Baris later went on to become Federation President?

What a ridiculous idea.

Seconded.

Of course, I should have noted that it's not the idea, but the execution that matters.

 

[JD]

So what did you all think about Admiral Morrow's line (in ST III) that he is "Commander, Starfleet"?

It means he was the guy in charge of Starfleet. Just because the President is the C-n-C ( or however it's written) doesn't mean there isn't someone in command of each of the individual services. Countries still have people in command of each branch of the military, but they still answer to their Commander in Cheif.

 

[Sci]

Now I'm sure that you're going to write a long and articulated response to this Sci as to why I am wrong, but the Federation President is not the Commander in Chief of Starfleet.

The Federation President is explicitly called Starfleet's commander-in-chief in DS9's "Paradise Lost."

(There, now, that wasn't too long and articulated, was it?)

Tis been a while since I've watched those two episodes where as I watched VI just recently, so it would be safe to assume that things changed over the eighty years or so between VI and Paradise Lost.

I think it's simpler just to assume that they use the phrase "commander-in-chief" in multiple titles in the chain of command the same way plenty of real militaries do -- especially since Star Trek VI makes it clear that the President still gives orders to Starfleet that Starfleet must obey.