Sisko was a captain who rose up through Engineering, I think. I’d check Memory Alpha to be sure but I am incredibly lazy and take pride in being so.
Sisko was a line officer whose career and interest in the same came to a halt after Wolf 359. Which is why he served in dead end places like Utopia Planitia and letter DS9…ooopps.
Are you kidding? Starfleet certainly expects individuals to put the welfare of the crew above anything else. In Troi’s test for command, she had to learn to order someone to die in order to save the ship. Even though it was holographic Geordie that was sent to his death, it’s quite clear that the real Geordie would be expected to follow such an order. You’re right, Starfleet isn’t the same kind of military we have today. However, having Riker turn down three commands without consequence is just plain silly. Star Trek writers come up with all sorts of silly things though.
Your example does not relate directly to the turning down promotion issue. These aren’t the same things. It’s completely plausible to have a military in which a test for command requires you to send an individual to his death and also allows you to turn down an offered promotion. You’re letting your personal values and experience lead you to unnecessary assumptions. There are all kinds of lines that can be drawn in different places without sacrificing plausibility.
Well, there WERE consequences to Riker turning down three commands. NOte that he doesn’t get offered command of the Enterprise when Picard is sent on his disastrous mission into Cardassian territory. “Change of Command” or something was the episode; it was a two-parter. Ronny Cox was in it; he played the new captain, whom I loved because he voiced all – well, many – of the reasons I despised Riker and. And though it’s not said outright, I think it was implicit that Riker realized he’d done his career serious damage with that third declining of command.
I can’t prove it and won’t try, but I rather think that Starfleet tolerates officers rising to as high as lieutenant commander, or to a job as high as second officer, without trying to advance further. I don’t think Data was under any particular pressure to go further – which was good, because while he clearly was capable of commanding well, it would have seriously interfered with his desire to learn to be more nearly human. He’d not be able to indulge himself thus as a captain – probably not even as a first officer.
I wonder if he had a Riker emulator program for times when he had to act as first officer? He clearly had a Picard emulator.
No, there really aren’t. I accept that we are of a different opinion on the subject though.
If that’s really your position then it seems to me you’re better off avoiding any depiction of a military or quasi-military force that doesn’t entirely take on board your own ideas of what is the right way to run things.
And it seems to me a rather astonishing statement to make when faced with an actual human history of societies organizing themselves in a wide variety of ways.
Iunno, it was still moving up the ranks of the Federation; if you’re a mid ranking soldier in the US Forces (he wasn’t an admiral or captain, after all), and get appointed to, say, a presidential cabinet, or a really high up ambassador position, I’d say you’re doing alright for yourself!
Also, if you believe the nerds at Memory Alpha, there’s speculation that for a few moments, Worf was the lawful ruler of the Klingon Empire (lawful in the sense of murdering his predecessor, hahaha), before abdicating in favour of Martok.
He was leaving the hierarchy entirely.
When I resigned from Union Planters Bank to take a job that paid more and had more responsibility with UPS, was I getting promoted? No.
I’ll grant that. That is still not a Starfleet promotion.
Your opinion is appreciated. I will take it under advisement when interpreting works of fiction in the future.
Well, it certainly begs the question of how closely tied Starfleet is with the civilian federation government, but you’re right. At any rate, as per the title of the OP, it looks like Worf’s career went through the fucking stratosphere as soon as he got off that floating bathtub! 
It was “Chain of Command” and I caught a few minutes of part 1 earlier today and was reminded that, yeah, this show could’ve taken a few interesting turns if Ronny Cox’s character had stayed on, shaking things up and whatnot. Frankly, that show could have used a lot more ruthlessness.
Nitpick, Worf did not murder Gowron, he killed him in a duel according to the laws and customs of the Klingon Empire. It might have been considered murder if it happened in the Federation, but they weren’t in Kansas anymore when that happened.
He also immediately…
Turned down the promotion.
I’m starting to think that this might be Picard’s fault! Does anyone on that ship ever accept promotion? :eek:
For better or worse, the books aren’t “officially” canon. However, there’s plenty of on-screen evidence that the Enterprise-E was around during the Dominion War. During “In Purgatory’s Shadow/By Inferno’s Light,” Sisko mentions “the recent Borg attack,” in reference to First Contact. In the beginning of Insurrection, Picard is frustrated that the Enterprise is on a diplomatic mission instead of helping with the war. Later on they find out that the Son’a are helping the Dominion manufacture Ketracel White.
Dayyyyum, I just got nerd burned!
Well played, sir. Well played. 
adjusting coke bottle glasses
Damn straight.
So what did the Enterprise do in said Dominion War? Picard was a damn sight better tactician then Sisko. I cannot imagine he would have been kept away from the action.
Wasn’t he off in the Briar Patch, exploring the Fountain of MILF?