Do cadets actually outrank non-commissioned officers?

I’ve met a few during my career and had a few during some of my training courses both as an instructor and as a fellow student. I always knew which ones were going to be good officers… those were the ones who didn’t pull the rank card and gave both respect and received respect gracefully…. I learned a lot from some of them as they learned a lot from me. Without us NCO’s they couldn’t function as far as I’m concerned…

Yes, cadets outrank NCOs. But do cadets want to be "Bitches" of other officers who work with the NCOs (MSG, SGM)? That's another question.

Administratively, they do technically hold a higher rank in the formal rank structure. Operationally, they are there to learn, and are not in charge of any part of the operational mission task. Similar to the difference between AdCon & OpCon (Administrative Control vs Operational Control). At my last operational command, I was assigned to IMEF (1st Marine Expeditionary Forces). I was a member of 1st Recon Battalion. But my administrative support command was 1st SRIG (First Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Intelligence Group). IMEF was the senior parent command of Recon Bn. SRIG was there solely for admin support (SRB, leave papers, shots, annual training, etc...). The cadets had orders to SRIG, and were farmed out to the operational units, but were never formally attached to the operational units. That being said, it was always the job of the NCO's to show these soon-to-be officers how professional we were, and how well we could do our jobs with little to no officer supervision. My rule was to explain to them that it was our job to receive the mission task from the officers, accomplish the mission task, and report "mission accomplished" to the officer that assigned the mission when the task was complete. If a cadet has the time to start talking about who is senior to who, that simply means I as an NCO am not busy enough teaching that young cadet how to get things done, and not to worry about who outranks who. That being said, we were always required to address cadets as "Cadet", and not "Sir". So what the cadets heard was, "Yes Cadet Smith", and not "Yes Sir". But at the same time, I was never disrespectful, nor did I allow my NCO's to ever be disrespectful. This was 1996-98. Things are probably different now.

Fortunately, I was never privy to any Cadets during my service. I was privy to number of Second Lt's in Vietnam and after returning. I will say both experiences were great. Our Company had a standing order of putting new @nd LT's as a squad member until the NCO's and other Officers decided that they could lead the Platoon. After returning from Vietnam I actually lived with 3 new LT's, who were prepping for Vietnam. Every night after eating supper would sit around with a couple beers and they would ask me questions about Vietnam, and leadership there.
I was released from the Army in July 69. In 1970 it was big news that the invasion of Cambodia was on and many were leaving from my former Base camp at Dau Tieng, a satellite camp of the 25th when I was there. For the invasion it was the Big Red One. One of my officers buddies wrote me that he was in. my former camp.. next I heard from him he was a Company Commander, having been the third one is as many days. I never heard from him again, but his name was not on the casualty lists either. I like to think that our evening chats may have had some good to them.

So a few years back on deployment, as an experienced Marine Corporal, I was standing in the chow line on ship and had some midshipman tell me I had to call him "sir". "Roger that fuck stick" followed up with a "we can take this someone if you should choose to, college kid" and that was the end of it. My SSGT went to bat for me and that was the last we saw of those pricks the rest of the deployment. Was he a higher rank than me? Yeah, he was. Did I know that at the time? No. Didn't have a clue. If you're a good NCO and you have good leadership, they won't put up with a cadet trying to call you out. At the time all I knew was some shit head waring no obvious rank was asking me to call him sir in the enlisted chow hall. Do they outrank an NCO? Pretty sure they do. Can you put them in their place really fast if they keep pushing? Believe it.

As a fully trained staff surgeon, I started my active service as a Major. Fortunately, it only took me a very short time to realize that Sgt Thomas, our NCOIC, knew more, and was better trained in military matters than I ever would be. He would only give "suggestions" to officers, but we were smart enough to follow all of his "suggestions.

Just curious, now that you are an LT…when you were a Cadet, did you realize that, yes, you technically did outrank every NCO and WO?

NOPE....Cadets Do NOT Out-Rank Non-Coms,
They Just Smell That Way.

Had a second Lieutenant yell at me from across the parking lot as I was coming out of TMC. I never imagined he was yelling at me. I ignored him not even looking his way as he was at least 100 feet from me across the parking lot. He continued screaming from the top of his lungs and when I finally decided to turn his way I noticed he was making a V line for me. I turned and looked at the opposite direction and there was no one else for him to be shouting at. I stopped, went to attention, asked the 2nd LT if I could be of some assistance, "sir". He stated in a very high octave voice that I failed to solute him. I asked him what regulation requires an NCO to solute an officer from over 100 feet away who was not even in my direction or view. He could think of none so I reiterated the regulation specifically that dealt with Military Customs, Rank and salutes.

I explained to him that the salute is not simply an honor exchanged. It is a privileged gesture of respect and trust among soldiers. That he should know the salute is not only prescribed by regulation but is also a recognition of each other's commitment, abilities, and professionalism. None of the traits he was displaying at the moment. I offered him my commanding officer's name and rank who was a 1 star general and I would be most happy to stand in front of him while he complained to my boss about my insubordination. I never seen the guy again. You should never allow yourself to deviate from your own professionalism and integrity. Because it is not about them at this point. It is about you and your strengths. Let other people be the idiots by not mirroring them.

Just say “Rgr that future sir” and continue with your training.