noun
A military rank below commissioned officers and above non-commissioned officers. Used in the Japan Self-Defense Forces and some other military contexts.
彼は准士官として長年勤務した。
He served as a warrant officer for many years.
下士官 are non-commissioned officers, ranking below 准士官.
Compound of 准 (jun, 'quasi-' or 'associate') and 士官 (shikan, 'officer'), literally 'associate officer'. The term is a direct translation of the Western military rank 'warrant officer'.