"The Admiralty is not looking for a single trait but all of them: perseverance, intelligence, risk-taking, bravery. If you are looking for a cadet with those qualities James Kirk has them all. He willingly accepted blows against his self-esteem in reapplying to go through the Kobayashi Maru. He is intelligent enough to try various methods of achieving his objectives. He recognized the simulation is a no-win scenario and sought to change his environment so he could win. Is that not what a good captain does? Evaluate the situation and do whatever it takes for crew and ship remain alive and whole while meeting mission objectives?"