Starfleet ranks and insignia Cadet
Rank	ST:TNG
Cadet Fourth Class:
Cadet Third Class:
Cadet Second Class:
Cadet First Class:
Starfleet Cadet Pips as seen in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The First Duty"

Cadet is a rank held by Starfleet student officers in the fictional universe of Star Trek. The insignia of Starfleet in the late 23rd century The insignia of Starfleet in the 24th century Starfleet ranks and insignia are hierarchical titles and badges of office which appear in the science fiction universe of Star Trek. ... The title as it appeared in most episodes opening credits. ... Image File history File links Star_Trek_TNG_CD1. ... Image File history File links Star_Trek_TNG_CD2. ... Image File history File links Star_Trek_TNG_CD3. ... Image File history File links Star_Trek_TNG_CD4. ... The insignia of Starfleet in the late 23rd century The insignia of Starfleet in the 24th century Starfleet ranks and insignia are hierarchical titles and badges of office which appear in the science fiction universe of Star Trek. ... Starfleet Command In the Star Trek fictional universe, Starfleet is the paramilitary defense, research, diplomacy, and exploration force of the United Federation of Planets (UFP) with – as of the late 24th century – hundreds of starships and starbases at its disposal. ... Star Trek is an American science-fiction franchise spanning six unique television series and ten feature films, in addition to hundreds of novels, computer and video games, fan stories, and other works of fiction. ...

The rank of Cadet was first established in Star Trek: The Original Series through dialogue referring to Starfleet Academy. Only two Starfleet Cadets were seen in the entire Original Series being a recreation of Cadet Finnegan in the episode "Shore Leave" and an unnamed Cadet in the Dance Bar portrayed in "Wolf in the Fold". In both cases, the cadets were shown wearing a silver grey tunic with a starburst chest emblem. A cadet is a person who is junior in some way. ... The official logo of Starfleet Academy, circa 2370. ... Shore Leave is a first season episode of Star Trek: The Original Series. ... Wolf in the Fold is a second season episode of Star Trek: The Original Series. ...

Starfleet Cadet Finnegan from the episode "Shore Leave"

Starfleet Cadets did not appear again until Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. In the film, cadets wore a “space cadet jumper” with red tunics and red shoulder tabs. The Cadets in Star Trek II referred to themselves as Midshipmen, contradicting earlier information that Starfleet Academy students were known as Cadets. It is possible, however, that the Starfleet Academy students in Star Trek II were senior cadets, most likely fifth year or graduate level students, given the advanced nature of their training. (Note: All US Naval Academy students are called Midshipmen whereas, in the British Royal Navy, Midshipman is a rank). Starfleet Cadet Finnegan This is a screenshot of a copyrighted website, video game graphic, computer program graphic, television broadcast, or film. ... Starfleet Cadet Finnegan This is a screenshot of a copyrighted website, video game graphic, computer program graphic, television broadcast, or film. ... Shore Leave is a first season episode of Star Trek: The Original Series. ...

In the Star Trek roleplaying manual "Star Trek:The Next Generation Officer's Manual", the rank of Midshipman has been expanded to state that the title is bestowed upon Starfleet Cadets who have graduated from the Academy and are posted to an assignment in a "probationary status", prior to commissioning as Ensigns^[1]. This theory, however, is not backed up in Star Trek productions and, other than the Midshipman of Star Trek II, no other Midshipman have appeared on camera in a television series or film.

Starfleet Cadet Locarno from
"The First Duty"

In Star Trek: The Next Generation, the rank of Cadet was firmly established as the title held by Starfleet academy students. It was not until the episode “Allegiance”, however, that a Starfleet Cadet was actually seen. The cadet in question, albeit an impostor, wore a modified Starfleet uniform without any insignia. In the episode “The First Duty”, Starfleet Academy is shown for the first time since Star Trek II and a system of Cadet rank pips is established. Starfleet Cadet Locarno (ST:TNG) This is a screenshot of a copyrighted website, video game graphic, computer program graphic, television broadcast, or film. ... Starfleet Cadet Locarno (ST:TNG) This is a screenshot of a copyrighted website, video game graphic, computer program graphic, television broadcast, or film. ... The First Duty is a fifth season episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. ...

The pips seen in the episode "The First Duty" are deemed to be the official cadet insignia for future series and programs, however it is of interest that cadets seen in Star Trek Deep Space Nine do not wear this insignia. The cadets in question may have been wearing field uniforms without insignia or this could be a costume error on the part of the Deep Space Nine producers.

Some Star Trek novels have also referenced a cadet rank known as "Officer Candidate". Such a rank is said to be held by direct commission personnel, such as scientists and doctors, who do not attend Starfleet Academy^[2]. This would mirror the practice of the United States Navy which appoints educated civilians to the rank of Officer Candidate, for a brief duration of indoctrination training, prior to commissioning as officers. An actual Officer Candidate, however, has never been seen in a live action Star Trek production leaving the rank confined strictly to Star Trek literature. USN Officer Candidate insignia Officer Candidate is a rank in some militaries of the world that is an appointed position while a person is in training to become an officer. ...

Wesley Crusher's special uniform

The uniform worn by Wesley Crusher, serving as an “Acting Ensign” in Season 2 and 3 of the Next Generation series, is an oddity in that the uniform was never explained on screen nor has any other character in a subsequent episode or series of Star Trek worn a similar Starfleet uniform. Public Photograph released by Paramount Pictures in 1990. ... Public Photograph released by Paramount Pictures in 1990. ... Wesley Eugene Crusher is a character on the science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. ...

Wesley Crusher’s uniform appears as a light grey tunic, with a sweater like shoulder piece, that is worn without any identifying insignia except a standard communication pin.^[3] The producers of Star Trek admitted in later years that this uniform was designed along the lines of a “Starfleet West Point” look and was simply created to give Wesley a more military look, thus gearing his character away from the boy-like child character seen in the first season. (In the first season, after being named an "acting ensign," Wesley began to wear a sweater similar to those that he had worn before but with red, yellow, and blue stripes- the color of the Starfleet divisions- across the top.)

Based on the limited information provided, one possible explanation of Wesley’s uniform is that the grey tunic was a sort of “junior youth” uniform similar to the present day Sea Cadets or the Cadets of Junior Naval ROTC. Another explanation is that the uniform is indeed an established Starfleet uniform, possibly an Officer Cadet jacket. The United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps (NSCC) is an organization sponsored by the Navy League of the United States. ... The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) is a training program of the United States armed forces present on college campuses to recruit and educate commissioned officers. ...

The character of Wesley Crusher was later promoted, via field commission, to Ensign and from that point wore a standard Starfleet uniform with Ensign insignia. Upon his acceptance to Starfleet Academy, Wesley’s field commission was cancelled and he began wearing the standard uniform of a Cadet. He was a Cadet for four years before resigning as a Fourth Year Junior, having repeated a year due to disciplinary action.

The insignia of Starfleet in the late 23rd century The insignia of Starfleet in the 24th century Starfleet ranks and insignia are hierarchical titles and badges of office which appear in the science fiction universe of Star Trek. ... Enlisted are non-commissioned ranks of the Starfleet in the fictional universe of Star Trek. ...

Footnotes

1. ↑  Star Trek: The Next Generation Officer’s Manual, Page 9
2. ↑  “Doctor’s Orders”, published by Pocket Books (1993)
3. ↑  Uniforms of STARFLEET 3 - utopianfederation.20m.com