Okay hun, I AM a commissioned military officer. I also started off enlisted, and I'm intimately familiar with the enlisted ranks as well. Now that that's out of the way, let me also point out that every branch of the military has different rank systems. A Lieutenant in the Navy is different from a Lieutenant in the Air Force. The ranks in Starfleet are based on a NAVAL system.
Here's the order, from lowest to highest, in Starfleet: Ensign Lieutenant Junior Grade Lieutenant Lieutenant Commander Commander Captain Commodore Admiral
You've pointed out Bones: Lieutenant Commander, Sulu: Lieutenant, Chekov: Ensign, and Uhura: Lieutenant
Now, in the REAL military, an advanced degree like a DOCTORATE (of which McCoy has two, because he's an MD/PhD) would allow you to begin your commission at a higher rank. Yes, because he was ready to graduate, he was given his rank-to-be when he boarded the Enterprise.
Sulu WAS NOT A CADET. He was ALREADY assigned to the Enterprise's crew.
Chekov was NOT A CADET. He'd already graduated. Genius kid that he is.
Uhura might possibly have an advanced degree - an MS or PhD in xenolinguistics. Therefore, it is quite possible for her to be receiving a commission directly to Lt. Junior Grade or Lieutenant. We don't know. However, we DO know that Pike addressed her as "Cadet" until she relieved the communications officer on the bridge.
Also, as for ROTC, if you graduate from Army ROTC or Air Force ROTC in college, and your degree is a Bachelor's, then your rank is Second Lieutenant, which is "O-1", which is the equivalent of an "Ensign" in the navy. Got it? Bachelors = lowest level of officer. A Master's degree gives Air Force and Army the rank of First Lieutenant, "O-2", which is the equivalent of "Lieutenant Junior Grade" in the Starfleet system. A doctorate degree commissions you as a Captain in the Army or Air Force, which is a LIEUTENANT in Starfleet, "O-3." In the real military, you don't get "merit promotions" from your schoolwork before commissioning, unless you get a degree higher than a Bachelor's.
Trust me, I know plenty about military ranks. I won't ignore you - that would be rude - but I will point out that I have a good deal of experience with this.
no subject
Here's the order, from lowest to highest, in Starfleet:
Ensign
Lieutenant Junior Grade
Lieutenant
Lieutenant Commander
Commander
Captain
Commodore
Admiral
You've pointed out Bones: Lieutenant Commander, Sulu: Lieutenant, Chekov: Ensign, and Uhura: Lieutenant
Now, in the REAL military, an advanced degree like a DOCTORATE (of which McCoy has two, because he's an MD/PhD) would allow you to begin your commission at a higher rank. Yes, because he was ready to graduate, he was given his rank-to-be when he boarded the Enterprise.
Sulu WAS NOT A CADET. He was ALREADY assigned to the Enterprise's crew.
Chekov was NOT A CADET. He'd already graduated. Genius kid that he is.
Uhura might possibly have an advanced degree - an MS or PhD in xenolinguistics. Therefore, it is quite possible for her to be receiving a commission directly to Lt. Junior Grade or Lieutenant. We don't know. However, we DO know that Pike addressed her as "Cadet" until she relieved the communications officer on the bridge.
Also, as for ROTC, if you graduate from Army ROTC or Air Force ROTC in college, and your degree is a Bachelor's, then your rank is Second Lieutenant, which is "O-1", which is the equivalent of an "Ensign" in the navy. Got it? Bachelors = lowest level of officer. A Master's degree gives Air Force and Army the rank of First Lieutenant, "O-2", which is the equivalent of "Lieutenant Junior Grade" in the Starfleet system. A doctorate degree commissions you as a Captain in the Army or Air Force, which is a LIEUTENANT in Starfleet, "O-3." In the real military, you don't get "merit promotions" from your schoolwork before commissioning, unless you get a degree higher than a Bachelor's.
Trust me, I know plenty about military ranks. I won't ignore you - that would be rude - but I will point out that I have a good deal of experience with this.
*salutes*