Noncommissioned Officer

Officer appointed by a commissioned officer in the military hierarchy. The noncommissioned officer corps [Page 525]is the administrative apparatus of the U.S. military. A noncommissioned officer (NCO) usually supervises enlisted men and serves as adviser to the officer corps. NCOs receive their authority from commissioned officers, who in turn receive their authority from a sovereign power, such as the United States government.

The laws of war require the existence of an officer class in the military, although there are commissioned officers who are not members of the military. These individuals work in the uniformed services such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Public Health Service (PHS) commissioned corps. The distinction between civilians and combatants is crucial to the laws of war. The motivation for commissioning officers is so they cannot be legally tried as spies if captured on the battlefield.

NCOs are considered vital to the day-to-day management of military operations. They typically function at the rank of sergeant, but they can also serve as corporals and petty officers. NCOs can receive advanced military training.

The position of tactical NCO exists at the level of the military academy. Tactical NCOs are responsible for training leaders for companies of cadets at the U.S. Military Academy. Their responsibilities range from teaching and supervising drill and ceremony procedures to military training.