Starfleet uniform (late 2230s-2250s)

Two of the USS Shenzhou's senior officers

Operations, Command, and Sciences uniforms introduced by 2253

For the mirror universe counterpart, please see Starfleet uniform (mirror).

In the mid-to-late 2230s, a new Starfleet uniform design was introduced in place of the previous design, which had been used since the early 2230s. (DIS: "The Vulcan Hello")

By the 2250s, this version of the Starfleet uniform was in use across Starfleet. (DIS: "The Vulcan Hello", "Battle at the Binary Stars", "Context Is for Kings", "Choose Your Pain", "Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum")

By 2254, another uniform design had been introduced and was used alongside this one. (TOS: "The Cage")

In 2259, this uniform was replaced by yet another new design. (SNW: "Strange New Worlds")

The crew of the USS Discovery continued to use this uniform after rejoining Starfleet in 3189, albeit with the replacement of the original Starfleet insignia with the 32nd century-issue tricom badge. They switched to the then-current uniform design following Michael Burnham's promotion to captain. (DIS: "Scavengers", "That Hope Is You, Part 2")

Standard duty uniform

The uniform selection information in 2256

The standard duty uniform was a jacket and pants with raised striping encircling the shoulders, five stripes for men and four for women, and down the side seam of the jacket and pants (six stripes for all uniforms). The jacket featured a split cowl collar with a division-colored zipper closure running slightly diagonally from the center line of the jacket at the bottom to the right side of the collar. The pants featured front thigh pockets also with division-colored zippers, and an apparent front fly. The shoulders, knees, and elbows had distinct textured fabric sections. (DIS: "Battle at the Binary Stars")

Female crew members could choose between a standard uniform jacket with pants, or one worn with a miniskirt over matching high cut shorts, worn with black hose and boots. (DIS: "Brother", "Saints of Imperfection")

A sciences division uniform tunic with observable deltas on the flanks

Metallic Starfleet insignia were worn on the left breast. They featured a division insignia and rank pips carved into the badge; the reverse carried the wearer's name and serial number. (DIS: "Into the Forest I Go") The uniform included shin-high boots, with division-colored trim around the edges of the soles, and metallic division-colored Starfleet insignia boot clamps. (DIS: "The Vulcan Hello", et al.) This uniform was in use by at least 2239. (DIS: "Battle at the Binary Stars", ST: "The Brightest Star")

Type A

In this version, the jacket was Federation blue with metallic division-colored striping and raised Starfleet insignia printed on the flanks of the jacket to the front of the division stripes, continuing onto the upper hip of the pants. The Starfleet insignias were also division-colored. There were at least three standard colors for the new uniform design: gold (command), copper (operations), and silver (sciences). (DIS: "The Vulcan Hello")

Long sleeve style

Command gold

Sciences silver

Operations copper

Short sleeve style

The alternate duty uniform

Worn by some crewmembers aboard the Shenzhou and the Discovery, this alternate version of the standard duty uniform was worn in all three divisions. The differences were a larger belt-like sash around the waist and short-sleeved arms. It was worn on the bridge and in other sections of the ship. (DIS: "The Vulcan Hello", "Context Is for Kings")

Skant style

The skant duty uniform in operations bronze.

Worn by Commander Nhan aboard the Discovery, this alternate version of the standard duty uniform was worn in all three divisions. It had the long sleeves of the standard uniform and the side panels similar to those on the one-piece short-sleeved style. The skant was also worn with black tights and thigh-high black boots. It was worn on the bridge and in other sections of the ship. (DIS: "An Obol for Charon", "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2")

Captain's uniform

Captain's uniform in command gold

A slight variant uniform for captains included additional narrower division-color striping on the shoulder fabric, to the inside of the standard striping. (DIS: "The Vulcan Hello", et al.)

Flag officer uniform

Five flag officers wearing uniforms with gold shoulders and wreathed badges

The flag officer uniform was very similar to the captain's variant of the standard duty uniform, but with the additional narrower shoulder striping also on the shoulder fabric to the outside of the standard stripes. Of note is that the colored stripes on the outside shoulder ran parallel to those on the inner shoulder and the main stripes. This is in contrast to the textured fabric on the outer shoulder of the standard and captain's uniforms on which the textured stripes intersected the main division-colored stripes. Flag officers also wore a different insignia: one with the Starfleet delta encircled by laurel leaves. (DIS: "Battle at the Binary Stars")

Cadet uniform

Standard duty uniform with cadet insignia

Cadets assigned to starships wore standard duty uniforms, but these were adorned with badges featuring the Starfleet delta inside a black rectangle with four gold stripes. (DIS: "Context Is for Kings")

Starbase variants

A Starbase 5 doctor and two security officers wearing variant uniforms

Two variants of the above uniform were in use in Starfleet facilities like Starbase 5. Nearly identical to the medical division uniform, a white uniform worn by Starfleet doctors eschewed the insignias running down the sides of the uniform for plain, white panels.

Also at Starbase 5 were security officers wearing single-piece black uniforms with metallic division coloring on the shoulders. These uniforms were similar to the excursion uniform jumpsuit and featured a symmetrical zipper and collar. (DIS: "If Memory Serves")

Jumpsuit

Non-com uniform jumpsuit

A plain blue, utility jumpsuit was available for civilians or non-commissioned officers serving aboard Starfleet vessels in the 2250s. These were similar to the short sleeve version of the standard duty uniform, but featured no Starfleet insignias or division color stripes. (DIS: "Context Is for Kings")

Type B

In this version, used on the USS Enterprise as early as 2253, and were described by 2257 as "the new uniforms," the divisions were distinguished by jacket color, and were generally described as gold for the command division, red for the operations division and special services, and blue for the sciences division, worn with black pants or skirt. (ST: "Q&A"; DIS: "Brother") Furthermore, rank insignia was now displayed on the wearer's cuffs by a series of stripes as opposed to pips on the arrowhead badge. The color-coding and rank insignia were similar to the style implemented across most starships by 2259. (SNW: "Strange New Worlds")

Captain Christopher Pike in command gold (2257)

Commander D. Nhan in operations red (2257)

Lieutenant Evan Connolly in sciences blue (2257)

Sciences uniform variants

USS Cabot science officers in variant uniforms

Variants of the uniform were used aboard starships like the Enterprise and USS Cabot by science officers. One such variant was identical to the sciences division uniform. However, this uniform lacked the black collar, with the division-specific color tunic continuing up to a high neckline collar. This uniform also featured a symmetrical zipper running straight down the front.

Additionally, a more casual sciences uniform (worn with the same pants and boots as the previous versions) featured a simple, crew neck, long sleeve shirt in blue. The shirt also bore a smaller, silver Starfleet insignia. (ST: "The Trouble with Edward").

Combat uniform

Captain Phillipa Georgiou in tactical gear

The uniform of this time had a tactical gear set that had a vest over a one-piece variant of the standard uniform which replaced the metallic piping with more conspicuous compression panels. The vest featured a flashlight on the shoulder and a round black badge with a silver Starfleet delta in the middle and the text "Starfleet Command" above it, along with a thigh-mounted holster for a Type 2 phaser. (DIS: "Battle at the Binary Stars")

Excursion gear

Burnham and Georgiou in desert gear

During this time, Starfleet issued excursion gear. There was a desert variant with robes, head wraps, and goggles. (DIS: "The Vulcan Hello")

EV suits

The EV suits

The suits without the life support gear

A third option for extravehicular activity was a standard spacesuit consisting of a form-fitting jumpsuit in varying color options and a white backpack, helmet, and magnetic boots. This suit had the unique feature of a helmet that unfolded over the wearer's head from the backpack portion of the uniform.

This spacesuit was available in a variety of metallic colors: gold, red, blue, silver, purple, and black.

In 2257, the USS Discovery and NI-1101 were stocked with these spacesuits. (DIS: "Brother", "Project Daedalus", "Through the Valley of Shadows")

Flight suit

A flight suit

Some shuttle pilots wore a flight suit that could be used both inside the shuttle and as an EVA suit. Other pilots wore regular uniforms. (DIS: "Context Is for Kings")

Thruster suit

A thruster suit

The Starfleet uniforms of this time had a thruster suit for spacewalks and missions outside of the ship requiring the individual to travel a great distance. It was a white space suit. The officer would wear a gold-tinted undersuit and cap underneath their space suit. (DIS: "The Vulcan Hello")

These thruster suits were kept in lockers in airlock areas aboard Crossfield-class starships. (DIS: "Brother")

Medical attire

Medical uniform

The medical uniform

Medical staff aboard starships wore an all-white version of the standard duty uniform, featuring silver sciences-division trim and Starfleet insignia. This uniform was worn with gray boots. (DIS: "The Vulcan Hello", "The Butcher's Knife Cares Not for the Lamb's Cry")

Patient wear

Undergarments were worn while undergoing medical procedures. Patients also often wore medical robes while in sickbay. (DIS: "The Vulcan Hello", "Lethe")

Starfleet underwear

A patient robe

Smock

A Starfleet smock

A black smock with a single epaulet on the left shoulder, bearing the Starfleet insignia, could be worn over a uniform in situations where the splattering of liquids could occur. The smock also featured a Starfleet insignia over the left breast. (ST: "The Trouble with Edward")

Casual wear

Pajamas

Starfleet pajamas, sans the pants

Starfleet crewmembers wore red-colored regulation pajamas with a small black Starfleet insignia to bed. (DIS: "Choose Your Pain"; ST: "The Trouble with Edward")

Robe

A type of grey robe was available for off-hours. (DIS: "The Butcher's Knife Cares Not for the Lamb's Cry")

Sportswear

During sporting activities and exercise, crew members wore black T-shirts with the Starfleet insignia on the sleeves and black sweatpants, with accompanying footwear. On the Discovery, the T-shirts had the text "DISCO" on the front. (DIS: "Lethe") Officers participating in the Command Training Program wore shirts with program insignia on the chest and in place of the Starfleet insignia on the sleeves. (DIS: "Point of Light")

The Discovery sneakers were modified Nike Sock Darts. [1]

Sports T-shirt

Accompanying footwear

Prisoner coveralls

Prisoner coveralls (Starfleet and civilian variants)

While civilian prisoners wore gray coveralls, convicts who were members of Starfleet wore yellow coveralls with a grey Starfleet insignia. (DIS: "Context Is for Kings") War prisoners on Starfleet starships wore blue overalls, which could include additional restraints. (DIS: "Into the Forest I Go")

Embellishments

Rank insignia

Reverse of the insignia, with name and serial number

Type A

Cadet	Ensign	Lieutenant junior grade	Lieutenant	Lieutenant commander	Commander	Captain

Type A flag officer ranks

Vice admiral	Admiral	Fleet admiral

With the type B uniforms, they went back to using stripes to denote rank, previously used in the early 2230s. (DIS: "Brother"; Star Trek) For the command and operations division officers, the stripes matched the division color: gold stripes for command, red stripes for operations. Sciences division officers wore silver stripes. (DIS: "Brother", "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2")

Type B

Division	Ensign	Lieutenant junior grade	Lieutenant	Lieutenant commander	Captain
Command	No insignia
Operations
Sciences

These charts represent the rank insignia seen on screen throughout these uniforms' appearances.

Division insignia

Type A

Command

Operations

Sciences

Medical

Section 31

Type B

Appendices

Appearances

Type A

• DIS:
  • "The Vulcan Hello"
  • "Battle at the Binary Stars"
  • "Context Is for Kings"
  • "The Butcher's Knife Cares Not for the Lamb's Cry"
  • "Choose Your Pain"
  • "Lethe"
  • "Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad"
  • "Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum"
  • "Into the Forest I Go"
  • "Despite Yourself"
  • "The Wolf Inside"
  • "Vaulting Ambition"
  • "What's Past Is Prologue"
  • "The War Without, The War Within"
  • "Will You Take My Hand?"
  • "Brother"
  • "New Eden"
  • "Point of Light"
  • "An Obol for Charon"
  • "Saints of Imperfection"
  • "The Sound of Thunder"
  • "Light and Shadows"
  • "If Memory Serves"
  • "Project Daedalus"
  • "The Red Angel"
  • "Perpetual Infinity"
  • "Through the Valley of Shadows"
  • "Such Sweet Sorrow"
  • "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2"
  • "That Hope Is You, Part 1"
  • "Far From Home"
  • "People of Earth"
  • "Forget Me Not"
  • "Die Trying"
  • "Scavengers"
  • "Unification III"
  • "The Sanctuary"
  • "Terra Firma, Part 1"
  • "Terra Firma, Part 2"
  • "Su'Kal"
  • "There Is A Tide..."
  • "That Hope Is You, Part 2"
• ST:
  • "Runaway"
  • "Calypso"
  • "The Brightest Star"
  • "The Escape Artist"
  • "The Trouble with Edward"
• VST: "Holiday Party"

Type B

• DIS:
  • "Brother"
  • "An Obol for Charon"
  • "Such Sweet Sorrow"
  • "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2"
• ST:
  • "Q&A"
  • "The Trouble with Edward"
  • "Ask Not"

Background information

In Bryan Fuller's original conception of the series that became Star Trek: Discovery, the Starfleet uniforms were to have been a subdued version of the primary colors from Star Trek: The Original Series' Starfleet uniforms. (Entertainment Weekly, issue 1476, p. 27) The uniforms ultimately seen in DIS were designed by Gersha Phillips, who opined that, while the original Starfleet uniforms were "great costumes, I just don't think they resonate anymore, and they don't resonate in 2259." She expressed admiration for the Star Trek: Enterprise jumpsuits, describing them as "grounded in reality [.…] I like the idea that they wear almost like a naval uniform or a NASA uniform." [2]

The Starfleet insignia badges were made in Toronto, Canada, by creating wax models from 3D prints, then producing plaster molds for silicon bronze to be poured into. The resultant bronze badges were subsequently polished and plated by a jeweler to give them the custom colors for Star Trek: Discovery. ("Star Trek Exhibition" at "Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum" screening, Millbank Tower, London, UK, 5 November 2017) A collection of four of these badges were featured at Star Trek: The Exhibition in Blackpool, UK, and subsequently went on a world tour.

In the first season of Star Trek: Discovery, the black security badges had only been shown once: during the sequence where Burnham and her fellow prisoners are first being escorted to the mess hall just after boarding Discovery. They were later visible in the "bonus scene" from DIS: "Will You Take My Hand?", as shown at WonderCon 2018. This scene revealed that these badges were worn by those serving with Section 31, and the badges went on to make repeated appearances throughout the show's second season.

Apocrypha

The Star Trek: Discovery novel Desperate Hours reveals that the uniform design used concurrently with this variation of Starfleet uniform was exclusive only to those serving on board Constitution-class starships.

External link

• Starfleet uniform (late 2230s-2250s) at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works