Soviet direct-entry NCO recruitment offered a way to employ technical specialists without putting every recruit through officer training. The difficulty was that a new NCO could know less about shipboard work than experienced conscripts under their authority. Applying that model to the Royal Navy, French Navy or US Navy raised a further concern because senior NCO and warrant grades carried substantial responsibility and power. A junior commission could therefore be easier to supervise than entry at a senior enlisted or warrant grade.
Notable Point · 55:08-56:26
Direct-entry specialists create a choice between expertise and command experience
A navy can rapidly employ qualified specialists as NCOs or warrant officers, but those grades may confer more practical authority than a newcomer can safely exercise.