Talk:Ranks/@comment-208.86.131.129-20120730223220

This may help...Military ranks are divided into 3 broad categories...Enlisted (E#)...Warrant Officers (WO#)...and Officers (O#).

In the present day US military each of these categories has ranks within them. Now as a general rule all Officers outrank all Enlisted and Warrant Officers are a special set of Enlisted that have recieved specialized training (EG helicopter pilot, radio operator, etc. etc.) I say general rule because while an ensign fresh out of West Point (O1) technically outranks the Master Sergeant of the Army (E9) he would never in his wildest dreams think of giving an order to this man who has served for probably 20+ years and is most likely good personal friends with many generals.

As for Warrant Officers, as I mentioned they are a special set of enlisted personel, they are a higher paygrade than them, and most likely could be looked to for commands in emergency situations, they are not technically "in command" per se.