The Differences Between a Commissioned & Non-Commissioned Officer in the Army

by Will Charpentier , Demand Media

A commissioned officer in the U.S. Army holds a commission from the President of the United States and can command those under him, both officers and enlisted personnel. With luck and time, he can rise to the command of all military personnel in his service. A non-commissioned officer -- a sergeant, for example -- is outranked by all commissioned officers. However, he can command the enlisted personnel, privates, corporals and lower-ranked sergeants under his command.

Commissioned Officers

Commissioned officers in the Army give enlisted personnel -- including non-commissioned officers -- the orders upon which they act to conduct the Army's business. They include first and second lieutenants, captains, majors, colonels, lieutenant-colonels and generals. Non-commissioned officers can assist officers to determine the specific tasks necessary to complete a mission or project. The non-commissioned officers then ensure the tasks necessary to the commission are completed. For example, a U.S. Army lieutenant, who is a commissioned officer, might determine that a building requires repainting. He then tells a master sergeant to attend to it. The master sergeant, who is an NCO, details the job to the appropriate enlisted men of lower rank, who paint the deck.

Non-commissioned Officers

Non-commissioned officers receive orders from commissioned officers and assign tasks to lower ranking enlisted personnel. They have practical experience dealing with lower-ranking enlisted men and can translate the officer's order into specific instructions to complete the job. For example, if an officer instructs an NCO such as a master sergeant that a building needs paint, the master sergeant will communicate the officer's desire to a sergeant first class. The sergeant first class will inspect the area. He might note that the bricks need repair. If so, he tells a staff sergeant in maintenance to repair the problem. The staff sergeant will direct a sergeant to attend to the repair. The sergeant will tell the lowest-ranking NCO, a corporal, to assemble a team of privates and make the repair.

The Differences

The greatest difference between commissioned U.S. Army officers and the Army's non-commissioned officers lies in the level of authority. A commissioned officer can command all enlisted personnel and other officers under his command. A non-commissioned officer cannot command commissioned officers except those placed under his command for training.


Commissioned officers and non-commissioned officers both work for the same employer: the U.S. Army. They are both managers as well. The commissioned officer serves in a senior management role. He has been entrusted with the control of those of lesser rank in the Army, including non-commissioned officers, by virtue of a commission from the President. The non-commissioned officer serves in a middle-management role, receiving orders from officers and ensuring that lower ranking Army personnel carry the orders out as instructed.

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