SFPA-TAC
| DETAILS | NOTES |
|---|---|
| ARS Website: | Star Fleet in the ASR Universe |
| BILLET: | Star Fleet Chief Tactical Officer (TAC) Collateral Duties: Chief Security Officer (CSO) *NOTE: See below in RESPONSIBILITIES section for further details. |
| DESIGNATION: | Unrestricted Line Officer |
| COMMISSION SOURCES: | Star Fleet Academy, Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and Officer's Candidate School (OCS) |
| INITIAL RANK: | SFA, OCS & ROTC graduates typically begin their Star Fleet careers as Ensigns (O-1) or Lieutenant Junior Grade (O-2) for exceptional academic achievement. Newly commissioned Tactical Officers will be assigned to a installation or vessel, leading a team of crewpersons responsible for a department head or division officer – anything from electronics to weapons, shields and other defensive systems. In this career track, officers are working toward full Space Defense qualification. |
| RESPONSIBILITIES: | Officers in this billet oversee the tactical systems department or TAC aboard a ship, space station, starbase or ground installation. All officers, warrants and enlisted rates play vital roles in protecting the unit from potentially hostile external threats. Personnel assigned to TAC are responsible for all operation, calibration and general maintenance of the weapons systems, fire control computers, targeting systems, electronic countermeasures, and other defensive systems. The TAC officer executes firing solutions and prepare offensive and defensive strategies for the command team's evaluation. Additionally, they are responsible for collecting critical damage information from the sensors and immediately coordinating with Engineering's damage control teams. Several division officers, who handle key parts of the offensive and defensive systems, assist TAC. These divisions are as follows: Auxiliary Weapons Control (AWC), Strike (both standard and quantum torpedoes), Guns (phaser systems), Shields, TATTS (Threat Assessment, Tracking and Targeting System), Electronic Counter-Measures (including tractor beams). While these divisions are standardized across all Star Fleet units, individual tables of organization may vary slightly depending on that unit's function, type and mission. On watch, both Tactical and Security coordinate with one another in the pursuit of similar goals and objectives in keeping the unit and its personnel safe. Key Responsibilities of all Department Heads: • Compliance and Governance: Adherence to the Star Fleet Uniform Code of Military Justice (SFUMCJ)
standing orders, 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 administration of their department. This involves ensuring everyone under their purview is trained, prepared, and executing their duties effectively. Star Fleet functions to preserve the peace, deter hostile aggression, and protect the : Federation way of life. • 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: • Act in concert with medical and damage control teams to aid in locating and rescuing personnel missing or trapped in hazardous environments. • Compose annual Fitness Reports (FITREPs) for junior officers and/or warrants under your command, submitting to the unit's XO for final approval in a timely manner per regulations. Act as final approver for all NCO and enlisted evaluations of assigned tactical personnel. • Coordinate with security for the safe and swift partial evacuation of the vessel/installation or full abandonment of the unit. • Develop accurate, timely, and professional tactical plans and defensive solutions for the command team's review, ensuring weapon systems are utilized only as a last resort. • Directly supervise the performed duties of junior division officers and indirectly NCOs assigned to the department. • Ensure all Tactical logs are correctly completed by the end of each watch. • Explicitly exercise and adhere to the Rules of Engagement set forth by Star Fleet's general orders, the Star Fleet Uniform Code of Military Justice (SFUCMJ), Secretary of Star Fleet Instructions (SECFLEETINST) and other related laws authorized by the Federation Council. • Gain crucial command experience that will serve you well throughout your career. • Handle all external subspace communications duties. • Implement monthly inventory control procedures for heavy ordnance, restricting access to authorized personnel. This ensures the secure storage, proper handling, and complete accountability of all ammunition and associated tactical systems. • Maintain and supervise all defensive and weapons systems for operational readiness. Oversee the care and maintenance of assigned tactical equipment, supplies, and spaces, collaborating with Engineering as required to minimize downtime during repairs and upgrades and routine maintenance. • Operate as a leader within your focus area and get exposure outside your MOS. • Supervise and evaluate both on-the-job training and the continuing education of junior officers and enlisted personnel assigned to the department. Routinely conduct training drills for all tactical stations and personnel, under the supervision of the unit's Executive Officer. NOTE: Depending on the nature, size and function of the unit, the duties of Chief Tactical Officer and Chief Security Officer may be combined, as typical in smaller vessels and installations. This report will focus only on the duties of the TAC and that department. Click here for a detailed review of the Chief Security Officer billet. |
| WORK ENVIRONMENT: | As a Star Fleet officer assigned to a tactical department, you will have the chance to work in a number of different assignments. Though sometimes you may work behind a desk, you will often be out interacting with the members of your unit to defend Star Fleet property and Federation citizens from potentially or overtly hostile threats. Space duty may involve working with or within any of the following active classes of Star Fleet vessels: battleships (BB), command battle cruisers (CBC), battlecruisers (BC), fleet carriers (CV), heavy cruisers (CA), command light cruisers (CL), light cruisers (CL), escort carriers (CVE), destroyers (DD), escort destroyers (DE), frigates (FF) and corvettes (FL). Shore duty may find you assigned to a major nodal starbase, a deep space station, a ground installation or a joint operations task force billet (Star Fleet/Star Fleet Marine Corps). Staff assignments may involve a tour-of-duty at Star Fleet Command, a faculty assignment at the various campuses of Star Fleet Academy including Armstrong Lunar Base (ALB). In short, your assignments could take you anywhere in the Federation and beyond! The Tactical station, located in the operations center of an installation or on the bridge of a ship, is considered the defensive and offensive nerve center of the unit. While the exact layout may be radically different among the multitude of starship classes, space and ground installations, the core divisions of Tactical include: - Auxiliary Weapons Control: Manned during every watch by one NCO and one Gunner's Mate (GM) rating, who are able to manually fire weapons and operate defensive systems should the ops center/bridge be compromised. The AWC division officer is typically an Ensign (O-1). - Electronic Counter-Measures (ECM): Electronic counter-measures are critical to the survival of a unit or installation in combat. ECM systems disrupt targeting sensors with noise, misleading sensor echos, and various other techniques in order to prevent the enemy from obtaining a positive weapons lock on the actual target. Even a very small misdirection can result in a clean miss due to the large distances involved in space combat. The ECM division officer is typically an Ensign (O-1). - Guns/Strike: Strike, as the torpedoes' division officer is called, is responsible for the ship's ordnance systems, both regular and quantum (flux) along with any special purpose projectile weapons such as tricobalt warheads. Guns, or the phaser division officer, is responsible for the performance of ship energy based beam systems, including phaser and gatling (pulse) cannons along with any other particle beam based weapons. Both divisions ensure the consistent operational readiness of their respective systems. In the event both the ops center/bridge and auxiliary control centers are compromised, weapons may be manually operated by these crews. NOTE: According to unit size and crew complement, these divisions may be separate or combined. As weapons systems are highly technical in nature, the division(s) officers are typically mid-grade warrant officers. - Shields: Defensive shielding refers to those systems intended to prevent incoming fire from beam or missile weapons from impacting the installation, bulkheads of a station/starbase or hulls of a ship. It typically consists of a network of high-powered graviton emitters. Shields are usually divided into semi-independent and overlapping sectors for enhanced power utilization and significant added protection. The personnel in this division ensures the consistent operational readiness of the respective systems. The Shields division officer is typically an Ensign (O-1). NOTE: Defensive shields are independent of other similar systems such as navigational shields and structural integrity shields, which fall under the care and maintenance of the Engineering teams. - Threat Assessment, Tracking and Targeting System (TATTS): Known colloquially as "targeting scanners," the Threat Assessment/Tracking/Targeting System (TA/T/TS) is a unit's integrated tactical sensor and computer package. Beyond targeting weapons and assessing tactical data, Tactical Officers can also utilize the TA/T/TS to obtain transporter locks on individuals or objects, significantly aiding Ops and Transporter officers during hostile extractions. TATTS allow the automatic pinpoint firing accuracy under ideal conditions, but are subject to interference by many electro-magnetic systems and natural space phenomena. TATTS is another highly specialized and technical field, and thus the division officer is typically a mid to senior grade warrant officer. - Training: A classroom and adjacent holodeck for continuing education of all tactical personnel. The following is a list of typical billets and ratings one may find in a tactical department on a starbase, space station or starship, though this list is not exhaustive. ASSISTANT CHIEF TACTICAL OFFICER (aTAC) -An unrestricted line officer who is the second senior most tactical officer in the unit and reports directly to the TAC. The aTAC will assume the duties of TAC upon that person's absence or incapacity. This billet may be a held by a junior officer or senior NCO. TACTICAL OFFICER -An unrestricted line or warrant officer, usually assigned as one of the aforementioned division heads. Responsible to the aTAC and TAC for operation of their assigned division(s). Line officers in O-1 to O-3 grade and warrants from W-1 to W-3 grades typically (though not always) fill these billets. TACTICAL ACTION OFFICER -This billet is a watch standing officer responsible for the tactical employment of a unit’s weapons and sensors. nominally in command of the Tactical unit and all related operations for the duration of the watch. They are expected to supervise the activities of all assigned personnel, manning a station in the installation's operations center or bridge of a vessel. TAOs are typically senior officers, often department heads, but on smaller vessels, they may be qualified junior officers. COMMON ENLISTED TACTICAL BILLETS & RATINGS: ELECTRONICS DEFENSE TECHNICIAN - The Electronics Defense Technician (EW) rating is vital for ensuring the security and operational integrity of a vessel or installation in the face of electronic warfare. These specialists are the frontline guardians against sophisticated electronic threats. Their deep technical expertise and swift problem-solving abilities are critical for maintaining stealth, surprise, and survivability in contested electromagnetic environments, keeping Star Fleet personnel safe from hostile threats. FIRE CONTROLPERSON -The (FC) rating is absolutely crucial for any combat vessel or station, as these specialists are the meticulous guardians of a unit's offensive and defensive precision. Their expertise ensures that weapons systems can acquire targets, track them, and deliver ordnance with pinpoint accuracy. In essence, FC ratings are the unseen force behind every successful shot. Their precision, diagnostic acumen, and hands-on skill directly enable the unit to effectively engage threats and defend itself, making them indispensable to combat readiness. GUNNER'S MATE -The (GM) rating is fundamental to a unit's direct offensive and defensive capabilities, ensuring that automated and remotely operated weapon systems are always ready to deliver accurate and decisive firepower. These experts are the core of a unit's gunnery operations and are specialized into service ratings of GMP for energy weapons (phasers) and GMT for heavy ordnance (torpedoes). |
| TRAINING & ADVANCEMENT: |
If you’re a Tactical Officer (TAC), you have what it takes to lead by example. Maintain and operate the most advanced defensive and weapons systems in Star Fleet along with the crews that support them. Your team of junior officers, warrants and enlisted personnel will look to you for guidance, so you’ll need to become a subject matter expert on everything in your department. Communicate your unit’s mission and goals with your assigned divisions to ensure absolute operational readiness. If you see yourself commanding a Star Fleet unit as a Captain one day, this is one of the role that will get you there. 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 standing orders and personally sees that division tasks are completed in a timely manner. Promotion opportunities are regularly available but highly competitive and based on outstanding performance and academic achievement. Officers wishing to advance beyond grade O-4 are highly encouraged to expand both their practical and educational experience. |
| EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: | Following your initial tour as a Chief Tactical 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 masters and doctorate programs are available for senior officers who wish to pursue higher education in their respective designator(s).
Institutions available for the Tactical career track: • Andorian War College Lor'vela Andor/Kuy'va system Beta Quadrant
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| QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS: | Regardless of your commission source, you must meet the general eligibility requirements to join Star Fleet and become a Tactical 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. 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 Officer? Ready to join? Contact the Star Fleet Bureau of Personnel (BUPERS) to launch your career in Star Fleet as a Chief Tactical Officer!
- Portions of the above obtained from https://www.navy.com/ and modified for ASR use.
- Star Trek, Star Fleet, and the Star Fleet Logo are all copyrighted by http://www.paramount.com Paramount Pictures. All rights reserved.
- SD 24370723 - Created by Michael Dailey
