Starfleet officer accession ranks
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In the fictional Star Trek universe, Starfleet officer accession ranks are ranks held by characters pursuing a Starfleet officer commission.
The process of becoming a Starfleet officer is little explored, with most references being made to Starfleet Academy, a four-year training university similar to the United States Naval Academy. Over the course of the Star Trek franchise's development, "the Academy" has evolved from existing solely in dialogue to appearing and serving as an important set piece in several episodes.
Apart from Starfleet Academy, there are few canon references to extra-commissioning programs; several briefly appear in the Star Trek Expanded Universe. A significant extra-commissioning program, however, is explored via the character of Wesley Crusher, who becomes an "acting ensign" and trains to become an officer before attending Starfleet Academy.
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[edit] Cadet
| 24th Century Cadet Ranks | |
| Rank | TNG Insignia |
|---|---|
| Cadet First Class |
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| Cadet Second Class |
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| Cadet Third Class |
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| Cadet Fourth Class |
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| Starfleet cadet pips (TNG: "The First Duty") | |
Cadet is the most well known Starfleet rank held by Starfleet student officers. In the Original Series era, Academy students are also sometimes referred to as "midshipmen" (TOS: "Court Martial", Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan).
The rank is established in Star Trek through dialogue referring to Starfleet Academy. Only two Starfleet cadets appear in The Original Series: a recreation of Cadet Finnegan (TOS: "Shore Leave") and an unnamed cadet in a bar (TOS: "Wolf in the Fold"). In both cases, the cadets wear a silver-gray tunic with a starburst chest emblem.
In Star Trek: The Next Generation, the rank of cadet is firmly established as the title held by Starfleet Academy students. Cadets in TNG wear a black jumpsuit with red shoulders and a Starfleet commbadge. Cadets' year at the Academy is indicated by a collar device (TNG: "The First Duty").
One cadet imposter wears a uniform with yellow shoulders and no insignia (TNG: "Allegiance").
Cadet uniforms in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine are mainly gray rather than black but retain the red shoulders. They do not wear a collar insignia. Nog becomes the first Ferengi in Starfleet upon his entrance into Starfleet Academy (DS9: "Homefront"). His cadet field training includes a tour aboard Deep Space Nine (DS9: "The Ascent") and he later receives a battlefield commission to ensign (DS9: "Favor the Bold").
[edit] Midshipman
Some Starfleet cadets who appear in Star Trek II are referred to as midshipmen. In the film, cadets wear red undertunics and a red shoulder tab. Some of these midshipmen, including Saavik, also wear commissioned officer insignia. Star Trek II marks the last time Academy students are referred to as "midshipmen" rather than "cadets."
The non-canon Star Trek: The Next Generation Officer's Manual roleplaying book says that the rank of midshipman is bestowed on Starfleet cadets who have graduated from the Academy and are posted to an assignment on "probationary status" prior to commissioning as ensigns.
[edit] Officer candidate
The non-canon novel Doctor's Orders refers to the cadet rank of "officer candidate". Such a rank is held by "direct commission" personnel, such as scientists and doctors, who do not attend Starfleet Academy prior to being commissioned as officers. This mirrors the United States military practice of appointing educated civilians, such as lawyers and doctors, to the rank of officer candidate for a relatively brief training period prior to being commissioned.
[edit] Acting ensign
The uniform worn by Wesley Crusher while serving as an "acting ensign" in TNG''s second and third seasons is an oddity in that the uniform is never explained on screen nor does any other character in a subsequent Star Trek episode or series wear a similar uniform. The uniform is a light grey tunic, with a sweater-like shoulder piece, that is worn without any identifying insignia except an all-silver (rather than the standard silver arrowhead on gold background) communication pin (TNG: "The Child"). In the first season, after being named an "acting ensign," Wesley wears a sweater similar to those that he had worn before but with red, yellow, and blue stripes – Starfleet division colors – across the shoulders (TNG: "Lonely Among Us").
The producers said in later years that this uniform was designed along the lines of a "Starfleet West Point" look created to give Wesley a more military appearance, gearing the character away from the child-like visage seen in the first season[citation needed]. According to production designer Michael Okuda, the uniform is intended to make character and his appearance be reminiscent of present day Sea Cadets or the cadets of Junior Naval ROTC[citation needed].
Crusher is later promoted via field commission to ensign; from that point forward, he wears a standard Starfleet uniform with ensign insignia (TNG: "The Most Toys"). Crusher loses his commission upon his matriculation to Starfleet Academy, becoming a cadet and wearing the standard uniform of a cadet (TNG: "The First Duty"). He repeats his second year at the Academy as a disciplinary action (TNG: "The First Duty") and eventually resigns from the Academy (TNG: "Journey's End").
| Starfleet ranks and insignia | |||||||
| Flag Officers: | Fleet admiral | Admiral | Vice admiral | Rear admiral | Commodore | ||
| Officers: | Fleet captain | Captain | Commander | Lieutenant commander | Lieutenant | Lieutenant junior grade | Ensign |
| Other: | Enlisted | Officer cadets | |||||
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