Re: Ranks...
Originally posted by Fesarius
In the USN, the most populous rank is lieutenant, at 16,670 (as of 2/2002). Followed by lieutenant commander (10,429). These two ranks outnumber all the others, put together. The US military has an "up or out" policy, which basically states that if you get passed over for promotion a certain number of times, you must leave. This is designed to keep new blood flowing in. It also serves to keep the middle ranks populated, since the promotion boards can pick and choose who they want for the higher ranks, without the demoralizing effect of "trapping" individuals in the lowest ranks because of slow promotion rates (a problem at many businesses).
Star Fleet probably has similar rules. An organization that trusts a machine capable of laying waste to a planet (almost any serious starship) is going to want to make sure only the best and brightest ever command.
So Lieutenant (junior grade) Picard is actually rather unlikely?
Out of interest, how frequently can you be considered for promotion under the USN system (under normal conditions)? I mean if that pass over limit is four, and you only get considered once every five years, then it's not much of a limit. If you get considered once every six months, you could have a pretty short career!
Jon
"There are worlds out there where the sky is burning, where the sea is asleep and the rivers dream; people made of smoke and cities made of song.
Somewhere there's danger, somewhere there's injustice, and somewhere else the tea is getting cold. Come on, Ace, we've got work to do."
THE DOCTOR, "Survival" (Doctor Who)