Non-commissioned member


A non-commissioned member, in the Canadian Armed Forces, is defined in the Queen's Regulations and Orders as: "... any person, other than an officer, who is enrolled in, or who pursuant to law is attached or seconded otherwise than as an officer to, the Canadian Forces..." Thus, an NCM is any member who is not a commissioned officer or officer cadet. Officer cadets, while not commissioned members, are classified as officers.
The equivalent term in French is "militaire du rang".

Composition

Non-commissioned members comprise the following groups of ranks:
Rank groupArmyNavyAir Force
Warrant OfficersChief Warrant Officer Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Chief Warrant Officer
Warrant OfficersMaster Warrant Officer Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class Master Warrant Officer
Warrant OfficersWarrant Officer Petty Officer 1st Class Warrant Officer
Non-commissioned OfficersSergeant Petty Officer 2nd Class Sergeant
Non-commissioned OfficersMaster Corporal Master Seaman Master Corporal
Non-commissioned OfficersCorporal Leading Seaman Corporal
PrivatesPrivate Able Seaman Aviator
PrivatesPrivate Ordinary Seaman Aviator

Non-commissioned officers are further subdivided into "junior non-commissioned officers", consisting of the ranks of MCpl/MS and Cpl/LS, and "senior non-commissioned officers", consisting of Sgt/PO2.
The ranks of MCpl/MS and below are also collectively known as "junior ranks". There is no equivalent simple collective term for Sgt/PO2 and above; they are generally known by the terms "Warrant Officers and Sergeants" and "Chiefs and Petty Officers" or "Chiefs and POs" ; the term "Senior NCM" is often erroneously used, and currently has no official sanction, although its use are appearing in official documentation with increasing frequency.

Analogs

In the British Army, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force, the equivalent term is "Other Rank" ; in the Royal Navy and Commonwealth navies, the term is usually "rating" or "rate".
In the United States Army, Air Force and Marines, the equivalent term is "enlisted rank;" in the United States Navy, the proper term is "rate" only; "rating" refers to a sailor's Military Occupational Specialty.