On 28Jul2020 1438, Evyn Gutierrez wrote:
>
> In the USN life as a Zero and life as a grunt are very different. One
> of the reasons Mavericks are such hardasses. While Warrant Officers
> aren't. (Hint there are No ring-knocker warrants, though they probably
> get along well with your Master Chief)
>
In the NZ military a warrant officer is a (very) senior NCO, and while
the Navy and (most) Air Force WOs are technical specialists they still
came up from the ranks. In the Army WO2s fill all kinds of
administrative positions, including such roles as Company Sergeant Major
(CSM, demi-gods), while WO2s fill the higher such roles, including RSM
(gods) and Sergeant Major of the Army (greater god). WO2s in the army
get to dress in an officer's uniform (brown shoes, different belt, etc.)
and are addressed as 'Sir'.

Everyone not an officer and above OR-2 (on NATO terms) is an NCO, which
means every non-commissioned person not a private in the Army, and
everyone not an Ordinary Rate or Able Rate in the Navy, and everyone not
an Aircraftsman or Leading Aircraftsman in the Air Force. Able/Leading
means technically skilled, but no command authority. Note that this
means that Lance Corporals *are* NCOs, though the rank is appointed, and
so a commanding officer can demote Lance Corporals without the Court
Martial required to demote a Corporal (or above).

We used to get a wee bit grumpy when working with US military, because
they promote junior enlisted much faster than we do, and having to defer
to a Sergeant (OR-5) with a few years in who is a fire-team leader when
you're a Corporal (OR-4) who is a section commander (a section is
equivalent to a squad, so 8-12 soldiers) with 6+ years experience
doesn't always sit well. OTOH, our Sergeants outrank the US'.

--
Rupert Boleyn <xxxxxx@gmail.com>