This is page 1 of a subsection which relates to the period 2266 to 2373. 2266 equates to [TNG] Season 3; well into that year the [TNG] Seasons 1 and 2 uniforms were slightly amended. (The change occurred because the actors found the one-piece uniforms introduced in 2365 [TNG: Season 1] too tight with no room for growth.) The amended uniforms endure for the rest of [TNG] i.e. up to and including 2370, a year before the [Voyager] series begins. This means that the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D crew carry on wearing the uniform even though a version new to tv viewers is seen in the next Star Trek series [DS9] and whose first two Seasons are aired at the same time as the last two Seasons of [TNG]; that new version is presented as simply a variant of the existing uniforms system.
NOTE RE SOURCES & THE FOUR EPISODES HELD BACK TO SEASON 3: There is apparent conflict between certain sources as to which episodes fall into Season 2 and which into Season 3. www.startrek.com seems to be alone in treating four episodes from Season 3 as part of Season 2. The episodes concerned are [TNG: The Ensigns Of Command], [TNG: Evolution], [TNG: The Survivors] and [TNG: Who Watches The Watches?] (in the latter Ray Wise is a guest-star; he plays Arturis in [#94 Hope And Fear]). What happened was that, due to a 6-month strike by the Writer's Guild which affected filming, the network cut the showing of Season 2 from twenty-six episodes to twenty-two, and the end four episodes were shown as the beginning four episodes of Season 3. The 'cut' is permanent for the several main sources I checked, except for www.startrek.com as indicated above. The 'cut' is considered permanent by other sources probably because Dr Crusher's return, and Dr Pulaski's departure, seems to be a good way (among other things) to start Season 3. When referring to sources, there is no difficulty in identifying episodes, however, because all sources, including www.startrek.com, seem to be consistent in using the same episode numbering system.HIDE NOTE
The re-styling of the uniforms (first seen in 2369 in [DS9: Emissary]) is not actually a change to the uniforms systems at all, as they are presented to the tv viewer as variants of the existing system. For a new tv series or film in particular, Star Trek likes to develop its universe and introduce innovations. For the [Voyager] series, which begins in 2371, no change is made to the uniforms (as mentioned in paragraph 1 above), neither in the form of Starfleet introducing a new uniforms system, nor in the form of changes being presented as variants of the existing system. Instead, the change is that Starfleet introduces a re-styled Starfleet emblem which, like its predecessor emblem, incorporates a personal communicator; the combination device is commonly called a 'combadge'.* In fact, the new-style combadge was introduced for the film [ST VII: Generations], which is set in 2371, the same year that [Voyager] starts (the coincidence, as regards the combadge, is a neat one).
SERIES CHRONOLOGY: [TNG] Season 6 occurs in 2369, the year in which [DS9] Season 1 is set. This means also that [TNG] Season 7, that series' final season, being set in 2370, is contemporaneous with [DS9] Season 2. In the series opener [#1 and #2 Caretaker] USS Voyager NCC-74656 is lost in the Badlands in 2371, and [Voyager] Season 1 is contemporaneous with [DS9] Season 3. The [Voyager]-style uniforms are actually not seen first in [Voyager] but are first seen earlier, in [DS9] Season 1. In the [DS9] series opener [DS9: Emissary] Cmdr. Sisko and Captain Picard converse; they are wearing variants of the same uniform but this is a ploy (and a neat one) by Star Trek to introduce a new uniform style. The "new" style is established visually as a variant of the uniforms seen in later [TNG] that was aired earlier, and the "new" style became the standard uniform by virtue of the fact that that is the version which is almost always seen - this is detailed by ST:M but it is not explained on tv.
The textual explanation to support the visual indications of [DS9: Emissary] (the Picard and Sisko scene mentioned above) which is given by ST:M was published in the April 2001 issue i.e. barely a month before the [Voyager] series ended in the U.S. and several years after [TNG] and [DS9] ended. The explanation could only be inserted into canon text (canon text as opposed to canon as shown on tv or in tv dialogue) by being put into ST:M and TOSTFF (and other canon publications) because after [Voyager] finished airing there was no Star Trek series being aired which was set in the 2370's into which dialogue could be inserted to provide the explanation in the more 'proper' way (at that time [Enterprise] was to start airing in September 2001 but it is set in the 2150's). Until the canon text was published in ST:M circa April 2001 (also TOSTFF), confusion possibly loomed for fans who never saw the Picard-Sisko scene, and possible confusion remains for those who neither saw that tv scene nor read the canon article. Also, what happened is given in canon article(s) in implied form - readers are expected to deduce the facts. This paragraph spells them out, in case.
*In 2372 Q abstracts Riker and brings him aboard USS Voyager in the Delta Quadrant. Riker is wearing the "old"-style uniform complete with old-style combadge, while of course Janeway is wearing the standard variant or new style (but it does not explain why Riker does not wear the new re-styled Starfleet emblem).
PAGE CONTENTS
standard uniforms - introduction, rank and insignia
INTRODUCTION
The middle years of the 2360's form a transitional period for Starfleet uniform designs. In about 2366, slight modifications were made to the basic duty uniform, as the previous flat-necked tunics are gradually replaced with a high-collared version and the coloured braiding on the black shoulders is abandoned. At first, only commissioned officers wear this new version, while enlisted crew still wear the flat-neck uniform. By the end of the decade, however, all ranks wear the new design. The higher collar allows officers' rank pips to be displayed more prominently on the collar lapels, but in all other respects the uniforms retain the old design elements. The rank insignia remains a series of small black and gold pips, and the primary colour-coding of the tunics remains, with red to denote the command division, gold to denote engineering and security, and blue for medical and science.
Cadets studying at Starfleet Academy during this period wear a uniform that is mostly black,
with a red yoke across the shoulders. Interestingly, this style reflects the future design of Starfleet uniforms, and it is not long before the design principle is integrated into Starfleet's entire uniforms structure. The change, however, is presented on screen as a gradual change, not apparently enough to merit being considered a major re-style, and ST:M and TOSTFF present it as being variants on the existing uniforms system. This means that, strictly speaking, we should not view the uniforms worn (in early [DS9] and) by USS Voyager's crew as a new uniforms system, however much it might look like it. See Yellow Alert above.)
Like the cadet uniforms, these newer uniforms, seen first in [DS9]'s opening story [DS9: Emissary] which is set in 2369, are almost completely black, the only exception being the area across the shoulders, where the three standard departmental colours are displayed. The uniforms are also, as before, unisex.
The rank insignia remains unchanged, being the system of solid gold pips and a black pip with thin gold border surround. See subsection 'Rank and insignia' below.
main crew (ensemble cast) of [TNG]; publicity shot
This uniforms systems is the one current at the start of [Voyager], and it is therefore this uniform that the crew of USS Voyager wear throughout their stay in the Delta Quadrant. The Voyager crew, in fact, continue to wear this uniform version past 2373 when a new uniforms system is introduced by Starfleet - that new system is discussed in the subsection 2373 to at least 2378. A slight change is made in 2371, not to the uniform style but to the insignia, for the Starfleet emblem undergoes minor re-styling; the emblem continues to incorporate a personal communicator; and all Starfleet personnel are seen wearing the new emblem/combadge from that time onwards.
combadge 2364-2371
In the drawing and in early [DS9] screenshots, the pre-[Voyager] Starfleet emblem is worn. Once the new Starfleet emblem is introduced, as Voyager (both ship and series) gets under way, it is adopted throughout Starfleet and therefore is worn in [DS9] from then on. The new emblem/combadge appears in [ST VII: Generations], [DS9], [ST VIII: First Contact], [Voyager] of course, [ST IX: Insurrection] and [ST X: Nemesis].
combadge 2371 to at least after the events of [ST X: Nemesis] in 2378
In [#65 Distant Origin] it is established that Starfleet uniforms contain a microscopic identification code indicating the name of the ship the crewman is stationed on. It is not indicated on tv when that identification coding was first introduced in Starfleet.
As with all previous generations of Starfleet uniform, this version also has a specific outfit for important occasions and diplomatic functions: the dress uniform. Dress uniform retains the previous colour scheme denoting departments, but the tailored tunic ends at the thigh whereas it had previously reached down as far as the knee. In addition, the gold piping that ran along the fastening of the tunic is removed. It seems to be replaced by a thin kind of silver braiding or silver-coloured thread.
[TNG: Season 7: Bloodlines]
Captain's uniforms In the mid 2360's the captain's uniform changes in line with the other duty uniforms in that a higher collar is added to the bodysuit's shirt section, but there is still nothing but the rank pips to distinguish the captain from the lower ranks. The only real exception comes a few years later, when some captains choose to wear a dark red, open jacket over a grey shirt. This variant appears to be interchangeable with the regular uniform. When the all-black bodysuit is introduced, captains return to wearing a uniform identical to all other ranks, except for the rank pips. More information on Page 2: Command uniform and its variants and Page 3: Captain's variants
Admiral's uniform The admiral's uniforms of the 2360's are a more formal version of the duty uniform and closely resemble dress uniform. They also feature elaborate braiding and other embellishments that set them apart from captains and junior officers. However, the exact design changes slightly from admiral to admiral, and the difference appears to be more a personal choice than indicative of any specific function. There is no difference between the uniform style adopted by male and female admirals. The most consistent aspect of the 2360's and early 2370's admiral's uniform is that they all feature the colour red, which denotes the duty division command. There are exceptions to even this rule, however, as one Vice-Admiral Toddman in 2371 [DS9: The Die Is Cast] retained the gold shirt of the engineers division, illustrating that one can retain a loyalty to a department even after the promotion to the admiralty. More information including 3D drawings and screenshots on Page 6.
Admiral Brand [TNG: Season 5: The First Duty]
Admiral Leyton [DS9: Season 4: Home Front] or its sequel [DS9: Season 4: Paradise Lost]
alien entity masquerading as Admiral Janeway [#57 Coda]
RANK AND INSIGNIA
The system of rank pips and admiral rank pins was introduced during the 2350's and first seen in the [TNG] opener [TNG: Encounter At Farpoint] set in 2364.
The system endures to at least [ST X: Nemesis], which is set in 2378, at least as regards the current timeline (as at the time of writing). It is assumed that the uniforms system does happen, even if certain individual events and relationships do not occur, that is seen in the anti-time future in the [TNG] finale [TNG: All Good Things...] (2395), in the eventually unrealised timeline depicted in [DS9: The Visitor] and the eventually unrealised timeline seen in [#171 and #172 Endgame] (2404). The assumption is as per visual evidence (all three stories have the same uniform and Starfleet emblem) and TOSTFF's implied assumption. Accordingly, the rank pips system endures to 2404, with the slight modification in 2369 to more silver coloured pips and a plain black pip, and by 2395 the relocation of the pips from the collar to the righthand side of the chest. The illustration below is seen, together with details about individual ranks, at 2350's-2404 Rank And Insignia.
Red alert: The picture below is 141Kb.
The next pages describe each uniform in detail, and include 3D drawings and screenshots.
Next page: standard uniforms - command and its variants
![this page covers part of the [Voyager] era](unifpics/voy_splash_by_janet.jpg)
