Unlocking the Secrets of Star Trek's Promotion System: Climb the Ranks in Starfleet

Summary

Starfleet is a military organization with a rank structure similar to the US and Royal Navy, reflecting its military roots.

Promotions in Star Trek are awarded based on outstanding performance and bravery demonstrated in the course of their duties, with instances of field promotions being granted in exceptional situations.

Starfleet officers commence their professional journey as cadets enrolled at Starfleet Academy, where they partake in a variety of subjects and actively participate in extracurricular endeavors.

While countless individuals aspiring to join Starfleet envision themselves as future commanders, they must first diligently chart their course through the rank structure of Star Trek. Although Starfleet prides itself on exploration and diplomacy, at its core, it remains a military organization, and its command structure reflects this reality. The fundamental framework of Starfleet closely parallels that of the US and Royal Navy, with the vast expanse of deep space replacing the open seas.

In Star Trek, promotions typically serve as recognition for exceptional achievements, with many Starfleet officers ascending in rank due to acts of valor and bravery demonstrated in the line of duty. On occasion, unique circumstances may warrant a field promotion for Starfleet officers, as exemplified by the Maquis officers in Star Trek: Voyager. However, every Starfleet journey must commence somewhere, and for most, their first step begins with an application to Starfleet Academy.

10 Cadet

Every officer's career starts at Starfleet Academy, where prospective recruits enroll as cadets. Starfleet Cadets spend four to eight years at the Academy, depending on their program, where they study a variety of subjects. At Starfleet Academy, cadets have the opportunity to explore subjects such as Warp Theory, Robotics, Quantum Chemistry, and even participate in the legendary Kobayashi Maru simulation. Moreover, the Academy offers a range of extracurricular activities that contribute to their overall development. Notably, renowned Cadets like Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) have assisted Starfleet Academy groundskeeper Boothby (Ray Walston) in tending to the roses. Additionally, the Nova Squadron's triumph in the Rigel Cup remains etched in history, although it was overshadowed by the unfortunate accident that had a profound impact on Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton).

9 Ensign

Upon graduating from Starfleet Academy, a Cadet takes on their first assignment as an Ensign aboard a starship. This initial role is considered the most junior position, typically involving less glamorous tasks on the assigned starship. In the series Star Trek: Lower Decks, these responsibilities have included menial duties such as maintaining holodeck filters and documenting peculiar and intriguing alien artifacts. However, not all Ensigns are relegated to lower-tier assignments. Ensign Nyota Uhura (played by Celia Rose Gooding) plays a vital role in maintaining the connections of the USS Enterprise in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, while Ensign Harry Kim (portrayed by Garrett Wang) proves integral to devising solutions for the USS Voyager to return home to the Alpha Quadrant.

8 Lieutenant Junior Grade

7 Lieutenant

Lieutenant junior grade, denoted by the additional black and gold pip on the collar, is the next rank for an Ensign. Referred to as a Lieutenant JG, notable junior grade lieutenants include Reginald Barclay (played by Dwight Schultz), an incredibly intelligent but painfully shy engineer. Dr. Julian Bashir (played by Alexander Siddig) was also a JG, and his early arrogance suggested that he purposely chose to be a lieutenant junior grade in order to focus on frontier medicine. There have been hints that the characters from Star Trek: Lower Decks will be promoted to JG in season 4, which would make them the most noteworthy Lieutenant Junior Grades in modern Trek.

Upon receiving a promotion to Lieutenant, the black and gold pip of the JG transforms into a fully gold pip, signifying the added duties and responsibilities assumed. In the Star Trek universe, lieutenants often hold positions of authority over different departments aboard their assigned starship. Take, for instance, Lieutenant Worf (Michael Dorn), who served as the head of security on the USS Enterprise-D, or Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton), who was promoted to Lieutenant in order to replace four Enterprise engineers during the second season of Star Trek: The Next Generation. In both The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Lieutenants held the humblest rank among the senior staff, yet their valuable insights and contributions were sought after when addressing any challenges faced by the crew. A departure from this norm can be seen with Ensign Harry Kim (Garrett Wang) from Star Trek: Voyager, as he had the unique privilege of participating in various command meetings.

6 Lieutenant Commander

5 Commander

Lieutenant Commanders were responsible for leading divisions or serving as second-in-command on their assigned starships. They were addressed as "Commander" by their subordinates or senior officers. To distinguish them, Lieutenant Commanders wore an additional black pip on their collar, which would be replaced by a gold one upon their next promotion. In the 23rd Century of the Star Trek universe, Lieutenant Commander Una Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romijn) served as the second-in-command on the USS Enterprise before being succeeded by Lieutenant Commander Spock (Leonard Nimoy). However, the role of Lieutenant Commanders changed by the time of Star Trek: The Next Generation. They were now assigned as the Number One on smaller ships, as seen with Lieutenant Commander Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) on the USS Saratoga.

Commander, the final step on the Starfleet career ladder before assuming the captain's chair, holds a position of great seniority on any starship, serving as the acting captain when necessary. In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Commander held the highest rank until season 3, when Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) earned his promotion in recognition of his outstanding efforts in uncovering the Dominion threat and guiding Bajor in its transition to independence from Cardassian rule. Despite the focus on the Captain characters in Star Trek, Commander did not hinder the ability to lead a show, as demonstrated by both Sisko and Commander Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) in Star Trek: Discovery. Notably, Commander William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes) found more fulfillment in his role as the second-in-command aboard the Federation flagship than in captaining a less renowned starship.

4 Captain

Captain of a starship is a coveted position among Starfleet officers, bestowed upon those who command their own starships. Holding this rank entails immense responsibilities towards the safety of the crew and adherence to Starfleet's Prime Directive. The title of Captain is not limited to commanding the starship alone; it can also be applied to other roles like Captain of Engineering, occupied by Montgomery Scott (James Doohan) in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. Typically, being a Captain affords the highest level of authority while allowing for the freedom to explore the depths of space and engage in thrilling adventures. This freedom is so valued that Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) cautioned Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) against accepting a promotion to Admiral in Star Trek Generations. Regrettably, Picard chose to disregard this warning later on.

3 Vice Admiral

The rank of Vice Admiral lies between Captain and Starfleet Admiral, and is indicated by three pips on a black and gold bar badge on the collar. One well-known holder of this rank is Vice Admiral Kathryn Janeway (played by Kate Mulgrew), who received her promotion after commanding the USS Voyager through the Delta Quadrant. However, even as a Vice Admiral, Janeway still had to answer to someone, as depicted in her clashes with Admiral Edward Jellico (played by Ronny Cox) in the first season of Star Trek: Prodigy. Going back to the early days of deep space exploration, we encounter the notable Vice Admiral Maxwell Forrest (played by Vaughn Armstrong) from the 22nd Century, who maintained regular contact with Captain Jonathan Archer (played by Scott Bakula) in Star Trek: Enterprise. Acting as a mediator between Starfleet and the Vulcans, Forrest played a crucial role in those early ventures into the vastness of space.

2 Admiral

1 Other Notable Starfleet Ranks

The Royal Navy's highest position is Admiral, but Starfleet has a higher rank known as Fleet Admiral, which was held by Elizabeth Shelby (played by Elizabeth Dennehy) in Season 3 of Star Trek: Picard. A Starfleet Admiral is responsible for issuing orders to their officers as situations arise. Some notable Starfleet Admirals include Robert April (played by Adrian Holmes), who oversees his former command, the USS Enterprise, and Owen Paris (played by Richard Herd), who supervised the Pathfinder Project that established long-range communications with the USS Voyager in the Delta Quadrant. Afterwards, Jean-Luc Picard became the Admiral of the Romulan rescue armada to respond to an impending supernova. However, he resigned his commission in protest against the Federation's decision to abandon the evacuation and its ideals.

In addition to

, Starfleet officers can also attain sideways promotions like Fleet Captain and Commodore. Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) earned his Fleet Captain promotion in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds while overseeing the Deuterium refinery project. This temporary promotion granted Pike overall authority over both the USS Enterprise and USS Farragut for the duration of the project. Similarly, Starfleet Commodores hold overarching responsibility for multiple starships, with Geordi La Forge achieving this position through his appointment as curator of the Athan Prime Fleet Museum.

In addition, there are NCO roles that hold lower ranks. Unlike conventional methods such as training academies, these NCOs traditionally ascend the ranks through their own efforts. One prominent NCO in Star Trek is Chief Miles O'Brien (played by Colm Meaney) from Star Trek: The Next Generation, who assumes the role of engineering head on Deep Space Nine and is reputedly the most significant figure in Starfleet history. Another notable NCO position is the Warrant Officer, granted to Dal R'El (portrayed by Brett Gray) and his youthful crew by Vice Admiral Janeway in Star Trek: Prodigy.