Do cadets actually outrank non-commissioned officers?

The word “outrank” is an invitation to misunderstanding. Cadets are learning to be officers, and one of their most valuable opportunities to learn is by interning with active units, being exposed to real troopers and missions. Their “rank” is not about privilege or who ranks who, rather it is a chance to play the role of a junior officer and learn how to trust and build effective relationships with soldiers who may be much more experienced than their leader. This is no different than the the transition that is experienced by a newly assigned 2/Lt as he or she learns to lead and build a team with his NCOs and troopers. While some junior officers may think they expected to know more than the troops, I think most are aware the are in a learning status and do not fail to respect the counsel of the experienced NCOs and all ranks. If you understand that you can help teach these young leaders how to be an officer who can forge a winning team, then you will not waste energy by dwelling on “who ranks who”. Instead you can feel good about helping build a better Army from the bottom up.

Kind of... I've seen cadets try to bang nonrates (e-3 and below in the Coast Guard) and I've seen them get kicked out for shoplifting tand then throw a fit about it and trash my mess deck. There is some respect there but cadets need to understand they are not a proven factor and in all reality are not even in yet so to some degree they are lower ranking than our e-2s but they have the accountability of the o-1s they wanna be.

Cadets receive their commission on graduation, so while attending a service academy or ROTC program, they shouldn't rate any more than your local garbage collector, and have no right to expect salutes or give enlisted personnel orders or even suggestions. Let them take it to your CO and see how fast he/she gets their butt chewed. Be courteous, but leave no doubt in their minds that they are out of line.

No...the dot the wear isnt even a rank in my book and was never educated on this as I was coming up through the ranks. Besides how could they out rank anyone if they haven't commissioned yet. Bogus

Air Force ROTC cadets are actually card-carrying reserve E3's while still cadets. They don't get officer rank until they commission. I'm a retired AF Major who graduated from and also instructed an AFROTC detachment.

Remind them that they haven't officially graduated or received their commissions yet, plus most of these cadets have never even went through Basic Training / Officially Served in the US Armed Forces, which speaks volumes about these "future leaders of men" in and of itself.

An officer from 2Lt all the way to 5 Star General, is commissioned by the President of the United States, they all have the same authority, what changes are the different levels of responsibility. A 2LT has the authority to conduct the death penalty or give you the order to take off your mask in a Chemical environment to see if the least essential soldier dies for the sake of the mission, a cadet does not have that authority. Needless to say, a 2Lt may or may not know the power and authority he/she has. But we all know Knowledge is power, and in the Battlefield knowledge is Survivability. With that being said, have you ever seen a cadet being deployed? I bet 26 years worth of paycheck none of you have ever seen a cadet in combat. A cadet is nothing more than an apprentice who has not been appointed by the Commander in Chief yet. Therefore a cadet does not outrank not even an E-1 because he has resigned his E rank however they do get E-5 reserve pay. Therefore my knowledge and posture will change his way of thinking and the "know it all" behavior of a cadet or even 2LT. Now with a 2LT, I will let him know that he is in charge. However, I will let him do the "trial and error" experiment without letting him hurt himself.

Why is that even a question? Cadets are students, they are not commissioned yet, get real.

When I was stationed at Base Motors at LeJune, I once had to drive a load of cadets around. I asked specifically how to address them, and was told by their Commander to call them shitheads or anything else I wanted because they were not shit, yet. They may ATTAIN rank after their schooling is done, but until then they are just "boots", and outrank no one.

Oh yea. The BLUF is: if all the leadership has been incapacitated do they get to step up. ROTC seniors are about the same I believe. Never had trouble with one as most gravitated to the NONCOMS IOT get everything they could. In our rifle company they were made assistant platoon leaders. Took them to the O'Club on Friday night before W. (that's before Wickham). He destroyed any and I mean cohesion and camaraderie in the Officer corps. Are there O'clubs anymore? Anyway...they usually are sponges. RLTW!