SFPA-OPS
| DETAILS | NOTES |
|---|---|
| ASR Website: | Star Fleet in the ASR Universe |
| BILLET: | Star Fleet Operations Officer Collateral Duties: Combat Information Center (CIC) Officer; Second Officer (See NOTE below) |
| DESIGNATION: | Unrestricted Line Officer |
| COMMISSION SOURCES: | Star Fleet Academy, Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), Officer's Candidate School (OCS) |
| INITIAL RANK: | SFA, OCS & ROTC graduates typically begin their Star Fleet service as Ensigns (O-1) or Lieutenant Junior Grade (O-2) for exceptional academic achievement. |
| RESPONSIBILITIES: | Star Fleet Operations Officers are often (though not always) third in the unit's chain of command and thus have the collateral duty of Second Officer. The Operations Manager (OPS/2O) is the senior member of the operations group and oversees six divisions that comprise that department; Combat Information Center (CIC), Ship Services (SSO), Computer Core (CORE), Sensors (SEN), Communications (COMM) and Cryptography & Intelligence (CRYPTO).
OPS also have a permanent place in the senior officer watch rotation. Uniforms for personnel in this department will have mustard colored piping. Key Responsibilities of all Department Heads: • Compliance and Governance: Adherence to the Star Fleet Uniform Code of Military Justice (SFUMCJ) policies, and instructions is a significant part of the job. This includes maintaining proper records, ensuring safety protocols are followed, and regular reporting through your chain of command. • Leadership and Management: A Department Head handles the leadership and administration of their department. This involves ensuring everyone under their purview is trained, prepared, and executing their duties effectively. • Planning and Operations: Whether in space or ashore, Department Heads are integral to planning and executing missions, ongoing operations, training exercises, fully staffing your department, and other duties as ordered. In this billet, you will be expected to: • Collaborate with the Medical Department to implement any special environmental conditions required for alien crewmembers or visitors. • Compose annual FITREPs for junior officers or warrants under your command, submitting to the XO for final approval in a timely manner. Act as final approver for all NCO and enlisted evaluations of assigned Operations personnel. • Coordinate the allocation of resources and access to limited systems for all unit departments, prioritizing needs based on a combination of mission specific requirements, standing orders, and the safety, security and welfare of all personnel. • Directly supervise junior division officers and indirectly NCOs assigned to the Operations Department. • Ensure the care, maintenance, and operation of equipment, supplies, and spaces as are assigned to the Operations Department. Collaborate with Engineering to ensure operational readiness and avoid minimal downtime for system repairs. • Gain command experience that will serve you well throughout your career as an Operations Officer. • Operate as a leader within your focus area and get exposure outside your MOS. NOTE: In smaller units, the Operations Officer may be ‘dual-hatted’ and have one or more collateral duties. Much in the same way Tactical & Security or Medical and Counseling are combined into one role due to staffing, unit structure or both, the Ops may be assigned as: Combat Information Center (CIC) – personnel assigned to the CIC assimilate all tactical sensor information and relay it to the Operations Center or bridge for ship units. Second Officer – Chains of command can vary greatly, even between units of the same size and function. The unit's second officer is third in command after the commanding officer and Executive Officer. Nominally, the Ops officer serves as the unit’s third in command unless the unit’s structure and chain of command dictate otherwise. |
| WORK ENVIRONMENT: | As a Star Fleet Operations Officer, you may be assigned anywhere throughout the Federation. This includes working from starships of all sizes, major nodal starbases and deep space stations all of which rely on those in this billet to seamlessly ensure priority access to critical systems and the prompt allocation of necessary resources.
The following is a list of typical billets and ratings one may find in an Operations Department on a starbase, space station or starship, though this list is not exhaustive. CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER (OPS)- As the Operations Department Head, officers in this billet essentially ensure all other unit personnel have the access, resources, tools and supplies to perform their assigned duties. Reports directly to the unit's Executive Officer and indirectly to the Commanding Officer. ASSISTANT CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER (OPS)- Functions as the deputy to the Chief Ops officer, will assume those duties when the Ops Officer is incapacitated or absent from the unit. The AOPS will stand a watch in the Operations Center or bridge. Reports directly to the Chief Operations Officer. OPERATIONS OFFICER (OPS)- Typically a junior officer, assigned to command one of the divisions comprising the Operations Department. Reports directly to the AOPS and indirectly to the OPS. COMPUTER CORE OFFICER (CCO)- The computer core officer is responsible for maintaining the ship's computer core, artificial intelligence (AI), and related subsystems. This officer will apply redundant memory backup protocols and ensure the integrity and security of classified information. The CCO is typically a Chief Warrant Officer 2nd Class (CWO2) or higher and maintains an A-4 (or higher) information systems expert designation. SENSOR OFFICER- The sensors division officer is responsible for ensuring the
proper calibration and operation of all the ship's sensor systems (navigational, long range, short range). In general, the operations department maintains sensor software while the Engineering staff maintains the physical hardware. SOFTWARE ENGINEER- Typically a chief warrant officer, those in this billet are subject matter experts in the design, application and repair of Star Fleet computer and AI systems. CULINARY SPECIALIST (CS)- Serve as cooks, butchers, and bakers for the unit's mess. (Note: With personnel replicators in common usage, there are usually only a few CS's assigned for formal occasions or unique dietary needs). They also manage living quarters, and maintain the cleanliness of the unit common areas, providing a comfortable environment for personnel. LOGISTICS SPECIALIST (LS)- manage inventories and issuance of repair parts/general supplies and specialized supplies. If a Star Fleet member wears it, eats it, shoots it or operates it, it's a Logistics Specialist's job to get it to those in need. MASS COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST (MC)- are the public affairs and visual information experts. They present the Star Fleet story to audiences in the unit and throughout the Federation via a variety of media. Mass communication specialists write and produce print and broadcast journalism, news, and feature stories for military and civilian holoprograms. They record holographic of non-classified operations, exercises, and other Star Fleet events. OPERATIONS SPECIALIST (OS)- Operations Specialists operate radar, navigation and communications equipment in the shipboard combat information centers (CICs) or bridges. They detect and track Star Fleet, neutral, hostile or otherwise unidentified vehicles. |
| TRAINING & ADVANCEMENT: |
Department Head (DH): Most Star Fleet units are divided into departments (e.g. Administration, Engineering, Medical, Operations). The Department Head is responsible to the Executive Officer (XO) for the efficient management of his/her department. As the representative of the Commanding Officer, the Department Head is responsible for and reports to the CO about all matters that affect the department. That includes administrative matters (personnel & discipline), the operational readiness of the department, and the general condition of equipment. Department Heads are members of the unit's senior staff. Division Officer (DIVO): Most Star Fleet departments are divided into divisions. Division Officers are responsible for the efficient operation of their assigned division within the department and are responsible to and, in general, act as assistants to Department Heads. The number of divisions in a department varies, with each division having only a few assigned personnel to as many as 200 personnel. The Division Officer is a major link in the chain of command. At the working level, the Division Officer carries out command policies and personally sees that division tasks are completed in a timely manner. Promotion opportunities are regularly available but highly competitive and based on performance and academic achievement. Officers wishing to advance beyond O-4 are highly encouraged to expand both their practical and educational experience. |
| EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: | Following your initial tour as an Operations Officer, you can attend the Star Fleet Postgraduate School (SFPS) at the Academy’s Marseilles Campus Terra-Sol III. There you may be able to further your education by completing an advanced degree in your specialty or broaden your experience into other sub-specialties, all while on Active Duty for Training (ADT). Many doctorate programs are available for Operations Officers who wish to pursue higher education in their respective designator(s).
Opportunities for further education within this career include: • Daystrom Institute Okinawa, Japan Terra/Sol-3
• Star Fleet Defense College Terra/Sol-3 Additional Qualification Designators (ADQ) available to officers who obtain academic achievements in other subspecialties. |
| QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS: | Regardless of your commission source, you must meet the general eligibility requirements to become a Star Fleet Officer and an Operations Officer.
A degree from a four-year college or university is a minimum educational requirement to become a Commissioned Officer in Star Fleet. Depending on the path you choose to obtain your commission, there may be additional Star Fleet training required. For the Direct Commission Program, you must have prior military service from a recognized allied power to the Federation. Waivers will be considered for those from neutral and non-aligned systems. All candidates must also be Federation citizens, willing to serve across the Alpha and Beta quadrants and medically qualified for space duty. |
Do you possess the empathy, resolve, and unwavering passion to embark on the challenging yet deeply rewarding path of a Star Fleet Operations Officer? Ready to join? Contact the Star Fleet Bureau of Personnel (BUPERS) to launch your career in Star Fleet as an Operations Officer!
- Portions of the above obtained from https://www.navy.com/ and modified for ASR use.
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- SD 24370629 - Created by Michael Dailey
