Kirk is totally smart! As I have a kink for smart I really want him written as such too!!! (I was kind of disappointed that they didn't show him speaking Orion in the movie when I heard about it in the audio).
In the movie the conversation between Spock and Uhura does tell us, that the Enterprise is the assignment for the best cadets. Therefore all those people are THE BEST (or close to it) at what they do!
(Regarding Kirk's expierience on ships: It's entirely possible that cadets do training missions on ships before they graduate.)
I don't really remember Uhura being left in charge in the movie. (I haven't gotten very far in the audio, but I do know that it doesn't just contain some extra stuff, but that some things are different too.) Chekov was left in charge by Spock. He yells "take the conn" before he runs off to beam Kirk and Sulu abord. That might mean that Uhura is now in charge, but I'm not sure. When Kirk and Spock leave Sulu is left in charge.
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In the movie the conversation between Spock and Uhura does tell us, that the Enterprise is the assignment for the best cadets. Therefore all those people are THE BEST (or close to it) at what they do!
(Regarding Kirk's expierience on ships: It's entirely possible that cadets do training missions on ships before they graduate.)
I don't really remember Uhura being left in charge in the movie. (I haven't gotten very far in the audio, but I do know that it doesn't just contain some extra stuff, but that some things are different too.) Chekov was left in charge by Spock. He yells "take the conn" before he runs off to beam Kirk and Sulu abord. That might mean that Uhura is now in charge, but I'm not sure. When Kirk and Spock leave Sulu is left in charge.