[Kallen]

Originally Posted by horatio

Good point. There were a lot of Constitution-class starships during TOS, just like there were a lot of Galaxy-class starships during TNG. It's not the technology but the captain, and Picard is just more experienced. It would be a little bit over the top to make Kirk not merely one of the youngest captains, but also put him on the flagship.

I agree. And using this same logic, however, why would Picard get command of the flagship? This is his first command in almost 20 years, since he lost the Stargazer...didn't he get demoted or at least a reprimand for that incident? I think it'd be just as much over the top to give the flagship to a captain who hasn't had a ship in such a long time because he lost the last ship under what they considered to be questionable circumstances...

[horatio]

Originally Posted by Kallen

I agree. And using this same logic, however, why would Picard get command of the flagship? This is his first command in almost 20 years, since he lost the Stargazer...didn't he get demoted or at least a reprimand for that incident? I think it'd be just as much over the top to give the flagship to a captain who hasn't had a ship in such a long time because he lost the last ship under what they considered to be questionable circumstances...

Picard commanded the Stargazer for about 20 years before he got the D. He did get into trouble after the Picard maneuver and the time between that incident and his assigment to the D are nine years. I doubt he did anything less than commanding another starship in that time.
Basic point is, Picard has decaded of command experience while Kirk has basically none.

[Kallen]

Originally Posted by horatio

Picard commanded the Stargazer for about 20 years before he got the D. He did get into trouble after the Picard maneuver and the time between that incident and his assigment to the D are nine years. I doubt he did anything less than commanding another starship in that time.
Basic point is, Picard has decaded of command experience while Kirk has basically none.

Ah, i stand corrected on the time frame. It's been quite a while sice I've seen that episode. I do remember Picard saying that the Stargaze was his last command. The point I was making is that Picard might have more experience than Kirk yes....but there are other captains who have been commanding for as long as picard, without a 9 year gap in ship command and who did not get into trouble for anything (who would thus have a better "record").

[horatio]

Originally Posted by Kallen

Ah, i stand corrected on the time frame. It's been quite a while sice I've seen that episode. I do remember Picard saying that the Stargaze was his last command. The point I was making is that Picard might have more experience than Kirk yes....but there are other captains who have been commanding for as long as picard, without a 9 year gap in ship command and who did not get into trouble for anything (who would thus have a better "record").

As I said, we don't know what Picard did in these nine years. I doubt he spent them on Risa and then got the command over one of those brand new Galaxy-class starships
But it does not matter much whether a ship is called a flagship or not, Kirk's five-year mission definitely made history.

[Akula2ssn]

Should also consider that with the number of years under his belt, Picard could have been Chief of Star Fleet Operations by now. So getting command of the pride of the fleet is hardly out of his reach.

[Aqua]

Perhaps that's when he met Professor Galen and became a high end amateur archeologist? (among other things such as flying a desk)

[Akula2ssn]

Originally Posted by Aqua

Perhaps that's when he met Professor Galen and became a high end amateur archeologist? (among other things such as flying a desk)

One would think that Star Fleet officers would be required to serve some tours planet side or at a starbase or something. That would give them opportunities to expand their careers in ways that would be difficult if not impossible while serving on a ship. Just as how many officers in the navy usually take their required shore duty to work on a masters degree or something like that.

[horatio]

Originally Posted by Akula2ssn

Should also consider that with the number of years under his belt, Picard could have been Chief of Star Fleet Operations by now. So getting command of the pride of the fleet is hardly out of his reach.

Don't let them promote you. Don't let them transfer you, don't let them do anything that takes you off the bridge of that ship because while you're there, you can make a difference

And then all those admirals he had problems with, Dougherty, Nechayev, Satie. Too many bad examples; I doubt he wants to become one himself.

[Akula2ssn]

Originally Posted by horatio

Don't let them promote you. Don't let them transfer you, don't let them do anything that takes you off the bridge of that ship because while you're there, you can make a difference

And then all those admirals he had problems with, Dougherty, Nechayev, Satie. Too many bad examples; I doubt he wants to become one himself.

I've met colonels and captains that will tell you their greatest career achievement was avoiding assignments in Washington DC.

[horatio]

Problems between Department of Defense, politicans and high ranking military officers is one thing, the other is when suggestions from lower ranking officers are no taken seriously.
I have recently read something about a US citizen who served in the military but quitted after he was outspoken about the lack of knowledge about asymmetric warfare.

Having not worked in any military I cannot judge whether there are more problems or less innovative thinking than in other organizations, but the very nature of a strict hierarchy might lead to that.