armed forces, armed services, military, military machine, war machine - the military forces of a nation; "their military is the largest in the region"; "the military machine is the same one we faced in 1991 but now it is weaker"

aircraftman, aircraftsman - a noncommissioned officer in the British Royal Air Force

bombardier - a noncommissioned officer in the British artillery

chief petty officer - a person with the senior noncommissioned naval rank

corporal - a noncommissioned officer in the army or airforce or marines

drill instructor, drill master - a noncommissioned officer who instructs recruits in military marching and discipline

lance corporal - an enlisted man in the marine corps ranking above a private first class and below a corporal

military officer, officer - any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command; "an officer is responsible for the lives of his men"

P.O., petty officer, PO - a noncommissioned officer in the navy with a rank comparable to sergeant in the army

sergeant - any of several noncommissioned officer ranks in the army or air force or marines ranking above a corporal