Rank, Promotion and Awards
The SFI's Membership handbook states:
"Upon payment of your initial membership dues to STARFLEET, and joining a chapter, you will be accorded a starting rank by You are Commanding Officer. For those chapters that use Enlisted Ranks, this is usually the grade of E-1. For those chapters That do not use Enlisted Ranks, this is usually the grade of O-1. Again, initial ranks are at the discretion of the Chapter and will vary.
Your chapter Commanding Officer has the authority to promote up to the grade of O-5 (Commander) and is responsible for creating and administering the Chapter's Promotion Policy for all grades through O-5. Please contact your chapter Commanding Officer regarding your Chapter's Promotion Policy guidelines."
In essence, this means that as Commanding Officer rank can be determined in whatever method will work as reward conditions for the crew. A combination of "time in service" and submission of nomination to an Executive Review Board (ERB).
Notes on rank nominations and promotions:
Our policy is to offer Non SFI Attendees (of any official chapter function they participate with the USS Phoebe) the rank of Cadet (for children of ages 17 and under) or Crewman, and are (if they choose) subject to be eligible for promotion up to the Non-commissioned officer rank title of Chief Petty Officer.
Non-commissioned Enlisted officers (or non-coms) will be given a chance to be promoted through the standard process of time in service and nomination by fellow crew members and/or officers. The Executive Review Board (ERB), made up of the senior executive staff and the officer of the head of department under which the crew member is listed. The ERB will be made responsible for approving or denying promotions after time in service has been achieved. Members are responsible for filing nominations through proper procedure, by filing a notice of nomination with the ERB on the chapter forums. Members with disabilities will be offered alternative methods of submitting nominations, should the need arise.
Commissioned officers will be given a chance to be promoted through a period in service, after their base rank Assessment offered when their OTS exam* grade is presented; and by means of nomination from crew members and fellow officers. The ERB will be made responsible for approving or denying promotions at the time of nomination. Members are responsible for filing nominations through proper procedure, by filing a nomination with the ERB. Disabled members will be offered alternative methods of submitting nominations, those in need of assistance because of disability will be granted such, as applicable, by request.
[*For Promotion to Ensign, you need to complete the Officers Training School exam, there is no time in service requirement. Once your OTS test results are filed with a passing score, you are promoted to rank of Ensign. When passing with the classification-grade of "Distinction" the ERB will consider the potential of higher advancement, to that of Lt. J.G.]
Each nomination may be presented for any of the following:
Away Team Activities
- Meetings (with other SFI chapters, USS Phoebe related scheduled/unscheduled)
- Activities (with other SFI Members, chapter activities scheduled/unscheduled)
Community Service
- Charity Drives
- Food
- Books
- Toys
- Clothes/Blankets
- Monies
- Etc.
Conventions
- Esprit de' Corps
- STARFLEET Uniform Creation
- Recruitment for SFI/USS Phoebe
Education
- SFA Courses (Free or Paid)
- Books Read with a Written Review
- Primary (K-12)/Secondary (college) educational courses (real world, not SFA) passed with high marks ("B" average).
Administrative duties
- Monthly Status Report (MSR) contribution
- Monthly Newsletter Article contributions
- Participation on Forum activities and/or discussions
Description of nomination-reward potential activities:
- Meetings (Please see the "Meetings" section, below.)
- Activities (Please see the "Meetings" section, below.)
Education
Being a member of STARFLEET means among other things, that you aspire to the ideals set forth in Star Trek. Among the Values displayed in the series was a love of exploration based on an educated investigation of the universe around us. For that reason, this chapter places a high value on education.
- • Each course (free or paid) that a member takes through the SFA (STARFLEET Academy) will be subject to review for Nomination, if it is passed**.
- • Books continue the learning process, therefore those who offer a review of a book they've read while serving with the USS Phoebe (that is readily printable in the chapter newsletter) will be awarded rank points for each submission made.
- • To stress the importance of real-world education, our chapter also awards points for those currently attending courses In primary or secondary schools (Kindergarten through College Senior Year). Each class that is passed with high marks Received will be reviewed for nomination.
[**The only exceptions to this rule are completion of Officers Training School (OTS,) Officers Command College (OCC,) and Flag Officer's School (FOS,) because they are already required (at certain levels) for promotions.]
Passive Volunteering
- • Much in line with acts of Community Service, to volunteer time, or the collection of goods to various scientific, welfare, or Educational endeavors reflects well on STARFLEET and the USS Phoebe. Such acts can earn the respect of fellow crew members, Encouraging them to become involved in the same or similar endeavors. In this way, one might nominate their fellow crew member For pointing them in a new direction of striving to make our world a better place.
- • Donations are usable goods that you purchase and/or collect to offer to charitable agencies that ask for specific goods. Agencies like the Red Cross, Teddy Bear Patrol, and Toys for Tots, Local Humane Society, or outreach programs through city or church agencies all apply. Books can be donated to libraries or public schools, during certain times and/or particular branches. It is best to contact them before bringing in a box or bag full, however.
It is best to contact them before bringing in a box or bag full, however.
Nominations are only a part of the promotion process, however. Time in service is another portion of what the Executive Review Board (ERB) must take into consideration when nomination for rank increase is made.
Enlisted Promotion Matrix:
- Crewmen 3rd Class - Under-age enthusiasts joining our chapter for events and outings.
- Crewman 2nd Class - O to 4 months of joining our chapter for activities and events.
- Crewman 1st Class - 8 months of joining our chapter for activities and events.
- Petty Officer 3rd Class - 12 months’ time in service to Chapter.
- Petty Officer 2nd Class - 18 months’ time in service to Chapter.
- Petty Officer 1st Class - 24 months’ time in service to Chapter.
- Chief Petty Officer - 28 months’ time in service to Chapter.
- Senior Chief Petty Officer - 32 months’ time in service to Chapter.
- Master Chief Petty Officer - 36 months service to Chapter.
Non-Commissioned Officer Promotion Matrix:
- Warrant Officer - A paying member of SFI who is a member of the USS Phoebe, who has not taken (or does not wish to take) the OTS exam is granted this rank.
- Warrant Officer 2nd Class - 12 months’ time in service to Chapter.
- Warrant Officer 3rd Class - 18 months’ time in service to Chapter.
- Warrant Officer 4th Class - 24 months’ time in service to Chapter.
Junior Officers
- Ensign - Passing OTS, no time-in-service requirement.
- Lieutenant Junior Grade - Passing OTS (* advancement to this rank without need of time in service, if OTS passed with "Distinction" grade), 9 months’ time in service.
- Lieutenant - Passing OCC, 18 months’ time in service requirement.
Senior Officers
- Lieutenant Commander - Passing OCC with Distinction, 24 months’ time in service requirement.
- Commander - Passing OCC, 36 months’ time in service requirement.
Flag Officers -
A Chapter CO cannot authorize promotions above Commander; instead, nominations are presented to the Executive Review Board of SFI.
Other awards and incentives are made available to all crew members who are members of STARFLEET through SFI, and can be located in the Membership Handbook. It is highly encouraged that every member read the SFI Membership Handbook, available in pdf or hard-copy format for every crew member in good standing (paid membership) with SFI.