Answers.com > Wiki Answers > Categories > History, Politics & Society > Politics and Government > Government > US Government > US Military > US Military Ranks Pay Rates and Benefits > What is the difference between a commissioned officer and a noncommissioned officer?

What is the difference between a commissioned officer and a noncommissioned officer?

Answer:

Non-commissioned officers, "noncoms" for short, are men who are not actual officers, but who do have control, charge, or supervision over other men. Noncom ranks are some specialist ranks, corporals, sergeants, staff sergeants etc.

Commissioned officers are "brass", Second Lieutenant, Lieutenant, Captain, Major, etc., and who have command over units of men, platoons, batteries, companies, troops, brigades, corps, etc.; or, over specific missions or deployments.

There is a third class of officer in American ranks call the Warrant officer. Warrant officers have the command authority of a noncom, but the rank equivalent of juniro to mid-grade officers. It is traditional in the US Army for example to defer to the knowledge and authority of a warrant officer in his area of specialty regardless of ones rank due in no small part to the specialized training and job responsibility they receive.

Contributor:

C.Hainsaw

First answer by Melos Antropon. Last edit by Melos Antropon. Contributor trust: 190 [recommend contributor ]. Question popularity: 1 [recommend question].

[report abuse]

Can you answer these US Military Ranks Pay Rates and Benefits questions?

	Does a US Military in Army have to pay a transit fee to return from Afghanistan To The USA?	Answer it!
	What are the army accident classes?	Answer it!
	Is an ex wife entitled to the pension of a deceased military personnel?	Answer it!
	How many battle ships does the us navy currently have?	Answer it!
	What is the armies payment?	Answer it!

Relevant answers:

What is the difference between noncommissioned officers and commissioned officers?
The differences are vast and varied: Noncommissioned {Non Commissioned} Officers: Are never saluted (In some cases, enlisted salute each other as when reporting {to} their post or on Gaurd {guard},...
What are the differences between an officer and a non-commissioned officer?
In UK an Officer holds the Queens commission. Senior NCOs are warrant officers & they have a Royal Warrant. NCOs are non-commissioned Officers, they do not have a commission. Privates do what...
What is the difference between an officer and a petty officer?
About $10,000 per year. True, but legally speaking it deals with authority. "Officer" is the common term applied to commissioned officers. Commissioned officers receive a commission from the...
What is the difference between executive and officer?
In the military for example, the Executive officer (XO) is second in command reporting to the Commanding Office. This term is not used in the British Army. Officers are charged with general duties...
What is the difference between an army officer and police officer?
An Army officer holds a commission from the President of the United States, and is authorized to speak for the president. This commission is similar to those held by Navy, Marine, Air Force and Coast...