What do cadets typically lack that active duty personnel possess?

Active duty personnel generally have established pay grades based on their time in service, experience, and specific roles within the military hierarchy. Cadets, on the other hand, are in training and have not yet completed their programs to be commissioned as active duty officers or enlisted personnel, which means they do not hold official pay grades or ranks. This distinction highlights the transition from training to active service, where rank and pay become important elements of military structure and organization.

In contrast, cadets may lack combat experience, formal medical training, and leadership roles, but the defining factor tying them directly to their status as trainees is their absence of a defined pay grade as they have not entered into active duty.