Commissioned Officers

Commissioned officers make up the top of the U.S. military hierarchy within each branch of the service. Among commissioned officers are various ranks that further separate them by level of authority. Serving beneath commissioned officers are enlisted personnel. The enlisted ranks have a system of leaders within them called noncommissioned officers (NCOs). The NCO ranks lead personnel on the smallest levels of organization, as well as at the highest levels alongside commissioned officers. Outside the officer and enlisted ranks are warrant officers. Typically trained in a focused specialty or trade, warrant officers often act as the commanding officer of a military unit or fall directly under a commissioned officer. Commissioned officers lead military [Page 374]units and serve in support roles essential to maintaining the combat ...