Cadet Cadet was a military training rank for students in training to become officers . The rank was somewhat similar to midshipman . Starfleet . Cadet was a rank which was used at Starfleet Academy to denote students in training to become Starfleet officer s . The rank was used in the mid 23rd century throughout the late 24th century . ( ; ; ) For a time , specifically in the 2280s , the rank of cadet was superimposed ( if not outright replaced ) by the rank of midshipman . ( ) Becoming a Starfleet cadet was a difficult process and required a significant amount of academic achievement while in high school . Academy entrance standards were particularly high , especially in scientific and math disciplines ( such as calculus ) . Cadets were also expected to maintain a satisfactory grade point average during their attendance at the Academy . Getting bad grades was grounds for a cadet ' s revocation of appointment from the Academy , also known as " washing out " . ( ) Starfleet cadets were under the same uniform code of justice as Starfleet officers and were in turn subordinate to the orders of superiors . They were also required to report violations of Federation law they observed to their superiors . Cadets were also expected to show military courtesy and respect to senior commanders . In 2370 , after Wesley Crusher disrespected Commander s Data and Geordi La Forge and then further disobeyed a direct order from Captain Jean - Luc Picard , it was discussed that Wesley ' s appointment as a cadet might be revoked . ( ; ) " In the alternate reality , the final year cadets were hurriedly assigned to supplement the crew of several Federation ships , including the , upon learning of the attack on . A few cadets served as bridge crew on that ship , while stowaway Cadet was later promoted to acting first officer when captain had to leave the ship . He ultimately became acting captain after was proven to be emotionally compromised , and due to his actions in the Battle of Earth , Kirk was commissioned at the rank of captain upon his graduation , alongside the cadets who had served on the " Enterprise " , some of whom became part of his official crew . " ( ) Cadet uniforms . Starfleet cadets wore uniforms similar to Starfleet officers . Uniforms from the early 2250s consisted of a silvery metallic shirt worn with small starburst crest . By 2256 , at least some cadets serving on starships wore standard " Federation blue " Starfleet uniforms of that period , bearing a rectangular badge with the Starfleet delta in the foreground and four horizontal lines in the background . In the 2280 s , cadets wore enlisted - style jumpsuits with red - collared undershirts . " In the alternate reality , Starfleet cadets wore red duty / classroom uniforms , and blue - gray training uniforms in the 2250s . " ( ) < gallery caption = " Cadet uniforms ( 2250s / 2280s ) " > File : Finnegan jaunty . jpg File : Cadet uniform , 2256 . jpg File : Foster ( Cadet ) . jpg File : Starfleet Academy ( alternate ) main building . jpg File : James T . Kirk during the Kobayashi Maru scenario . jpg < / gallery > In the 2360 s , cadets also wore a type of collar insignia consisting of pips with the number of pips determining the class level of the cadet . ( ; ) By the 2370s , the use of rank pips by Starfleet cadets had apparently been discontinued . ( ) < gallery caption = " Cadet uniforms ( 2360s / 2370s ) " > File : Mitena haro . jpg File : Nicholas Locarno . jpg File : Riley Aldrin Shepard , 2372 . jpg File : Dorian Collins . jpg < / gallery > Bajor . The Bajoran Militia had some type of cadet program for those wishing to become militia officers . To become a Bajoran military officer , one first had to become a cadet at the Bajoran Military Academy . ( ) Appendices . Background information . A Starfleet cadet was first seen , albeit a recreation of one , in . Cadets were later seen in and . In , the Starfleet Academy students were all referred to as " midshipman " , however this may be explained by the students in question attending a higher level command track training where they had graduated from cadet status to become midshipmen . Several non - canon reference books , among them " " , attempt to explain the difference between cadet and midshipman as cadet being the standard training rank while midshipman is a rank for advanced command students .