With a long history and many people coming to SFC over the decades, there can often be a lot of curiosity for members – both old and new – about various subjects. From questions about our base structure, how to get four pips, how Q2 and Q1 diverged many moons ago…. even questions on the curse of the Daring. Sometimes we have questions where the answers are as mundane as the question. One of the most common…. what is my serial number and why do I have it?
Like any account number in the known universe – whether it’s your broadband provider or local Blockbusters – your service ID is a unique membership number that helps us identify each member whether we’re updating a record or assessing a Fleet Support application form.
With our structure and organisational systems based on Starfleet, SFC has always issued a ‘service ID’ for every member. Even if we’re not assigning you to a far away outpost to find out why cat eating seashell’s are causing subspace rifts, membership account numbers have always been a logical part of any club or organisation. Ours being called a Service ID just fits with the theme.
Upon processing a new member, a Service ID is generated while we create a membership record for you. This ID is then used as a reference for every promotion, certification, communication and administrative process we have.
Format for the ID has varied over the years. For a long while it was all based on Kirk’s service number seen in TOS episode Court Martial: SC937-0176CEC. Replicating the SC, which conveniently fits into Starfleet Command, our format would contain a series of numbers followed by a three letter assignment pin. Just as the Star Trek productions would switch up the number format, we would too.
While it’s changed over time, the formats remained roughly the same through several variations of our membership services. For most of the 2000’s the numerical portion would be split between regions and admin processing identifiers. In 2021 the current format was introduced splitting the serial generation into three segments to help identify a member by the year they were processed, and by whom for future reference.
As an example, someone joining this year may receive the service ID SC-795899-DVN. Which would break down as:
- SC: Easy Starfleet Command shorthand.
- 79: Corresponds to Stardate (2025/2402 becomes 79000)
- 58: Generated with basic telephone keypad lettering for JT.
- 99: Ascending from 01; 99 would be the 99th person processed that year.
- DVN: Unit identifier (DVN for Devonport)
When checking for membership information, we can see the year that person joined, who processed their membership and what unit they are or were assigned to. Members of the Administration would typically receive the Unit Identifier SSC or SSCO for former commanding officers. Returning members have the option of being assigned anew Service ID or retaining their old one if they still have a record.
Of course, there is the fun of having a link to Starfleet, especially with Service ID’s getting more prominence on screen in recent years thanks to productions showing us props such as Picard and Georgious’s insignia backings as well as service records shown in Strange New Worlds. But for all the wonder of what the Service ID may be, or why it’s used for, there is a logic beyond immersion to make sure all your achievements and time in SCF is all handled under your own unique reference!
About the author
It’s Not Easy Being Green Blooded: ‘Level Five Transporter Accident’, Strange New Worlds S4E05
Spock's going through a bit of a personal crisis and Scotty's become madly competitive with an old Academy rival. These two separate threads collide in the weirdest way when Spock finds himself as the only person who can control the ship as Scotty's transporter antics turn everyone into puppets... Writers: Henry Alonso Myers & Dana HorganDirector: Jordan Canning Spock's not quite feeling himself and he hasn't quite been himself since the Griffin Incident. And things are getting worse. Leaning heavily towards logic over his exploration of his human side, and in the wake of La'an deciding their relationship had reached it's 'natural conclusion', he's spiraling. Well, as much as a Vulcan would allow themselves to. Desperately trying to balance himself, he's leaning into logic and reaching out to his scorned ex-fiancee for help in re-establishing his Vulcan side.While thats happening, Scotty's on a […]
1701 Shades of Grey: ‘A Case of Chiaroscuro’, Strange New Worlds S4E04
It's been a stressful few months for the Enterprise crew and they want, well, demand, shore leave. Choosing a tech-free planet with natural psychedelics in the atmosphere, the command crew take a shuttle down, take in all the wonders the world provides. And then it all goes a bit wonky... Writers: Skylar Ojeda & Dana Horgan Director: Meera Menon Aside from orbiting a star who's radiation gives an altered perspective of light, Mat'aar XII is a world occupied by Klingon overlords. Having taken control of the population, and implemented strict monitoring and restrictions on movement, the Klingon's rule with fear, torture and by creating division. Like any good occupiers, they've given cushy jobs to some locals including their top Lieutenant, Navatte, a local who proudly wears her silver Klingon armband and interrogates anyone who oppose the Empire. Or so […]
[Departmental] Introducing General Board
The General Board is a relatively new concept and the next evolution of Fleet Support. Mirroring the Captains Table, the General Board is constructed to help overall fleet operations and to contribute more voices and ideas to the clubs operation. Based very loosely on the political 'two house' structure, and named after the real-world General Board within the US Navy in the first half of the 20th century, the starting point was to appoint two sets of voices within the fleet. The Captains represent their unit and their members need within that unit, each representing an area or group that makes up the whole. To contrast and add to the Captains Table, Fleet Support – and now the expanded General Board – allows to give both opinions of fleet leadership and fleet membership equal standing and ensure we hear a […]
Welcoming Our New Fleet Development Officer
To quote Heraclitus, the only constant in life is change. Quadrant 2 has been through many changes before and with the recent appointment of a new Admiralty Board, we're looking ahead with more changes to the fleet structure. With Piers Drinkall joining the board alongside David Shires, there were some discussions about what to do with Piers' Fleet Development role and after some serious thinking, a decision was made. After aiding in Piers' efforts within the Command Training Program, and being a solid right hand on the USS Sovereign, we're pleased to welcome Karl Drinkall to the Fleet Development position. Karl is a sharp mind with a lot to give to the fleet and a clear grasp of our aims and goals in the coming months and years. With his dedication and string mindset, it was an easy decision to […]
[Retro Review] Errand of Mercy
Relations between the Federation and the Klingons are in tatters and the prospect of an all out war casts a shadow over the region. To help prepare for the worst, Kirk and the Enterprise are sent to Organia, a planet populated by inherent pushovers right on the border between Federation and Klingon space. With the prospect of the Klingons getting a foothold that would help their war efforts, Kirk's job is to negotiate a protection order, getting the Organians on their side before the Klingons annexe the planet as a launching pad for conflict. Problem is, the Organians are hardcore pacifists and their native tech is limited. They don't want to be part of any war, and they don't want to change their values to resist. Which becomes a bit of a problem when the Klingons arrive ready to occupy the […]
Dude, Where’s Your Shuttle? Human Best Friend; Strange New Worlds S4E03
It's been a stressful few months for the Enterprise crew and they want, well, demand, shore leave. Choosing a tech-free planet with natural psychedelics in the atmosphere, the command crew take a shuttle down, take in all the wonders the world provides. And then it all goes a bit wonky... Writers: Kathryn LynDirector: Yana Gorskaya Engineers and pilots hate each other. It's the rules. Scotty and Ortegas have been following those rules to the letter, with the bickering pair opening with a dual monologue highlighting how irritating they are to each other between Scotty setting up alerts and alarms to keep the engines in check, and Ortegas duct tapping over the console to get rid of them so she can push the limits freely.While they're constantly irritating each other, the rest of the Alpha shift command team are exhausted. Months […]
Related
[Departmental] Introducing General Board
The General Board is a relatively new concept and the next evolution of Fleet Support. Mirroring the Captains Table, the General Board is constructed to help overall fleet operations and to contribute more voices and ideas to the clubs operation. Based very loosely on the political 'two house' structure, and named after the real-world General Board within the US Navy in the first half of the 20th century, the starting point was to appoint two sets of voices within the fleet. The Captains represent their unit and their members need within that unit, each representing an area or group that makes up the whole. To contrast and add to the Captains Table, Fleet Support – and now the expanded General Board – allows to give both opinions of fleet leadership and fleet membership equal standing and ensure we hear a […]
[Q2&A] Membership Handbook: Revised & Updated for 2026
With over fifty years (and counting) of history, joining SFC can sometimes be a whirlwind and while we're always focused on a more casual experience, tit can sometimes be overwhelming knowing where to start. While we offer our Academy as an induction tour of Quadrant 2's organisation and structure, and are always open to expanding more information in the Fleet Database, our Officers Pack gives you a one stop resource to highlight our core policies, membership information and more; The Membership Handbook/ Membership within Q2 is fairly laid back. But since it's inception - both overall as Starfleet Command as well as the administrative split for Quadrant 2 - out handbook has outlined who we are, how we operate and as a resource for members to be able to understand what membership entails from our core mission statement, to our […]
[Q2&A] Career Track
SFC has always structured it's internal reward and recognition system on the command structure of Starfleet on screen. Newbies are cadets. When they become full members, they become Ensigns. And those eager to take on a leadership role can rank up to Commander or Captain. Even the board of directors are mirrored within the theme as Commodores and Admirals! It's always been the way, but the path of an officer isn't for everyone... Despite the original idea of all star ship personnel being highly trained astronauts, therefore nullifying the need for enlisted crew, the enlisted ranks have existed in some form since the original series. More defined in the film era, particularly under the revision of style and structure in The Wrath of Khan, they have been slightly more prominent since. Most notable of the enlisted members of Starfleet was […]
[Q2&A] Fleet Recognition
While SFC's rank system is one of the most obvious form of rewards within Quadrant 2, with members informally given the rank and title for each grade, rank is just one level of recognition within the fleet for out Captains and Fleet Support to highlight a members contributions. While SFC's rank system is one of the most obvious form of rewards within Quadrant 2, with members informally given the rank and title for each grade, rank is just one level of recognition within the fleet for out Captains and Fleet Support to highlight a members contributions. A more common form of recognition are our Commendations and Citations. Having taken various forms over the years, our commendations are the more open of all with four categories – Service, Departmental, Leadership or Special Commendations. Commendations and Special Commendations are the most common […]
[Q2&A] Orientation: The Officers Hub
In the past ten years we've tried to make a conscious effort to make things easier for members to manage and consult the admin side of Q2. Before the days of the internet, any guides, documents or forms were issued by request and a little harder to come by but now things tend to be found within our online membership portal that's constantly changing and growing based on feedback from across the fleet. Now we try to make things as easy add adaptable as possible, utilising our online home for as many member needs as we can with our key resource online being our Officers Hub. In it's current form the Officers Hub is a catch all place for fleet updates and membership administration, allowing you to make changes, updates or get information about Q2 and it's processes without having […]
[Q2&A] Celebrating Ten Years of the USS Churchill
Commissioned in February 2016 to oversee operations in Southern England and Wales, the USS Churchil is one of two online-centric units created by merging several localised units into one larger region. Throughout 2015-16, SFC was experiencing some fatigue and, to cut it short, needed a bit of a reboot. While there was activity and things were ticking along, the fleet as a whole was in a bit of a rough patch. After a huge fleet wide consultation, we went full Voyager and hit the reset button. Keeping Sovereign active as the 'catch all' unit with a heavy base in the North of England and Ireland, there was enough spark in the South to keep things alive with a new combined 'super-unit', a second online base from which to grow. Using the Sovereign as a template, the USS Churchill was created […]
