From: utzoo!utcsrgv!donald
Newsgroups: net.movies
Title: ST-TWOK, Of Ensigns and Midshipmen
Article-I.D.: utcsrgv.383
Posted: Fri Jun 11 13:24:20 1982
Received: Sat Jun 12 02:13:58 1982


In old British naval usage, a midshipman is the most junior of officers,
falling below the coveted rank of lieutenant.  An Ensign is merely the
American naval term for a midshipman.  Saavik is not an ensign, but at
least a full lieutenant, if not a commander (I don't believe Starfleet's
system of ranks has ever been made clear).

This leads to an interesting goof in TWOK, in which a crewman identifies
himself as a "midshipman" to Admiral Kirk when Kirk is conducting the
initial inspection of the Enterprise.  Starfleet obviously calls its
midshipmen "ensigns" in accordance with American terminology.

Don Chan (utcsrgv!donald)