From: wmorgan@stsci.edu (Windsor A. Morgan)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.misc
Subject: Re: Starfleet Doctors and the Academy
Date: 27 Jul 92 15:14:22 GMT
Organization: Space Telescope Science Institute


>>> In article <1992Jul20.124014.57351@cc.usu.edu> sll28@cc.usu.edu (LORNA_PAYNE) replies:
>>>>[in all fairness it must be admitted that SFA seems to be much more than 
>>>>a military university:  very few MD's in the Army are West Point graduates,
>>>>but all Starfleet MD's seem to have attended the Acadamy.  Perhaps for a 
>>>>year after med school?]

>> In article <1992Jul21.162933.3738@stsci.edu>, wmorgan@stsci.edu (Windsor A. Morgan) asks:
>>> Why do you say that all Starfleet MD's seem to have attended the
>>> Academy?

>>> I can imagine *some* Starfleet MDs attended the academy, but the two
>>> main doctors we have had "access" to don't seem to have attended, in
>>> my opinion.

>In article <1992Jul24.134758.19350@yang.earlham.edu>, alexv@yang.earlham.edu writes:
>>   Quite the contrary, Bevery Crusher has demonstrated more than once that
>> she is a starfleet grad.  She has shruged off Worf's protection more than
>> once refering to starfleet training in using a phaser.  Also she has 
>> demonstrated Starfleet training in the martial arts, as has been said that
>> 'everyone' on board the enterprise either knows, or is learning (except in
>> rare cases, such as children).  Even Troi, who is a civilian, has had
>> basic training in use of a phaser, and self-defence.  Not SF training, but 
>> basic(by Worf, which is probably better if not as good).  
>> On top of that, I believe that Beverly has mentioned more than once the
>> 'life she choose' by joining the academy.

I can imagine that Dr. Crusher and Troi were trained in self defense
at some point in their careers; "Starfleet training" does not
necessarily mean "Starfleet Academy", of course.

I think Dr. Crusher "chose her life" by joining Starfleet, not
Starfleet Academy.


>> p.s. McCoy I hold no opinion on, I haven't seen old trek in ages...

In article <1992Jul26.200101.11901@miavx1.acs.muohio.edu> scduncan@miavx1.acs.muohio.edu (Sean C. Duncan, Idiot) writes:
>Well, Bev, Bones, Troi and Pulaski have all been explicitly mentioned as being
>*Lt. Cmdr.s*.  This is a comiisioned rank, and I assume that they would have
>to go to the academy for that.

Well, there could have been something akin  to the US armed forces'
Reserve Officer Training Corps.  Furthermore, Drs. Crusher and Pulaski
are both full Commanders, not Lieutenant Commanders; McCoy and Troi
are Lieutenant Commanders, as you state.

>There has been nothing in either series that has shown comissioned officers
>that have not gone to SFA, so until an episode says otherwise, I think we
>have to assume that all of them went through the Academy.

But I agree there has been nothing which has demonstrated the
existence of the Fed's equivalent of the ROTC.  However, the absence
of evidence does not mean that it does not exist -- and that Dr.
Crusher did that.

Also, there could have been something in which "professionals"
(medical doctors, scientists, etc.) were commissioned without benefit
of going through the Academy or the (hyposthetical) ROTC.

>(Also, as a side note, Troi seems the least likely of all of the above to
>have attended SFA, because of her demeanor and general lack of militaryness.
>But, remember, in "Disaster," she gets control of the bridge, as ranking
>officer.  If her rank were some kind of "honorary" rank or something, I 
>would assume that Ro would have been much more adamant in taking control
>of the situation over letting Troi handle it.  Just MHO).

I think that Dr. Crusher shows an almost equal lack of "militaryness".


-- 
'Verily, there be no leader as wise as the Vision!'
                         Windsor Morgan (wmorgan@stsci.edu OR NHT@PSUVM.BITNET)
                         Space Telescope Science Institute
                         Baltimore, MD   21218