whats the difference between c.o and n.c.o?

[DotheDamnTHing]

curious and would like to know?

 

[Ramma2]

In military organizations, a commissioned officer is a member of the service who derives authority directly from a sovereign power, and as such holds a commission from that power. Commissioned officers are authorized to use deadly force to carry out the lawful orders of their government, either directly or through orders to enlisted personnel

A non-commissioned officer (sometimes noncommissioned officer), or NCO, is an enlisted member of an armed force who has been delegated leadership or command authority by a commissioned officer.

Source: Wiki

 

[Linflas]

NCO
Officer

 

[jersiq]

Commissioned officers receive their commission from an academy or officer training school. Ususally, in order to receive a comission you have to have a four year degree. These are officers that go from Lieutenant to General. They are tasked with a higher responisibility for commanding.

A Non-Comissioned Officer is an enlisted man, who through promotions has achieved a rank of E-4 (Marines, I dont know about the other services) They have responsibilty for leading a unit, but not necessarily commanding a unit. In the absence of a Commissioned officer, an non-commissioned officer would assume command over the unit.

 

[jemcam]

You kind of have your acronymns mixed up.

C.O. : Is short for Commanding Officer, or the guy in charge. For instance, you can be a Captain, which is an officer, but he is not in a command position, such as a staff intelligence officer, or personnel officer. A "CO" is usually a job description. A captain, lieutenant, Major, or Lieutenant Colonel can hold a command position, but they usually rotate in and out of command positions depending on their field or specialty.

A commisioned officer is one who gains his rank by going to OCS (Officer Candidate School) such as myself, or ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) or a direct commision for people that have particular training or skills such as lawyers, doctors, dentists, ministers, rabbis, or priests.

A non-commissioned officer are Corporals or above (sergeants, etc.). They do hold supervisor positions, but do not "command". The NCO's are the backbone of the Army.

Generally speaking, Commissioned Officers make policy or give direction for whatever task needs to be done, and the NCO's execute the plan or complete the mission.

 

[Ramma2]

Generally, there is some inherent dislike of officers from enlisted personnel. NCOs earn their rank from time in service, combat experience or acts above and beyond. Then you take a 2nd Lt. fresh from officer school and that person outranks any NCO. That is where you get the whole "Don't call me Sir, I work for a living", since officers are greeted with Sir and NCOs are not.

*hides from jemcam

 

[jemcam]

Originally posted by: Ramma2
Generally, there is some inherent dislike of officers from enlisted personnel. NCOs earn their rank from time in service, combat experience or acts above and beyond. Then you take a 2nd Lt. fresh from officer school and that person outranks any NCO. That is where you get the whole "Don't call me Sir, I work for a living", since officers are greeted with Sir and NCOs are not.

That's why OCS officers usually gain more respect with enlisted people than ROTC or direct-commisioned officers.

Don't even get me started on West Pointers. :disgust:

 

[Winchester]

I thought XO = Commanding Officer.

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: Winchester
I thought XO = Commanding Officer.

XO = Executive Officer?

 

[Imaginer]

Originally posted by: Feldenak

Originally posted by: Winchester
I thought XO = Commanding Officer.

XO = Executive Officer

Fixed

 

[acemcmac]

seems pretty silly to me. I don't understand why there is a distinction for anything other than historical purposes

 

[Dr. Detroit]

NCO's work for a living so don't call them sir, call them Sgt.

That is the biggest distinction between a CO and a NCO.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: Ramma2
Generally, there is some inherent dislike of officers from enlisted personnel. NCOs earn their rank from time in service, combat experience or acts above and beyond. Then you take a 2nd Lt. fresh from officer school and that person outranks any NCO. That is where you get the whole "Don't call me Sir, I work for a living", since officers are greeted with Sir and NCOs are not.

*hides from jemcam

When I went through OCS, one of the rules drummed into us was that listen to your NCOs; they know what is going on. And it was the NCOs that were running the school.

I have seen O6s (Colonel s) take advantage of their senior & chief master sergeants knowledge and connections. Piss off a Senior NCO and nothing gets done.


Such rules hold for all branches