Orders of Merit
STARFLEET’s Orders of Merit recognize members for significant achievement and service across a wide range of activities. Use this page to identify the Order that best matches a member’s contribution, determine the appropriate class where applicable, and prepare a complete nomination.
Understanding Order Classes
Most Orders have three classes based on the scope of the achievement. Babel, Gaea, Herodotus, Prentares, Roddenberry, and Surak are single-level Orders and should not be described as First, Second, or Third Class.
Third Class
Chapter Level
Recognizes significant achievement at the chapter level.
Approval: Awards Director
Second Class
Regional Level
Recognizes significant achievement at the regional level.
Requirement: RC Letter of Recommendation
Approval: Awards Director
First Class
STARFLEET Level
Recognizes the highest level of achievement to STARFLEET.
Requirement: RC Letter of Recommendation
Approval: Majority vote of the Executive Committee
Orders of Merit at a Glance
Order Definitions
Order of Axanar
Awarded to a member who has played a key role in problem resolution or mediation between STARFLEET members, chapters or regions.
Order of Babel
Awarded to a member for activities in the area of chapter or STARFLEET recruitment.
Order of Cochrane
Awarded to a member for activities in the area of technology support, such as web page creation and maintenance or mailing list moderation, on behalf of their chapter, region, or STARFLEET.
Order of Darmok and Jalad
Awarded to a member for a significant act of friendship or outreach shown to a fellow STARFLEET member, or for outreach to their community on behalf of their chapter, region, or STARFLEET.
Order of Dionysus
Awarded for excellence in planning, coordinating and executing a chapter, region or STARFLEET-related recreational event.
Order of Gaea
Awarded to a member for significant activities in the area of ecology or preservation. Activities need not be STARFLEET-related.
Grankite Order of Tactics
Awarded to a member for planning, coordinating and executing a chapter, region or STARFLEET-related business event, such as a Regional Conference or International Conference.
Order of Hawking
Awarded to a member for significant activities in making chapter, region or STARFLEET events or resources accessible to disabled members.
Order of Herodotus
Awarded to a member for significant activities in preserving a chapter’s, region’s, or STARFLEET’s history.
Order of Prentares
Awarded to a member for significant activity in promoting the cause of space research or exploration. Activities need not be STARFLEET-related.
Order of Rand
Awarded to a member for contributing to the creation, as well as the translation, of STARFLEET materials such as manuals, handbooks, etc. on behalf of their chapter, region, or STARFLEET.
Order of Roddenberry
Awarded to a member for significant activity in promoting Star Trek, development and implementation of fun, Star Trek-themed ideas, and Star Trek fandom as a whole.
Order of Samaritan
Awarded to a member for significant activities in the area of charity work or volunteerism. Activities need not be STARFLEET-related.
Order of S’harien
Awarded to a member for excellence in inventiveness or craftsmanship in an aspect related to their chapter, region or STARFLEET.
Order of Surak
Awarded to a member for scholastic achievement, such as making the Dean’s List, President’s List, Honor Society, etc., outside of STARFLEET. This may include traditional schooling, vocational schooling, continuing education, and similar educational achievement.
Order of Tarbolde of Canopius
Awarded to a member for activities in the area of chapter fiction, or writing for chapter, region, or STARFLEET publications.
Choosing the Right Class
Chapter Impact
Third Class
Regional Impact
Second Class
STARFLEET-wide Impact
First Class
The member’s rank or title does not determine the class. The class should reflect the scope of the achievement described in the nomination.
Nomination Procedures & Requirements
- Nominations are accepted on a rolling basis, with award recipients announced quarterly in the Communiqué and subsequently through social media.
- Nominations may be submitted for activities that occurred within the past six months. If a series of activities forms the basis of the nomination, the most recent activity must fall within that six-month period.
- Any STARFLEET member in good standing may nominate another STARFLEET member in good standing. Members may not nominate themselves.
- First and Second Class nominations require a Letter of Recommendation (LoR) from a Regional Coordinator. The exception is when the nominee’s own RC submits the nomination.
- The RC for the nominee’s region will always be asked for a LoR; however, any RC may provide the required LoR.
- When an LoR is required, it must be submitted with the nomination form. A nomination requiring an LoR that is submitted without one will be denied.
- A STARFLEET member may receive the same Order of Merit only once per calendar year.
- Second and Third Class nominations are reviewed by the Awards Director. Properly completed nominations meeting the applicable requirements will be approved.
- First Class nominations are reviewed and approved or rejected by majority vote of the STARFLEET Executive Committee.
Basis for Recommendation
The Basis for Recommendation must describe how the nominee has gone above and beyond the call of duty in providing service to their chapter, region, or STARFLEET. It should not simply list activities or events; it should explain why the contribution was significant and why the member deserves the award.
Quick Decision Path
- Identify the achievement. Determine what the member actually did and which Order most closely matches the contribution.
- Check whether the Order has classes. Babel, Gaea, Herodotus, Prentares, Roddenberry, and Surak are single-level Orders.
- Determine the scope. Chapter = Third Class, Region = Second Class, STARFLEET-wide = First Class.
- Check timing and eligibility. Confirm the activity falls within the six-month window and the member is eligible.
- Obtain the required LoR. First and Second Class nominations require an RC Letter of Recommendation unless the nominee’s own RC is submitting the nomination.
- Write for impact. Explain the contribution, who benefited, what made it significant, and how the member went above and beyond.
Ready to Submit?
Submit the completed nomination form, together with any required Letter of Recommendation, to the Director of Orders of Merit at merit@sfi.org.