CREW SUPPORT

	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 crew member 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 crew 
member. 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 crew 
member. 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 crew member is encouraged to be innovative in his/her 
job, and allowed to excel in his/her chosen area. 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, and 
professional advancement programs to informal gatherings of crew 
members. Significant blocks of off-peak Holodeck usage time are typically 
reserved for training exercisesÑsuch 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.  Æ