The whole “Star Fleet is not a military organization” didn’t get its start until TNG. In the Wrath of Khan both Carol and Marcus refer to the military (Star Fleet) wanting to get its hands on the Genesis Device. But then it’s my understanding that Gene wasn’t really all that involved in WoK.
If Starfleet **isn’t **a military organization, then what is the military organization of the United Federation of Planets?
I know the discussion has been had earlier in this thread of the term “military”, but it seems quite obvious to me the Klingons, Romulans, Cardassians, Dominion have militaries, so I can’t imagine the UFP not having one.
Starfleet. They just don’t use the word “military” anymore. Just like we have a Department of Defence instead of a Department of War (yes, I know about the Navy dept being merged with War), or how the Germans no longer use the word “reich”.
Or like the Self-Defense forces in Japan.
I think the talk about military being a dirty word is fan wankery at its finest. Star Fleet is quite clearly a military organization no matter how you look at it. This is just one of those stupid things the TNG writers came up with akin to warp travel “polluting” the galaxy.
I don’ know how it can be stated with a straight face that Starfleet is the armed forces. War fighting has been part of the onscreen functions from the beginning in TOS. Even in the early years of “no we are not a military” of TNG, it was clear that it was in fact untrue to so claim. Picard was stated to be the beat tactician in Starfleet. And even then, whenever ass need to b saved/kicked it was Starfleet that was sent to do it. By DS9 they gave up from what I can tell.
Is has to do with budget fights in the Federation legislature.
You have the Vulcans and Betazoids whining about spending money (or resources, personnel, etc.) on the military, and StarFleet has to remind them that they (Starfleet) do more than that. It’s caused Starfleet personnel to be a little defensive, and out of sheer reflex they say “We’re NOT military.”
And you should see him breakdance!
I don’t recall Kirk ever minding it; Picard did. I think, by Picard’s era, the word “military” had evolved to mean “war-mongering,” just as “flagship” meant “most prestigious billet in the fleet.”
Betazed, of course, should have spent MORE on its defense, not less.