Is any officer rank "higher" rank than highest enlisted rank?

Question

if i were an E9, do i have to salute to a Second Lieutenant? please explain! thank you!

addition to question.........is the difference between enlisted and officer that u have a college degree from a military institution or university with rotc background?

Answer 1

yes it is.

Answer 2

Yes, any officer outranks the highest enlisted member. An officer receives a commission from Congress (Officer and a Gentleman). Enlisted members are non-commissioned officers (NCO).

While an E-9 would be required to salute an O-1 and call him sir, Enlisted members have always been considered the backbone of the service. Not because they do a lot of manual labor, but because they set the examples and carry on the traditions of the branch of the military that they are in.

While officers are in the "decision making" roles, I'll guarantee that there are experienced NCO's that were were sought out and asked for advice. New officers often have a "seasoned" NCO nearby to help and advise as they "learn about the way things are done in the military".

The salute is a sign of respect, not an admission of weakness.

Answer 3

yes...a salute is a show of respect. It is also the highest form of military courtesy by definition. However, there is a thin line that seperates the enlisted personnel and the Officer corps, the officers are more on the management & decision making level and the Enlisted Personnel are the backbone of the organization. Although respect can still be given by an Officer to an enlisted

with regards to your other question, it really depends on the country & organization you will be joining. I for example, prior to joining the Philippine Air Force I graduated with a degree in engineering. I entered the service as an Enlisted Personnel then I was able enter the officer candidate school upon passing their exam. When I graduated I was commisioned as 2LT but since I was already overage I was put on reserved and then called to active duty. The only difference is the serial #. Regular officers have 5 digits on their serial # & our's have 6 (Both are receiving same benefits & priviledges except reserve officers have to renew their contract every 10yrs). Same goes when ur just a graduate of ROTC here in our country. You'l have to wait for you to be commissioned in the reserve force and then called to active duty afterwards still having 6 digit serial # even thou ur not overage. Hope this helps you...Good Luck

Answer 4

All the answers are correct enlisted salute officers. You are saluting and paying respect to the uniform when you salute, not the man in it, so it is not a disgrace to do so for a high ranking enlisted.

The difference between enlisted and officers now-a-days is becoming blurred. It used to be that officers had more education but that is no longer true. I have enlisted friends with their Masters and our officer in charge only has his bachelors. It all has to do with the route you want to take your career today. You can go the enlisted route and work on education, or you can get your education now and then become an officer. Many enlisted swap over to the officer side after they have been in for a while and finish their college.

Answer 5

Yes you do. The highest ranking enlisted guy is still below the lowest officer. An E9 is still required to salute an O1. Not only that, but the E9 would have to follow the order of the O1. It is just that it would be wise for the officer to listen to the advice of the E9. However, if the enlisted guy had earned the medal of honor, enlisted and officers are required to salute whoever wears that medal.

The thing about it is, whenever you are arguing with someone who is a higher rank than you, it is like trying to fight someone who has your balls in their hands.

Answer 6

You cannot compare the ranks of officers and enlisted. Enlisted salute because it is a courtesy, not because they are superior. An O-1 is not superior to an E-9...they are completely different military roles, but yet they still salute. To be an officer you have to have a degree, does not matter where the degree is from (military or public). There is a respectable of enlisted personel that have degrees as well.

Answer 7

Yes. There are several instances where enlisted personnel do not salute (indoors, part of a work detail or formation etc. etc) and there are special circumstances where officers actually salute enlisted personnel (CMH awardees for example). But, in general under normal circumstances all enlisted personnel are to salute officers and all officers are considered to be of superior rank than any enlisted soldier. Now, with that said, there is definitive respect and deference that is shown to senior NCO's by officers. 2LT's who chose to be antagonistic to the Sergeant-Major will pay for it. These enlisted men, by virtue of experience, have earned special positions within the military structure. Perhaps the most important being advisors to specific commanders. Junior officers who do not show proper deference to E-8's and 9's wil almost be surely called to terms by the senior officer to whom that NCO is advising (normally a Lieutenant Colonel or senior). Even then, with all that said, REGARDLESS of regulation and tradition IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO to show these senior soldiers the proper respect and deference. They have "been there" and "done that" long before and for many many years. In my humble opinion, they long ago EARNED the right to respect and deference - even from officers. And, while I'm on it - I have RARELY met a 1SG or CSM who is not deserving of it even in the present. These are truly the most professional of the professional and epitomize the NCO Creed. They lead by example, and smart officers use their experience and guidance in their decisions when running their units.

Answer 8

yes you would have to. An officer is higher than any enlisted person. Even if he is the lowest ranked officer. Officers are in charge of the enlisted people. They tell the E-9's and below what to do

Answer 9

Yes. and 0-1 is a superior rank, and is afforded all of the rights and privileges due to it by all enlisted personnel. The same applies to WO's (Warrant Officers). Often these Officers may defer to the judgments of the more experienced high ranking NCO's (Non-Commissioned Officers).

Answer 10

Of course. You are an NCO and he or she is an officer. It's called the chain of command. Enlisted personnel ALWAYS salute officers, be it a second lieutenant or a lieutenant general. And you have to call them "sir" or "ma'am". Even if they are younger than your kids.

Answer 11

Any officer rank is higher than any enlisted rank. It wouldn't matter if you were SGT MGR of the Army, you would still have to salute a 2nd LT fresh out of OBC.