Warrant officers, not NCOs. But yes, this is the crux of it. New lieutenants go to flight school alongside new warrant officers, and then their day-to-day respo

Warrant officers, not NCOs. But yes, this is the crux of it. New lieutenants go to flight school alongside new warrant officers, and then their day-to-day responsibilities rapidly diverge. The lieutenant becomes an administrator who, at best, struggles to keep up with the warrant officers in the cockpit for a few years. At worst, the lieutenant ends up in jobs (as a captain and major) where they don't even have flight-hour minimums anymore.