Starfleet is a Space Navy (military fleet)

[Nyotarules]

And yet Starfleet is still repeatedly identified as a non-military organization.

That can force its 'employees' to return....

 

[GabyBee]

For the umpteenth time, it all goes back to what Starfleet's primary purpose is.

A military's primary purpose is to fight a war, whether real or theoretical.

Starfleet's primary purpose is to explore space.

Fighting wars in defense of the Federation is indeed one of Starfleet's purposes, but is not its primary purpose. Defense is one of Starfleet's secondary purposes.

 

[fireproof78]

Until a war is declare and then Starfleet is indistinguishable from a military force, acts in official capacity for offensive and defensive capabilities, has a separate legal process than the average Federation citizen (see Bashier's dad, among other examples), and engages Federation enemies, both foreign and domestic.

They can have more than one primary purpose. It's a government job, after all.

 

[BillJ]

A military's primary purpose is to fight a war, whether real or theoretical.

You don't think Starfleet does that?

LAFORGE: Well, from what I've seen, I can't believe any of these new weapons systems can be ready in less than eighteen months, Commander.
SHELBY: We've been projecting twenty four.

SHELBY: We've been designing new weapons but they're all still on the drawing board.

SHELBY: Projections suggest that a Borg ship like this one could continue to function effectively even if seventy eight percent of it was inoperable.

Sounds like Starfleet was beginning to fight a theoretical war with the Borg, while they were still seven thousand light-years away.

 

[GabyBee]

I've never said that Starfleet doesn't fight wars in defense of the Federation. In fact, I literally said it in the post you quoted, you just edited that part out.

My point is that defense is one of Starfleet's secondary purposes. Exploration of space is its primary purpose. And that fits with statements said on-screen by characters who serve in Starfleet who identify the organization as being non-military, and by words said by Star Trek's creator, and many of its actors and writers, in support of those on-screen statements.

At the end of the day, if you consider Starfleet to be a military organization, you are choosing to ignore a large body of official canon to do so. Canon is what makes Star Trek Star Trek. Starfleet being a non-military organization is an integral rule of the Star Trek universe. Without the rules of the universe, Star Trek may as well be Generic Sci-Fi Universe #314.

 

[Nyotarules]

My primary purpose is to be a millionaire.....guess that makes me one in reality

 

[GabyBee]

No, that just means that your purpose is to become a millionaire. By your logic, Starfleet's primary purpose to explore space would mean that they have already explored all of space.

Straw man argument.

 

[BillJ]

At the end of the day, if you consider Starfleet to be a military organization, you are choosing to ignore a large body of official canon to do so.

I'd say you're ignoring an even larger body of evidence going the other direction. But, you are free to pick and choose how you see the Star Trek universe.

Canon is what makes Star Trek Star Trek.

No. The stories are what make it what it is. Canon is just minutiae some folks can't live without.

Starfleet being a non-military organization is an integral rule of the Star Trek universe.

Why?

 

[Nyotarules]

No, that just means that your purpose is to become a millionaire. By your logic, Starfleet's primary purpose to explore space would mean that they have already explored all of space.

Straw man argument.

Good thing their primary purpose is not to have a sense of humour that would be hard to find as well...

 

[GabyBee]

Gene Roddenberry, and subsequent writers, have unequivocally stated that Starfleet is not a military organization. That makes it a rule of the universe.

 

[BillJ]

I'm guessing the Klingons don't have a military either? From everything I've seen, they call their "whatever" the Klingon Defense Force.

 

[Nyotarules]

Gene Roddenberry, and subsequent writers, have unequivocally stated that Starfleet is not a military organization. That makes it a rule of the universe.

GR changed his mind as often as he changed his women...

 

[BillJ]

Gene Roddenberry, and subsequent writers, have unequivocally stated that Starfleet is not a military organization. That makes it a rule of the universe.

No, it really doesn't. Do you also believe that "love instructors" are a rule of the universe? That comes straight from the Great Bird.

 

[GabyBee]

Klingon forces were also known as the Klingon Imperial Fleet.

 

[BillJ]

GR changed his mind as often as he changed his women...

Roddenberry (circa 1966) tried to write and produce entertaining stories. Roddenberry (circa 1987) was a burnt out druggie who was losing control of his mental faculties and had bought into the hype of Star Trek being some kind of blueprint for the future.

For my money, I'll take Roddenberry (1966) any day of the week.

 

[BillJ]

Klingon forces were also known as the Klingon Imperial Fleet.

That still doesn't make them the military...

 

[GabyBee]

You are making unsubstantiated speculation on a person's mental faculties to support a pre-determined conclusion. Please do not do that.

 

[Captain of the USS Averof]

In many European countries, one can be conscripted to perform public service ranging from military duty, to working for the postal service.

conscript

[verb kuh n-skript; noun, adjective kon-skript]
verb (used with object)

to draft for military or naval service.

 

[BillJ]

You are making unsubstantiated speculation on a person's mental faculties to support a pre-determined conclusion.

It isn't speculation. Why do you think it was his attorney everyone had to work with on TNG?

 

[GabyBee]

Kor identified himself as a military governor, by the way.