Was Red Shirt Security a rotating detail, like K.P, or was it a dedicated branch of Star Fleet like the M.P's are to the US Army?

As I channel surfed the other day, I accidentally found an episode of Star Trek TOS, and I settled in to watch it. As always, it was a bad day to be a landing party Red Shirt Security person.

Their apparent lack of skill (training?) made me wonder: Was Red Shirt Security a rotating detail, like K.P. (Kitchen Patrol), that crew members with regular assigned duties were ordered to do when it was their turn, or was it a dedicated branch of Star Fleet like the M.P's (Military Police) are to the US Army?

Answer

Acting as a Security Officer on a starship was a prestige detail and one that required considerable training and expertise. It was one that was promoted to recruits as being filled with excitement and the potential to save the lives of others while furthering the aims and values of Starfleet and the Federation.

It was a route into space for those who sought to "go boldly" but lacked the cool intellect required for scientific work or the management skills and ambition for a Command role.

Images from Star Trek Ongoing #13

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