Para esclarecer uma questão: não se sabe se a Frota Estelar faz alguma distinção entre cadetes e aspirantes.
Em Inglês, cadete é uma palavra genérica para uma pessoa inscrita como oficial em treinamento em uma academia nacional de forças armadas. E também é usado de forma mais ampla.
A Starfleet parece estar baseada em meados da 20a Marinha dos EUA, que era mais ou menos familiar aos criadores de TOS que a apoiavam com seus impostos e, em alguns casos, serviam nela. Aspirante é o termo oficial para cadetes na Academia Naval dos EUA. Um aspirante é simultaneamente um cadete e um aspirante, seja em uma sala de aula em Annapolis ou em um cruzeiro de verão em um navio. Um cadete de Annapolis não é um aspirante só quando está em um cruzeiro de verão em um navio de guerra, um cadete de Annapolis é um aspirante o tempo todo.
É lógico supor que a Frota Estelar é mais ou menos como a atual Marinha dos EUA, exceto onde houver evidência sugerindo o contrário.
Então, o que se diz sobre cadetes e aspirantes em filmes TOS e TOS? As citações seguintes são da função de pesquisa no site Star Trek Transcripts.
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No final de "The Cage", Pike diz:
What are we running here, a cadet ship, Number One? Are we ready or not?
Em "The Menagerie" eles falam sobre a lesão de Pike:
MCCOY: What's his problem, Commodore?
MENDEZ: Inspection tour of a cadet vessel. Old Class J starship. One of the baffle plates ruptured.
MCCOY: The delta rays?
MENDEZ: He went in bringing out all those kids that were still alive. Just wanted you gentlemen to be prepared.
"Court Martial":
KIRK: Yes. He was an instructor at the Academy when I was a midshipman, but that didn't stand in the way of our beginning a close friendship. His daughter Jamie, who was here last night, was named after me.
"The Ultimate Computer":
SPOCK: Dunsel, Doctor, is a term used by midshipmen at Starfleet Academy. It refers to a part which serves no useful purpose.
[now in "Kirk's quarters"]
"Quem Deus Destrói":
KIRK: When I was a cadet at the Academy, his exploits were required reading. He was one of my heroes. I'd like to see him.
e:
KIRK: I agree there was a time when war was necessary, and you were our greatest warrior. I studied your victory at Axanar when I was a cadet. In fact it's still required reading at the Academy.
GARTH: As well it should be.
KIRK: Very well. But my first visit to Axanar was as a new fledged cadet on a peace mission.
Tek Star II: A Ira de Khan :
SPOCK: Trainees ...to the briefing room.
e:
KIRK: Aren't you dead? I assume you are loitering here to learn what efficiency rating I plan to give your cadets.
e:
SPOCK: Welcome, Admiral. I think you know my trainee crew. Certainly they have come to know you.
e:
RESTON: Midshipman First Class Peter Preston, engineers mate, sir!
KIRK: First training voyage, Mister Preston?
PRESTON: Yes sir!
e:
KIRK: Well, Mister Scott, are your cadets capable of handling a minor training cruise?
e:
KIRK (OC): I told Starfleet all we had was a boatload of children but ...we're the only ship in the Quadrant. Spock, these cadets of yours, how good are they? How will they respond under real pressure?
e:
SCOTT: He stayed at his post ...when the trainees ran.
e:
MCCOY: Lieutenant, you are looking at the only Starfleet cadet who ever beat the no-win scenario.
Star Trek III: A busca por Spock
...Most of our trainee crew has been reassigned...
e:
SCOTT: As promised, she's all yours, sir. All systems automated and ready. A chimpanzee and two trainees could run her.
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home :
KIRK: They're still using money. We've got to find some. Spock! The rest of you stay here. ...The rest of you break up. You look like a cadet review.
Jornada nas Estrelas V: A Fronteira Final :
KIRK: General Korrd's military strategies were required learning when I was a cadet at the Academy. When they put me out to pasture, I hope I fare better than Korrd.
Eles parecem usar tanto o aspirante como cadete quando falam sobre os alunos da Academia da Frota Estelar, e a única vez em que parece ser uma classificação oficial é o Amanhecer de Primeira Classe de Peter Preston. Kirk descreve-se como sendo um cadete, não um aspirante, numa viagem a Axanar.