Nitpicking Star Trek II: TWoK – Enterprise Class?

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Nitpicking Star Trek II
The Wrath of Khan
Enterprise Class?

Enterprise Class? What? From inside the simulation we can clearly see that is taking place on board the USS Enterprise NCC-1701 (A Constitution Refit). So the sign on the door isn’t referring to the Class of the vessel, but rather the name of the class. Which by happy coincidence the Guild was able to procure a listing for the Academy class “Enterprise” from the Starfleet Academy Course catalog

Starfleet Academy Course Catalog

ENTR-401 — Enterprise

Division: Command / Operations / Sciences
Level: Fourth-Year Cadets (Advanced)
Instructor of Record: Captain Spock, Starfleet
Guest Officer Lectures by: Admiral James T. Kirk, Commander Leonard H. McCoy MD, Commander Montgomery Scott, Commander Hikaru Sulu, and Commander Nyota Uhura
Location: San Francisco Campus — Enterprise Simulation Complex & U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 (when available)
Credits: 6

Course Synopsis

ENTR-401: Enterprise is Starfleet Academy’s most advanced starship command practicum, designed to prepare graduating cadets for bridge-level responsibilities aboard Constitution-class starships and other heavy cruisers.
The course blends high-fidelity simulation, live vessel operations, and direct instruction from Captain Spock with guest lectures from Admiral James T. Kirk, Commander Leonard H. McCoy MD, Commander Montgomery Scott, Commander Hikaru Sulu, and Commander Nyota Uhura

Cadets selected for ENTR-401 are expected to demonstrate excellence in leadership, tactical reasoning, scientific literacy, and the ability to function effectively in high-stress environments involving spontaneous Kirk maneuvers.

Course Description

Cadets rotate through all primary bridge stations, including:

  • Command
  • Helm & Navigation
  • Tactical
  • Science Officer Stations
  • Communications
  • Engineering/Ops

Through a combination of simulation, real-time crisis scenarios, and supervised operations aboard the Enterprise, cadets learn to manage starship systems, respond to emergent threats, and coordinate multi-department actions at the fleet level.

The course emphasizes the philosophy, history, and legacy of the Enterprise lineage—focusing on boldness, adaptability, and ethical decision-making under extreme conditions.

Course Components

1. Enterprise Bridge Simulator Suite

Cadets participate in:

  • Various tactical scenarios
  • Multi-vector asteroid field navigation
  • First-contact diplomacy simulations with unpredictable variables
  • System-wide failure drills
  • Zero-visibility impulse docking

Simulators replicate full sensory conditions including turbulence, gravity modulation, phaser recoil, and explosive decompression.

2. Field Practicum: U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701

When operational status allows, cadets will complete supervised rotations aboard the actual Enterprise under:

  • Bridge Watches supervised by Captain Spock
  • Command drills under Admiral Kirk (“Expect the unexpected. Then expect something worse.” — Spock)
  • Engineering rotations in the lower decks (“Bring ear protection.” — Scotty)

Cadets may be assigned temporary duty during minor patrols, survey missions, or “extremely carefully managed” diplomatic voyages.

3. Tactical Ethics & Command Philosophy

Led by Captain Spock, this seminar examines topics including:

  • Logic as a command tool
  • Minimizing casualties through probabilistic decision-making
  • Ethical dilemmas on the frontier
  • The responsibility of command
  • Why following Starfleet regulations is (usually) preferable to Admiral Kirk’s methodology

Guest lecturer (reluctantly): Dr. Leonard McCoy — “Why humans should not let logic or bravado get them killed.”

4. Command Performance Evaluations

Cadets must complete:

  • A full bridge shift simulation graded by Captain Spock
  • A tactical skirmish scenario evaluated by Tactical Command
  • A narrated performance review by Admiral Kirk
  • A peer leadership assessment
  • A final written exam on the structural integrity of Constitution-class vessels

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of ENTR-401, cadets will be able to:

  1. Manage command-level decisions under stress
  2. Coordinate tactical, scientific, and engineering teams during crisis
  3. Execute complex maneuvers with precision and confidence
  4. Apply logical reasoning and ethical judgment under emergent conditions
  5. Demonstrate leadership traits consistent with Starfleet Command values
  6. Properly respond when your Captain says “Punch it” with no further context

Special Notes

  • Enrollment by instructor permission only
  • Cadets with a history of “creative simulator reprogramming” must be cleared by Command Ethics
  • Participation may involve actual starship travel, minor temporal disturbances, and occasional tribble exposure
  • Cadets must sign the “Kirk Manoeuvre Liability Waiver” before field deployment

The label on the exterior of the simulator was announcing this class.

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