what is a petty officer

A petty officer is a non-commissioned officer in many navies, responsible for the day-to-day supervision of ranks junior to them and serving as technical specialists within their rating. They are typically equal to a sergeant in comparison to other military branches, and often superior to a seaman and subordinate to more senior non-commissioned officers, such as a chief petty officer. In the United States Navy, a petty officer is responsible for supervising the day-to-day activities of junior sailors and ensuring they have the necessary resources to perform their duties. They also serve as the link between the junior enlisted ranks and the officer corps, and may handle the more demanding parts of the division's work