Do cadets actually outrank non-commissioned officers?

The word cadet means they have not made it to active duty status. FI cadet you’re an officer in learning. I owe you nothing but Tom courtesy and you owe me the same.

They absolutely do not.

NO they are Cadets still in the training faze. Once they are pinned butter bar. They do, However Nco's treat them with respect. They make No decisions that are not approved by someone in a Leadership position. But then it's Been a while since i have been in so that could have changed. I have heard a boy scout leader has more rank than a SPEC 4 does these days.

As an E-6 LPO in my department, (and before that XPO of my unit,) I never had an issue with Cadets or JO's in my experience at least the CO always made it a point to emphasize to the JO's rotating through my department that in operational matters I was in charge, and they were there to learn, and that I would ask for their assistance as appropriate, otherwise they were to observe and ask questions. I only had issues with one, an Ensign, and a word from me to the Ops O straightened him out. Unfortunately, that was a regular occurrence. I heard later on that he never made it past JG getting out after getting passed on the LT list.

I really can’t speak for the Army because I am a Marine! In the Corps we did not have cadets. A Non- Commissioned- Officer would be far above a cadet! And a NCO would have a cadet for lunch! OOHRAH USMC!

While working at the Air Force Academy I was a part of a contracted company that provided security at the gates and other areas as needed. Being that we were a civilian company doing crucial security at the gates, one of the rules we were informed of was the fact that the cadets DID NOT have any rank until they received their commissions at graduation. They would carry a silver dollar with them to give to the FIRST Salute from an enlisted individual.

They MAY Out-Rank Many...
Either THAT, Or They Just Smell Funny

Not back in my ROTC days.

Yes they do ROTC Westpoint cadets WO candidates and OCS candidates outrank enlisted soldiers. See AR 600-20 table 1-1

As a 3yr ROTC Scholarship Cadet. I always considered the rank of “Cadet” on the Army Reserve contract I had to sign and swear into as nothing more than a “pay status.” It gave the Army finance system the ability to place me in the system and pay for my tuition, books and a small $100 a month stipend. That’s it. Since I knew that 3yr Army Reserve Contract was meaningless after I was commissioned. That is it never existed as far as Army benefits, retirement, VA eligibility. That contract, like my “Pay Status” of “Cadet” in the Big Picture meant absolutely nothing.