STARFLEET TRAINING COURSE SUMMARY
Starfleet Officer Candidate Course
Course Length:
20 weeks (3 training phases)
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Qualifications:
Weapons Qualification
Maintenance/Damage Control Certification
Computer Classification Rating
The Starfleet Officer Candidate Course is a twenty week, three phase training program designed to prepare applicants for commissioning as Starfleet officers. The first two phases focus on basic training and officer development while the final phase occurs following designator selection and places the Officer Candiate in a leadership role over other officer applicants.
Prior to 2144, Officer Candidate Classes were simply numerically listed; this was then changed to a rotating code indicating the year and month of the training class; for instance "OT-II-45" indicates the second class of 2145 (three classes total for each year)
Training Structure
The Officer Candidate course utilizes a three-phase training system where Officer Candidate in the final weeks of training serve in leadership roles over other officer applicants. While all course members hold the rank of Officer Candidate, the course members are referred to either as Officer Recruits, Trainees, or Officer Designates depending upon the stage of training.
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The Officer Candiate Course itself is commanded by the Starfleet Training School Executive Officer, while Crewman Drill Instructors hold formal positions as company training personnel. A commissioned officer in the rank of Ensign oversees one of three training companies while the Officer Candidates lead between two to three platoons within each company. Separate squads exist for Officer Candidates undergoing recruit training versus officer development. A company headquarters staff also exists to ensure that all Officer Designates are able to hold a senior leadership position.
Officer Candidate uniforms used during the Recruit, Trainee, and Leadership stages
Training History
The first Starfleet officer training course was held in June 2140 with the initial training being 9 weeks in length with a new course beginning every twelve to fifteen weeks afterwards. In April 2142, the curriculum was expanded to twelve weeks in length in order to include new coursework in scientific procedures as well as Starfleet policies. A month later, the Officer Candidate Course was extended to thirteen weeks and implemented the three-training phase system where Officer Candidates held leadership positions within their training companies during the final phase of training.
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Following the changes made in May 2142, the Starfleet Officer Candidate Course began utilizing a three-phase training system where Officer Candidates hold leadership positions during the final stages of Officer Training. Under this system, the first three weeks of officer training mirrors Starfleet Basic Training where the Officer Candidates are referred to as Recruits and undergo instruction in basic drill and Starfleet procedures. ​During the second phase, Officer Candidates are issued white divisional pipping for their uniforms, referred to as "Trainee", and attend mostly classroom instruction. During the third and final phase, divisional coloring is added to uniforms in accordance with designator selection and Officer Candidates are referred to as "Designates" and also hold company leadership positions.
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In November 2144, per Starfleet Training Directive #25, the Officer Candiate School was expanded to twenty weeks in length in order to provide training and certification for all required Starfleet qualifications prior to commissioning and first active-duty assignments.