Do cadets actually outrank non-commissioned officers?

Not only NO but HELL NO

Technically, I guess they hold the rank of 2LT as a cadidiate. In experience they have little to offer. The best lesson you can give them is real life experience. Most will disappoint you, but some will prove worthy. Be patient, try not to laugh out loud, and just do your best to keep them from causing more harm than they are worth. Maybe send them out on a mock patrol with your best men. They may not be willing to admit they were completely lost, but inside they will know. I remember being a brand new LT - but I was a Sgt prior to that. My first action was to ask the platoon sergeant if he had someone who could show me which end of the Bradley was the front. :-)

Hmmm. They had a rougher time in the 82nd. They were referred to as "Dot" when their attention was needed, for obvious reasons. At least in the infantry.

Not all cadets are the same. Cadets at USMA, USCGA, USAFA, as well as USNA misdshipmen, are sworn members of US military services. Conversely, most ROTC cadets are civilians under contract to enter the military upon graduation; however, some ROTC cadets hold dual status from the reserves or National Guard. I also knew one USMA cadet, class of 1973 with an anomalous path, who had resigned his commission to accept his academy appointment. It was a rational decision since he wanted an Army career and understood that as Vietnam wound down, the first officers facing RIF would be those without college degrees. He PCS'd to West Point, resigned his commission on Reception Day and took the oath as a cadet. Incidentally, the oath taken by cadets more closely resembles the enlistment oath rather than that the oath sworn by officers. It's uncommon for a cadet to have earned a CIB, Bronze Star with V device and others, so his plebe year must have been interesting. Life after his graduation was even more so since promotion to 1LT was based on time in Active Federal Commissioned Service. He was almost immediately promoted to 1LT and his date of rank was recalculated to include his previous 1LT time. He was subsequently promoted at the next CPT's board. I believe that he was promoted to Captain before anyone whose cadet time overlapped with his. How nice it must be to outrank your Beast Barracks (Cadet Basic Training) squad lead who graduated 3 years before he did.

I agree with treating Cadets as all people with respect . There was A Cadet in my unit who years later became the Company Commander ,Later the Battalion commander and I hope he gets a star as he is a stand up guy who does not wear his rank on his shoulder .

Cadet out ranking enlisted men. Why of course they do we enlisted swine are too irresponsible to do anything. we just laugh a lot. Fair warning if you the phraase "Trust me sir the comp's books are all in order" be afraid be very afraid"!

Many cadets and OCS grads are usually "book smart," but have the common sense of a turnip. They forget the adage "Be careful of the toes you step on today. They might be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow."

However, most of them do have sense enough to follow one word of advice when it comes to annoying warrant officers, especially 3's, 4's, and 5's. "Don't." They will eat your lunch.

Are cadets commissioned? Have they learned a thing and your question is answered by their demanding that they out-rank an active duty member. They are students. The best approach is to speak to them as you do your children, as NCO's are there to teach and instruct. Without being condescending, explain you have a job to do, and maybe they can address the concern of "out-ranking" at another venture. Or to really enjoy, have them ask the 1SG or your Company Commander, while will explain the rank structure of active duty, and a college student.

Is this now becoming a problem? I put 14-plus in the Marine Corps and never encountered a cadet. Why would a cadet, ROTC, West Point, Naval Academy, Coast Guard Academy, who are not actually in the military during their four years of school, out rank any NCO? With my temperament I'm glad I never encountered one of those breeds.

A cadet is nothing more than a trainee....IMHO. They should not be flat out disrespected, But they occasionally need a gentle reminder of where they stand in the pecking order......The bottom