For those of us that have been fans of the Star Trek franchise long before Chris Pine took the Captain's Chair, we are all well aware that not just anybody can sit in that big chair at the center of the bridge. It takes a certain kind of person to captain a starship in the Federation, and we've all seen firsthand what can happen if the wrong person is sitting in the hot seat.
A Federation Captain must be more than just a mere man or woman. It takes a certain amount of real world experience combined with the natural qualities necessary to safely navigate the stars to seek out new worlds and new civilizations.
We all know who the main Captains are: Kirk, Picard, Sisko, and Janeway, and yes, even Captain Archer. These are iconic, larger than life figures who have seen more battle, have visited more new worlds, and have had more interaction with new species than any other Captains we've heard of in the Star Trek Universe. These amazing characters possess everything it takes to govern their crews and more, and we've seen them tackle terrible and incredible situations with grace, confidence, and precision on several occasions.
So what does it take to sit in the Captain's Chair? What exactly is in the job description of the most coveted position in all of Starfleet?
1. Diplomat:
A great Starfleet Captain is a master in the art of diplomacy. They must interact with races of people that oftentimes they know nothing about, cultures as strange and complex as humans must look to the Romulans. They must follow the Prime Directive at every turn, and never break it, while still doing everything they can to learn about this new culture without getting involved. Not to mention the fact that something bad usually happens when they visit these strange new worlds, and it's always in the hands of the Captain to finagle their way out of horrible situations and get their crew out of there safely. A Starfleet Captain must uphold the ideals and values of the Human Race, as well as that of the Federation, and always keep in mind their greater mission, a mission of exploration.
2. Politician:
Space is a complicated place in the world of Star Trek, and nine times out of ten there are major disagreements between worlds that need to be ironed out. And seeing that the Federation are pretty much the peacekeepers of the galaxy, it almost always falls upon the shoulders of the Captain to act as the intermediary between two warring cultures. Because the Prime Directive specifically states that they are not to directly interfere, a Captain must always maintain realism in every serious situation. Whenever a Captain sits in the middle of a negotiation table, they must maintain objectivity and keep their cool. And as the primary peacekeepers of the Alpha Quadrant and beyond, the Federation Captains have to negotiate peace between two worlds on a regular basis.
3. Soldier:
If you've ever seen Star Trek, you know good and well that you do not want to screw with any of the major Captains. While they may be the veritable sheriffs of the galaxy, ninety percent of the time the Captains have to throw down and fight. I can't even count how many times a negotiation goes south and the Captain is back on the Bridge ready to head into battle. Not to mention all the times they get into a hand-to-hand combat situation, during which they always come out on top. War is always a part of living in the galaxy, and when it hits the fan, any of the Captains are the people you want in your corner, because they will fight until their last breath in order to protect their ideals, their ship, and their crew.
4. Explorer:
The main function of the Federation is to seek out new life and new civilizations, and this task inevitably falls into the hands of the Captain of the ship. Each one of them always has this enlightened view of the universe and is oftentimes too curious for their own good. But that's what makes them great. They are always down to head into this star system or that and see what they can find, or to get ten feet from a supernova so they can study it, only to get caught in a gravity well and have to scramble to get out of there. They all romanticize the idea of going to every single star in every single sector of the galaxy to see what they can find, and always find a way to get out of trouble when it inevitably strikes.
5. Captain:
Let's not forget the most important function of the Starfleet Captain: to run their ships. Under their command are usually hundreds of people that count on them, look up to them, and greatly respect them as human beings. They must execute the day to day functions of the ship, delegate responsibility, groom new talent, stay up-to-date on ship-wide issues and information, and, most importantly always consider the well-being of their crew before anything. They are responsible for the lives of hundreds of men and women, and odds are not all of them are going to make it back from that particular mission. The Captain must deal with sending men and women out on dangerous missions, and sometimes to their deaths, and must take it in stride. They need to be confident in their ability to govern their ships and instill pride, efficiency, and confidence in each and every member of their crew.
With all of this in mind, just think about the kind of training, the kind of experience one would need to even take a seat in that chair. You must wear half a dozen hats, and sometimes more as the situation calls for it, and your job is never easy. You must stand above your crew, but be on their level when things are at their hardest. You are a community leader, a parental figure, the voice of reason, the final decision maker, and the go-to when answers are needed in practically every situation.
So, with all of this in mind, ask yourself one question: do you have what it takes to sit in the Captain's Chair?
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