Criteria for gertting into Starfleet - Enlisted and Cadets

[Crewman47]

After reading the post on Enlisted Basic training I was thinking, what is actually required to get into Starfleet? Assuming that most subjects taught in 23rd and 24th century High Schools, Colleges and Universities are more or less the same as what we have today then obviously if you have a goal of enlisting in Starfleet or going to the Academy then your specialty field would have to depend on what Subjects you do well in and what type of Grades you recieve. I'm also assuming that the minimum age for enlisting would be around 17 or 18 year olds and 18 to join the Academy.

So saying all this what would be the minimum requirement be for enlisting and what would qualify you to sign up for the Academy?

 

[Gotham Central]

Who the frak knows? TNG gives the impression that it is VERY difficult to get into the academy (illustrated by the fact that Wesley failed to get in on his first try). However DS9 and Voyager make the entry criteria seem far more reasonable.

 

[Timo]

Well, it might be quite difficult for a 15-year-old to get into the Academy...

And Wesley probably was aiming at a specific curriculum there, one that only accepts whiz kids of the highest caliber. Had he wanted, he might have taken an easier exam for a less challenging and less interesting Starfleet sub-career.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Deckerd]

We all know what happens to whiz kids. They get the Valiant and a barking mad Captain Kid.

 

[jamestyler]

This is a question that popped in my mind with a thread in the DS9 forum. I assume it comes down to personal choice. Almost every job in the Trek world (at least with the Humans) seems to be filled by people who want to do them.

I'd imagine someone who wanted a career as an officer would choose to follow that path, those who wanted to join but had no interest in being an officer would enlist.

I've recently been in touch about joining the RN and have the choice of being an officer because of my qualifications, I'd imagine you needed qualifications to join Starfleet, but there would be higher requirements and it'd be easier to get them.

 

[Dingo]

I assume for job placement for enlisted personnel there's something like the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) which prospective enlistees take to determine their aptitude for certain fields. For officers, I'm assuming class standing at Starfleet Academy as well as what track you choose determines where or what your first assignment will be or the nature of it.

 

[Mirror_Barclay]

Probably good grades in whatever subjects relate to the specialties you want to focus on, pass psychological screening... but with modern medical technology, it's likely very few would lack any required physical fitness standard.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Bar fights

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

As Nog found out, a prospective cadet who isn't from a Federation member world has to be sponsored by a command-level Starfleet officer (Sisko, in Nog's case) before being allowed to take Academy entrance exams.