Excuse me, but in a broader sense, I believe, yes. Considering there is such a need as a non-commissioned officer. Why do you even pose the question?
If I could be an NCO, I bet you could have too. Also when I was about twenty years old, I was a company spy in a Union organizing meeting! I am most proud of that too.
NCO is not an officer. And it has nothing to do with my question anyhow, not to mention that not all members of a military force are even NCOs.
And I’m not enamored of many of Heinlein’s social leanings anyway, even though I’m in agreement of his statement with respect to armed societies.