Starfleet recognizes that its single most important system and most valuable resource is its people. The crew of a starship determines, far more than any technology or hardware, the success of any given mission. Accordingly, Starfleet has a long tradition of placing its personnel at the top of its priority list.
The long, exacting, and frequently hazardous nature of starship duty places a very considerable toll on its crew. Yet the nature of Starfleet missions requires each crewmember to be continually operating at very near 100%. The success of a mission, the safety of the ship, or the fate of an entire planet can at any moment hinge on the performance of any crewmember. Reconciling the demanding nature of starship duty with the need to maintain quality over extended periods is a difficult goal, but StarfleetÕs personnel policies make it a reality.
Starfleet personnel are well trained and highly motivated, but maintaining that motivation is an ongoing challenge. StarfleetÕs command structure is designed to support this philosophy and our officers understand the importance of nurturing and encouraging the efforts of each crewmember. This ranges from ample opportunities for personnel to advance within Starfleet, to a policy of actively listening to the needs and concerns of all personnel. Each crewmember is encouraged to be innovative in his/her job, and allowed to excel in their chosen areas. Indeed, many of our most important technical and procedural advances have come from on-duty personnel who have suggested better ways to do their jobs.
Educational facilities range from training simulators, classrooms, professional advancement programs, to informal gatherings of crewmembers. Significant blocks of off-peak Holodeck usage time are typically reserved for training exercises Ñ such simulations can often be counted as field experience toward promotions. Many starships have ongoing lecture programs featuring visiting mission specialists who are often at the forefront of their fields of study. All these permit interested individuals to advance at their own pace within their chosen specialty, or to gain the knowledge and experience to branch into other areas.
Part of StarfleetÕs support for its personnel is the attention lavished on living accommodations. All Starfleet personnel are provided with comfortable, spacious living quarters. Food service aboard the Galaxy class starship is provided by a sophisticated replicator system that provides a vast array of culinary selections from a hundred planets. Recreational facilities range from four holographic environment simulators, two fully equipped gymnasiums and other exercise and sports facilities, a concert hall and theater, an arboretum, and a variety of lounges for off-duty use.
Starfleet duty is extremely demanding, but the entire organization is devoted to supporting its people and allowing them to excel. StarfleetÕs extraordinary history of over two centuries of space exploration is ample testament to the success of that policy.
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