Midshipman

A 'midshipman was a term for an undergraduate student in training to be a commissioned officer at a naval academy, whether ocean-going navy or starfaring one (e.g., Starfleet Academy.


 * The term is interchangeable with cadet, though one source asserts that midshipmen are not cadets until their second through fourth years at Starfleet Academy. (''Orion Press: "First Contact 101")

Peter Preston introduced himself to Admiral James T. Kirk in 2285 as "Midshipman First Class Peter Preston, sir!" 

Midshipmen were divided into four classes:


 * midshipman fourth class = freshman
 * midshipman third class = sophomore
 * midshipman second class = junior
 * midshipman first class = freshman

Midshipmen are military personnel and may be deployed, trained and disciplined as such in time of war or emergency. 

Origin of the term
The term originated during Earth's 17th century, where a midshipman was a term for an experienced seaman. The word was derived from amidships (the center of the ship, along the line of the keel), where the seaman either worked or was berthed.

By the beginning of the 18th century, the term midshipman was used for a commisssioned officer candidate. There was no academy, per se, at the time and training was entirely aboard ships. One's rank or grade was dependent on duration of experience.

In the 21st century United States Navy, all midshipmen were considered line officers, with the limits on their authority imposed by their level of training.