Do cadets actually outrank non-commissioned officers?

Aren’t ROTC cadets called 1 dot, 2 dot, 3 dot & 4 dot before getting their commission. That what we called them all the time.

I served with an Active Duty combat unit that was over 50% troops coming back from Vietnam, to include the XO and 1st SGT. One day I was sent to ask the 1st SGT something, and as I stepped into his office I heard him, then saw him with the Company Commander at Attention and in his face chewing him out. I backed out and stepped outside until the air had cleared and was able to go back and ask the question I was sent for originally. It had to do with the Capitan telling troops what to do, which is NOT his job, according to our 1st SGT. I don't think either of them saw me, because it was never mentioned. My Platoon SGT and 1st SGT and XO, I would have followed anywhere and done whatever they asked. They knew US Army Infantry, and nothing else mattered.

No NCO worth his salt would have a problem with any cadet.

I had the privilege of watching a ROTC cadet try this crap on my Drill when I was in AIT at Ft Sill for artillery school training. This was post Vietnam in 1976 and my Drill was a combat vet. We were on the range setting up to do a fire mission and the cadet was told to help unload crates of 3" rounds. He refused to do so. The battery captain was in the field with us when this happened. Captain Edwards ripped the cadet a new one and then chewed him up one side, down the other side, and then started on a second helping. After that that cadet did everything the Drill told him to do while we were in the field training.
Good times.

If I recall correctly, cadets don't out rank anyone as they don't have their commission yet. This may not apply to senior cadets in regular units for training. My father was a 1SG training cadets back in the 1970's 1980's, no one ever tried to pull rank on him.

The one thing every NCO needs to keep in mind is that a cadet is working on becoming a full fledge Officer In the near future. A smart NCO will do his best to assist in this young cadet before he in’s on his gold bar. Because paths will cross again in the future and maybe often depending on branch.

We had a "class" of cadets assigned to our unit one summer. I will admit, I had a GREAT 1SG (Top was a 'Nam Vet and earned the respect of EVERYONE. I've heard stories about him (Lonnie Bagwell - R.I.P) that would make your head spin. Anyway, Top and our CO set the cadets up for success. They informed the cadets of EXACTLY what their status was, that they were there to learn, and that meant from EVERYBODY. I remember showing a cadet how to PMCS our CUCV. Never did we have a problem with our cadets, not the NCO's, not the EMs. We treated them with respect, addressed them as "Cadet" and saluted them. They were learning to be officers and saluting them didn't bother us because they treated us with respect. They led PT in the mornings and worked with us side-by-side during the day, learning. I attribute that ALL to my CO and Top. Leadership breeds leaders. They exemplified that.

For the most part cadets pretty much know nothing and have yet to EARN a commissioned rank. Those who even think about degrading NCOs who earned their rank a long time ago, may to want to consult with some real commissioned officers who most certainly would set them straight. Directly confronting a NCO, especially a SNCO, won't end well for them.

Naval Academy Midshipmen are an actual Rank in the Navy and as such are between an Ensign and the top Enlisted rank. The other "Cadets" at the other MIlitary Academies have NO Military rank!

Cadets cannot give lawful orders. PERIOD. They are not fully trained on what orders are lawful and what aren't. They haven't entered Activy Duty because they might not even graduate and be commissioned. Cadets DO NOT outrank NCOs. PERIOD. They have received NO OFFICIAL AUTHORITY over ANYONE and are not authorized to tell any active duty person what to do. End of story.