What is a Non-Commissioned Officer?
A non-commissioned officer is a military officer who is given authority through a commissioned officer, but he or she is not technically considered to be in command. Non-commissioned officers rise up through the enlisted ranks, generally with several years of experience to their names before they reach positions of nominal power. Both corporals and sergeants are often non-commissioned officers in many militaries, and depending on how a military is organized, warrant and petty officers may be classified as non-commissioned as well. The non-commissioned officer corps is often regarded as the backbone of the military, because these officers play such a crucial role in day to day military operations. They serve as a liaison between commissioned officers and regular enlisted forces, for example, keeping their superior officers informed about issues and situations which might be of relevance. This aspect of a non-commissioned officer’s role can be very important, as many militaries encourage
