Experienced NCOs in Britain's Napoleonic army and navy

How would a modern-style NCO corps have changed British performance in the Napoleonic Wars?

Britain already had a strong functional NCO corps, including masters-at-arms, boatswains, masters' mates, chiefs, and experienced senior seamen, even though its titles and organization differed from today.

Britain already had experienced personnel performing the functions associated with an NCO corps in both its army and navy. Masters-at-arms controlled shipboard discipline, while boatswains, masters' mates and experienced ratings filled other responsible posts. Their titles and organization differed from modern arrangements. In the comparison with France, revolutionary changes opened commissions to talented newcomers but also removed many aristocratic officers who had filled existing posts. Promoting NCOs helped replace them, although success in an NCO role did not automatically mean suitability for commissioned command. A colonel and sergeant major, or captain and senior chief, could be equally professional while needing different dispositions and skills.