Typical Rank Promotion Trajectory

[Captain Clark Terrell]

Starfleet officers who complete the traditional four-year Academy program graduate with the rank of ensign; other officers who attend specialized graduate programs (e.g., Command School, Medical School, Advanced Tactical Training) appear to have the opportunity to graduate with the rank of lieutenant (j.g.) (as evidenced by Dr. Bashir holding the rank upon matriculating to his first posting).

But how long do such officers hold these ranks before being promoted? I've heard several people indicate that a period of two-years is customary in the US Navy before an ensign may be promoted. Do similar regulations or practices exist within Starfleet?

 

[Kilana2]

I don´t know, interesting question. I think it depends on personal fitness, maturity and individual accomplishments. Some are slow with rising in rank, others are quickly promoted. T´Ryssa Chen is a bit slow in rising, but not out of the ordinary. Nog has obviously received a field promotion. And he quickly graduated from the Academy. I think this was part of the Show, to introduce Nog quickly as officer.

 

[STR]

If you get one the way I did, Lore, it means four years at the Academy, another three as ensign, ten or twelve on varied space duty in the lieutenant grades...

Data to Lore on the subject of the former's Lieutenant Commander uniform. From TNG: Datalore S1E13

 

[Captain Clark Terrell]

^Data was likely talking only about himself there, as there are several examples of officers reaching the rank of Lt. Commander or higher by their late-twenties/early-thirties. Appreciate the find, though.

--Sran

 

[DimesDan]

Starfleet officers who complete the traditional four-year Academy program graduate with the rank of ensign; other officers who attend specialized graduate programs (e.g., Command School, Medical School, Advanced Tactical Training) appear to have the opportunity to graduate with the rank of lieutenant (j.g.) (as evidenced by Dr. Bashir holding the rank upon matriculating to his first posting).

But how long do such officers hold these ranks before being promoted? I've heard several people indicate that a period of two-years is customary in the US Navy before an ensign may be promoted. Do similar regulations or practices exist within Starfleet?

Good question.

I have a question too, shouldn't this be in General Trek?

 

[Paul Weaver]

Vaughn took how long to become captain?

Nog on the other hand seemed to follow Kirk's velocity through the ranks, becoming a LtJG in about 4 years after starting as a cadet. He then stuck there though, and 10 years later he's still just assistant chief engineer of DS9

Ezri sped up pretty quickly too -- graduated a few months early as a LtJG, and was Captain 6 years later at the age of 27 -- the same age Bashir was when he started at DS9, and younger than Kirk was, and possibly younger than Tryla Scott.

Between the dominion war and the Borg, people graduating in the 2370+ era are probably bad examples of career progression though.

 

[The Wormhole]

Riker was already a full commander, XO of the flagship, and offered a promotion to captain within seven years after graduating the Academy.

 

[F. King Daniel]

"You can be an officer in four years; have your own ship in eight." - Pike, ST'09

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

With Stafleet doctors, I've always assumed they did four years pre-med at the Academy as a Cadet then four years at medical school as an Ensign, then after they finish their training they are promoted to Lieutenant JG when they become a fully qualified doctor.

 

[Paris]

Nog on the other hand seemed to follow Kirk's velocity through the ranks, becoming a LtJG in about 4 years after starting as a cadet. He then stuck there though, and 10 years later he's still just assistant chief engineer of DS9 ..

He may be the assistant chief in name, but he's got the rank of Lieutenant Commander. O'Brien is his mentor though, so it's probably just an odd/one-off situation within starfleet to have a high ranking officer being subordinate to a noncom.

 

[trekshark]

With Stafleet doctors, I've always assumed they did four years pre-med at the Academy as a Cadet then four years at medical school as an Ensign, then after they finish their training they are promoted to Lieutenant JG when they become a fully qualified doctor.

or they're a doctor before joining and graduate even higher than Lt, like McCoy (nuTrek McCoy at least, I don't know about original McCoy). I think that can happen in the US military too for people like doctors and lawyers

 

[nonbelligerency]

This is one thing that has always bothered me about Star Trek (any series). In reality, promotions do occur on a regular cycle (assuming the officer stays out of trouble). I don't have the specifics but it seemed like people didn't get promoted or barely did from older episodes to movies much later on.

 

[Captain Clark Terrell]

or they're a doctor before joining and graduate even higher than Lt, like McCoy (nuTrek McCoy at least, I don't know about original McCoy). I think that can happen in the US military too for people like doctors and lawyers

There definitely is a precedent for this in the US military; several of my classmates in medical school had military backgrounds and were promoted when we graduated.

--Sran

 

[20fridge]

or they're a doctor before joining and graduate even higher than Lt, like McCoy (nuTrek McCoy at least, I don't know about original McCoy). I think that can happen in the US military too for people like doctors and lawyers

There definitely is a precedent for this in the US military; several of my classmates in medical school had military backgrounds and were promoted when we graduated.

--Sran

In the US military, most medical students are commissioned as 2Lt (Army/Air Force) or Ensign (Navy), and upon graduation are immediately promoted to Captain (Army/Air Force) or Lt (Navy). They skip 1Lt (Army/Air Force) or Lt jg. (Navy). It's a pay grade thing. Doctors must be payed a particular minimum amount and the 1Lt/Lt jg pay grade is lower than that amount.

 

[Captain Clark Terrell]

^Cool. Thank you.

--Sran

 

[Enterprise1701]

In Myriad Universes - Brave New World, the Enterprise-D's chief science officer in 2378 is Lieutenant Commander A. Isaac, a Soong-type android. In the story's primary timeframe, he was only a little over 9 years old, but in this reality, where Soong-type androids became commonplace in the Federation, androids who entered Starfleet could simply download and incorporate Starfleet Academy instruction into their programming.

Between the dominion war and the Borg, people graduating in the 2370+ era are probably bad examples of career progression though.

Haha. In Children of the Storm, Chakotay and Eden have a discussion about that problem in relation to Admiral Batiste's machinations.

 

[Christopher]

In the US military, most medical students are commissioned as 2Lt (Army/Air Force) or Ensign (Navy), and upon graduation are immediately promoted to Captain (Army/Air Force) or Lt (Navy). They skip 1Lt (Army/Air Force) or Lt jg. (Navy). It's a pay grade thing. Doctors must be payed a particular minimum amount and the 1Lt/Lt jg pay grade is lower than that amount.

That must explain why the draftee doctors in M*A*S*H were all captains or above. I doubt Hawkeye or Trapper went to any kind of military academy.

 

[tomswift2002]

Between the dominion war and the Borg, people graduating in the 2370+ era are probably bad examples of career progression though.

That's a very valid point, as in times of War nations need the manpower more than the experience.

But considering that prior to the 2370's Kirk was the youngest Captain for decades, you've got to surmise that most people were not promoted to Captain until their 30's or 40's at the earliest.

 

[JD]

Ezri sped up pretty quickly too -- graduated a few months early as a LtJG, and was Captain 6 years later at the age of 27 -- the same age Bashir was when he started at DS9, and younger than Kirk was, and possibly younger than Tryla Scott.

I don't know if Ezri is a good example. She is a joined Trill with knowledge from one Starfleet career, and numerous other careers within the Trill's memories.

 

[Enterprise1701]

Between the dominion war and the Borg, people graduating in the 2370+ era are probably bad examples of career progression though.

That's a very valid point, as in times of War nations need the manpower more than the experience.

But considering that prior to the 2370's Kirk was the youngest Captain for decades, you've got to surmise that most people were not promoted to Captain until their 30's or 40's at the earliest.

Picard became Captain and commanding officer of the Stargazer when he was 28. And that's canonical.