Starfleet Security assignment patch, circa 2154.
Security is protection against danger or harm. In the concrete sense, this refers to an organization or institution that works to guarantee that quality: first responder peace officers, governmental police/law-enforcement organizations or a business or company that can provide private security services.
- When Scotty encountered a Section 31 operative aboard the USS Vengeance in TOS movie: Star Trek Into Darkness, he asked if the man was hired as private security aboard that starship.
History and specifics[]
Earth and the Federation[]
In the Federation Starfleet, crew personnel who provided security worked in Starfleet Security as security officers or security chiefs. This role was typically fulfilled by personnel in the operations division. (Star Trek: The Original Series, etc.)
- Security was first mentioned as a departmental role aboard the USS Enterprise in TOS episode: "Mudd's Women", with the personnel wearing operations division redshirt uniforms. Prior to that (in "The Cage" and "Where No Man Has Gone Before"), supernumerary personnel who appeared to be filling security roles wore blue, indicating a potential crossover with the life sciences division. It could be theorized either that the Starfleet uniform code called for security assignments in the 2250s turtleneck uniforms to wear blue, or that some parts of the security department had medical or science training, either to fill a mandated role as first responders or simply because they could be assigned duty in multiple departments. In particular, Mister Leslie was often on security duty in red but also filled a role as a medicine department orderly in sickbay, wearing blue—indicating his appearance in "Where No Man Has Gone Before" wearing blue might show he was cross-trained in a dual role.
Before the formation of the Federation, the Earth Starfleet tasked armory personnel to responding to security needs. As the mission parameters evolved, the need for organization of specialized security and tactical departments was recognized. With the onset of the Xindi crisis, United Earth's MACO forces were deployed with Starfleet crews. After the resolution of that emergency and the treaty at the end of the Earth-Romulan War, security, tactical and intelligence roles aboard Starfleet starships, starbases and outposts were billeted to non-military personnel. (Star Trek: Enterprise, etc.)
- The consolidation of the MACOs with the non-military Starfleet security and armory officers was hinted at in TOS movie: Star Trek Beyond and described in greater detail in the Rise of the Federation novels.
While some Starfleet security personnel received specialized training, assignment to security could be given to many other crew with differing specialties in the course of a mission.
- Crewmembers Hadley, Harrison and Leslie all spent time working of security teams when away from their duties at bridge officer and engineering posts on the Enterprise. (Star Trek: The Original Series)
- During the McAllister C-5 Nebula incident in 2369, Captain Edward Jellico ordered that a significant portion of Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge's department be transferred to security, leaving him short of engineers. (TNG episode: "Chain of Command")
Other organizations[]
While having personnel provide security roles aboard ships and stations is common in many races and cultures, there are differences regarding the crossover between state/governmental police, naval and service organization security and other intelligence agent roles, depending on the governing authority's needs for situational control. In the Klingon Empire and Romulan Empire militaries, for example, security forces are ever-present and frequently act to exert political oversight. (TOS - Worlds Apart novel: The Final Reflection, etc.)
Appendices[]
References[]
- TOS episode: "Mudd's Women"
- TOS - Worlds Apart novel: The Final Reflection
- TNG episode: "Chain of Command"
- TOS movie: Star Trek Into Darkness
External links[]
- Security article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
- Security article at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
