Starfleet Academy General Studies

Starfleet Academy General Studies

Cadets are selected by a vigorous sequence of testing and selection that covers the full range of physical and psychological traits and skills. The testing from school age is taken into account for departmental selection, followed by all subsequent performances and testing right up to and including the testing for Academy entrance. The candidates linguistic, numerical, physical and mental abilities are all examined, along with the personality of the candidate. In order to select the candidate that is joining for the right reasons, if they are going to fit in and be happy in the life of a member of Starfleet and to ensure that the candidate will not only complete the training but be able to survive the pressures and dangers of deep space.

Candidates are given tours of all of their prospective departments and assignments in order that they may experience what it is that they are about to choose as a way of life, let alone a career. Having made sure that the candidate knows what is in store, the candidates are tested for final selection at the San Francisco campus. Candidates are given stringent medical and physical tests, coupled with interviews and an examination of their behaviour in the Starfleet environment. The successful candidate is selected shortly thereafter to arrive at the entrance school with their change of casual clothes ready for the training that lies ahead. In 2376, Starfleet opened other Basic Training facilities, to expand the Starlfeet Academy capacity. Cadets may now complete their first two years in 'remote study' schools on almost all major Starfleet worlds and bases. They may complete their final two years and any of Five main Campus locations, including San Francisco.

Upon arrival along with the other cadets in the same class, the cadet is given a bunk in the co-ed communal BEAST BARRACKS and is also measured up for and provided with their general all-purpose jump-suit and phys-ed clothing. By this time the cadet will know which branch that they have chosen as their career and will begin their four-year honours degree-equivalent course. All cadets will be together for the core course training which for the first 5 weeks will be the physical training. This is PLEBE training, and they are not known as 'cadets' until they complete it, and join the returning Corps of Cadets in five weeks, taking their oaths of office and receiving their rank pins.

Physical training at Starfleet Academy consists of long marches, gym work and a wide selection of sports. By the end of the four years, it is not uncommon for the cadet to be proficient in a dozen or more sports. Every year there is the Academy Marathon that takes place on Danula II, a hot, arid M-class planet within the Federation. During all of this initial physical exercise, the cadet is expected to familiarize themselves with the rules and regulations of the Starfleet and to learn how to keep their uniform and equipment in pristine condition. Cadets will regularly have their kit and quarters inspected in order to ensure that they learn discipline and the necessary mindset to perform their job at their best. At first glance, the initial training would not seem too dissimilar to the boot camps and military training facilities of 20th Century Earth, but this is due to the desired outcome of a well-disciplined and effective Starfleet Officer and the ancient military officers is not that different.

After the initial physical training, Starfleet Training Command must ascertain the leadership potential of the Officer Cadets. Although only the Command division cadets are initially going straight into command-oriented areas of operation, all Starfleet officers by definition must possess leadership skill and be able to use them in an effective manner.

From weeks 5 - 11 of the 1st year, Starfleet cadets are separated into 'flights' or squads of up to 10 cadets and assigned roomates in a barracks. Each of these flights will be under the supervision of an experienced 4th year cadet. This cadet will operate as their Cadet Commander and will supervise the next area of training which is the induction course on leadership. All styles of leadership are covered: autocratic, democratic and by committee. The strengths and weaknesses of all these styles will be discussed. This will lead onto time and personnel management tasks that will examine how well cadets can manage the resources at their disposal in the most effective manner. As the cadet becomes more experienced in the art of leadership, so the level of difficulty and intricacy of the tasks that they will be required to perform will increase. The exercises will move from the classroom to both the simulators and the external environment. Each exercise is monitored by the Flight commander and the instructors of the Academy. The cadets are fully briefed and de-briefed for each and every task and thorough and honest feedback provided on their performance. Constructive guidelines are also given to the cadets in order to highlight where and how they can improve their performance. Every opportunity is given for the cadet to demonstrate the skills they possess.

Week 12-13 sees the cadet given practical testing that thoroughly tests the leadership skills that they have been given over the last few weeks. The cadets will be placed in a field environment and given various leadership tasks to perform. The performance of the cadet will be vital at this stage, failure will almost certainly result in the cadet resitting the module and may well end the road for some cadets [33% of admited cadets withdraw from training in the first year at this point].

Weeks 14 - 17 see the cadets trained in general service knowledge. Basic Starfleet History, Starfleet Regulations as well as an overview of the Starfleet and it's place in the United Federation of Planets are given to the cadet in a series of lectures and seminars. The cadets also demonstrate their oral skills prowess by giving a presentation on the topic of their choice. Cadets are now encouraged to behave as junior officers, as opposed to cadets. Cadets by now will follow their own personal fitness routine, designed to best suit their individual needs.

All Cadets are required to take a core set of courses used to teach a number of skills. All Cadets are required to take these courses, regardless of their fields of study. If any of these courses are in a cadet's Major or Minor field of study, the higher requirement takes precedence.

The skills obtained from these core courses are as follows:

• Administration

• Weapons: Phasers

• Unarmed Combat (or specialized unarmed combat type)

• Computer Operation

• Computer Programming

• Electronics Operations: Sensors

• Electronics Operations: Transporters

• First Aid

• History: Federation

• Language: (Federation Standard)

• Language: (any non-native)

• Law: Federation

• Mathematics

• Physics

• Pilot: Shuttlecraft

• Starfleet Protocol

• Vacc Suit Operations

• Xenobiology: General

• Xenology: General

• Zero-G Operations

The fields to Major and Minor in are:

• Communications

• Counseling

• Engineering

• Helm/Navigation

• Intelligence

• Judge Advocate General

• Marines (Trained at Starfleet Marine Academy)

• Medicine

• Operations

• Science

• Security

At the end of the second year of Academy training, Cadets should choose a Major and Minor course of study from the above list. Following is the list of the skills taught within each field.