Something that Joe Mallozzi said...

[katikat]

... in his yesterday's blog entry made me scratch my head:

"Colonel Carter was most certainly the military commander during her tenure on Atlantis. She may have deferred to Sheppard on account of his Pegasus expertise but, if things came right down to it, she had the final word."

Ugh *tilts her head* So, if I get it right, Major Sheppard was the de facto military leader in S1, than he was promoted to Lt. Colonel and he became the official military leader in S2 and S3, then he was basically demoted to 2nd in command when Col. Carter became the Boss, and now he is the military leader again? I mean, Weir and Woolsey can’t be military commanders since they are civilians even though they have the last word in non-military situations. Or did I get it wrong?

Comments

[bodgei.livejournal.com]

nope that's right. Carter outranked him so she was his ranking officer. Weir and Woolsey have no rank so they had limmited 'say' in millitary situations. Varter could, in fact, order him to do things. She never did, that I saw, but she could of.

[katikat.livejournal.com]

So basically, he was demoted from commander to 2nd in command. Ugh. Now I am even happier that Woolsey became the leader of the Atlantis expedition XP

[bodgei.livejournal.com]

It's not really as simple as that - if she wanted to push it then yes he did. If she wanted to push it. But I don't think I saw her ever order him - or belay an oder of his. And on paper he was probably still listed with his job.

The shift would be in his mind mostly. He would know she out ranked him and would act accordingly. It's just part of the milatry culture.

[kristen999.livejournal.com]

Its all ab out rank. John was a Lt. Colonel. Carter a full bird Colonel--she simply out ranked him.

Carter had to deal with both civilian and military matters but I'm sure Shepperd still has many of his regular duties. And still lead the main gate team...it took me a while to get used to it in season 4...but things are normal again with Woosley in season 5.

[katikat.livejournal.com]

Yes, it was really weird. I mean, what irks me is that they basically demoted him from the military commander to 2nd in command only and that just feels... weird and rather unfair, to be honest :(