Ensign Harry Kim and Lieutenant Nog

So one day,  Ensign Harry Kim of Voyager is in Quark’s bar on Deep Space 9. Somewhere aboard that station, a little Ferengi kid called Nog- who has nothing to do with Starfleet -is running around, generally making a nuisance of himself.

Within 5 years of that day, Nog will outrank Harry in Starfleet as a Lieutenant Junior Grade, with Harry still being an Ensign (on a ship where even people who abandoned and fought against Starfleet for a paramilitary organisation are promoted above him).

Sucks to be Harry Kim, huh.