Starfleet: Difference between revisions

In the [[Star Trek]] fictional universe '''Starfleet''' is the defense, research, diplomacy and exploration force of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Federation_of_Planets United Federation of Planets] (UFP).  Starfleet Headquarters is located in San Francisco, California, Earth, Sol System, Sector 001, in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_Quadrant Alpha Quadrant].

Starfleet predates the founding of the Federation by several decades, and was responsible for launching the first Human [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warp_drive Warp] 5-capable starship, the Enterprise NX-01.  It is assumed that the pre-Federation Starfleet later expanded to be the UFP version with a technological collaboration on the part of its members.

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starfleet_Academy Starfleet Academy]

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starfleet_Engineering_Corps Starfleet Engineering Corps]

**[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_31 Section 31]

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starfleet_Medical Starfleet Medical]

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starfleet_Security Stafleet Security]

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starfleet_Tactical Starfleet Tactical]

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starfleet_Judge_Advocate_General Starfleet Judge Advocate General]

Though [[Starfleet]] is comprised of many races, [[terran|Human]]s and [[Vulcan]], two of the four founders of the Federation (the other two being the [[Andorian]]s and the [[Tellarite]]s), have the most prominent roles in early episodes.  As the stories progress into later series, other races such as [[Bolian]]s, [[Betazoid]]s, [[Trill]]s, and others begin to be given central roles.

Starfleet has been shown to handle diplomatic, scientific, and military missions, although their main mandate seems to be one of peaceful exploration.  The flagship of Starfleet (and also of the "1st fleet", see [http://www.memory-alpha.org/en/index.php/Dominion_War Dominion War]) is often the starship ''USS Enterprise''.

Most members of Starfleet who handle day-to-day operations are enlisted persons.  There are also Warrant Officers and Commissioned Officers in leadership positions.  Officers typically serve as department heads and as commanders.  Most officers are trained at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starfleet_Academy Starfleet Academy] San Francisco, California, Earth in a four-year course which trains them in skills such as [[warp drive|warp]] travel and military tactics.  Starfleet ranks and insignia are similar to those used by the United States Navy.

In the early years of Starfleet, as seen in ''Star Trek: Enterprise'', Starfleet's mission is purely exploration and is not military in any sense, all such duties being entrusted to the [[MACO]]s. In later years, Starfleet adopts a more traditional military role and assumes its regular place as the exploratory '''and''' defensive arm of the UFP. It is unclear what role the MACOs play in the future of Starfleet; some fans believe the MACOs merge with Starfleet and become the Starfleet Marines (concept is entirely non-canon), while another view holds that the MACOS will continue to exist as a separate organization dedicated to ground combat (never seen again post-ENT).