Should Cadets be treated as Commissioned Officers?

This just makes me wonder if they were arrogant enough to tell their Sgts they had to since I already know regulations don't require an enlisted man to do it.

This should be reflected in her evaluation and they should seriously consider counseling this cadet on her attitude. If you think she's bad as a cadet, she will be worse when she really does have some power over the enlisted.

I believe in Mutual respect, most of them got it.

1SG (Join to see)AR 600-20, Army Command Policy references and clarifies the Chain of Command, as of 6 November 2014:

Army Command Policy

Army Regulation 600–20
Effective 6 November 2014

Chapter 2
Command Policies

2–1. Chain of command

2–8. Death, disability, retirement, reassignment, or absence of the commander

a. Commander of Army element.

(1) If a commander of an Army element dies, becomes disabled, retires, is reassigned, or is temporarily absent, the senior regularly assigned Army Soldier will assume command.

(3) Senior regularly assigned Army Soldier refers (in order of priority) to officers, WOs, cadets, NCOs, specialists, or privates present for duty.


2–9. Absence or disability of all officers of a unit

On death, disability, or absence of all officers of a unit normally commanded by an officer, the appropriate commander of the next higher command permanently assigns an officer to command. Pending assignment and arrival of the new commander, the senior WO, cadet, NCO, specialist, or private regularly assigned to the unit will exercise temporary command.


- https://mwi.usma.edu/yes-sergeant-actually-west-point-cadet-outrank/

Consequently, the same Army Command Policy authorizes but does not require a cadet to be saluted -- not yet required anyway. A cadet who may be saluted is obligated to return the salute as an expression of recognition and respect. The massive and extensive ignorance of this Army Command Policy throughout the Army is due to the failure of the Army to inform the force of it.

LtCol William Bentley - I'd have cheered for you, sir... sounds like that would've been fun.

LtCol William Bentley - correct with all “T” crossed

I have had tot deal with a few cadets and Quite frankly sometimes the elevator does not go to the top floor. I think it’s all about respect respect and she gets has to be earned you cannot demand something that you were not worthy of.

SPC Lisa Gregg OMG, This happened to me. I was like...um no.

When I was in the Navy we would often have Midshipmen come aboard our ship to learn the ins and outs of shipboard life. We were always told to treat them the same as we would Junior officers. The only thing I couldn't bring myself to do was call them sir, so I just referred to them as Midshipman. We would show them around the ship, explain the daily routine to them, tell them about the equipment we maintained, etc. Most of them were very gracious, and didn't cop an attitude. A few could be smartasses, and we could usually put them in their place by reminding them they were there to learn from us. We did salute them when appropriate.

SSG Elizabeth LeMere - No, but a CO has the obligation to use common sense and discretion in applying regulations, because sometimes the regs are contradictory, or only partially applicable, or flat out wrong for the situation at hand. CO's are given wide latitude to determine the correct response, but not so much latitude to simply ignore regulations. A CO must always be able to articulate, say for their court-martial or to an Inspector-General, or to their superior, as to why they deviated from the letter of the law or regulation. IF they articulate a reasonable answer, they might still be censured, or not. That is why CO's are, as they say, "paid the big bucks" to use all information available to them to make a decision, and then accept the consequences of their decisions. Cheers,

That was a great read.

Thank you, sir. Did not know this.