noun
enlisted man; non-commissioned officer and below
Military term referring to personnel of ranks equivalent to sergeant and below in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. The kanji 陸 indicates ground forces.
陸曹等の教育課程は厳しい。
The training course for non-commissioned officers and below is tough.
下士官 is a more general term for non-commissioned officers used across different military branches, not limited to ground forces.
Compound of 陸 (ground) + 曹 (sergeant) + 等 (and others, etc.), literally 'ground sergeant and others'. A technical term used in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.