star trek 6 ranks

Star Trek Ranks, Explained

Though primarily peaceful, Starfleet follows a quasi-military protocol, which means a chain of command that ensures all runs smoothly.

Starting with the original series, Star Trek has adopted a quasi-military series of ranks and protocols for its characters. Starfleet is ostensibly a peaceful organization dedicated to exploration and diplomacy, but things can get dangerous on the final frontier. A functioning chain of command is necessary in the event of trouble to ensure that everyone operates at peak efficiency.

It's a bit of a paradox, since Starfleet officers also tend to be rugged individualists, but it makes a good deal of sense and over time has become an indispensable part of the franchise. A given character's rank speaks volumes about their comparative age, their position onboard, and their relationship with the other members of the crew. As with most things Star Trek, rank insignia has evolved over time. Here's a breakdown of Starfleet's ranking system in descending order from the lowliest cadets to the most powerful admirals.

Updated January 18, 2024 by Robert Vaux: Star Trek's ranking system is very stable at this point, and very little tends to change. The article has been updated to include a brief list of prominent members of each rank, along with the series and seasons they held it. It has also been updated to conform to current CBR guidelines.

9 Cadets Are Officers in Training at Starfleet Academy

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Cadets are typically students at Starfleet Academy , spending time onboard a starship as part of their training. They hold no rank and must obey the orders of any crewmen. They're often issued temporary badges or communicators and usually have a supervisory officer to watch over them. Cadets in the 23rd century wear badges with a distinctive black backing. Cadets in the 24th century wear distinctive uniforms denoting their status.

In Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, the Enterprise is used as a training vessel, with the crew consisting almost entirely of cadets. Wesley Crusher formally joins Starfleet Academy starting in Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 4, Episode 9, "Final Mission," and spends most of his subsequent appearances at that rank. Similarly, Nyota Uhura joins the Enterprise as a cadet in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, as does Sylvia Tilly in Star Trek: Discovery.

8 Enlisted Personnel/NCO Are Starfleet's Worker Bees

While officers attend Starfleet Academy, the rank-and-file personnel attend the 24th-century equivalent of boot camp. They become the anonymous crew working in the background, performing the countless tiny tasks required to keep a starship running. Their ranks include both enlisted crewmen and petty officers (the equivalent of sergeants) who often play supervisory roles. They typically lack any insignia on their uniforms, though chief petty officers in the Next Generation era sometimes have a black pip or similar marking.

Enlisted personnel often serve as The Original Series ' infamous red shirts : doomed to die in the name of plot exposition. The Next Generation introduces perhaps Starfleet's best-known enlisted man. Miles O'Brien runs the transporters on the Enterprise-D, and later becomes Chief of Operations on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine .

7 Ensigns Hold The Lowest Rank

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Ensigns are the lowest-ranking officers on Starfleet vessels. Cadets typically receive the rank of ensign immediately upon graduation from Starfleet Academy. While they technically have command authority, they're usually assigned menial tasks beneath the attention of the senior officers. Like NCOs, they lack insignia on their uniforms in The Original Series era. With The Next Generation and later series, ensigns receive a single gold pip on their collar. They're often lumped into the red shirt category.

Harry Kim is probably the franchise's most famous (or infamous) ensign, failing to receive a single promotion through Star Trek: Voyager's seven seasons , despite serving with distinction on the bridge. The Original Series' Pavel Chekov also begins his Starfleet career as an ensign, though he advances at a faster rate. Of course, the four main characters in Star Trek: Lower Decks are ensigns, though they all receive a promotion to lieutenant, junior grade at the beginning of Season 4.

6 Lieutenant, Junior Grade Have More Responsibility Than Ensigns

The next step up the ladder is lieutenant, junior grade. These are officers with more authority and responsibility than ensigns, but who still require seasoning before taking higher command positions. Medical personnel typically receive the lieutenant, junior grade rank after graduating, which reflects their extended training time. The Original Series uses a single dashed bar on the uniform sleeves to denote them, though Strange New Worlds has retconned that with a connected colored bar. T he Next Generation and later series note the rank with a second black pip in addition to the ensign's colored pip.

Both Julian Bashir and Ezri Dax hold the rank of lieutenant, junior grade when they begin their duties on Deep Space 9, though Ezri receives hers as a field promotion in Season 7, Episode 3, "Afterimage." Geordi La Forge starts as a lieutenant, junior grade too, as does Mr. Worf. B'Elanna Torres receives the rank on a provisional basis when she joins the crew of the Voyager, and the Lower Decks crew are all promoted to lieutenant, junior grade in Season 4, Episode 1, "Twovix."

5 Lieutenants Lead the Away Teams and More

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Lieutenants have advanced to the point where they can take on considerable responsibilities. They may lead away teams or control key systems, and they often appear among the bridge crew or even as department heads. The Original Series notes them with a single bar on the uniform sleeve, while Strange New Worlds adds a second thinner bar above the lieutenant, junior grade's insignia. The Next Generation uses two colored pips on the collar — a method emulated by subsequent series.

Worf spends most of The Next Generation's later seasons as a lieutenant (he's promoted to lieutenant commander during the events of Star Trek Generations ) while Ro Laren is promoted to lieutenant shortly before her defection to the Maquis in The Next Generation Season 7, Episode 24, "Preemptive Strike." Lieutenants often occupy the helm position, including Hikaru Sulu in The Original Series, Keyla Detmer in Star Trek: Discovery , and Erica Ortegas in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds .

4 Lieutenant Commanders Head up Departments

Lieutenant commanders hold positions of senior responsibility onboard a starship, even serving as executive officers or de facto captains on small ships. One larger ships, they often serve as the head of specific departments such as science and engineering. In The Original Series , the rank is designated with two stripes on the sleeve — one thick, one dashed — which Strange New Worlds adjusts to two thick colored bands. The Next Generation and subsequent shows note lieutenant commanders with two colored pips and one black one.

Montgomery Scott holds the rank of lieutenant commander in The Original Series , acting as Chief Engineer and even commanding the Enterprise when Kirk and Spock are away on missions. Similarly, Geordi La Forge rises to the rank of lieutenant commander in The Next Generation , joining Data and Deanna Troi at the position, though the latter eventually advances to commander. Worf and Jadzia Dax are both lieutenant commanders when they begin their romance on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine . Lastly, the original Number One — Una Chin-Riley on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds — is a lieutenant commander.

3 Commanders Aid and Can Take Over the Captain's Dutires

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Commanders are usually the ship's executive officers, "Number Ones," who assist the captain in their duties and step up in the event the captain is incapacitated. Commanders are often viewed as captains in training, and ultimately destined for a ship of their own in the future. In some cases, commanders are the head authority on smaller ships or space stations. Chief medical officers often hold this position as well. They're delineated by two thick bands on their sleeves in The Original Series era and three colored pips on the collar in The Next Generation and later.

Mr. Spock holds the rank of commander during the events of The Original Series , serving double duty as chief science officer as well. He's been followed by the likes of William Riker on The Next Generation and Seven of Nine on Star Trek: Picard . In addition, Beverly Crusher and Leonard McCoy both hold the rank of commander, while Deanna Tori is promoted to commander in Season 7, Episode 16, "Thine Own Self." Ben Sisko also begins his tenure on Deep Space 9 as a commander before being promoted to full captain at the end of Season 3.

2 Captains Command Starfleet's Various Starships

The captain serves as the commander of a starship, with the entire crew ranked beneath them. This affords them a great deal of autonomy, but also equal amounts of responsibility. Starships must often face dangers alone in the far depths of space. It falls to the captain to make the final call when lives are at stake. Occasionally, captains can be found in other duties, such as commanding a star base or holds an administrative position on Earth. Captains are delineated by three stripes on their sleeves in the Original Series era — two thick, one dashed — which Strange New Worlds slightly alters to a single thin band sandwiched between two thicker ones. The Next Generation era uses four full pips on the collar.

Most Star Trek series use a captain as the main character, starting with James T. Kirk in The Original Series . Their ranks include Jean-Luc Picard, Kathryn Janeway, Christopher Pike, and Carol Freeman. In addition, many lower-ranking characters eventually attain the captain's chair, such as Will Riker, Tuvok, and Mr. Spock. Both Ben Sisko and Michael Burnham become captain after several seasons of climbing the ranks, a change from most Star Trek series which tend to begin with their captains in place.

1 Admirals Possess The Greatest Rank and Come to Represent Starfleet Itself

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Admirals are Starfleet's major movers and shakers, placed in charge of entire fleets or overseeing vital operations. As flag officers, they no longer serve onboard starships, though they can claim command of one if circumstances dictate. James T. Kirk takes control of the Enterprise as an Admiral in both Star Trek: The Motion Picture and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan , while both Kathryn Janeway in Star Trek: Prodigy and Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: Picard are the authority on their respective vessels.

In addition to giving successful captains a cushy desk job, Star Trek often uses admirals as stand-ins for Starfleet itself: either aiding the crew in their endeavors or standing in their way when they go against protocol. They're delineated by a wide variety of methods, and hold varying ranks within the admiralty, such as Vice Admiral and Commodore, that shift from project to project.

The Star Trek universe encompasses multiple series, each offering a unique lens through which to experience the wonders and perils of space travel. Join Captain Kirk and his crew on the Original Series' voyages of discovery, encounter the utopian vision of the Federation in The Next Generation, or delve into the darker corners of galactic politics in Deep Space Nine. No matter your preference, there's a Star Trek adventure waiting to ignite your imagination.

Starfleet ranks (officers)

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• View history

The Starfleet rank system has a long history dating back to early space explorers of the Earth Starfleet and its predecessor naval and military forces.

• 1 Flag officers
• 2.1 Senior officers
• 2.2 Junior officers
• 2.3 Provisional officers
• 4 References
• 5 External links

Flag officers [ ]

Officers [ ], senior officers [ ], junior officers [ ], provisional officers [ ], see also [ ], references [ ].

• ↑ 1.0 1.1 Also seen in parallel 2370s and alternate 2390s . Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "2336 Admirals" defined multiple times with different content
• ↑ 2.0 2.1 Also seen in 2383 .
• ↑ 3.0 3.1 Also seen in mirror 2380s .
• ↑ The rank of commodore was mostly phased out in the 2350s in favor of the rank of rear admiral lower half.
• ↑ 5.0 5.1 In the early 2250s , all officers , regardless of rank , wore one stripe. However, the rank scheme was later changed in the late 2250s and Captains wore two stripes, while all other officers still wore one.
• ↑ All ranks except for FCAPT also seen in parallel 2370s .
• ↑ Also seen in parallel 2370s .

External links [ ]

• Starfleet ranks (officers) article at Memory Alpha , the canon Star Trek wiki.
• Federation Starfleet ranks article at Memory Beta , the non-canon Star Trek wiki.
• Starfleet ranks and insignia article at Wikipedia , the free encyclopedia.
• 1 USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-G) (Excalibur class)
• 2 USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-H) (Endurance class)
• 3 Dominion War

Rank & Uniforms

From star trek: theurgy wiki.

Starfleet ranks were the identifying titles for the officers and enlisted members of Starfleet , under both United Earth and the United Federation of Planets. These ranks used the titles and positions adopted from earlier Earth naval forces. Aside from rank , all officers also held a position in a department, which could be said to be his or her 'job'. Example: A Lieutenant's position was not to be a Lieutenant on a starship. The Lieutenant's position on a ship could Security Officer, which was a role that had certain duties attached to it.

Starfleet uniforms were mainly worn with colors denoting in what field a particular officer or crewman specialized.

• 1 Division Colors
• 2 Starfleet Uniforms
• 3.1 Flag Officers
• 3.2 Line Officers
• 3.4 Warrant Officers
• 3.5 Enlisted & Non-Commissioned Officers
• 3.6 Provisional Officers
• 3.7 Civillian Personnel
• 4 Chain of Command
• 5 Crew Quarters
• 6 Disclaimer

Division Colors

Within Starfleet , there existed four divisions of personnel, which handled all possible allotted tasks.

Red indicated Command, Tactical and CONN . These were commanders, like COs and XOs, or administrative personnel, yeomen. They were also CONN and Flight Control officers. Tactical Officers also wore this colour, with the Chief Tactical Officer posted on the Bridge.

White indicated Tactical CONN . This was where the Starfleet Fighter Pilots and Officers belonged; in the newly formed Aerospace Command division where space aviation and military/tactical knowledge went hand in hand. The Tactical CONN department worked very closely with both the CONN and Tactical departments.

Gold indicated Engineering , Operations and Security . These were those who built, configured, alloted, and repaired ship's systems. Security handled security on board, ranging from crowd control, the Brig and a number of related issues.

Teal indicated Science , Medical and Counseling . These were the nurses, doctors, pharmacists, and orderlies of the Sickbay. They also analyse scientific data, and preform experiments.

Starfleet Uniforms

Starfleet uniforms were uniforms worn by individuals serving in the Federation Starfleet , originally a United Earth organization. These uniforms facilitated the wearers' needs as both scientists and researchers, as well as Starfleet 's military role. Wearers were expected to abide by the Starfleet dress code, though special exceptions were sometimes made for certain aspects of an individual's cultural heritage, such as Worf's Klingon baldric and Nog's Ferengi headdress as well as Ro Laren's (and briefly Kira Nerys') earrings. Source: Memory Alpha

These were the Starfleet Uniforms as of 2381 in Starfleet . Like all ships, the USS Theurgy had a specific dress code for on-duty officers. The standard duty uniform was a three piece ensemble consisting of pants, colored undershirt (department specific color), and jacket. An optional skirt was permitted for female crew if they wished.

Ranks in Starfleet followed a specific order, broken up into four, in this descending rank:

Flag Officers

Line officers, warrant officers, enlisted & non-commissioned officers.

Enlisted crewmen were not trained in any command fields, and fulfilled the mundane duties of a starship or starbase . Officers were trained for command, and it was assumed that some would someday reach the ranks of captain or above. Flag officers often fulfilled administrative duties, and sometimes commanded task forces of ships. Promotions were awarded for quality of service, not for length of time served.

Provisional Officers, the exception of the four above, earned a field promotion aboard a ship or a starbase , and could even hold Line Officer rank.

A Flag Officer was both a historic naval and military rank and a modern Starfleet title. It generally referred to all officers of Commodore rank or higher. The term traditionally denoted any officer that commanded a squadron of vessels, possibly in addition to one under their direct command.

A commissioned Line Officer was an individual who had attended, and graduated from the cadet program of Starfleet Academy or had been commissioned through the Officer Candidate School after having attained their education in their field elsewhere. Those graduating from Starfleet Academy earned a four-year degree (Bachelor's) in their major field of study such as communications, engineering , the sciences, or nursing. After four years at the Academy, they either passed or failed. If passing, the person would be promoted to Ensign. Officers doing exceptionally would be promoted directly to Lieutenant Junior Grade.

Medical officers attended an additional four years at Starfleet Medical Academy before earning their medical degree (or earned their commission through Officer Candidate School after having obtained their degree elsewhere).

Cadet was a rank which was used at Starfleet Academy to denote students in training to become Starfleet officers. Becoming a Starfleet cadet was a difficult process and required a significant amount of academic achievement while in high school. Academy entrance standards were particularly high, especially in scientific and math disciplines (such as calculus). Cadets were also expected to maintain a satisfactory grade point average during their attendance at the Academy. Getting bad grades was grounds for a cadet's revocation of appointment from the Academy, also known as "washing out". Starfleet cadets were under the same uniform code of justice as Starfleet officers and were in turn subordinate to the orders of superiors. They were also required to report violations of Federation law they observed to their superiors. Cadets were also expected to show military courtesy and respect to senior commanders.

Even though Warrant Officers were considered Commissioned Officers, they are drawn from the ranks of NCO personnel. The Warrant Officer, and the ranks that follow it, were a special form of Commissioned Officers bridging the gap between Enlisted personnel and Line Officers. Only Chief, Senior Chief, or Master Chief Petty Officers could apply to the Warrant Officer ranks. A warrant officer had rank over all Enlisted personnel, and frequently took charge of large divisions or departments of these crewmen. Regular commissioned officers, such as an Ensign, held rank over a Warrant Officer. SCPO or higher was able to advance directly to WO (skipping other ranks) provided they attended Officer Candidate School. Warrant Officers were specialists in sub-departments of a starship, such as Transporter Technicians and Holo-technicians.

Most of a starship's or starbase 's staff consisted of enlisted personnel. These people carried out the day-to-day operations and maintenance that allowred Starfleet to function. Enlisted stayed in Starfleet Boot Camp for six months as a Crewman Recruit, learning the ropes in a more simple way than Commissioned Officers, with a course emphasis relevant to your division. So, Enlisted were those who had not completed the four-year Starfleet Academy course or otherwise been given a commission as an officer. In most cases, Enlisted crewmen signed up directly to a ship or posting, and received basic training, as well as any specific courses required for their position.

As with Commissioned Officers, there is a rank structure amongst Enlisted crew. The term "Non-Commissioned Officer" referred specifically to any Enlisted personnel given authority over other personnel. In Starfleet , this could refer to any Petty Officer (up to Master Chief). Once making the rank of Chief Petty Officer, NCOs could transfer to Commissioned Officer status, and become an Ensign.

All Commissioned Officer ranks, from Ensign upward, outranked all Enlisted in the chain of command. However, in certain cases, Non-Commissioned officers could exercise authority over Commissioned Officers (Miles O'Brien is one such case, in his position as chief of operations aboard Deep Space 9 ). Additionally, Chief Petty Officers such as O'Brien wielded influence far beyond their place in the rank structure due to their extensive experience and skill and were expected to mentor Junior Officers as well as other Non-Commissioned Officers.

Provisional Officers

In difficult times, it had been found a necessity to grant civilians - or crew members of other militaries - ranks that would otherwise be considered official within Starfleet . These ranks could be placed upon those that allied to Starfleet in some form or manner for whatever reason that the Commanding Officer of the ship found adequate. Provisional Officers had special rank insignia that differed from the normal pips that a Starfleet Officer would wear in his collar (Example: The rank insignia the former Marquis officers wore in Star Trek: Voyager).

Civillian Personnel

Not all members of the crew held a Starfleet rank, but would rather be civilian expertise in certain fields, filling functions of the ship where Starfleet training was not required. Examples: Waitresses/waiters of the ship lounges and the Chef in the Mess Hall. Also, some professors and scientists in certain fields did not belong to the Science Department of Starfleet .

Chain of Command

The chain of command was a ranking system used by militaries and other organized groups. It represented the line of authority down which orders are passed from one officer to another, and also the line down which passed command of a particular vessel or installation.

Aboard a starship, or most starbases the chain of command began with the assigned commanding officer, usually an officer of the rank of captain, or in some cases commander. If the commanding officer, for any reason, was unavailable to command his or her post then those responsibilities passed down the "chain" to the first officer, then the second officer, etc. After the first officer (also Executive Officer or XO), command responsibilities passed down the chain from officer to officer as necessary in accordance with each officer's rank. And it was common practice for a commanding officer to designate a second officer to take command if both the captain and first officer were unavailable or unable to perform their duties.

Crew Quarters

Rank also determined which kind of quarters Starfleet officers lived in aboard a starship. Below are the different quarters on the USS Theurgy .

Captain's Quarters & VIP Quarters

Departmental Head Quarters

Senior Officers' Quarters

Junior Officers' Quarters

Shared NCO Quarters

Shared Enlisted Quarters

Uniform text portions of this page is used with permission of USS Wolff CO - granted Nov 1, 2016

• Starfleet Information
• General Information

Star Trek: What is the Highest Starfleet Rank?

Officers bearing the highest Starfleet rank have a plethora of responsibilities.

In Star Trek , the United Federation of Planets leads humanity and its allies in exploration throughout the galaxy with its military and exploratory organization, Starfleet. Considering its quasi-military role, Starfleet's rank structure and elite officers are a topic of intrigue for many. The highest Starfleet rank represents the pinnacle of power, the greatest achievement and highest responsibility for any fleet member.

In Star Trek , the ranks within Starfleet serve as markers of authority and responsibility for both officers and enlisted members, delineating the chain of command. These ranks have changed as Starfleet transitioned from a United Earth agency to a Federation-wide institution. At the apex of this hierarchy lies the esteemed rank of Fleet Admiral , the highest position within Starfleet. Only a select few officers have ascended to this prestigious five-star rank throughout the Federation's history, underscoring its rarity and significance within the organization.

Star Trek: Janeway Vs. Sisko: Who’s The Better Starfleet Captain?

What is the highest starfleet rank.

As the preeminent rank in Starfleet, a Fleet Admiral holds authority over the entire organization. To prove themselves worthy of this prestigious position, candidates must showcase unmatched leadership qualities, a strategic mind, and a proven proficiency in crisis handling. A suitable Fleet Admiral must demonstrate decisiveness, adaptability, and unmatched integrity.

Fleet Admirals oversee Starfleet's strategic operations and provide direct leadership to all active starships, starbases, facilities, and personnel throughout the Federation space. A Fleet Admiral's duties include allocating resources, approving major initiatives and exploration missions, and serving as the primary liaison between Starfleet and the Federation Council.

In times of war or crisis, a Fleet Admiral will assume command of Starfleet's military forces, coordinating fleet maneuvers and tactical response. They are tasked with protecting the Federation from external threats and maintaining peace, stability, and cooperation within its borders. The position demands proven excellence, experience, and achievement demonstrated over decades of dedicated Starfleet service. Only the best of the best can fulfill this role.

Notable Fleet Admirals In Star Trek History

Fleet admiral shanthi.

Fleet Admiral Shanth, a distinguished female human officer, held the esteemed position of Commander-in-Chief of Starfleet in 2368. During her tenure, she played a pivotal role in the Klingon Civil War and the Pegasus incident. Within these conflicts, she demonstrated her decisive and authoritative leadership style. Notably, she garnered respect for her collaborative approach with Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Actress Fran Bennett portrayed Fleet Admiral Shanthi in two episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation .

Fleet Admiral Brackett

Fleet Admiral Brackett was another female human officer in 24th-century Starfleet. She was responsible for informing Captain Jean-Luc Picard about Ambassador Spock's disappearance and apparent defection to Romulus in 2368. She directed Picard to journey to Vulcan and engage with Spock's father, Sarek, to gain insight into Spock's motivations. Throughout this tense situation, she showcased her astute judgment and decision-making. Fleet Admiral Brackett was portrayed by Karen Hensel in the episode "Unification I" of The Next Generation.

Fleet Admiral William Ross

A veteran who spent over 70 years serving in Starfleet, Ross played a pivotal leadership role during the Dominion War in the late 24th century. From his position on Earth, he coordinated Starfleet's massive armada against the combined Dominion-Cardassian forces. Ross' experience and even temperament were instrumental in securing an Allied victory. In a conversation with Benjamin Sisko, Fleet Admiral William Ross said:

You've got to make a decision. You are either the Emissary or a Starfleet captain. You can't be both.

Fleet Admiral Leonard McCoy

Better known as ‘Bones’ to his friend Captain Kirk, McCoy had an illustrious career. As a senior medical officer, he served aboard multiple Constitution-class starships, including the USS Enterprise. After Kirk's death, McCoy continued advancing through the ranks. He became the first Fleet Admiral to serve in a primarily medical capacity, exemplifying his medical expertise and dedication to the federation.

Fleet Admiral Kathryn Janeway

As the former captain of the Intrepid-class USS Voyager, Janeway demonstrated tremendous courage and resolve after her ship was stranded in the Delta Quadrant , 70,000 light-years from Federation space. Her innovative and often unorthodox command decisions were critical to Voyager's safe return home after seven years. She earned the position of Fleet Admiral using her sheer courage, creativity, and integrity.

Fleet Admiral Alynna Nechayev

A stern but effective leader in the late 24th century, Nechayev maintained a prominent role in Starfleet Command. She oversaw operations during several crises, including the Tzenkethi conflict and the Dominion War. Nechayev pushed for a stronger military posture that ruffled feathers, but prepared Starfleet to face grave threats to the Federation.

In Star Trek , the rank of Fleet Admiral represents the zenith of a lifetime dedicated to service. It signifies proven leadership, experience, and excellence across decades of frontier exploration, first-contact situations, wartime engagements, and peacetime administration. Though few attain it, those who do take their place among the most prestigious and accomplished officers in Starfleet history. Their guidance and command from the highest echelons of the organization help ensure the continued protection, values, and betterment of the United Federation of Planets.

Star Trek Picard: 7 Things The Series Changed About The Starfleet Admiral

How To Tell A Star Trek Character's Rank At A Glance: Rank Pips Explained

This post contains  spoilers for the premiere of "Star Trek: Lower Decks" season 4.

At the beginning of the fourth season of "Star Trek: Lower Decks," the four main characters Boimler (Jack Quaid), Mariner (Tawny Newsome), Tendi (Noël Wells), and Rutherford (Eugene Cordero) are each promoted from the lowly rank of ensign to the only slightly-less-lowly rank of lieutenant junior grade. They still don't have much clout on the U.S.S. Cerritos, but at least now they no longer have to sleep in a hallway. One can see their promotions right away as, on their collars, they wear one solid pip and one empty pip. That, any Trekkie will instantly tell you, is the configuration for a lieutenant junior grade.

It should be noted that "Star Trek" has, since its inception, used extant naval ranks to designate Starfleet officers. Just like in the real United States Navy, officers start at the rank of ensign, then work their way up through lieutenant junior grade, then lieutenant, then lieutenant commander, then commander, then captain, before moving into the various ranks of admiral. "Star Trek" often makes reference to admirals and sometimes vice-admirals. There is also an occasional fleet admiral, the highest rank in both the Navy and in Starfleet. "Star Trek," to my recollection, has never referred to a real admiral, either lower half or upper half. Perhaps by the 22nd century, those ranks will be abandoned. 

To command a starship, one typically has to bear the rank of captain, as we know from Kirk, Picard, Sisko, Janeway, Archer, Freeman, Pike, etc. Although it is not a requirement, a starship's first officer traditionally holds the rank of commander (Riker, Chakotay, Ransom, etc.). 

We're going to do a deep dive into Starfleet ranking, so strap in for some extremely nerdy deep cuts. 

The pips ranking system on "Star Trek" wasn't adopted until the days of "Next Generation," but they are the clearest, so it's a good place to start when educating one's self on Starfleet's chain of command. 

Petty officers wear one empty pip on a starship. These are the enlisted members who didn't attend Starfleet Academy. Engineers, security personnel, yeomen, and the like are petty officers and take orders from the lowest-ranking Academy graduate officers on the ship. If one looks into expanded universe lore, one can find a hierarchy of Starfleet petty officers. There are master petty officers at the top, chief petty officers directly underneath, and several ranks below them. Those ranks, however, are rarely discussed on "Star Trek."

As mentioned above, ensigns wear one full pip, as seen on Wesley Crusher's collar above. Lieutenants junior grade wear one full pip and one empty pip. Lieutenants wear two full pips, and lieutenant commanders wear two full pips and one empty pip. 

Commanders wear three pips, because it is a difficult rank to achieve. 

Captains wear four pips, and are typically given the promotion when they are put in command of a starship. It's understood that only one captain lives on a starship at any given time. 

Admirals have their own ranking system, with solid pips surrounded by boxes.

Commodores (an honorary title) have one boxed pip, rear admirals have two, vice admirals have three, regular admirals have four, and fleet admirals have five. "Star Trek" only deals with admirals from time to time, however, and characters who achieve that rank are often presented as villainous or unduly ambitious; Trekkies have been trained to be suspicious of admirals . 

Other rank insignias

The premise of "Star Trek: Voyager" took a single Federation starship and slung it clear across the galaxy with a group of rebel Maquis members on board. Rather than keep the Maquis in the brig for the 70 years it would take the U.S.S. Voyager to return to Earth, Captain Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) assigned them ranks and made them part of the crew. Because these characters had not been to Starfleet Academy, however, they were given only provisional field ranks, a status reflected in their rank pips. 

One can see the rank of Chakotay (Robert Beltran) in the photo above. He wears an elongated, rounded-edged bar with diagonal stripes. The coloration on the stripes corresponds to the open and closed pips of more traditional ranks. One can be a provisional ensign all the way up to a provisional captain. It's understood that these ranks are temporary. On the latest season of "Star Trek: Lower Decks," the character of T'Lyn (Gabrielle Ruiz) bears a provisional rank as she is an exchange officer from a Vulcan ship. 

In some alternate future timelines (and this is "Star Trek," so there are plenty of those), the franchise's costume designers moved the rank pips from uniform collars to the communicator badges on their chests. Rather than little circular pips, their badges bore one to four elongated stripes behind the familiar Starfleet delta symbol. 

Trekkies caught onto the pip ranking system pretty quickly, and many of us learned all about naval ranks through "Star Trek." The original series, however, was a little more oblique about visual ranking systems. It used to be a code stitched onto officer's sleeves. 

The history of rank insignias

In the picture above, one can see the way ranks used to work on the original "Star Trek." Captain Kirk (William Shatner) had no rank on his collar, but wavy golden stripes around his wrist. Looking around at the crew, one found the following system: ensigns had no stripes on their wrists, while lieutenants junior grade had single "dashed" stripes. Lieutenants had a single solid stripe, and lieutenant commanders had a solid stripe and a dashed stripe (as seen on Scotty above). 

Commanders (see Spock) had two solid stripes and captains (see Kirk) had two solid stripes with a dashed stripe in between them. The stripes were gold, giving the uniforms a pleasingly garish touch. 

The "Star Trek" movies made the ranking code even more oblique. Rather than deal with a series of easily readable pips or stripes, the uniforms seen in "Star Trek II" through " Star Trek VI " bore a formal over-the-shoulder strap that rested on the wearer's right shoulder. Whatever pin you saw affixed to that strap corresponded to the officer's rank. Sadly, there was no intuitive way to discern what that rank might be. Ensigns, for instance, wore a small v-shaped pin. Lieutenants junior grade wore two funnel-shaped pins. Lieutenants wore an hourglass-shaped pin, and lieutenant commanders wore an elongated pennant-like shape with a single stripe through it. Commanders wore the same shape but with two stripes. The captain got to be fancy and wore a pin with three stripes, but also a pair of pointy arrowhead-like symbols affixed to it. 

Only deep-cut Trekkies can suss out the differences. 

That ranking system is an aberration, though. In the early days of "Star Trek: Enterprise" and the latter days of "Star Trek: Picard," the pip system is solidly in place. 

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Published Aug 23, 2023

The Starfleet Insignia Explained

No Star Trek symbol captures the eye or imagination quite like the delta.

StarTrek.com

"The Starfleet Symbol." "The Arrowhead." "The Delta."

Star Trek uses symbols to convey a lot of things, but none captures the eye or imagination quite like the delta. In the years since The Original Series first aired, fans have tried to determine the meaning behind the various insignia shapes we see in the show. To most, it seems that the iconic delta shape is some sort of ship assignment patch meant to represent the U.S.S. Enterprise .

Some arrive at this conclusion because they see various Starfleet personnel wearing a number of different insignia. However, like any puzzle without a key, it’s impossible to precisely interpret the meaning of these other insignia.

The hidden key to the puzzle was finally uncovered a few years ago. The discovery was a memorandum written by producer Robert H. (Bob) Justman to  costume designer William Ware (Bill) Theiss . The subject? STARSHIP EMBLEMS.

A copy of that memorandum has been digitized from the Gene Roddenberry  Star Trek  Television Series Collection (held in the Library Special Collections division of the Young Research Library at UCLA in Irvine, California) and is shown below:

This memo, written during the production of the episode "The Omega Glory," and referencing Captain Ron Tracey, nullifies the long-held assumption that Starfleet assigned different insignia shapes to starships during TOS. Theiss’ inclusion of an alternate insignia for the  Exeter 's captain and chief medical officer, unfortunately, downplays how genuinely ubiquitous the delta insignia is within the  Star Trek  universe. As a result, fans of the series are left with conflicting visual information regarding the meaning of the insignia worn throughout the original series.

Nearly 50 years after Bob Justman wrote his memo, we now have the opportunity to clarify the use of each and every Starfleet uniform insignia used in   TOS. With a wee bit of Scotty's ingenuity, and a pinch of Vulcan logic, the complete picture of what Gene Roddenberry envisioned for the delta insignia should snap into focus.

There are six Starfleet duty insignia used in The Original Series:

• Starship Duty Insignia (Fleet personnel emblem)
• Spacecraft Duty Insignia (Auxiliary Fleet/ Merchant Marine personnel emblem)
• Outpost Duty Insignia (Outpost and Colony personnel emblem)
• Cadet Duty Insignia (Starfleet Academy student emblem)
• Starbase Duty Insignia (Headquarters,  Space stations, Drydocks, and Ground installation personnel emblem)
• Fleet Command Insignia (Senior field commander personnel emblem)

In the  Star Trek  universe, the delta emblem is a direct descendant of the vector component of the old NASA (and later UESPA) logos in use during Earth’s space programs of the 20th and 21st Centuries. Those symbols were worn by some of the first space explorers and adorned uniforms and ships during humanity’s first steps into the final frontier.

United Earth Space Probe Agency integrated with Starfleet as the leading United Earth space exploration service.

The delta insignia was first drawn in 1964 by costume designer William Ware Theiss with input from series creator Gene Roddenberry. The delta — or “Arrowhead” as Bill Theiss called it — has evolved into a revered symbol and one that's synonymous with  Star Trek  today.

The delta also conveys information about the wearer’s duties aboard ship using a series of division symbols. When paired with a distinctive, elongated “star,” the insignia represents someone assigned to the Command division aboard ship. When it displays the “planet” symbol, it represents the Sciences division, a stylized “e” stands for Engineering (later Operations), and a red “Swiss Cross” is worn by starship personnel assigned to the Nursing Corps.

Captain James T. Kirk wearing the Starship Duty Insignia, Command Division.

Let’s continue our study of  Star Trek ’s insignia with personnel assigned to other starships that are wearing the delta insignia.

Before we knew about this memo, we assumed that each ship had its own unique insignia, but there are problems that theory doesn't account for. For instance, does it bother you, or at least seem odd to see the surly guys in Starbase 11’s Officer's Club (in the episode "Court Martial") giving “their captain” a hard time over the presumed death of their mutual friend Ben Finney? Or, to see deceased crew members aboard the  U.S.S. Defiant  (in the episode "The Tholian Web") wearing the delta insignia?

If different starships had different symbols, why weren't they wearing them? Simple. The memo makes it clear that those Starfleet officers are not assigned to the  Enterprise ; they are simply wearing Starfleet’s standard-issue Starship Duty Insignia.

Non-Enterprise Starfleet personnel in Starbase 11’s Officer’s Club in Court Martial, and Below: Deceased U.S.S. Defiant crew member wearing the Starship Duty Insignia in "The Tholian Web."

By now, you might be saying, “What about U.S.S. Exeter ’s Captain Ron Tracey and his chief surgeon, Dr. Carter?” As these two insignia patches are the error being addressed in the memo, they need no further explanation. They alone are the anomaly (an anomaly Theiss never repeated), which led to the misconception that every ship has its own assignment insignia.

Above: Captain Ron Tracey of the U.S.S. Exeter, and Below: his CMO, Dr. Carter.

As you can see here, Theiss thoughtfully, if erroneously, provided both officers with unique assignment insignia patches, and in keeping with his fastidious reputation, insured both patches included their appropriate division symbols.

Early in TOS, we get our first look at non-delta insignia. In the episode "Charlie X,"  Antares ’ Captain Rampart and his first officer are wearing the Spacecraft Duty Insignia, which indicates that they are assigned to an auxiliary spacecraft serving in Starfleet's Merchant Marine Corps — just as Justman points out in his memo. 

Antares' Captain Rampart, and his XO wearing the Merchant Marine Spacecraft Duty Insignia.

Not long after that, we get a look at another new insignia. The Outpost Duty Insignia is worn by Starfleet personnel assigned to outposts on the very edge of Federation space, the frontier. This emblem is characterized by a gold spikelet against a black background. Warning: Do not put yourself in a situation where this insignia goes on your uniform. Personnel wearing this badge never seem to live happily ever after.

Outpost Crew from "Balance of Terror" & "Arena" pictured wearing the Outpost Duty Insignia.

A few episodes later, the Enterprise takes shore leave and Kirk reminisces about his days at the Academy. Worn by students attending Starfleet Academy, the Cadet Duty Insignia is characterized by a pewter colored, smaller version of the Starbase Duty Insignia.

Second Class Midshipman Finnegan wearing the Cadet Duty Insignia.

First seen in "The Menagerie," the Starbase Duty Insignia is worn by personnel assigned to Federation Starbases, which include Starfleet Headquarters, space stations, drydocks, and other ground installations. The emblem, which is devoid of any departmental symbol, is a stylized representation of an “Evening Starflower” (a flowering plant native to the western hemisphere of Earth).

Above: Admiral James Komack of Starfleet Command - Sector 9, and Below: Admiral Fitzpatrick.

Miss Piper, assistant to Commodore Mendez, and Lt. Areel Shaw Starbase 11 JAG Officer wearing the Starbase Duty Insignia.

So how does Commodore Wesley in "The Ultimate Computer," or Commodore Decker in "The Doomsday Machine," fit into the spectrum of Starfleet insignia?

Well, let’s talk about commodores for a moment. A commodore is a flag officer rank, one position above captain. A starship captain usually commands a single vessel, but a commodore ordinarily commands more than one ship. Usually, commodores command a group of ships (either close to their flagship or distant), or in the case of TOS, they normally command a starbase.

In charge of evaluating the operational performance of the M5 computer while it's in total control of a starship, Commodore Wesley sits in temporary command of the  U.S.S. Lexington  to lead a battle fleet in war games against the  Enterprise . Throughout the episode, Commodore Wesley continues to wear his Starbase Duty Insignia, while the  Lexington  crew would have been wearing the delta.

Commodore Bob Wesley in the transporter room briefing Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock about the M5 computer.

Finally, we come to one of my favorite characters ever — Commodore Matt Decker in "The Doomsday Machine." We saved him for last because we could only properly discuss his insignia and what it means after we talked about Starfleet’s other symbols first.

William Windom as Commodore Matt Decker

Unlike Commodore Bob Wesley, who was only in temporary command of the  Lexington , Matt Decker is a Flag Officer with permanent field command of a starship. In fact, he's the only Flag Officer we see in  Star Trek  with a field command. As a consequence of Commodore Decker's rank and status as Commander of the  U.S.S. Constellation  (his flagship), he wears the Fleet Command Insignia denoting his status as a Flag Officer in the field. If we had seen Commodore Decker's crew (may they rest in peace), we would have seen the delta shape insignia in use on their uniforms. Commodore Decker's own first officer would have held the rank of Captain and worn the Starship Duty Insignia.

It should be noted that "The Doomsday Machine," which was filmed early in Season 2, is not referenced in Bob Justman’s memo. Some speculate that Decker’s absence from the memo is further indication of the inconsistent use of emblems in  Star Trek , but that presupposes that the production staff missed that detail. However, the very existence of the Justman memo, and a whole forest of others just like it, demonstrates that the opposite is true.

The production team of  Star Trek  worked diligently to ensure that every aspect of the future they were busy creating held up under scrutiny. Gene Roddenberry was notoriously rewriting scripts himself to ensure no less than exactly what he wanted ended up on-screen, and that fastidious nature permeated the entire production staff. That Decker’s unique emblem is not mentioned in the production memo indicates that his particular insignia isn't an error at all; but represents something else.

Check out Commodore Decker's insignia. Remember that when Theiss created the insignia for Captain Ron Tracey, he went out of his way to ensure it was emblazoned with a Command Star department symbol. Commodore Decker has no such departmental symbol in his insignia patch, which places it in the same design lineage as the Starbase Duty Insignia, which is also devoid of any departmental symbol.

At this point in  Star Trek , we’ve seen a number of flag officers; but they have all worn the Starflower shape, which indicates assignment to a starbase, while Matt Decker alone in TOS series serves as a flag officer in permanent command of a starship. He is wearing an insignia that conveys his unique status, the Fleet Command Insignia, and if you look closely, you'll see that Matt Decker’s emblem is visually related to the Starbase Duty Insignia. Decker’s insignia is a stylized representation of an individual petal from the same “Evening Starflower” emblem that comprises the starbase symbol. This insignia isn't mentioned in the production memo because it's not an error at all.

Hopefully, by now, you can see how consistent the  Star Trek  costume department really was in their use of insignia, and that Bill Thiess never repeated the error he made during "The Omega Glory" after it was pointed out by the memo.

Returning to the delta, Roddenberry and Justman intended it to be a very special symbol that communicates something important. The insignia worn on Starfleet uniforms is the equivalent of the badges worn by U.S. Service members — to show how they serve, not where they serve. Both men served with distinction in World War II. Roddenberry was an Army Air Corps pilot and Justman was a radio operator in the Navy. In the air and at sea, they understood the value of visual communication. In uniform, they themselves carried those values on their chests, on their collars, and on their sleeves. Twenty years after they wore their own various insignia, they helped to create something new — a symbol to inspire others. In the 1960s, the Starfleet delta had far more in common with the golden pin awarded to a NASA astronaut than a simple mission patch, and it was intended to equal that proud emblem in both use and sentiment.

The NASA Astronaut Pin. There are two versions of this pin, a silver pin awarded to those who complete their training, and a gold pin awarded only to astronauts who have flown in space.

The delta proclaims that the person wearing it has achieved the goal of every cadet entering the Academy, and the dream of many a devoted fan — to serve aboard a starship and set sail in an endless sea of stars.

Starfleet Insignia Badge, Command Division from Star Trek Discovery

They used to say if man could fly, he'd have wings. But he did fly. He discovered he had to.

Captain James T. Kirk

I am grateful to have an experienced and learned group of expert Star Trek fans who helped with the research on this article — Steve Fronczek, Creative Services Manager, ANOVOS; Lieutenant Commander Michael J. Quigley, United States Navy; and Dayton Ward, Star Trek author.

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This article was originally published on October 7, 2018

John Cooley is a lifelong Star Trek fan.

• Behind The Scenes
• Star Trek 101

Uniforms & Costumes : Ratings and Enlisted Men

This is a remedial article to dispel the widely-held belief that enlisted men (or "enlisted ranks" or "enlisted uniforms") were present onboard the U.S.S. Enterprise during Captain Kirk's 5-year mission in STAR TREK: The Original Series .

Efforts to catalogue TOS uniforms & insignia frequently suffer from significant inaccuracies: often-times attempting to justify the presence of an "enlisted" category in a consistent way.

Whether this arises from mis-interpretation of dialogue, or assumptions applied retroactively from the inclusion of enlisted members in other Trek, herein we aim to set the record straight where TOS is concerned.

While doing so, great attention will be paid to the usage of naval terms (particularly, ratings ) that can be easily mis-construed as an indication that enlisted men are present.

Thus, this article will not only serve as a uniform reference, but a study of how said terminology was actually being applied in 23rd century Starfleet.

Creator's Vision

Before delving into the on-screen content of the show, we will lay a foundation of information from the Great Bird of the Galaxy himself.

Creator Gene Roddenberry both internally and publicly stated on multiple occasions that all Enterprise personnel were officers.

From " THE STAR TREK GUIDE " for writers and directors (3rd rev., 1967), Page 27:

Is the starship U.S.S. Enterprise a military vessel? Yes, but only semi-military in practice -- omitting features which are heavily authoritarian. For example, we are not aware of "officers" and "enlisted men" categories. And we avoid saluting and other annoying medieval leftovers. On the other hand, we do keep a flavor of Naval usage and terminology to help encourage believability and identification by the audience. After all, our own Navy today still retains remnants of tradition known to Nelson and Drake.

The earlier " WRITER-DIRECTOR INFORMATION " (revised August 30, 1966) contains the same Q&A, with only minor differences in phrasing.

" THE MAKING OF STAR TREK " (September, 1968), co-authored by Stephen E. Whitfield in consultation with Gene Roddenberry and published during Season 3, sheds further light upon the underlying logic on page 209:

The "enlisted men" category does not exist. Star Trek goes on the assumption that every man and woman aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise is the equivalent of a qualified astronaut, therefore an officer. Reference is occasionally made to "the crew," in which case it is a generalized statement meant to include everyone aboard the ship. A reference to "senior officers" would refer to a much smaller, specific group of the crew members.

The book continues with a direct quote from Gene (indicated by ALL CAPS), explaining a progressive mindset towards the use of ranks in the future. From this, we can glean a key reason why one ladder of linear progression was more desirable than a "two-class" system:

RANK, WHEN PROPERLY USED, CAN BE A PLEASANT WAY OF ACKNOWLEDGING SENIORITY—OF SHOWING RESPECT TO A MAN, NOT ONLY FOR HIS LENGTH OF TIME IN SERVICE, BUT ALSO THE REPUTATION ACHIEVED IN HIS FIELD OR SPECIAL ABILITY. I THINK MAN WILL ALWAYS WANT THIS TYPE OF THING. IN OUR OPTIMISTIC ERA, ON OUR STARSHIPS, WE ENJOY THE USE OF THESE COURTESIES. IF THE CREWMEN STAND WHEN OUR CAPTAIN ENTERS A ROOM, IT IS NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE BEING SUBSERVIENT. THEY ARE, IN EFFECT, SAYING, “HERE IS A MAN WHO HAS ACHIEVED GREAT THINGS, HAS BEEN AWARDED HIGH HONORS, AND HAS EARNED HIGH ACCLAIM.” WHAT A PLEASANT WAY TO SAY, WHEN HE COMES IN, “CONGRATULATIONS.” AND THIS IS, IN ESSENCE, WHAT IT AMOUNTS TO. AND YOU NEED NOT BE MILITARY TO DO IT. YOU AND I DO THIS WHEN OUR FATHERS ENTER THE ROOM, OR WHEN WE APPLAUD THE APPEARANCE OF AN ADMIRED STATESMAN.

Gene would internally re-emphasise the point as needed, such as in a memorandum in the Roddenberry Vault addressed to Gene Coon (cc: R. Justman) on August 15, 1966 regarding the first draft of “ Court Martial ” [1x14] :

ENLISTED MEN . There is a feeling of an officer-enlisted man arrangement in this script. Actually, we've avoided terminology or playing of "enlisted men" aboard our vessel. Every man aboard is a trained astronaut, even the cooks.

Mr Roddenberry's steadfastness on the topic was reiterated in discussing Captain Kirk on Page 3:

The script is also our first opportunity to see him off his vessel and yet in contact with his peers. At present, he wanders around like everyone else, very little feeling of his special status, the pomp and ceremony and color of his position. This is not to say we want to go back into the officer-enlisted man thing, but on the other hand the more we understand that a starship captain's position is rare and considerable, the more we understand the threat to Kirk's career and sympathize with our Captain.

N.B.- As we read here, the show was not only avoiding the playing of enlisted men aboard the vessel — but the terminology as well. This should be kept in mind throughout, as it indicates that nothing within the scripts was meant imply the existence of enlisted men in the first place.

Visual Identification (or Lack Thereof)

In addition to Gene's incontrovertible statements, no coherent case for the presence of enlisted men can be made from the visual content of TOS.

While Navy enlisted sailors (other than Chief Petty Officers) wear quite different uniforms from the officers, there is no analogous TOS design that can be identified as an "enlisted uniform".

The coveralls have sometimes been carelessly classified as such, but these are in fact generic Working Uniforms – devoid of any rank insignia – that various officers (including members of the main cast) change into and out of as needed: dating all the way back to Dr Boyce in “ The Cage ” [0x01] .

Furthermore, there is no insignia worn by any Enterprise crew member that conveys itself as being an enlisted badge — an absence juxtaposed against every single shipboard Officer Rank Insignia being distinctly defined.

Prior to the idea of an enlisted category being thrust into consciousness by later Star Trek productions, popular non-canon publications such as the " STAR FLEET TECHNICAL MANUAL " (1975) gave that 387 of 430 (90%) of the Enterprise crew were Ensign-grade.

Although this may be an over-estimate (given how frequently Lieutenant's stripes appear), the overall idea is in alignment with the uniforms that are seen on-screen.

The entire remaining case for an enlisted category must therefore be rooted in terminology and dialogue , which the next several sections will examine in-depth.

Ranks, Rates, and Ratings

Although absent in both concept and visual evidence, various lines of TOS dialogue may still give the contradictory impression of enlisted men being addressed.

For clarity, it is necessary to understand the differences between ranks , rates , and ratings , in 20th century Navy terms.

Technically, only officers have ranks (a commission from the head of state). Commissions certainly exist in Starfleet: Commander Spock refers to his own in both “ Amok Time ” [2x05] and “ Journey to Babel ” [2x15] .

In contrast, the insignia badges worn by Navy enlisted members are a combination of a rate and a rating , as explained on Navy.mil ( "The Official Website of the United States Navy" ):

The use of the word "rank" for Navy enlisted personnel is incorrect. The term is "rate." The rating badge is a combination of rate (pay grade, as indicated by the chevrons) and rating (occupational specialty, as indicated by the symbol just above the chevrons).

Rates (a.k.a. "enlisted ranks") are not present within the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise . Indeed, not one is actually mentioned in that context at any point in the series .

On the other hand, a rating is an occupation (such as Yeoman). These are certainly in use, as a broad range of skills and specialities would be present onboard a Starship. Unlike traditional navies, ratings are held by officers .

Put simply...

• Starfleet officer ranks determine relative seniority between Enterprise crew members; however
• Officers may also be rated , which means (just as it does for Navy enlisted men) that they possess a certain occupational speciality.

It makes sense that these specialities are most often used as titles for junior crew members, since senior officers would typically have broader supervisory responsibilities.

Also, it is common for Navy enlisted sailors to be referred to by their rating rather than their rate (emphasising occupation over rank). Doing the same with various junior officers on STAR TREK helped maintain the desired flavor of Naval usage — not to mention that in a large crew, mentioning "Yeoman Smith" may be more immediately informative than "Ensign Jones" or "Ensign Brown".

The next section shall corroborate this with numerous examples.

Canon Examples

Key terms spoken on TOS that frequently imply the existence of enlisted men (at least according to their present-day naval usage) include crew , crewman , Chief , Technician , Specialist , and Yeoman .

Each will be examined in detail – along with who it was applied to, what ranks they held, and/or what uniforms they wore – and shown to have an evolved Starfleet usage appropriate to the Enterprise crew being composed entirely of officers.

Crew can refer to enlisted men when used in the naval phrase "officers and crew" , which is never spoken in TOS. On its own it is a general term that can refer to the whole company belonging to a ship.

The latter is its clear meaning across repeated uses, including multiple statements mentioning a Starship's full complement of 430 men and women (which is sometimes ball-parked to 400, and once given as a strangely specific 428 in “ Charlie X ” [1x07] ).

The numerous on-screen references draw from the writer/director guides, which give that the vessel has a crew of 430 persons .

Crewman / Crewmen

The Navy regards the word crewman (pl. crewmen ) as being particularly for one who is not an officer — but that is not necessarily the case, and once again not the case at all on TOS.

In Starfleet, it is used in two manners that will be examined individually:

• As a description , with a lowercase " c " (e.g.- a crewman or three crewmen" ); and
• as a title , with an uppercase " C " (e.g.- Crewman, stand aside or Crewman Jackson is dead ).

1. Crewman as a Description

As a general description, crewman or crewmen (lowercase "c") may reference any member or group of members of a Starship's crew, regardless of rank or gender.

A partial list of examples spoken by Captain Kirk includes:

* While plural references to "crewmen" obviously include women serving aboard, the two highlighted examples of solo female officers being called "crewman" are of great interest on the subject of terminology.

For completeness, it should be mentioned that actress Sherri Townsend , who played the aforementioned Ensign in “ Tomorrow is Yesterday ” [1x21] , appeared on the end credits as CREW WOMAN .

That term was only spoken once in dialogue, in “ The Squire of Gothos ” [1x18] :

TRELANE: Oh? KIRK: Yes. I want you to leave my crewmen alone. I want you to leave my crew women alone too.

However, its context in that situation was Captain Kirk pointedly challenging Squire Trelane on his behaviour towards Ensign Teresa Ross and Lieutenant Uhura.

Thus, while "crew woman" is a valid descriptor in casual English speech today (and logically remains so in the future), we learn that crewman is the standard non-gender-specific Starfleet term applied individually to both men and women serving aboard a 23rd century Starship.

This is further cemented by " THE STAR TREK GUIDE " for writers and directors (3rd rev., 1967), which twice describes the Captain's Yeoman as a female crewman .

2. Crewman as a Title

In totality, seven characters in four episodes are addressed or titled as Crewman (uppercase "C").

Those are perhaps the most likely to be misconstrued as enlisted men, especially given its passing similarity to Seaman (a Navy junior enlisted rate).

Two of the seven wear blue Working Uniform coveralls: generic "stock" costumes that never have insignia, and are thus rank-indeterminate. The first is addressed by Spock ( Crewman, report to the lab! ) in “ The Man Trap ” [1x05] , and the second by Uhura ( Crewman, do I know you? ) in “ The Naked Time ” [1x06] .

The remaining five are officers in standard Service Uniforms, as follows:

It is therefore conclusive that Crewman is not an enlisted rate!

Rather, it is a title that may be used in place of rank to formally address a shipboard subordinate or peer.

Further, Crewman may be used with or without a surname, akin to "Mister/Miss" (and is comparatively more generic, being applicable to both genders).

We can also conjecture that it might only be considered appropriate towards junior officers: Crewman Jackson (a Lieutenant) holds the highest rank we hear titled as such, and it would sound odd indeed if Captain Kirk were to address Spock, McCoy, or Scotty in the same manner.

However – from a behind-the-scenes perspective – some of this delineation arises naturally from the fact that Crewman was a generic "catch-all" title for adding additional junior officer characters to a script.

Usage of Chief demands careful examination, as some claim that it refers to Chief Petty Officer (a Navy senior enlisted rate).

However, its application onboard the Enterprise was only in the context of positions held by officers:

The first two identified in “ Tomorrow is Yesterday ” [1x21] and “ The City on the Edge of Forever ” [1x28] belonged to the Services Division and wore generic red Working Uniform coveralls.

However, in “ That Which Survives ” [3x14] the Transporter Chief was wearing an Ensign's red Services shirt, and we learn that the title is interchangeable with Transporter Officer (as used in the writer/director guides):

UHURA: One casualty, Mister Spock. The transporter officer, he's dead. ... SPOCK: Was the cause of his death the same as that which killed the transporter officer? ... KIRK: That's a good question. She touched the transporter chief. He collapsed immediately.

Presumably there are more "chiefs", as Kirk broadly ordered Section chiefs, assign personnel to the search over the intercom in “ The Enemy Within ” [1x04] .

Eliminating the above examples – in which the word "chief" is part of a title that designates an officer supervising an area, regardless of his rank – only two occasions remain on which a crew member was addressed simply as Chief : both in “ Charlie X ” [1x07] .

The first was the officer who received the order all right, Chief, begin materialisation from Kirk; he was clearly manning the position of Transporter Chief, and furthermore wearing an Ensign's red Services shirt.

The second was the chef in the ship's galley, to whom Kirk began to reply on the intercom Chief, have you been— .

If we presume this was the same man who was earlier told in the corridor On Earth today, it's Thanksgiving. If the crew has to eat synthetic meat loaf, I want it to look like turkey. , then he was also wearing an officer's standard Services Division uniform (rank unseen), with some futuristic "chef's jacket" type garment overtop.

Humorously, this final example is a direct reflection of Gene's statement that every man aboard is a trained astronaut, even the cooks !

Technician is a term that readily indicates a rating of some sort — but as already mentioned, ratings are occupational specialities held by officers onboard the Enterprise .

Similar to "Crewman", this title was a generic (albeit slightly-more specialised) way of adding a junior officer to a script: focusing more on the purpose the character was to serve than the specifics of his or her rank.

In fact, " THE STAR TREK GUIDE " for writers and directors (3rd rev., 1967) lumps together various Technician Crewmen and other ship's officers in describing the bridge on Page 15!

Only five officers in three episodes are specifically referred to as technicians:

Geological Technician Fisher (Sciences Division) and Transporter Technician Wilson (Services Division) wear generic Working Uniform coveralls.

However, footage from “ The Cage ” [0x01] (as shown) reveals that Fisher was already a commissioned officer under Captain Pike!

Prior to losing consciousness, Captain Kirk records Commendations recommended for Lieutenant Uhura, Technicians First Class Thule and Harrison, Lieutenant Spinelli and, of course, Mister Spock.

Harrison (a recurring character) is the Ensign at Environmental. While there is some debate about the identity of Thule, knowing that Lt Spinelli is at the Helm and Mr Leslie is at Engineering means that he must be either the Lieutenant (Command Division) at Navigation, or the Lieutenant (Sciences Division) near the turbo-elevator.

Karen Tracy – a Lieutenant – is twice referred to by Captain Kirk as a technician with a psycho-tricorder .

This outright eliminates any argument that "technician" is an indicator of enlisted status!

Specialist is another term that indicates a rating; it is somewhat rarer than Technician .

Mr Spock uses it as a self-descriptor (perhaps in the general sense) in “ The Immunity Syndrome ” [2x19] :

SPOCK: Which makes you indispensable, Captain. Further, you are not a science specialist.

Beyond this, it is applied specifically to only two officers in as many episodes:

SCOTT [OC]: Yes, sir. But Specialist Tomlinson is manning it alone. No standby crew available.

KIRK: With us is specialist Lieutenant Mira Romaine.

Being Lieutenants , both provide potent examples of officers holding ratings in TOS — perhaps Miss Romaine even more-so, being specifically introduced as a rated Lieutenant !

Yeoman is a Navy rating that continued onwards into 23rd century Starfleet.

Wikipedia's List of United States Navy ratings states that Yeomen perform administrative and clerical work , while STAR TREK writer/director guides describe the Captain's Yeoman serving as his combination Executive Secretary-Valet-Military Aide .

This term applies to officers of both sexes: although starting in the 2250s and continuing throughout the 2260s, the job became so dominated by women that all Yeomen appearing on TOS happened to be female! (In reality, after the departure of Grace Lee Whitney from the regular cast, this was no doubt to continue balancing out a crew that the writer's guide intended to be approximately one-third female.)

In total, of the 14 women that can be confirmed as Yeomen via dialogue or credits, all wore officer's uniforms.

Excluding the 2 pilot episodes and their unique uniform design, 11 of the remaining 12 wore an Ensign's red Services tunic (we will forego displaying a complete gallery, for brevity).

The final example is Tina Lawton, who wore an Ensign's blue Sciences tunic, shown here with Yeoman Janice Rand and Charles Evans in “ Charlie X ” [1x07] .

Although the overwhelming majority of Yeomen seen on-screen were serving as the captain's, Rand introduces Lawton to Charlie as someone who is younger than herself, and a Yeoman Third Class .

Miss Lawton confirms the reasonable assumption that other shipboard department heads would have had a Yeoman as well — and more importantly for this article, that the rating is separate from the rank. Rand is clearly senior in job experience (and would presumably be a Yeoman First Class in order to be serving the captain), but both women wear an Ensign's uniform.

Mirror Universe

It is extremely telling that only one episode in the entirety of TOS makes a point of distinguishing between officers and enlisted men, and it occurs onboard the I.S.S. Enterprise in “ Mirror, Mirror ” [2x10] :

MAN: Mister Chekov was going to make me a chief. You could make me an officer. KIRK: All right. You're working for me. MAN: A commission? KIRK: You're in line. You might even make captain. MAN: Yes, sir. (Kirk punches him.) KIRK: Not on my ship.

Notably, the Terran Empire's Starfleet seems to relegate coverall uniforms to the enlisted ranks, who were regularly employed as bodyguards for officers: a budget-conscious way of using existing costume stock to further exhibit the sort of "two-class system" that Gene did away with on our own Enterprise .

Perhaps this contributed to Working Uniform coveralls often being mistakenly labelled as "enlisted uniforms", which (as previously explained) is not true in the Prime Universe.

Pilot Episodes

The pilot episodes typically receive separate analysis, especially since the un-aired 1st pilot (as re-cut into “ The Menagerie, Part I ” [1x15] & “ The Menagerie, Part II ” [1x16] ) was shot a year and a half prior to starting filming Season 1. It featured a different Enterprise crew in an earlier decade, and the uniforms were completely re-designed for TOS-proper.

However, for those who insist upon fully incorporating “ The Cage ” [0x01] into the present discussion (or argument), it may provide fuel by expanding upon the definition of what a Starfleet "officer" can be.

We are of course referring to the presence of CPO Garison (the Bridge Chief Petty Officer ): a non-commissioned officer (NCO) who wore a distinctive stripe of "ladder braid" on his Services shirt.

This is often put forward as "the elephant in the room" where an enlisted category is concerned, but does not actually provide a basis for any such argument.

In the quotes already given, Gene Roddenberry's main point was to emphasise that there is no separate category of "enlisted men" aboard; he never got so technical as to say that every crew member was commissioned (although that does appear to be the case under Captain Kirk).

What we have under Captain Pike is a minimalist system of rank insignia where NCOs wear ladder braid, junior commissioned officers have no braid, and senior commissioned officers wear a stripe of gold braid (increased to 2 stripes for Captain Kirk in the 2nd pilot), explored in greater detail in Pilot Uniforms - Insignia .

This aligns with U.S. Navy design of the mid-20th century (with which Gene Roddenberry and costume designer William Ware Theiss, as veterans themselves, would have been familiar). From a uniform standpoint, Chief Petty Officer was categorised separately from Enlisted Man below CPO : he was afforded essentially the same design as commissioned officers, with more ornate sleeve insignia than the junior officer ranks (who were technically superiors).

The presence of a Chief Petty Officer explored the idea of placing a non-commissioned rank into the unified ladder of "officers". Gene Roddenberry and Bill Theiss would later revisit the same idea for TNG in 1987, defining a single black pip ("half-pip") as Chief Warrant Officer, beneath Ensign.

For TOS, the idea seems to have been shelved: there is no evidence of any NCOs serving under Captain Kirk. This is easily accepted, as we know Captain Pike's crew was structured rather differently in the 2250s, being a complement of only 203 rather than 430. (Captain Pike also had Midshipmen on his bridge, for example, while there is no indication that any cadets served in Captain Kirk's crew, either.)

A final word here about continuity, as bona fide enlisted men were written into multiple Star Trek productions set before and after TOS, and this may pose some questions for those attempting to reconcile the overall chronology.

Although this article concerns itself only with what was true at the time that The Original Series was being made – and not what subsequently "became true" in later Trek – one might still question how an organisation the size of Starfleet, even in the time of Captain Kirk, could have feasibly operated with a membership that limited itself to officer ranks.

The question is irrelevant, because that is not the claim being made . Everything put forward here is specifically in relation to the U.S.S. Enterprise , as a unit, during the latter half of the 2260s.

From a writer's perspective, the Enterprise is the setting of TOS: intended to be a metaphor for a future Earth, with everyone working together in mutual cooperation. That speaks further to why Gene did not wish to have a "two-class system" onboard.

In-universe, 430 crew members may initially seem like a lot — but consider that man had proliferated well beyond the Earth, and only 12 Starship class vessels like the Enterprise were in service. These heralded a new era for Starfleet, and not all of them were offered to human crews (for example, the Intrepid , lost in “ The Immunity Syndrome ” [2x19] , was manned by Vulcans ).

Assignment as a Starship crew member would be an honour reserved for the "best of the best", and it was entirely reasonable at this juncture for Command to insist upon every one of them being a fully trained & qualified officer.

Outside the Enterprise , we find a great deal of room for speculation on the organisation of Starfleet and the greater Federation. Here the series ultimately leaves more to the imagination than it answers, and this article makes no overreaching claims about where or how an enlisted category factors into the larger picture.

Those who adhere to the "enlisted men" narrative still attack this explanation with somewhat-humorous implausibility arguments (e.g.- "oh sure, so you're going to have commissioned officers cleaning the toilets"), but these are based upon 20th-century expectations of necessary labour versus available technology.

Additional quotes from Gene Roddenberry in " THE MAKING OF STAR TREK " (September, 1968) indicate that a much higher level of automation was being conceived of, such as the following on page 188:

AN AUTOMATED STARSHIP LIKE OURS COULD PROBABLY BE OPERATED BY TEN PEOPLE IF NECESSARY, BUT IT WOULD BE A TERRIBLY LIMITED, UNHEALTHY, MISERABLE LIFE.

And another, from page 206:

ONE OF THE REASONS FOR HAVING THIS MANY CREWMEN ON BOARD WAS TO KEEP MAN ESSENTIALLY THE SAME AS HE IS NOW. I BELIEVE THAT MAN IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE A "SOCIAL ANIMAL." ... IT IS GOOD TO HAVE PEOPLE ABOARD AND AVAILABLE TO LEND THEIR CREATIVE TOUCH WHEN AUTOMATED MACHINERY GOES WRONG. BUT THIS WASN'T THE PRIMARY REASON, SINCE WE MIGHT EASILY HYPOTHESIZE THAT BY THIS FUTURE CENTURY EQUIPMENT WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO REPAIR ITS OWN DAMAGE, OR BYPASS DAMAGED PARTS AND LET AUXILIARY PARTS TAKE OVER THE JOB.

Perhaps in some respects, this was a level of sophistication that special effects of the 1960s couldn't always fully convey — but the idea was clearly that skilled technicians could perform high-level repairs on numerous automated systems, which would in turn handle lower-level maintenance tasks. (An idealised, futuristic version of the concept that you never need to vacuum if you know how to fix your Roomba!)

In conclusion, the absence of enlisted men from the Enterprise during Captain Kirk's 5-year mission is not only demonstrable and entirely plausible, but does not require any sort of profound reconciliation of continuity with other Trek.

As such, the author would be more than pleased if this article simply served as encouragement for other publications – especially those that claim to be based exclusively upon canon – to cease categorising TOS crewmen, or their uniforms, as "enlisted"!

Acknowledgements

• Dialogue quotations from Chrissie's Transcripts Site .
• Star Trek: TOS screencaps from TrekCore .
• Documents from the Roddenberry Vault .

• VisualEditor
• View history

Starfleet ranks are denoted by collar pips, the 4 pips here denoted the rank of Captain

In Star Trek Online , ranks denote the level of a character or NPC. Ranks are taken from those ranks used in Star Trek which they themselves, in the case of Starfleet are derived from the U.S. Navy. Higher ranks denote more powerful NPCs and unlock new abilities and systems to the player.

• 1.1 Rewards
• 1.2 Ship Requisitions
• 2 Bridge officers
• 4 Other usage

Player characters [ | ]

New systems (e.g., Duty Officers , Crafting or Admiralty ) and various player abilities are unlocked at specific levels (see below). At each new rank, a new tier of playable starships , the next column of the skill tree, as well as a new Personal trait slot are unlocked.

In addition, a player unlocks new pips or uniform decorations that can be attached to their uniform at a Tailor .

• ↑ Jem'Hadar captains begin at level 60. NPCs and Bridge Officers use these rank names, and they appear in the rank progression reward list.
• ↑ Since Rise of Discovery, All Tier 6 ships have become Scaling ships and are now available to all players after finishing their faction's tutorial.
• ↑ The Prototype Walker Light Exploration Cruiser , Kobayashi Maru Freighter , and Tong'Duj Freighter are all Tier 4 level scaling starships
• ↑ Each subsequent specialization level after reaching level 65.

Rewards [ | ]

• ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Players of each faction receive a specific set of bridge officers over the course of their respective tutorials and early storyline.
• ↑ Level 2 is awarded once 9,500 Experience Points have been earned, however in-game GUI displays an outdated lower requirement of 9,000. The same display shortfall of 500 Experience Points applies to some subsequent levels below, but not all, e.g. level 10 has no discrepancy at 33,500 Experience Points.

• Only 1 free ship , tier 5-U (vs 6 for other captains by level 60, tiers 1-5)
• Only 7 free Bridge Officers , all bound (vs 12 for other captains by level 60, 4 bound + 8 tradeable)
• Only 49 free Duty Officers , all bound (vs 51 for other captains by level 60, 39 bound + 12 tradeable)

Ship Requisitions [ | ]

At levels 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, (for Lifetime Subscription players) and 61 players receive a free Starship Requisition token. Each token can be used to buy one of the following ships:

† Only available for free from level 50 for players with a Lifetime Subscription . Otherwise available for free by using the Vice Admiral Starship Requisition Token, granted at level 61

Bridge officers [ | ]

The lowest Bridge officer rank names differ slightly from those used for players as players start from Cadet, Warrior and Citizen and are promoted past Ensign, Bekk and Uhlan in the tutorial . Likewise, Dominion players are promoted straight to Elder First.

Note that some very rare special bridge officers will always display a Starfleet/KDF rank, even for Romulan Republic players, who might thus have a BOff with the rank "Commander" (= Subcommander).

Ranks for ground and space NPCs are similar to bridge officer ranks and denote their difficulty.

• ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Captain" is used for both 4 and 5-pip ground NPCs.

Other usage [ | ]

In addition, there are other tier ranking systems in-game:

• The duty officer system is currently composed of four "commendation ranks", for each commendation category. Individual duty officers also have ranks that vary depending on quality and department.
• The holdings of the Fleet Advancement System are leveled up through different "tiers".
• The personal Reputation System also lets your character progress through six "tiers" in each reputation faction.

See also [ | ]

• Max Level Boost
• 1 Playable starship
• 3 Infinity Prize Pack - T6 Ship

Star Trek Ranks & Podcast

From @enterprisenxtra.

Episode 181

We celebrate the actors that have helped make Trek what it has been for 58 years by celebrating the “Top 5 Recurring Actors.” We cover a lot of ground in this one. From unknown gems to recognizable names, these incredible performers give life to the words on the page and have been integral to the success of Trek.

CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF EVERY STAR TREK EPISODE

Star Trek: The Original Series

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Star Trek: Voyager

Star Trek: Enterprise

Star Trek: Discovery

Star Trek: Picard

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Star Trek: Short Treks

Star Trek: Lower Decks

Star Trek: Prodigy

Star Trek: The Animated Series

Star Trek: Movies

Top 14 Things About Being on Star Trek

My Day on Star Trek

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The best 'Star Trek' episode of all time, according to fans—and see if your favorite ranks in the top 25

Posted: April 15, 2024 | Last updated: April 25, 2024

Best 'Star Trek' episodes

It's hard to think of a more everlasting and impactful science fiction property than "Star Trek." In 1966, what is now known as "Star Trek: The Original Series" premiered on NBC, the brainchild of creator, writer, and executive producer Gene Roddenberry. What made "Star Trek" unique for its time was its devotion to an optimistic vision of society, one where human civilization has moved past war and poverty, boldly going "where no man has gone before."

This utopian future was reflected by a diverse cast, with the crew of the USS Enterprise including a woman of African descent (Nyota Uhura, played by Nichelle Nichols) and an Asian man (Hikaru Sulu, played by George Takei). Starting in Season Two, "Star Trek" added a Russian character (Pavel Chekov, played by Walter Koenig) during a real-life period of tension between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. The cast was headlined by William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk, Leonard Nimoy as First Officer Spock, and DeForest Kelley as Dr. Leonard McCoy.

Unlike the campier and fantastical sci-fi fare of the 1960s— like "Lost in Space" —"Star Trek" tackled issues not limited to racism, sexism, and nationalism, with episodic stories that served as allegories for present-day issues. One of the most commonly cited groundbreaking moments in "Star Trek" was a kiss between the characters of Kirk and Uhura in Season Three, one of the earliest on-screen interracial kisses .

While the original "Star Trek" was marred with low ratings on NBC, fan mail campaigns kept the show alive until its eventual cancellation in 1969. However, the series found new life in syndication in the 1970s, and the property has since grown into a multimedia franchise that includes 11 television shows and 13 theatrical movies.

To honor the original 79 episodes, Stacker gathered IMDb data for all episodes of the original "Star Trek" series and ranked the top 25 by user rating as of June 2023, with ties broken by the number of votes received. Read on to see if your favorite "Star Trek" episodes made the cut.

#25. Day of the Dove (1968)

- IMDb user rating: 7.7 - Season 3, Episode 7 - Director: Marvin J. Chomsky

The seventh episode of the third season of "Star Trek" once again pitted the Enterprise crew against the brutal Klingons. A being of pure energy creates confusion between the two factions, inserting false memories and creating conflict—in one instance, Chekov becomes aggressive towards the Klingons for killing a brother of his that never existed in the first place. The Klingon character of Kang, who originated from this episode, would return in the "Deep Space Nine" and "Voyager" shows decades later.

#24. A Piece of the Action (1968)

- IMDb user rating: 7.7 - Season 2, Episode 17 - Director: James Komack

Sometimes, "Star Trek" likes to incorporate time travel to create period-piece episodes, but in the case of Season Two, Episode 17, Kirk, Spock, and McCoy land on a planet that emulates 1920s Chicago gangster culture. With Tommy guns, fedoras, and pulpy 1920s dialogue, this fun episode goes through many of the classic gangster tropes. It's a memorable episode, particularly to writer-director Quentin Tarantino, who in the late 2010s wanted to direct a rated-R "Star Trek" movie inspired by the episode .

#23. Where No Man Has Gone Before (1966)

- IMDb user rating: 7.7 - Season 1, Episode 3 - Director: James Goldstone

The second pilot of "Star Trek" is titled after the famous mantra of the franchise, though "Where No Man Has Gone Before" was aired as the third episode of the first season. This episode was meant to introduce viewers to the general concepts of "Star Trek," with a standard mission gone awry—as a result, helmsman Gary Mitchell gains psychic and telekinetic powers, proclaiming himself to be god-like. "Above all else, a god needs compassion," Kirk says in one iconic scene when describing Mitchell's violent actions. As pivotal as the episode is, it lacks mainstay characters like McCoy and Uhura .

#22. This Side of Paradise (1967)

- IMDb user rating: 7.8 - Season 1, Episode 24 - Director: Ralph Senensky

Spock is often paired with short-term romantic interests in "Star Trek," and Episode 24 of the first season features one in the character Kalomi. Spock reunites with this botanist from his past on an away mission—he, Kirk, and McCoy beam down to a colony to find that all of its inhabitants are affected by spores that invoke an overly positive and lethargic attitude. For the half-human, half-Vulcan character Spock, it was another opportune time for him to explore his emotions as he found himself under the same influence.

#21. The Naked Time (1966)

- IMDb user rating: 7.8 - Season 1, Episode 4 - Director: Marc Daniels

The fourth episode of the show as a whole let the cast members let loose and act out of character. "The Naked Time" starts with Spock and a lieutenant observing frozen corpses in an abandoned research facility—after which they inadvertently bring some sort of sickness to the Enterprise that makes everyone affected act irrationally. Spock sheds tears and has an intimate moment with Nurse Chapel, but in a sillier (and iconic) scene, a shirtless Sulu runs amok with a sword .

#20. Tomorrow Is Yesterday (1967)

- IMDb user rating: 7.9 - Season 1, Episode 19 - Director: Michael O'Herlihy

The 19th episode of "Star Trek" Season One is a time-travel story, with the Enterprise finding itself above 1960s Earth. A U.S. Air Force pilot named John Christopher flies up to identify the ship, only to be beamed up by the crew. What ensues is a race to scrub all evidence of the Enterprise's visit to the 1960s while containing Christopher, all while trying to return home. In terms of "Star Trek" lore, the Enterprise's method of returning to the future is used again in "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" and referenced in "Star Trek: Picard."

#19. Arena (1967)

- IMDb user rating: 7.9 - Season 1, Episode 18 - Director: Joseph Pevney

Episode 18 of "Star Trek" showcases some of Kirk's physical combat abilities as he is forced to fight a member of the reptile species known as the Gorn. The fight scene between Kirk and the Gorn captain was shot at the Vasquez Rocks , a location used so frequently by the franchise that it is nicknamed the "Star Trek Rocks." Modern audiences have mocked and parodied the fight scene , but its iconic status has never been disputed.

#18. The Tholian Web (1968)

- IMDb user rating: 8.0 - Season 3, Episode 9 - Directors: Herb Wallerstein, Ralph Senensky

Season Three, Episode 9 of "Star Trek" begins with the Enterprise searching for its sister ship, the Defiant. Unfortunately, the Defiant's crew had perished somehow, and the Enterprise crew find themselves up against interdimensional beings known as the Tholians. As they create an energy web around the entire Enterprise, Kirk is believed lost and the crew members begin to fall to the same madness that led to the Defiant crew's demise. The plotlines of the Defiant and the Tholian Web are followed up in the prequel show "Enterprise," in the 2005 two-part episode "In a Mirror, Darkly."

#17. The Ultimate Computer (1968)

- IMDb user rating: 8.0 - Season 2, Episode 24 - Director: John Meredyth Lucas

In a premise that still rings true today due to the prevalence of artificial intelligence, Season Two, Episode 24 features a computer named M-5, designed and built to handle all ship functions. Unsurprisingly, M-5 begins to turn malevolent, effectively trying to replace Kirk as the captain and attacking other Federation starships. "Computers make excellent and efficient servants, but I have no wish to serve under them," Spock tells Kirk at one point.

#16. A Taste of Armageddon (1967)

- IMDb user rating: 8.0 - Season 1, Episode 23 - Director: Joseph Pevney

Episode 23 of Season One features a rather unique sci-fi concept—a planet that fights war through virtual means. Kirk lands on a planet that is in conflict with another planet, and the long war between the two is fought in a simulation; when someone "dies" in the simulation, they are killed in real life. Unfortunately for Kirk, the Enterprise is destroyed in the simulation, but Kirk naturally refuses to destroy his ship and crew. Despite the dire premise, the resolution of the episode has fans believing it to be an overall optimistic story .

#15. The Corbomite Maneuver (1966)

- IMDb user rating: 8.0 - Season 1, Episode 10 - Director: Joseph Sargent

The 10th overall episode of "Star Trek" was the first to be shot after the pilot episode, and it features a memorable encounter with an alien named Balok (featured in the closing credits of the show). Balok claims that he is all-powerful and will destroy the Enterprise, giving the crew 10 minutes, but Kirk calls Balok's bluff. Summing up the lesson of the episode, Kirk remarks: "You know the greatest danger facing us is ourselves, an irrational fear of the unknown. But there's no such thing as the unknown—only things temporarily hidden, temporarily not understood."

#14. All Our Yesterdays (1969)

- IMDb user rating: 8.1 - Season 3, Episode 23 - Director: Marvin J. Chomsky

Season Three, Episode 23 of "Star Trek" features some recurring tropes of the show, such as time travel and Spock having a brush with romance. The main trio of Kirk, Spock, and McCoy each end up in two distant time periods of a planet. Spock and McCoy encounter a woman named Zarabeth, whom McCoy is suspicious of and Spock falls in love with rather quickly. While most time-travel episodes center around Earth, using this narrative device to explore the past of an alien planet was thought to be unique by fans.

#13. Errand of Mercy (1967)

- IMDb user rating: 8.1 - Season 1, Episode 26 - Director: John Newland

Episode 26 of Season One utilizes the Klingons as the main foes, with "Errand of Mercy" depicting the beginning of a war between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. Kirk and Spock visit a neutral planet near the Klingon Border called Organia and attempt to convince its people to resist Klingon forces in this Cold War allegory episode . While the peaceful Organians appear to be primitive at first, they soon surprise Kirk and Spock as well as the Klingons. The main antagonist, the Klingon named Kor, returns in "Deep Space Nine."

#12. The Menagerie: Part II (1966)

- IMDb user rating: 8.1 - Season 1, Episode 12 - Directors: Robert Butler, Marc Daniels

Spock is under court martial in Season One, Episode 12, in this conclusion to the previous episode. This second part features the psychic Talosian aliens more heavily, as well as the character of Number One, who is portrayed by Roddenberry's second wife, Majel Barrett. With the previous episode establishing Captain Pike's tragic injuries, this second half provides a happier ending for the former captain of the Enterprise.

#11. The Menagerie: Part I (1966)

- IMDb user rating: 8.2 - Season 1, Episode 11 - Directors: Marc Daniels, Robert Butler

Season One, Episode 11 revisited events from the unaired pilot episode of "Star Trek," titled "The Cage." That pilot had featured Captain Pike (Jeffrey Hunter) instead of Kirk, but "The Menagerie" clarifies that Pike was the captain of the Enterprise before Kirk. At this point in time, Pike has been horrifically injured, bound to a chair, and only able to communicate through beeps. Pike and Spock once again end up on the planet Talos IV for some unfinished business, and the episode utilizes footage from "The Cage" extensively as flashbacks for budgetary reasons.

#10. The Devil in the Dark (1967)

- IMDb user rating: 8.3 - Season 1, Episode 25 - Director: Joseph Pevney

"Star Trek" is arguably its most memorable when it teaches viewers about compassion and pacifism, and Episode 25 of the first season very much demonstrates this. Kirk, Spock, and McCoy begin to assist a mining colony dealing with a creature responsible for killing workers. Upon encountering the creature, the main characters begin to understand its nature better, and instead spare it and cure it, facilitating a symbiotic relationship between the creature and the miners.

William Shatner considers the episode one of his favorites, but behind the scenes, Shatner's father passed away during production , necessitating the temporary use of a body double while he attended his father's funeral.

#9. The Enterprise Incident (1968)

- IMDb user rating: 8.4 - Season 3, Episode 2 - Director: John Meredyth Lucas

The writers of "Star Trek" loved to use sudden irrational behavior by the characters as plot devices, and Episode 2 of the third season features Captain Kirk going off the rails. The Enterprise is on a secret mission to steal a Romulan cloaking device, and they encounter a female Romulan commander who eventually takes an interest in Spock. Kirk acts erratically through the episode and is even declared unfit to captain, leading to a dramatic episode overall.

#8. Journey to Babel (1967)

- IMDb user rating: 8.5 - Season 2, Episode 10 - Director: Joseph Pevney

Some significant characters in "Star Trek" lore make their first appearance in Episode 10 of Season Two, as Spock's parents Sarek and Amanda (the latter being human) feature heavily. Sarek, an ambassador, is wrongly accused of murdering a foreign dignitary, and it's up to Spock to clear his name. While Sarek and Amanda made more appearances in future "Star Trek" media, this episode is their only appearance in the original series.

#7. Amok Time (1967)

- IMDb user rating: 8.6 - Season 2, Episode 1 - Director: Joseph Pevney

The season premiere of "Star Trek" Season Two introduced concepts that would permeate larger popular culture. Spock's bizarre behavior leads the characters to learn about pon farr, a physiological phenomenon related to Vulcan mating. Viewers meet Spock's betrothed, a Vulcan named T'Pring, and the iconic Vulcan salute is used for the first time in this episode. The events culminate in a fight between Kirk and Spock, with the scene and its incidental music parodied in movies like "The Cable Guy" and shows including "Futurama."

#6. The Doomsday Machine (1967)

- IMDb user rating: 8.7 - Season 2, Episode 6 - Director: Marc Daniels

Catastrophic destruction is the main threat of Season Two, Episode 6, aptly titled "The Doomsday Machine." The Enterprise finds that one of its sister ships, the Constellation, has been heavily damaged by a machine capable of destroying planets. Matt Decker, one of the ship's survivors, goes on a mad campaign against the machine, jeopardizing the Enterprise in the process. While Decker doesn't make it by the end of the episode, his son Willard Deckard is a main character in 1979's "Star Trek: The Motion Picture."

#5. Space Seed (1967)

- IMDb user rating: 8.7 - Season 1, Episode 22 - Director: Marc Daniels

Episode 22 of the first season introduced perhaps the most recognizable villain in all "Star Trek" media: Khan Noonien Singh, portrayed by Ricardo Montalbán. A genetically engineered man from the past, Khan attempts to lead his people in overthrowing the Enterprise. While Khan was thwarted and exiled, he would later return in "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan," widely thought to be the greatest "Star Trek" movie in the franchise .

#4. The Trouble with Tribbles (1967)

- IMDb user rating: 8.8 - Season 2, Episode 15 - Director: Joseph Pevney

"Star Trek" isn't just political allegory and technobabble—there has to be levity sometimes as well. Enter the tribbles, cute little fuzzy creatures that create a problem for the Enterprise, as a tribble found in a space station begins multiplying rapidly. Meanwhile, conflict arises between Enterprise crew members and Klingons, culminating in a brawl in the space station. For the 30th anniversary of "Star Trek," an episode of "Deep Space Nine" titled "Trials and Tribble-ations" revisited the events of this episode, digitally inserting the "Deep Space Nine" cast into the events of the original episode.

#3. Balance of Terror (1966)

- IMDb user rating: 8.8 - Season 1, Episode 14 - Director: Vincent McEveety

Episode 14 of the first season of "Star Trek" is essential viewing, as it introduces the antagonistic Romulan race, a staple of the "Star Trek" universe. The centerpiece of this action-packed episode is a cat-and-mouse game between the Enterprise and a Romulan vessel with cloaking capabilities, leading to exciting and tense encounters. It's an episode full of high emotion that explores the effect and ramifications of war, with Kirk and the Romulan commander speculating that in another life, perhaps they could have been friends.

#2. Mirror, Mirror (1967)

- IMDb user rating: 9.0 - Season 2, Episode 4 - Director: Marc Daniels

Episode 4 of Season Two of "Star Trek" had the first look into another dimension within the lore, often referred to as the Mirror Universe. In this reality, the Federation is instead the Terran Empire, which is aggressive and militaristic in nature. The USS Enterprise is instead the ISS Enterprise, torture in the Agony Booth is the main form of discipline, and Mirror Spock famously fashions a goatee . The Mirror Universe has become a mainstay in most "Star Trek" shows, and the use of a beard to signify an evil doppelganger is an often used and parodied trope .

#1. The City on the Edge of Forever (1967)

- IMDb user rating: 9.2 - Season 1, Episode 28 - Director: Joseph Pevney

In quite possibly the most famous episode in the entire "Star Trek" franchise, Captain Kirk faces an unimaginable moral dilemma. A chase for an unwell McCoy leads to history being changed, and the Enterprise crew members find themselves in Depression-era New York City to repair the damage. Kirk falls in love with a social worker named Edith Keeler, but to his dismay, he discovers that for the timeline to be restored, Edith must be allowed to die. The tragic ending, Shatner's performance, high regard from both the cast and crew of "Star Trek," and multiple awards solidified "City" as the most celebrated "Trek" episode of all time .

Data reporting by Luke Hicks. Copy editing by Tim Bruns. Photo selection by Clarese Moller.

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Variety  Awards Circuit  section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars,  Emmys , Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by  Variety  senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday.

Visit the prediction pages for the respective ceremonies via the links below:

OSCARS  |  EMMYS  |  GRAMMYS  |  TONYS

2024 Emmy Predictions: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Weekly Commentary (Updated: April 25, 2024) : With her captivating portrayal of Princess Diana in the sixth and final season of Netflix’s “The Crown,” Australian actress Elizabeth Debicki has earned universal acclaim and a trifecta of major televised awards, including Golden Globes, Critics Choice, and Screen Actors Guild honors. As the awards season shifts towards the Emmys, Debicki’s undefeated streak positions her as an undisputed frontrunner, potentially poised to claim her first Emmy trophy amid widespread industry admiration.

Debicki faces competition from her co-star Lesley Manville, who delivered a compelling performance as Princess Margaret, and Christine Baranski, the formidable matriarch in HBO/Max’s “The Gilded Age.” Nonetheless, Debicki is leading the pack. Her acclaimed work in “The Crown” not only captivated audiences, amid a mixed reaction for the final season, but it also earned her first Emmy nom for the series’ fifth season last year. Despite losing to Jennifer Coolidge’s scene-stealing role in “The White Lotus,” Debicki’s rising star may be too bright to ignore.

The race is further intensified by a strong lineup from Apple’s “The Morning Show,” featuring Greta Lee, Nicole Beharie, Julianna Margulies, Holland Taylor, and Karen Pittman—all of whom have significant fan bases. The crowded field increases the likelihood of vote-splitting, potentially benefiting other potential nominees and contenders.

As the first phase of Emmy campaigning kicks off, attention is focused on “The Crown” and “The Morning Show” potentially dominating the field. Yet, there’s room for surprises. “The Gilded Age” has more potential nominees such as Cynthia Nixon and Audra McDonald, and industry buzz suggests that Leslie Uggams, fresh off her acclaimed role in the Oscar-winning “American Fiction,” could gain traction for Prime Video’s “Fallout.” Additionally, former Emmy darlings like Archie Panjabi from Apple’s “Hijacks” and standouts from Netflix’s “3 Body Problem,” such as Rosalind Chao and Eiza González, might also make an unexpected splash.

Other genre shows could also attract attention, including young standout Celia Rose Gooding as Nyota Uhura in Paramount’s “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” and Sophia Di Martino, who, along with her co-star Tom Hiddleston, could become favorites for their roles in Disney/Marvel’s superhero series “Loki.”

Read:  Variety’s  Awards Circuit for the latest Primetime Emmy predictions in the major categories.

And the Predicted Nominees Are

Next in Line

Also in Contention

Eligible performances (supporting drama actress).

**The list below is not complete and have been confirmed as officially submitted. All information is subject to change. Grouped by network that airs each series.

• Christina Chang — “ The Good Doctor ” (ABC)
• Fiona Gubelmann — “ The Good Doctor ” (ABC)
• Jessica Matten — “Dark Winds” (AMC)
• Jeri Ryan — “Dark Winds” (AMC)
• Paula Malcomson — “Parish” (AMC)
• Christina Hendricks — “The Buccaneers” (Apple TV+)
• Aubri Ibrag — “The Buccaneers” (Apple TV+)
• Josie Totah — “The Buccaneers” (Apple TV+)
• Adina Porter — “The Changeling” (Apple TV+)
• Amirah Vann — “The Changeling” (Apple TV+)
• Archie Panjabi — “Hijack” (Apple TV+)
• Jodi Balfour — “For All Mankind” (Apple TV+)
• Nicole Beharie — “The Morning Show” (Apple TV+)
• Greta Lee — “The Morning Show” (Apple TV+)
• Julianna Margulies — “The Morning Show” (Apple TV+)
• Karen Pittman — “The Morning Show” (Apple TV+)
• Holland Taylor — “The Morning Show” (Apple TV+)
• Emily Mortimer — “The New Look” (Apple TV+)
• Maisie Williams — “The New Look” (Apple TV+)
• Kiersey Clemons — “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” (Apple TV+)
• Mari Yamamoto — “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” (Apple TV+)
• Rashida Jones — “Silo” (Apple TV+)
• Harriet Walter — “Silo” (Apple TV+)
• Rosalind Eleazar — “ Slow Horses ” (Apple TV+)
• Saskia Reeves — “ Slow Horses ” (Apple TV+)
• Kristen Scott Thomas — “ Slow Horses ” (Apple TV+)
• Anna Gunn — “Sugar” (Apple TV+)
• Amy Ryan — “Sugar” (Apple TV+)
• Bridget Moynahan — “ Blue Bloods ” (CBS)
• Marg Helgenberger — “ CSI: Vegas ” (CBS)
• Carra Patterson — “Elsbeth” (CBS)
• Alexa Davalos — “FBI: Most Wanted” (CBS)
• Stephanie Arcila — “ Fire Country ” (CBS)
• Diane Farr — “ Fire Country ” (CBS)
• Jules Latimer — “ Fire Country ” (CBS)
• Yasmine Al-Bustami — “ NCIS: Hawai’i ” (CBS)
• Tori Anderson — “ NCIS: Hawai’i ” (CBS)
• Natasha Liu Bordizzo — “Ahsoka” (Disney+)
• Mary Elizabeth Winstead — “Ahsoka” (Disney+)
• Sophia Di Martino — “Loki” (Disney+)
• Gugu Mbatha-Raw — “Loki” (Disney+)
• Wunmi Mosaku — “Loki” (Disney+)
• Adelaide Clemens — “Justified: City Primeval” (FX)
• Gail Bean — “ Snowfall ” (FX)
• Christine Baranski — “The Gilded Age” (Max)
• Celia Keenan-Bolger — “The Gilded Age” (Max)
• Audra McDonald — “The Gilded Age” (Max)
• Cynthia Nixon — “The Gilded Age” (Max)
• Kelli O’Hara — “The Gilded Age” (Max)
• Natasha Behnam — “The Girls on the Bus” (Max)
• Christina Elmore — “The Girls on the Bus” (Max)
• Carla Gugino — “The Girls on the Bus” (Max)
• Molly Burnett — “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (NBC)
• Rosalind Chao — “3 Body Problem” (Netflix)
• Eiza González — “3 Body Problem” (Netflix)
• Kiawentiio — “Avatar: The Last Airbender” (Netflix)
• Elizabeth Debicki — “ The Crown ” (Netflix)
• Lesley Manville — “ The Crown ” (Netflix)
• Olivia Williams — “ The Crown ” (Netflix)
• Emily Rudd — “One Piece” (Netflix)
• Nicole Kidman — “Special Ops: Lioness” (Paramount+)
• Mary Wiseman — “Star Trek: Discovery” (Paramount+)
• Christina Chong — “ Star Trek: Strange New Worlds ” (Paramount+)
• Celia Rose Gooding — “ Star Trek: Strange New Worlds ” (Paramount+)
• Sarita Choudhury — “Fallout” (Prime Video)
• Leslie Uggams — “Fallout” (Prime Video)
• Rachel Blanchard — “The Summer I Turned Pretty” (Prime Video)
• Jackie Chung — “The Summer I Turned Pretty” (Prime Video)
• Sophie Okonedo — “The Wheel of Time” (Prime Video)
• Birgundi Baker — “The Chi” (Showtime)
• Nizhonniya Luxi Austin — “The Curse” (Showtime)
• Hikmah Warsame — “The Curse” (Showtime)
• Philippa Dunne — “The Woman in the Wall” (Showtime)
• Sophie Skelton — “Outlander” (Starz)
• Jennifer Tilly — “ Chucky ” (Syfy)

More Information (Supporting Drama Actress)

2023 category winner : Jennifer Coolidge — “The White Lotus” (Max) — Season 2

2024 Emmy Awards Calendar and Timeline (all dates are subject to change)

• Eligibility period: June 1, 2023 – May 31, 2024
• Feb. 29: Submissions open
• May 9: Deadline for programs that identify as Primetime programming to upload all entry materials.
• June 13: Nominations-round voting begins
• June 24: Nominations-round voting ends at 10:00 p.m. PT
• June 28 – July 8: Voting for peer group-specific top ten rounds panels (if applicable)
• July 17: Primetime Emmy nominations are announced.
• July 24: Deadline for errors and omissions to the nominations.
• August 5: Find-round videos available for viewing.
• August 15: Final-round voting begins.
• August 26: Final-round voting ends at 10:00 p.m. PST.
• Sept. 7-8: Creative Arts Emmy Awards and Governors Gala
• Sunday, Sept. 15: 76th Primetime Emmy Awards to air on ABC.

Emmy Awards Predictions

Other awards predictions, about the primetime emmy awards.

The Primetime Emmy Awards, commonly known as the Emmys, are awarded by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS). Established in 1949, these celebrate outstanding achievements in American primetime television. The Emmys are categorized into three divisions: the Primetime Emmy Awards for performance and production excellence, the Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards recognizing achievements in artistry and craftsmanship, and the Primetime Engineering Emmy Awards, which honor significant engineering and technological advancements. The eligibility period typically extends from June 1 to May 31 each year. The Television Academy, which hosts the Emmys, consists of over 20,000 members across 30 professional peer groups, including performers, directors, producers, art directors, artisans and executives.

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• View history

Crewman was an enlisted rank of often limited responsibility or entry level duties, used by service organizations in various cultures , including Starfleet . In Klingonese , this rank was comparable to the rank of bekk in the Klingon Defense Force . ( DS9 : " Sons and Daughters ")

The term "crewman" or " crew person " was also used as a generic term (regardless of rank) to refer to any member of a crew , as was the case of Vina , an individual who was listed on the SS Columbia expedition as "an adult crewman" in 2236 . ( TOS : " The Cage ") This was especially true of numerous Starfleet crewmen , who, regardless of rank, officers and enlisted personnel alike were referred to as "crewman". ( TOS : " Catspaw "; VOY : " Equinox, Part II "; et al.) Captain James T. Kirk referred to Yeoman Teresa Ross as a "crewwoman" when discouraging Trelane 's attentions towards her. ( TOS : " The Squire of Gothos ")

In both the 22nd century Earth Starfleet and the later 24th century Federation equivalent, the rank of crewman was further broken down into several classes: crewman, 1st class ; crewman, 2nd class ; and crewman, 3rd class . ( ENT : " Shuttlepod One "; TNG : " The Drumhead ") During the late 23rd century , a Starfleet crewman may have also been rated as an able seaman . ( Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan – Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country )

In addition, the similar rating of able crewman was used during the 22nd century aboard Earth Cargo Service merchant ships , such as those operating under the Earth Cargo Authority . After his less-than-impressive dealings with the Nausicaans in 2151 , First Officer Matthew Ryan of the freighter ECS Fortunate was demoted to able crewman in order to have to earn back Captain Keene 's trust . ( ENT : " Fortunate Son ")

In 2151 , Commander Trip Tucker threatened Lieutenant Malcolm Reed that he was going to " bust your ass back to crewman, second class for insubordination , " though Reed countered " Be my guest. I could use a little less responsibility. " ( ENT : " Shuttlepod One ")

Two years later , Captain Jonathan Archer gave Reed the same warning, heeding that " If I were the kind of captain you think I should be I'd bust your ass back to crewman, " following Reed's critique of Archer's command style. ( ENT : " Minefield ")

When Q abducted Captain Jean-Luc Picard in 2365 , and described his desire to join the crew of the USS Enterprise -D , he expressed being " Ready and willing. Able to serve… " Picard interrupted him, inquiring " What would you do? Would you start as an ordinary crewman? " ( TNG : " Q Who ")

After Chakotay and Seven of Nine became romantically involved in 2378 , and Seven was injured, Chakotay offered to arrange for her to have extra time to rest, noting that he was in charge of the duty roster . Seven expressed that she felt " it would be inappropriate to allow our personal relationship to affect your command decisions , " to which Chakotay agreed they should keep things professional, before asking for her report . Following her report, and in keeping it professional, he told her " That's good news, Crewman, " to which she responded " Yes, sir. " ( VOY : " Endgame ")

• 1 List of ranked crewman
• 2.1 Background information
• 2.2 External links

List of ranked crewman [ ]

• Botax (able seaman)
• Branz (able seaman)
• Carson (able seaman)
• Carter (able seaman)
• Cunningham (crewman, 2nd class)
• Cutler (crewman, 1st class)
• Daniels (crewman, 3rd class)
• Dax (able seaman)
• Daz (able seaman)
• Foster (crewman, 3rd class)
• Gavin (able seaman)
• Jarkra (able seaman)
• Jonas, Michael (crewman)
• Krim (able seaman)
• Marva (able seaman)
• Novakovich, Ethan (crewman, 2nd class)
• Rogg (able seaman)
• Rostov, Michael (crewman, 2nd class)
• Straeth (able seaman)
• Strom (able seaman)
• Suryan (able seaman)
• Tarses, Simon (crewman, 1st class)
• Taylor, Jane (crewman, 2nd class)
• Unai (crewman)
• Vell (able seaman)
• Starfleet crewmen

Appendices [ ]

Background information [ ].

Gene Roddenberry pushed the assumption that " every man and woman aboard the USS Enterprise is the equivalent of a qualified astronaut , therefore an officer. " ( The Making of Star Trek , p. 209) Reiterating, this was most typically in Star Trek: The Original Series , where it was evident that a "crewman" was less of a reference to a rank than it was a general term for any member of the crew. One example appears in the episode " Catspaw ", where Kirk noted Lieutenant Jackson as "Crewman Jackson" in his captain's log , and referred to the missing Lt. Sulu and lieutenant commander Scott as "my two missing crewmen" (vs. "officers").

Although Star Trek has often been ambivalent about enlisted ranks and insignia, the term "crewman" has been in use since " The Man Trap ". Visually, any crewmember with the rank below lieutenant , most notably ensigns , wore no visible rank insignia, with the exceptions of CPO Garison and lieutenant junior grade Joe Tormolen . Though in the case of DS9 : " Trials and Tribble-ations ", Benjamin Sisko quickly identified Miles O'Brien , who wore no insignia on his sleeves, as an "ensign".

An able-seaman insignia on Fletcher's notes

The term "able-seaman" is first used in Robert Fletcher 's personal costuming notes for the Star Trek films (p. 9, seen here ) alongside a square-shaped insignia. Several of the square-shaped insignia were sold in the It's A Wrap! sale and auction . [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]

An Star Trek: The Magazine article on Starfleet rank insignia (2270s-2340s) oriented the insignia as a diamond, and identified it as an ables'man, among enlisted crewman insignia. ( Star Trek: The Magazine  Volume 2, Issue 10 , p. 99)

In TNG : " The Drumhead ", it was established in dialogue that Simon Tarses was an enlisted crewman who had not gone to the Academy; he had a blank collar. This lack of rank insignia for crewmen and noncoms was used throughout Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager , although chief petty officers were occasionally assigned different insignia.

Several rank insignia were sold off on the It's A Wrap! sale and auction on eBay, including a Enterprise crewman second class patch. [17]

Finally, as ranks established in Star Trek were mostly based on the ranking systems of "real world" militaries, the following may also be true: The title of "crewman" was the lowest enlisted rank, subordinate to a petty officer . In comparison to infantry ranking systems, this rank was approximately equivalent to the grade of private .

External links [ ]

• Crewman at Wikipedia
• Seaman at Wikipedia

Screen Rant

Star trek: discovery season 5, episode 5 ending explained.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 5 contains two major reveals about the Mirror Universe and the Breen. We break down what the ending means.

Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery Season 5, Episode 5 - "Mirrors"

• Star Trek: Discovery's next clue is hidden aboard the Mirror Universe's ISS Enterprise trapped in interdimensional space.
• L'ak is a Breen with a blood bounty on his head, and his backstory with Moll is revealed.
• The USS Discovery crew, led by Commander Rayner, helps save Burnham and Book and bring the ISS Enterprise into the Prime Universe, but Moll and L'ak escape.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 5, "Mirrors," ends with Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the USS Discovery's crew grappling with jaw-dropping reveals about the Mirror Universe's ISS Enterprise, L'ak's (Elias Toufexis) species, and the next clue in the hunt for the Progenitors' treasure. Written by Johanna Lee and Carlos Cisco and directed by Jen McGowan, the thrilling "Mirrors" sends Burnham and Cleveland Booker (David Ajala) into interdimensional space after Moll (Eve Harlow) and L'ak and the third Progenitors' clue , but they found a lot more than they bargained for.

In Star Trek: Discovery s eason 5, episode 5, Captain Burnham, Cleveland Booker, Moll, and L'ak are all trapped aboard the derelict ISS Enterprise after Burnham's shuttle and L'ak's ship are destroyed by interdimensional space, a dangerous region between Star Trek 's Prime and Mirror Universes . Michael ingeniously uses the Enterprise's tractor beam to send a distress signal to the USS Discovery, where Commander Rayner (Callum Keith Rennie) and the bridge crew find a way to keep the aperture of the interdimensional space wormhole open to fly the ISS Enterprise through. However, L'ak and Moll make their escape, leaving Burnham, Book, and the Starfleet heroes to grapple with the third clue to the Progenitors' treasure, and what they learned and found in the wormhole.

The ISS Enterprise's first and only previous appearance was in Star Trek: The Original Series season 2's "Mirror, Mirror", which introduced the Mirror Universe.

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Returning Cast & New Character Guide

Captain kirk's mirror universe iss enterprise now belongs to 32nd century starfleet, it's been a long road for the iss enterprise.

The Mirror Universe's ISS Enterprise becomes the property of the 32nd century's Starfleet and United Federation of Planets at the end of Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 5, "Mirrors." Captain Burnham assigned Lt. Commanders Kayla Detmer (Emily Coutts) and Joann Owosekun (Oyin Oladejo) - who don't actually appear in the episode - to fly the ISS Enterprise back to Federation HQ to be put into "storage". However, the acquisition of a major historical find like a 23rd-century Constitution Class starship filled with Terran Empire technology from the Mirror Universe is bound to be of interest to Dr. Kovich (David Cronenberg).

After the Temporal Wars, crossing over between the Mirror Universe and Star Trek 's Prime universe is now impossible, but the ISS Enteprise was trapped in interdimensional space for centuries, which crossing over could still happen.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 5's ISS Enterprise scenes were filmed on the USS Enterprise sets of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds . Discovery season 5's production took place at the end of 2022, after Strange New Worlds season 2 had wrapped in June and long before Strange New Worlds season 3 filming started in December 2023. The USS Enterprise's bridge, medical bay, transporter room, and hallways were redressed to turn the starship into its Mirror Universe counterpart.

Commander Michael Burnham previously came aboard Captain Christopher Pike's (Anson Mount) USS Enterprise in Star Trek: Discovery season 2.

Star Trek: Discovery's Mirror Universe Revelations

We found out what happened to mirror spock and mirror saru.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 5's ISS Enterprise appearance answered some big questions about the events of the Mirror Universe after Star Trek: The Original Series ' "Mirror, Mirror." Cleveland Booker learned from the plaque where the Enterprise's missing crew left their story behind that the Terran High Chancellor was assassinated after making reforms. This refers to the Mirror Universe's Spock (Leonard Nimoy), who was urged by the Prime Universe's Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) to make reforms to prevent the inevitable collapse of the Terran Empire, which happened anyway.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 's Mirror Universe episodes revealed that the Terran Empire, weakened by Spock's reforms, was conquered by the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance.

Refugees led by a Kelpien slave-turned-rebel leader - Saru (Doug Jones) - used the ISS Enterprise to flee the Mirror Universe for the Prime Universe in the 23rd century, but the starship was trapped in interdimensional space. The Enterprise's crew eventually used the ship's shuttles and escape pods to abandon the starship in an effort to make it to the Prime Universe. Some did make it through, including the ISS Enterprise's junior science officer, Dr. Cho , who later joined Starfleet and became a branch Admiral in the 24th century.

Jinaal Bix redacted the names of the scientists who found the Progenitors' technology, including Dr. Cho.

Moll & L'ak Escaped Discovery With A Breen Bounty On Their Heads

L'ak is the nephew of the breen primarch.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 5 revealed the backstory of Moll and L'ak, including the revelation that L'ak is Breen . Years before Star Trek: Discovery season 5, Moll was a courier who sold latinum to the Breen Imperium, where she met L'ak, the nephew of the Breen's Primarch Ruhn (Tony Nappo), who had fallen out of favor and was working in the shuttle bay. Moll and L'ak fell in love , and L'ak committed a crime against the Breen by consorting with "a lesser being" and removing his helmet to show Moll his true face. Confronted by his uncle, L'ak shot the Primarch and fled with Moll.

Moll and L'ak used one of the ISS Enterprise's remaining warp pods to flee capture.

Moll and L'ak both have an Erigah, a Breen blood bounty, on their heads, and they hope that finding the Progenitors' treasure and selling it to the Breen will buy their freedom. Neither Moll and L'ak want the Federation's help offered by Captain Burnham, and they would "rather die" than be separated in a Federation prison. L'ak was injured in a brawl with Burnham, but instead of seeking medical attention from the USS Discovery, Moll and L'ak used one of the ISS Enterprise's remaining warp pods to flee capture. However, this time, Moll and L'ak left behind a warp trail Discovery can follow.

Cleveland Booker Tries To Connect With Moll

Booker's mentor was moll's absentee father.

Cleveland Booker has personal reasons to connect with and save Moll. Moll's real name is Malinne Booker, and she is the daughter of Book's late mentor, Cleveland Booker IV . Moll's father abandoned her and her mother to become a courier and raise the funds needed to move his family to a new home in the Gamma Quadrant. However, Booker IV's dangerous life as a courier and dealings with criminal organizations like the Emerald Chain made him keep his distance from Malinne, who blamed him for leaving her behind.

Moll doesn't want Cleveland Booker in her life.

Moll became a courier like her father to do what he didn't and earn enough latinum to move to the Gamma Quadrant, but Moll's entire world shifted when she fell in love with L'ak and the Breen placed a blood bounty on their head s. Moll doesn't want Cleveland Booker in her life , but she relents when she has the chance to kill the man who took her father's name. Whether Moll will ever come to see Book as the "only family" she has left, the way Book sees her, remains to be seen.

Commander Rayner Got The Best Out Of USS Discovery's Crew

Citrus mash for everyone.

Captain Burnham left Commander Rayner at the conn of the USS Discovery while she and Book went on their away mission, despite Rayner's reservations about leading Burnham's crew. However, Rayner was impressed that Burnhum learned Kellerun literature to connect with her new First Officer. This knowledge was the key to Rayner saving Burnham from interdimensional space. Burnham used the ISS Enterprise's tractor beam to send a signal the Kellerun commander would understand.

Rayner gained a new appreciation for Discovery's crew and how to work with them as his own crew.

Commander Rayner placed his trust in the USS Discovery's crew to "science" a way to open the wormhole's aperture and pull the ISS Enterprise into the Prime Universe. Commander Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp). Lt. Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman), Ensign Adira Tal (Blu del Barrio), Lt. Commander Gen Rhys (Patrick Kwok-Choon), Lt. Christopher (Orville Cummings), Lt. Linus (David Benjamin Tomlinson), Lt. Naya (Victoria Sawal), Lt. Commander Asha (Christina Dixon), and Lt. Gallo (Natalie Liconti) all rose to the occasion and found a way to save Burnham and Book. In turn, Rayner gained a new appreciation for Discovery's crew and how to work with them as his own crew.

Dr. Culber Reaches Out To Tilly

Culber has questions science can't answer.

The USS Discovery's counselor, Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz), needs a counselor of his own. Culber continues to deal with the unimaginable experience of Trill scientist Jinaal Bix occupying his mind and body in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 3, "Jinaal." Being taken over by a Trill has left Culber with existential questions, and he hopes finding the Progenitors' technology will provide him with the answers he seeks.

Hugh finds a sympathetic ear in Lt. Sylvia Tilly.

Unfortunately for Hugh, he doesn't believe he can share his feelings with his husband, Commander Paul Stamets because Paul is a man of science, and Culber's questions are ineffable. Hugh finds a sympathetic ear in Lt. Sylvia Tilly, but the answers Dr. Culber seeks are tied to what the USS Discovery finds when they locate the Progenitors' treasure - or so Hugh hopes. Culber, who has already died and been resurrected, may find himself in a new scenario that has pivotal life-or-death decisions in Star Trek: Discovery season 5.

Dr. Hugh Culber's dilemma in Star Trek: Discovery season 5 is a rare attempt by Star Trek to address spiritual questions.

Where Star Trek: Discovery's Next Progenitors' Treasure Clue Leads

The next clue involves water.

Captain Burnham acquired the third clue from Moll and L'ak, which is a vial of water contained within a piece of the Progenitors' treasure map. Burnham is waiting for Commander Stamets to conduct a chemical analysis of the water, which will reveal where the USS Discovery must go next for the 4th clue . However, Michael told Book that Dr. Cho, the former Terran scientist who became a Starfleet Admiral, went back to the ISS Enterprise in interdimensional space and hid her clue to the Progenitors' technology there.

Michael also told Book she saw him in the past during Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 4, "Face the Strange's" time loops, and that they were happy back then.

Burnham and Book mused over the lessons attached to each clue. On Trill, finding Jinaal's clue was dependent on Burnham and Booker proving they value lifeforms other than their own. On Lyrek for the first clue, the lesson was the importance of cultural context. Michael surmised that the lesson Dr. Cho left behind with her clue on the ISS Enterprise was to have the hope to shape your own future in Star Trek: Discovery season 5 as the search for the Progenitors' treasure and the answers to life, itself, continues.

New episodes of Star Trek: Discovery season 5 stream Thursdays on Paramount+