Do cadets actually outrank non-commissioned officers?

Cadets are not non commissioned officers, commissioned officers or Warrant Offices. They are students taught by the 3 officer categories I listed previously. This raises a question for me, Are they in the military at all? If not, then a PVT outranks them. :)

Cadets are not commissioned officers so, my answer is no, they do not outrank anyone. We would jokingly refer to them as "Third Lieutenants". With that said, I've seen a few come through one of the units I was in and, not once did any of them try to pull rank. They were there to learn, period. A couple of them actually came back to the unit after their commission and they were pretty good Platoon Leaders.

No. Period. They cannot give orders, you dont salute them, nor call the sir/maam. They hold NO rank in the military. They are cadets/midshipman.
Essentially they are non ranking military members that hold no rank, officer nor enlisted.

My take on the subject is that a cadet has not been commissioned, therefore has NO rank!!! I didn't need some snot nosed frat boy that has never been trained in any branch try to tell my Soldiers some jacked up crap. He can lead if he gets that far, but as a cadet, he has nothing to do with the training and well-being of my Soldiers. He can watch me train and lead and learn, just don't expect a salute!!!

I was a cadet (USAFA) but my dad, (a retired major, and a mustang) told me that my best friend would be my sergeant when I was in a unit, and I would be wise to treat them with respect and to use their wisdom.

During my years in the Army, cadets were considered 3rd Lieutenants, sort of in a position where they might tell some folks what to do but not too advisable since everyone knew they knew little or nothing unless they were prior enlisted.

The proper greeting an NCO should render to a cadet is "thank you for your service" and ask them if they can buy you something with their military discount.

LOL! Been there, done that. I was staying in billeting at Charleston AFB, and the clerk put an Air Force Academy cadet in the room with me. They were pretty nice rooms, each with a private bathroom. I was a TSGT (E-6) at the time and thought it was cool. I was going to get a chance to talk to a cadet. But she was insulted that they would put her in a room with a lowly NCO. She went to the front desk and complained, and from what I heard later, her commander was there, and he chewed her out and had her moved to a smaller room usually used by E-1 - E3 and she had to use the common latrine down the hall instead of in the room.

I see so many comments on here spouting opinion but without actually citing ANY regulations or other doctrine. Fact is that by the regulation (look up Army Regulation 600-20), Cadets do out rank Enlisted members. They are addressed as “Sir,” “Ma’am,” “Mr,” , “Ms,” or “Cadet {Last Name}.” They are saluted. In certain situations, they may well be put “in charge.” Now yes, Cadets worth their salt should probably listen to Senior NCOs before making decisions or trying to give orders. They are, after all, students who are trying to gain knowledge and experience. However, I’d also suggest that SNCOs should probably give them the leeway to make decisions and give orders in the appropriate situations. That’s how said knowledge and experience is gained. It’s “practice,” if you will. I mean, is a Cadet on his/her summer training actually going to be a PL or Company Commander? No. But, he or she may well be put in charge of a particular event or function and need to make decisions or give orders in order to get that particular job done. Give that Cadet the space necessary to do that. SNCO, make appropriate recommendations and help guide that Cadet much like you would advise that 2LT PL. Cadet, don’t let your technical place in the rank structure go to your head. It’s that simple. At the end of the day, what does the regulation say? Abide by that and you’ll never go wrong.

In 1983, my NG Unit went to West Point, to instruct in Helicopter Operations. We were told to address Cadets, as Cadet + Name. We were not to call them sir, or saluted as they were not officers. they in turn were to address us by rank and name. There were no conflicts, as the cadets were made aware of this. Todays young cadets, being of a more recent generation, may feel they are privaleged to be accepted a officers to be. These instructions came from an O-6 on Staff bat the Point.