Question about Rank: Bridge Officer Test, "Thine Own Self"

[Timo]

You probably have to be recommended for promotion before you can take the test.

Quite possible. But "Thine Own Self" gave us the impression that Crusher, eight years ago, personally acted on a desire to get promoted: the whole point was that she didn't wait for, and didn't have to wait for, a recommendation. Had she just waited, she could have stayed a LtCmdr forever and supposedly still been qualified to be CMO to giant starships, including the E-D.

Whether Crusher's promotion to Commander was in any way related to the fact that she also liked to stand bridge watches, we don't know. It actually sounds pretty unlikely.

Now, Troi was explicit about wanting to do the BOT and gain the rank of Commander. But we have no idea whether the latter would automatically follow from the former. Whether the former would be required for the latter, the case of Pulaski would seem to establish "no, definitely not".

What Troi wanted need not have been exactly the same thing Crusher had already done. Certainly Troi doesn't make the claim that this would be the same thing.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[NigellaDeanna20]

Troi may have checked all the boxes, but couldn't become a Commander until she passed the test (apparently all Commanders require at least a nominal bridge officer status).

Both Pulaski and McCoy were full Commanders but vehemently denied any sort of bridge officer competence or status (despite spending a lot of time on the bridge pestering their respective COs).

I doubt the Test is a requirement for any particular rank. It just

a) allows you to stand bridge watches (typically a menial task for junior officers)
b) gives you brownie points that get you closer to your next promotion or, depending on points already accumulated, up one rung on the promotion ladder

and in Troi's case, the points got her from LtCmdr to Cmdr, while for example Dr. Bashir might have advanced from Ensign to Lt(j.g.) thanks to taking the same test.

Timo Saloniemi

yeah. I'd completely agree with that. Let's bear in mind that Troi was already a Lt. Cmdr in EAF, although shw was usually referred to as 'Counsellor'. So taking the Bridge Officer's Test would only have put her on the same level as Riker and Data.

 

[NigellaDeanna20]

You probably have to be recommended for promotion before you can take the test.

That would certainly explain why she needed to have Riker's approval before she took the test a second time; her first time have ended in failure.