stephenson
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Medical officer[ss:Borg]
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Post by stephenson on Jul 31, 2011 9:08:35 GMT -6
I'm just wondering because in certain aspects the chief medical officer out ranks the captain like if the captain is under stress or ill the medical officer can relieve the captain of command temporarily so could they in theory either be elevated to captain rank in the even of all senior staff being incapacitated or incarcerated or just being promoted to the command of a starship
this is my first question and i really hope it makes sense
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Atoz 77
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Post by Atoz 77 on Aug 1, 2011 7:43:16 GMT -6
The question makes sense but no. There is a huge difference beteen Command officers and Support officers. That's why Command wears those distinctive red uniforms. Support officers (Medical, Engineering, Sciences, Communications, Security) are specialists in a particular area. Command officers have to know a little bit of everything to command a ship effectively. That's why you saw Wesley Crusher sometimes at the helm, and sometimes taking a turn in Engineering. Presumably he also spent time at Stellar Cartography, Security, and other places. If EVERYBODY was out of commission, a doctor might end up in command, but it would be because there was literally no one else.
But I'd like to stress that this is only my impression. Feel free to dispute it.
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stephenson
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Medical officer[ss:Borg]
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Post by stephenson on Aug 1, 2011 13:47:30 GMT -6
ohhhh ok thanks its just a strange thought i had and do you mind if i personal message you a couple of questions so i dont sound like a dummy on here?
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Luke
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Post by Luke on Aug 6, 2011 8:05:04 GMT -6
Course there was the time Dr. Crusher took command of the Enterprise. Hey, you're a VOY fan, right? Are you thinking about the EMH being promoted to Captain? That would be a little strange, wouldn't it?
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stephenson
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Medical officer[ss:Borg]
Posts: 36
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Post by stephenson on Aug 7, 2011 11:58:28 GMT -6
i didnt know that ive only started watching TNG again and it would be nice to see the EMH with some rank pips hehe
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Atoz 77
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Post by Atoz 77 on Aug 8, 2011 7:38:57 GMT -6
Dr. Crusher was a special case, sort of. You can tell by the way she handled the ship that she had apparently taken some tactical training somewhere. Maybe she was getting tired of mending injuries people got in the holodeck and was looking for a new challenge!
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stephenson
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Medical officer[ss:Borg]
Posts: 36
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Post by stephenson on Aug 9, 2011 11:02:29 GMT -6
sounds like a good a theory as any for now hehe:)
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Fairhavenmaiden
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You know the routine. Girl meets boy, girl modifies boy?s subroutines. [ss:Starfleet]
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Post by Fairhavenmaiden on Dec 18, 2012 8:03:57 GMT -6
Maybe not a Chief Medical Officer because they already have a commission but a doctor can be a captain. All of the Captains have different backgrounds. For example Janeway was a Physicist and Picard was an Anthropologist I think.
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Luke
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Post by Luke on Dec 18, 2012 11:38:54 GMT -6
Yeah that's true. But they also had to take command training in addition. Like Bev Crusher did.
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Fairhavenmaiden
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Post by Fairhavenmaiden on Dec 21, 2012 9:38:14 GMT -6
They would also probably have to go to training to be a Captain as well.
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Atoz 77
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Post by Atoz 77 on Dec 28, 2012 8:41:38 GMT -6
True, captains can come from all different kinds of backgrounds. It depends on the individual. From what I saw of the EMH for example, I don't think he'd make a good captain. But that's okay because I don't think Janeway would have made a good doctor.
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Spock
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Post by Spock on Dec 28, 2012 9:10:06 GMT -6
The EMH was programmed with 1000's of many different ideas and solutions from all captains from the federation, but having an EMH as a captain would not be a good idea, because a computer can't think for themselves or go on instincts, and sometimes that makes a big difference. Counselor Troi from TNG was also given bridge training too even though she was just a counselor, so since Dr. Crusher holds the rank of LT. Commander, I believe she has every right to command a ship if necessary. The only reason in that episode that Crusher took command was because there was no other officers to do it
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Fairhavenmaiden
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You know the routine. Girl meets boy, girl modifies boy?s subroutines. [ss:Starfleet]
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Post by Fairhavenmaiden on Dec 31, 2012 13:31:48 GMT -6
True, captains can come from all different kinds of backgrounds. It depends on the individual. From what I saw of the EMH for example, I don't think he'd make a good captain. But that's okay because I don't think Janeway would have made a good doctor. He was not programmed to be a captain. He added those sub-routines after the fact. Emergency Command Hologram
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Fairhavenmaiden
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Post by Fairhavenmaiden on Dec 31, 2012 13:35:12 GMT -6
Counselor Troi from TNG was also given bridge training too even though she was just a counselor, so since Dr. Crusher holds the rank of LT. Commander, I believe she has every right to command a ship if necessary. The only reason in that episode that Crusher took command was because there was no other officers to do it Counselor Troi was hooorrrible in command of the ship in that episode. I thought Ro Laren was going to knock her out before it was over.
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Akira
Lt. Commander
.....I'm a Towel?[ss:Solar Flare]
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Post by Akira on Nov 10, 2013 15:47:36 GMT -6
A medical officer can become captain of her own vessel. Medical ships are captained by doctors attached to Starfleet and not standard Starfleet Command officers.
Also a Chief medical officer; Engineer even councilor and such can take command of the bridge if he or she is senior in rank at a time of incapacity or death of those higher in rank.
The ship is commanded by the person of highest rank. I would presume one departmental type would outweigh others in priority if say two officers of rank Lt. Commander but of two departments I've no idea which of the two would be next in line to command the ship.
Also to actually command the bridge when his or her seniors are off duty an exam must be undertaken called the "Bridge officers exam" this qualifies the person to command the bridge. But in an emergency situation this is irrelevant and rank is the decider.
Deanna Troi is a prime example. She takes command of the ship during an emergency ("Disaster" S5 E5)
Later she takes the Bridge officer exam and passes. ("Thine Own Self" S7 E16) Incidentally Beverly Crusher, having already taken this exam is in command of the bridge night shift at the start of this episode)
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