Nonsense with "Peak Performance"

[E.M. Ericson]

The majority of the episode is about a battle exercise. When Picard says, "Starfleet is not a military organisation. Its purpose is exploration", Riker follows with, "I prefer brains over brawn as well. I think it's a waste of effort to test our combat skills. It's a minor province in the make-up of a starship captain."

Later in the same episode, during Data's assessment of Riker's battle technique, which, apparently, is tested in the Academy, Troi asks, "What kind of a man is Commander Riker?" Data evaluates, "A fighter?", and Troi confirms, "Yes." He then adds, "The weaker his position, the more aggressive will be his posture."

If battle exercise is a required test in the Starfleet Academy, then, clearly, Starfleet does not think that combat skills are a "waste of effort" and a "minor province" in the make-up of a starship captain. Even the Kobayashi Maru scenario potentially involves combat.

The episode is even more nonsensical when you consider that the Enterprise-D comes with a dedicated battle bridge and phaser range, and is armed as a warship. We know it's armed as a warship when Picard compares it to a Romulan Warbird in "The Enemy" as "extremely powerful and destructive". In fact, when it comes to the ship's design and arsenal, clearly, combat is a major province and priority. If it weren't, then the Federation would not keep sending the Galaxy-class ships to war fronts.

 

[Armus]

In retrospect Riker's comments don't reflect the reality that combat tactics are an important part of Starfleet training. The only problem that I have with this episode is how Worf is able to fool the Ferengi sensors. Didn't he need the Ferengi command codes in order to do that?

 

[JirinPanthosa]

TNG always picks the diplomatic solution over the combat solution when one is available. It does seem odd they would not think combat training is necessary.

To me the oddest thing about the solution is that they had no kill button to end the simulation if hostile ships entered the area.

 

[The Wormhole]

To me the oddest thing about the solution is that they had no kill button to end the simulation if hostile ships entered the area.

Actually, the Enterprise at least had the ability to re-engage their real weapons, it was damaged when the Ferengi attacked.

 

[Paradise City]

Picard's and Riker's hyperRoddenberry rhetoric is trowled on a little thicker than is warranted. But Starfleet does like to position itself as a science and exploration outfit with a secondary but nevertheless potent defense role to fall back on. It's all part of the Federation ethos.

I also think that Starfleet is moving at a point in its history, where things are finally comfortable, a new era of galactic peace is apparently at hand with only a few enemies in the first season or so. Romulans were in hiding for decades, the Cardassians had been subdued and peace with the Klingons has long been in the bag. So they are a little cocky over eschewing the military role. But all this changes with the borg and so a darker more sober atmosphere emerges placing greater stress on being well armed. The Defiant - which is peculiar as its a specific battleship and Starfleet doesn't like battleships - is designed around this time.

 

[Vger23]

Yes...but is Starfleet a MILLITARY? and, if so, do they pay their officers MONEY??

 

[E.M. Ericson]

Starfleet does like to position itself as a science and exploration outfit with a secondary but nevertheless potent defense role to fall back on.

Despite some contradictory dialogue, Starfleet has always been the Federation's military force as its primary purpose. This is why it always patrols along the neutral zones where they exist.

But all this changes with the borg and so a darker more sober atmosphere emerges placing greater stress on being well armed.

It doesn't make sense because the Enterprise-D was already well armed before the Borg first appeared. Starfleet did not stop its patrol of the neutral zones. The episode focuses on a battle exercise, with no mention of the armament upgrades.

The Defiant - which is peculiar as its a specific battleship and Starfleet doesn't like battleships - is designed around this time.

The Enterprise-D gets assessed as a battleship in "Conundrum", and Picard calls it "extremely powerful and destructive" in "The Enemy". Clearly, Starfleet likes building and arming its exploration vessels as warships.

Yes...but is Starfleet a MILLITARY? and, if so, do they pay their officers MONEY??

Considering that it is a heavily armed force that always patrols along the neutral zones and fights the Federation's wars, it is a military by its actions, despite some contradictory statements.

A line of dialogue by Lieutenant Vincent DeSalle in "Catspaw" states, "Maybe we can't break it, but I'll bet you credits to navy beans we can put a dent in it." This indicates that Starfleet members likely get paid in credits, with no physical money involved.

Technically, any Starfleet officer deemed a dissident by the Federation could get their finances completely frozen with no fallback.

 

[Timo]

One might interpret Picard and Riker's objection as being specifially aimed against repetitive and meaningless drills. We could see this as professional pride: these two soliders already know how to fight as per the field manual, and take offense in any suggestion to the contrary.

This particular exercise is not about utilizing and honing standard Starfleet fighting skills, though - it's about coping with extremely asymmetric fighting situations, which is what Starfleet needs in order to survive the Borg. It's for that reason that Riker's team is asked to defeat Starfleet's heaviest combat asset with an outdated and hobbled hulk of a ship: Starfleet isn't intending to reactivate its old Constellations, it's trying to make its officers capable of turning rotten lemons into prime champagne. Which is why Picard and Riker can gripe and then proceed anyway.

There's one other instance in the prime universe where "the military" is indicated to be what the Starfleet is not - ENT "The Expanse". This would be acceptable if "the Military" means what it used to mean until very recently: the opposite of "the Navy". The Military engages in constant meaningless drills of its conscripts, the Navy fights with professional skill. The Military gets funding only in preparation for war, the Navy gets constant funding through peacetime lest its ships rot and sink. During its idle hours the Military gets disbanded or ravages the countryside, during its idle hours the Navy explores, surveys, supplies and supports the nation's overseas economic and political ambitions. Naturally, Picard or Archer wants to be associated with the latter rather than the former.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[E.M. Ericson]

One might interpret Picard and Riker's objection as being specifially aimed against repetitive and meaningless drills. We could see this as professional pride: these two soliders already know how to fight as per the field manual, and take offense in any suggestion to the contrary.

No, the dialogue does not support such an interpretation:

KOLRAMI: [. . .] Captain Picard, it is my understanding that you initially resisted Starfleet's request for this simulation.
PICARD: Yes.
KOLRAMI: May I know why?
PICARD: Starfleet is not a military organisation. Its purpose is exploration.
KOLRAMI: Then why am I here?
PICARD: With the Borg threat, I decided that my officers and I needed to hone our tactical skills. In a crisis situation, it is prudent to have several options.
RIKER: I prefer brains over brawn as well. I think it's a waste of effort to test our combat skills. It's a minor province in the make-up of a starship captain.​

This particular exercise is not about utilizing and honing standard Starfleet fighting skills, though - it's about coping with extremely asymmetric fighting situations, which is what Starfleet needs in order to survive the Borg. It's for that reason that Riker's team is asked to defeat Starfleet's heaviest combat asset with an outdated and hobbled hulk of a ship: Starfleet isn't intending to reactivate its old Constellations, it's trying to make its officers capable of turning rotten lemons into prime champagne. Which is why Picard and Riker can gripe and then proceed anyway.

Well, Picard explicitly states, "I decided that my officers and I needed to hone our tactical skills. In a crisis situation, it is prudent to have several options." It sounds like he is referring to tactical skills in general.

There's one other instance in the prime universe where "the military" is indicated to be what the Starfleet is not - ENT "The Expanse". This would be acceptable if "the Military" means what it used to mean until very recently: the opposite of "the Navy". The Military engages in constant meaningless drills of its conscripts, the Navy fights with professional skill. The Military gets funding only in preparation for war, the Navy gets constant funding through peacetime lest its ships rot and sink. During its idle hours the Military gets disbanded or ravages the countryside, during its idle hours the Navy explores, surveys, supplies and supports the nation's overseas economic and political ambitions. Naturally, Picard or Archer wants to be associated with the latter rather than the former.

The Navy has been formally regarded as one of the military branches for quite a while. Just like other branches, it conducts regular training and exercises, including battle scenarios. For example, you can check the U.S. Navy schedule for "Training and Exercise Initiatives".

Wanting to associate with the Navy does not make it any less of a military. Besides, the episode's dialogue refers to a battle exercise and combat skills, which do not exclude the Navy. Therefore, Picard's and Riker's statements still do not make any sense.

 

[Herbert]

TNG always picks the diplomatic solution over the combat solution when one is available. It does seem odd they would not think combat training is necessary.

Considering how much conflict the Federation has had with other Alpha Quadrant races, why wouldn't they think combat training is necessary? Seems short sighted if they have become complacent by peace.
Besides, if Starfleet was purely an organization of exploration they wouldn't have built a fleet bristling with weapons.

 

[Herbert]

The majority of the episode is about a battle exercise. When Picard says, "Starfleet is not a military organisation. Its purpose is exploration", Riker follows with, "I prefer brains over brawn as well. I think it's a waste of effort to test our combat skills. It's a minor province in the make-up of a starship captain."

.

Riker's comments don't make a whole lot of sense. While it's clear that Picard is a thinker and a diplomat at heart, Riker always came across as a fighter.

 

[Timo]

The Navy has been formally regarded as one of the military branches for quite a while.

And imaging has been conducted without "plates" that need to be "developed" in a "lab" for quite a while, too. Trek in many instances features a return to abandoned and forgotten terminology; this could simply be one of those.

Wanting to associate with the Navy does not make it any less of a military.

Except if the two words are mutually exclusive, just as they used to be. Basically, just substitute "Army" where the heroes say "Military", and you have your classic interservices rivalry from today. And then go back a few centuries to meet Horatio Hornblower and his version of the Navy to get an optimal match for what Starfleet does for a living.

Besides, the episode's dialogue refers to a battle exercise and combat skills, which do not exclude the Navy. Therefore, Picard's and Riker's statements still do not make any sense.

This is an exercise of making them make sense, though. Kirk conducted drills on his phaser crews; Starfleet never conducted drills on Kirk (even though it once used his ship for an exercise Kirk himself had to watch from the substitutes' bench). Perhaps Picard at first felt Starfleet was imposing a mindless drill on him, and for that reason protested; when he learned the simulation was not going to be a mindless drill after all, but something that would actually help with the combat skills of his top officers, he withdrew his protest.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Prax]

It's too soon!

No, the dialogue does not support such an interpretation:

KOLRAMI: [. . .] Captain Picard, it is my understanding that you initially resisted Starfleet's request for this simulation.
PICARD: Yes.
KOLRAMI: May I know why?
PICARD: Starfleet is not a military organisation. Its purpose is exploration.
KOLRAMI: Then why am I here?
PICARD: With the Borg threat, I decided that my officers and I needed to hone our tactical skills. In a crisis situation, it is prudent to have several options.
RIKER: I prefer brains over brawn as well. I think it's a waste of effort to test our combat skills. It's a minor province in the make-up of a starship captain.​

Well, Picard explicitly states, "I decided that my officers and I needed to hone our tactical skills. In a crisis situation, it is prudent to have several options." It sounds like he is referring to tactical skills in general.



The Navy has been formally regarded as one of the military branches for quite a while. Just like other branches, it conducts regular training and exercises, including battle scenarios. For example, you can check the U.S. Navy schedule for "Training and Exercise Initiatives".

Wanting to associate with the Navy does not make it any less of a military. Besides, the episode's dialogue refers to a battle exercise and combat skills, which do not exclude the Navy. Therefore, Picard's and Riker's statements still do not make any sense.

Required reading:
https://www.trekbbs.com/threads/starfleet-is-a-space-navy-military-fleet.286724/
Don't worry, there's only 50 pages or so.

 

[fireproof78]

tl:dr-It's both.

/thread.

 

[The Wormhole]

is Starfleet a MILLITARY?

Nah, Starfleet's an armed uniform service with rank structure and martial discipline responsible for fighting wars and defending its nation state. But not a military, because of Gene's Vision and Almighty Canon.

 

[Prax]

 

[Tenacity]

Picard says, "Starfleet is not a military organisation.

And yet it was Picard's superiors at Starfleet who sent the Enterprise to a war game.

Apparently they know something about Starfleet that Picard doesn't.

 

[fireproof78]

And yet it was Picard's superiors at Starfleet who sent the Enterprise to a war game.

Apparently they know something about Starfleet that Picard doesn't.

He thought it was a paintball match.

 

[Space Coast]

He thought it was a paintball match.

No, he thought they were going to play Axis & Allies.

 

[Paradise City]

Despite some contradictory dialogue, Starfleet has always been the Federation's military force as its primary purpose. This is why it always patrols along the neutral zones where they exist.

Formally Starfleet is for science, exploration and diplomacy with defence as an important but secondary competent. The Federation doesn't position itself as a brute empire with a brute military. It's got its own unique ethos or "market" it presumes to corner for itself as the sole enlightened galactic "big power" state..

Realpolitik, however, Starfleet is the defence force of the Federation of course. Starfleet plays a little slight of hand between the ethos it projects for itself and the realpolitik of what it actually does. That's my contention.

]It doesn't make sense because the Enterprise-D was already well armed before the Borg first appeared. Starfleet did not stop its patrol of the neutral zones. The episode focuses on a battle exercise, with no mention of the armament upgrades.

Of course it makes sense to be well armed in its defence duties (which I ever denied it performed and is moreover a neccesary role to be fit for purpose for) , to be well armed if diplomacy breaks down, to be well armed, so that if in the course of their exploration they met new hostiles that they can hold their own against.

The Enterprise-D gets assessed as a battleship in "Conundrum", and Picard calls it "extremely powerful and destructive" in "The Enemy". Clearly, Starfleet likes building and arming its exploration vessels as warships.

It's like what Q said in Q Who. Exploration is not just pegging flowers about, "met n' greets' with new alien pals. It's a tough and bloody galaxy out there and you go out with some fangs ready to deploy should some new belligerent or other demand this response. There's nothing to say that exploration means you need to put yourself out there as an easy mark.

Considering that it is a heavily armed force that always patrols along the neutral zones and fights the Federation's wars, it is a military by its actions, despite some contradictory statements.

I actually don't disagree with this statement here. That said, this "warship" spends a heckuvalot time idling around chartin' "gaseous anamolies" and all that rig morroll.

But leaving that aside I do think numerically speaking, given how large the Federation must be, Starfleet must have the bulk of its fleet patrolling the frontier particularily given how belligerent almost all of the Federation's rivals are.

I also think that much depends on the political temperature of the galaxy at particular stages in Federation history. Some eras Starfleet is safe enough from threats, science, exploration flourishes, at other points where the Feds are menaced by numerous powers, exploration is neglected and defence comes to the fore.

But I think through it all (with the notable exception of Yesterday's Enterprise were exploration is a distant memory and everything without qualification is warship, warship, warship) Starfleet does stress its ethos of science and exploration because Starfleet is the arm that respresents the Federation the most and that's the animating ethos that distinguishes the Federation from the totalitarian powers in the galaxy at that time.

One might modify Roosevelt's descriptor of America as the "Arsenal of Democracy" and describe Starfleet as the "Arsenal of Exploration and Diplomacy".