Captain Kirk's Age

[CuttingEdge100]

It was established somewhere that Kirk was 34 when he assumed command of USS Enterprise... When was this established?

Was Kirk's age established in any part of TOS, or any statement about how many years he served in Star Fleet?

 

[Nerys Myk]

Kirk was 34 in "The Deadly Years". a second season episode. In the same episode Sulu mentions having served with Kirk for two years, making Kirk 32 when Sulu met him . Presumably he joined Starfleet at 18.

If Kirk took over directly from Pike, it was when he was about 30. I base this on Spock serving with Pike for 11 years and the events of "THe Cage" taking place 13 years prior to season 1.

 

[CuttingEdge100]

Nerys Myk,

It specifically said he was 34? (Just want to be absolutely clear)


CuttingEdge100

 

[Green Shirt]

Nerys Myk,

It specifically said he was 34? (Just want to be absolutely clear)


CuttingEdge100

Kirk himself stated he was 34, but he was under the influence of the aging disease at the time, so he may have been misremembering his age.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Since no one corrected him, I'm going to assume Kirk was correct.

 

[Neopeius]

Nerys Myk,

It specifically said he was 34? (Just want to be absolutely clear)


CuttingEdge100

Kirk himself stated he was 34, but he was under the influence of the aging disease at the time, so he may have been misremembering his age.

Though no one contradicted him, and they did when he misremembered the planet they were orbiting.

Shatner was 36 at the time, not that it means anything.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Nerys Myk,

It specifically said he was 34? (Just want to be absolutely clear)


CuttingEdge100

Kirk himself stated he was 34, but he was under the influence of the aging disease at the time, so he may have been misremembering his age.

Though no one contradicted him, and they did when he misremembered the planet they were orbiting.

Shatner was 36 at the time, not that it means anything.

 

[CuttingEdge100]

Was Captain Kirk supposed to be such a young age in "Where No Man Has Gone Before"? After all, his character was new, and was actually named James R. Kirk during that show...

32 y/o strikes me as a bit young for a guy commanding the biggest class of ship... Especially considering he served on several ships, taught at the Academy (mentioned in Where No Man Has Gone Before)

BTW: Didn't Jadzia Dax say that he was 34 when he got command of the Enterprise?

 

[Green Shirt]

Was Captain Kirk supposed to be such a young age in "Where No Man Has Gone Before"? After all, his character was new, and was actually named James R. Kirk during that show...

32 y/o strikes me as a bit young for a guy commanding the biggest class of ship... Especially considering he served on several ships, taught at the Academy (mentioned in Where No Man Has Gone Before)

BTW: Didn't Jadzia Dax say that he was 34 when he got command of the Enterprise?

This will all be explained next May.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Was Captain Kirk supposed to be such a young age in "Where No Man Has Gone Before"? After all, his character was new, and was actually named James R. Kirk during that show...

32 y/o strikes me as a bit young for a guy commanding the biggest class of ship... Especially considering he served on several ships, taught at the Academy (mentioned in Where No Man Has Gone Before)

BTW: Didn't Jadzia Dax say that he was 34 when he got command of the Enterprise?

We dont actually know how long Kirk was in command of the Enterprise in WNMHGB. The only "noob" on board was Dr Dehner. And Dehner, who probably reviewed crew bio as part of her assignment, mentions Mitchell and Spock serving together for years. I assume that was on the Enterprise and the current crew has been together for a couple of years.

We also dont know if the Enterprise is the biggest ship in the fleet. It's crew is only 300. Which is prety small when compare to a modern day aircraft carrier.

Kirk is supposed to be a "boy wonder" and rose in the ranks quickly. He would have been in the service over a decade by the time he hit 32.

 

[Gov Kodos]

Was Captain Kirk supposed to be such a young age in "Where No Man Has Gone Before"? After all, his character was new, and was actually named James R. Kirk during that show...

32 y/o strikes me as a bit young for a guy commanding the biggest class of ship... Especially considering he served on several ships, taught at the Academy (mentioned in Where No Man Has Gone Before)

BTW: Didn't Jadzia Dax say that he was 34 when he got command of the Enterprise?

We dont actually know how long Kirk was in command of the Enterprise in WNMHGB. The only "noob" on board was Dr Dehner. And Dehner, who probably reviewed crew bio as part of her assignment, mentions Mitchell and Spock serving together for years. I assume that was on the Enterprise and the current crew has been together for a couple of years.

We also dont know if the Enterprise is the biggest ship in the fleet. It's crew is only 300. Which is prety small when compare to a modern day aircraft carrier.

Kirk is supposed to be a "boy wonder" and rose in the ranks quickly. He would have been in the service over a decade by the time he hit 32.

Kirk also has a long list of decorations and commendations as detailed in "Coutmartial". From "The Trouble with Tribbles" we know that the Klingons and Federation were at war, or at least low level hostilities during the time of Kirk's early service. The the time of TTWT the battle of Donatu 5 had been fought in the region some 15 years prior (if I'm remembering right) and Kirk would have been a junior officer then. Where No Man Has Gone Before does have Kirk's service in Star Fleet going back that far.

While we don't know if Kirk was at Donatu 5 or other engagement of that time, it wouldn't be unreasonable to speculate that he may have and distinguished himself such that he gained rapid promotion as a military commander. Ceratinly Garth of Izar thought of Kirk so, and thought of Kirk as the only commander who was in his own calibur. (Yes, Garth's insane, but nothing indicates that it wa a lie or that Kirk was only playing along and Kirk's awards of valor seem to back it up.)

Wars promote good officers rapidly, especially combat officers. Assuming Kirk was involved in a lenthy time of combat situations, advancement to captain at so young an age and given a position of command on a ship like Enterprise might not be considered so very odd.

 

[USS Excelsior]

Then there's the suggestion that he has the record for the fastest promotion to the rank of Captain.

 

[Captain Robert April]

What we know about Kirk's age and service record:

First, our benchmark of Kirk's age of 34 in "The Deadly Years". Then, we have "Obsession", which establishes his service on the Farragut eleven years years previously, when he was a lieutenant (no mention if he was a full lieutenant or j.g.) under Captain Garrovick. This would put him at the age of 23, and would fits quite well with his statement that Garrovick was his captain from the day he left the Academy.
Where does this leave the incident on the Republic, when Kirk was an ensign? One of two possibilities come to mind:

1) Either Garrovick was also captain of the Republic, and when he transferred to the Farragut, Kirk did as well. Or,

2) Kirk was one of those wunderkind cadets who already attained the rank of ensign by his senior year, and graduated with the rank of lieutenant (j.g.), with the incident described in "Court Martial" taking place during the final training cruise prior to graduation.

As for the time as an instructor, the best time that makes sense for this is following the Farragut disaster.

I still haven't quite worked out how this pans out for Kirk having known Mitchell for fifteen years, but if there are any left over years, they can probably just be chalked up to Kirk knowing Mitchell prior to the entering the Academy (after all, Gary didn't say that he first met Kirk at SFA, just that he remembered what he was like back then).

 

[Trekwatcher]

I too recall that Kirk assumed command of the Enterprise at 30, but I am unsure of the source. The problem with taking Mitchell's comments at face value is that the series was still germinating in WNMHGB and between the 2nd pilot and the regular episodes there was room for Roddenberry et al to rethink things. While I agree they are canon, the events of WNMHGB have to be looked at from a certain perspective.

 

[Neopeius]

Wars promote good officers rapidly, especially combat officers. Assuming Kirk was involved in a lenthy time of combat situations, advancement to captain at so young an age and given a position of command on a ship like Enterprise might not be considered so very odd.

Indeed. James Gavin became a Major General at 37 during WW2.

 

[CuttingEdge100]

Trekwatcher,

Yeah, but the blond lab-technician thing came back in TWOK... and it was directly because Kirk was his (Gary Mitchell) instructor...


Neopeius,

Good point, I didn't realize there was a war going on...


BTW: In the TMP novel, did it ever say how old Kirk was specifically?

 

[Nerys Myk]

Trekwatcher,

Yeah, but the blond lab-technician thing came back in TWOK... and it was directly because Kirk was his (Gary Mitchell) instructor...


Neopeius,

Good point, I didn't realize there was a war going on...


BTW: In the TMP novel, did it ever say how old Kirk was specifically?

Not sure if anyone invoved with the writing or casting of TWOK recalled that line when casting Bibi Besch for the part of Carol Marcus.

 

[Captain Robert April]

Might be one of those happy accidents, but since Bennett screened every episode at least once before starting work on the movie, it may very well have been a deliberate linkage with Mitchell's line.

As for how old Kirk was in TMP, I don't recall a specific reference, but considering he hadn't logged a single star hour in two and a half years, I think it's a safe enough approach to just figure what his age was by the time of the end of the five year mission (36), then add on another three years from that point (pushing 40).

Seems a good time for a mid life crisis, doncha think?

 

[Nerys Myk]

Be interesting to see who else was up for the part.

 

[Captain Robert April]

Are we talking back in '65 or JJ's new attrocity?