Capt.Popeye
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In the US military my saying is that any officer, junior or senior, is only as good as the "Senior sleeves" who work with him. As a new Second Lieutenant, USAF I depended in Pakistan, overseas, for much day to day management by my USAF Master Sergeant. In my reservist end of 31 years active and reserve duty career I depended on the Command Chief Master Sergeant.
In the US Navy of course your Senior Sleeves are Master Chief and Senior Chief Petty Officers.
Concur completely in your opinion here.
Its the same in the Indian Army (and dare I say the PA). The vital link between a junior level Commander and his men; are the NCOs (Non-Coms). In the Indian Army, there is another ranking level in between-- the JCO (Junior Commisioned Officer). This was created in the time of the British as VCOs (Viceroy Commisioned Officers). These (grizzled) veterans are from the ranks unlike the directly commisioned Officers. While these JCOs nominally wear the "shoulder pips" of junior officers (with a special distinguishing shoulder flash) they are just below the junior Officers (subalterns) in the heirarchy.
But they are invaluable assets to fresh subalterns and can substitute for them. And in the Army unit (the paltan), even the Commanding Officers treat them with respect; and justifiably so.