Originally posted by Ezri's Toy
2) I'd think that ANY bridge officer would be trained to take command in emergency situations; Such persons may not be the best but would be competent.
Commander Troi completed her bridge certification training in order to earn her promotion to Commander. We can assume she was a qualified pilot and astrogator at the time of the destruction of NCC-1701-D. We also know that Troi served as OOD during off watches. Incidentally, I would assume that she was also a qualified Engineering Officer of the Watch, since we can infer an engineering qualification portion of her testing process... and also because it simply makes sense to have the officer in command of a vessel minimally familiar with it's engineering spaces.
Since Commander Riker found himself in command during a battle he likely didn't want to confine himself to the role of pilot. Officers are taught to leave themselves mobile and to place themselves at the critical point where their influence can be brought to bear on the situation. By putting himself in the pilot's seat he would have been depriving himself of that mobility.
Commander Crusher was also bridge certified and took command of the Enterprise at least once. Presumably she was also a qualified pilot, astrogator and EOotW as well.
We ALSO know that Starfleet does not distinguish between line, restricted line and staff officers. Before her certification Troi wwas left in effective command of the bridge despite the fact there was a Tactical Lieutenant (presumably a "line" officer) and an experienced bridge-watch-qualified NCO present.
Starfleet may require bridge certification for promotion to the rank of Commander and for regular assignment as Officer of the Deck... but it clearly does not distinguish in it's chain of command between command certified officers and staff officers. In this respect it is closer to the US Army than the US Navy. In the Army with the exception of Chaplains an officer is assumed to have the basic knowlege required for tactical command at a level comensurate with their rank... even medical branch personel can hold tactical command of medical and support units. In other words an Army signal branch Lieutenant Colonel is expected to have the basic tactical knowlege required to command at the battalion-equivelent level. There are specific rules in the US Army for assuming command, so that officer wouldn't just show up at a tank company and take over, but if he found himself senior in an ad hoc goup of soldiers he would be expected to take charge even if the rest were all infantry types. This seems to be what happened to LtCdr Troi.
“I am a soldier. I fight where I am told, and I win where I fight.”
General George S. Patton, Jr.