Troi's promotion ?

[Evan van Eyk]

I am just wondering what's the episode called where Troi has to make the test to get the Commander promotion. That epsiode with Riker making holo-test with her and where she must send Geordi to death?

[Ergi]

That's "Thine Own Self", season 7. It was a little bit difficult to find out, since the episode description on the Star Trek site was apparently made by someone who doesn't like Troi - the sub-plot isn't even mentioned.

[Evan van Eyk]

OK, that is why I didn't find it. Thank you a lot for your effort

[StyroFoam Man]

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[qerlin]

Originally posted by StyroFoam Man
NOT like Troi?! Gasp! The fool!

He's not alone. "Bambi" was alway one of the weaker characters, and the idea of moving a psychologist into a line officer really rankled me. But that's just me...

Though she has gotten better looking with age.

[REG]

Hey, if a scientist can command a starship, a shrink can become a line officer if he or she is willing to take the path.

[Ergi]

Originally posted by qerlin
the idea of moving a psychologist into a line officer really rankled me. But that's just me...

Be careful who you insult here, Querlin!

Just some benevolent advice from a 4th semester psychology student.

[Balok]

Psychologists know how people *think*. And probably better in the future than now. I'd say that's a useful skill to a command officer.

Now, there are a lot of other skills needed too, as the episode depicted -- but certainly there's nothing about psychology that should disqualify someone from command rank.

[Siroth]

Originally posted by qerlin
He's not alone. "Bambi" was alway one of the weaker characters, and the idea of moving a psychologist into a line officer really rankled me.

I don't see why, though. As a psychologist she would have good grasp of crew morale and interaction with alien beings. Then again, this alone says nothing about command ability, but we did see Troi makes some very important command decisions way back in "Disaster" (early 5th season).

Indeed, all our regular TNG character have command skill - we've seen them all in command at some point or another. Heck, the whole bunch of them (including Worf) even have the rank to command!

[StyroFoam Man]

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[qerlin]

Originally posted by Fesarius
Psychologists know how people *think*. And probably better in the future than now. I'd say that's a useful skill to a command officer.

Now, there are a lot of other skills needed too, as the episode depicted -- but certainly there's nothing about psychology that should disqualify someone from command rank.

As you said, there's a lot more to it than "knowing how people think". As a team chief in the army, with just a small contingent of guys, there was more than that. I simply don't think she would have had enough basic knowledge about shipboard operations to warrant tossing her into, essentially, a field position. The whole episode had a real -- hey, Troi hasn't jumped to the helm this sereis! feel.

But as I said, just me.

[Liz Not Beth]

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[Ergi]

Originally posted by qerlin
As you said, there's a lot more to it than "knowing how people think". As a team chief in the army, with just a small contingent of guys, there was more than that. I simply don't think she would have had enough basic knowledge about shipboard operations to warrant tossing her into, essentially, a field position. The whole episode had a real -- hey, Troi hasn't jumped to the helm this sereis! feel.

But as I said, just me.

I used to think the same, especially after watching Disaster. I wouldn't allow any person so incompetent to come near by bridge. But, I think she came to the same conclusion after that incident and started to learn the technical stuff. Therefore I have no objections to her being promoted, except for it maybe being a little bit too soon.

[Ezri's Toy]

Originally posted by qerlin
As you said, there's a lot more to it than "knowing how people think". As a team chief in the army, with just a small contingent of guys, there was more than that. I simply don't think she would have had enough basic knowledge about shipboard operations to warrant tossing her into, essentially, a field position. The whole episode had a real -- hey, Troi hasn't jumped to the helm this sereis! feel.

But as I said, just me.

If the show were "Space: Above and Beyond," you'd probably be right. However, time and time again, Gene Roddenberry has said that Starfleet isn't a military organization. Primarily, Starfleet's mission is scientific, exploratory, and diplomatic with defense and military functions being dead last. The most obvious evidence of Starfleet's non-military stance is the presence of families on starships.

I remember an interview with Roddenberry where he said that he treated rank and protocol of Starfleet the same way it was treated on civilian commercial airliners. There are COs and XOs, and captains and lieutenants, but such ranks and positions had little to do with the day-to-day working relationships on board the vessel in question. Leaders lead by charisma and ability as much as by rank and authority. So, really, from that perspective, it doesn't matter whether Troi is a psychologist or not as long as she's able to do the job.

Next, as to job qualifications and training: Even today's military has sets of training common to all servicemen. Basic training for everybody; OCS for officers regardless of branch; etc.

Considering that _all_ members of Starfleet are astronauts and also considering that how far away starships can be from home and authority, it is probably necessary to train a broader base of line officers per ship. So, from that perspective, maybe Starfleet requires all department heads, whether command or support, to train and qualify for line officer status.