On Mon, 20 Sep 2004 11:37:50 -0300, "Arved Sandstrom"
proclaimed:

Even petty officers in the USN have significant leadership responsibilities.
I never noticed that any of the PO's I knew were not charged with duties and
decision-making that was not comparable to equal ranks in other services.

What time frame?
That was definitely not the picture in the late 50's in Nav-Air.