This is part of the leadership laboratory section of their curriculum their Junior and Senior year that is why they are doing a cadre assignment as instructors all of the service academies here in the United States do the same thing. And just so you know you do not want to cross any senior NCO regardless of service, or gender it does not end well, if you do something stupid enough for them to notice. Competent officers in a unit chain of command learn to listen to senior non-commissioned officers in their chain of command Because of their experience they have the ability to either save your career or kill it, and that is why they are treated with respect