donald (06/11/82)
In old British naval usage, a midshipman is the most junior of officers, falling below the coveted rank of lieutenant. An Ensign is merely the American naval term for a midshipman. Saavik is not an ensign, but at least a full lieutenant, if not a commander (I don't believe Starfleet's system of ranks has ever been made clear). This leads to an interesting goof in TWOK, in which a crewman identifies himself as a "midshipman" to Admiral Kirk when Kirk is conducting the initial inspection of the Enterprise. Starfleet obviously calls its midshipmen "ensigns" in accordance with American terminology. Don Chan (utcsrgv!donald)
sjb (06/13/82)
As far as the Star Fleet ranking system goes, this is the one used in the TV series: Shirt color Department ----------- ---------- gold command blue sciences red engineering and support Each different color also had its special insignia on the little triangle-sort-of-thing on the shirt. The stripes on the sleeve translate into the rank. The following are the ranks described: Stripe Rank ------ ---- no stripe Ensign ------- Lieutenant - - - - ------- Lieutenant Commander ------- ------- Commander ------- - - - - ------- Captain ------- ------- ------- Commodore ------- ------- ------- ------- Admiral
woods@sri-unix (06/18/82)
It is my understanding that a "Midshipman" is what they call the cadets
at the Naval Academy, whereas an Ensign is the navy equivalent of an Army
private. Midshipmen will become lieutenants on successful completion of
their Academy training. You Navy folks out there correct me (and the others)
if I am wrong.
GREG (ucbvax!menlo70!hao!woods)Fusco.ES@sri-unix (06/23/82)
To: movie^.pa at parc Reply-To: Fusco Via: Parc-Maxc.ArpaNet; 23 Jun 82 8:10-PDT For some reason, we cannot directly respond to menlo70!...... I think it is because there are too many letters in the header. Ensign is the Army/Air Force equivalent of a Lieutenant. After graduation from Annaplois (the Naval Academy) midshipmen are commissioned as Ensigns. A Lieutenant in the Navy is equivalent to a Captain in the Army or Air Force. A Navy Commander = an Army major and a Navy Captain = an Army Colonel. Hope this clears it up. Joe
msm@sri-unix (06/24/82)
An Ensign is the lowest naval officer rank. It is equivalent to the army Second Lieutenant. Midshipman is indeed the name for cadets. After graduation they will become Ensigns. (The navy equivalent of a private is a seaman). Michael S. Maiten <...!ucbvax!menlo70!sytek!!msm>
3215rfs (06/24/82)
A midshipman is, now, a student at the Naval Academy, and when the graduate they becom ensigns. An ensign is the equivalent of a second lieutenant in the army, and not a private.