Do cadets actually outrank non-commissioned officers?

Simply put, Cadets are "college" students, have not been commissioned as officers. They remain as civilians and their only authority is within the Academy organizations. As a Navy Chief Petty Officer it was my responsibility to instill respect as well as show respect to these future officers and leaders.

I spent a summer training ROTC Cadets when I was stationed at FT Riley. Quite a diversity in those people. We were told what we could soon see for ourselves; only about 10% of them would actually go on to be commissioned. Now and then i would have to deal with some smart ass hot dog, and I would have to put him in his place, especially if he was way wrong. I told more than one, "You'll make a fine General someday!!" That amused the CPT in charge of the training group I was assigned to.

Mustang here. A smart junior officer will listen to an experienced NCO/Chief. A good NCO/Chief will advise the junior officer in private, unless lived are immediately on line.

No, they don't. ROTC Cadets are given the Paygrade of E-5, but are not given the rank or authority of an E-5 and are considered civilians.

The best thing any cadet, or junior officer can do, is to keep their mouths shut, ears open, and LISTEN to what these NCO's have to say. After being commissioned, they might be "in charge", but that only means they are the ones first on the list for why it went wrong, before anyone else gets questioned. The WISE cadet and Junior officer will see these men and women as treasure troves of information and experience that they need to REALLY listen to. Some do, and a lot are foolish.

I have seen new 2nd LTS come into my orderly room and throw their weight around. Once Top got done with them their butts looked like hamburger. And it was always fun to see them panicking when I told them that Top had their leave form on HIS desk.

Technically, I suppose they do. I've seen the references to DOD and branch-specific directives. But as a former ROTC/NROTC scholarship student, who saw the light, enlisted, and was promoted to CWO4 prior to retirement in 1996, I told my own sons: The salute is rendered and returned with respect. That little gold chinstrap on an officer's cap rates a salute, but the person wearing it has to earn the salute. A student has enough yet to learn to be making an issue out of who outranks whom in the grand scheme. And always respect the leadership and experience of the senior NCO, for he/she is the backbone of any military service.

I don't know about this.... I told a 2LT to fornicate himself as a Spec 5.
He dropped the issue when someone told him I was the relief redeployment clerk
at Regiment. The time was 1970 and was easy for a person to "volunteer" for the VietNam, just tick off the redeployment clerk.

I served 1964-1987 and never heard of such a thing.
Cadets in U.S. Military Academies and college students in ROTC are “College Students.” Upon graduation they are “Commissioned” and at that point they are U.S. Military Officers.

As a retired CMSgt I always took the 2LTs under my wing. But, I always told them I was a heartbeat away. Reminded them to continue learning from those around them. You know it worked.