Do officers view their men as stupid and uneducated?

Funny. I had to deal with officers all day for 20 years. I called many of them educated fools. I particularly disliked many academy graduates. They had an arrogant way about them.

Sadly to say, but some do. Not all. The really smart ones know the value of all the enlisted men.

up to the level of what ?

last base I was on

the Air Division Chief MSgt had a PhD
the Air Division Commander -a three star General , had a BS degree

now which one was uneducated ?

The ones that don't earn the respect of the men probably think that. But if they want the men to respect them, they have to understand that it's the men that are the ones that make they (the officer) look good.

And yes, you do have to respect all officers in the military. But all that means is that you have to respect the uniform and rank, not the person himself. That level of respect is something that has to be EARNED.

Some just let the rank get to their heads. I had an officer that was arrogant and tried to debate with an E-5. Officer was an O-4. LCDR had a Bachelors and the E-5 was almost completed with his Masters. Of course, the E-5 let the O take the cake since he is subordinate to him, but it just goes to show demeanor is as credible as one's education.

In the Navy officers learn fairly quick that they must relay on their enlisted Sailors................

Only the bad Officers.

Most of us understand that intelligence is not measured by a college degree- why do you think we respect squared away NCOs so much? Not because of their years of service (you could have been in for 20 years and still suck), but because they are smart enough to effectively get the job done.

Rank is not an indication of intelligence.

Some of the enlisted personnel with whom I served had more advanced degrees than I did.

It is a matter of mutual respect - which has to be EARNED, no matter what your rank.

Maybe the O-1's do, 2nd Lt. and Ensign, by the time that they are ready for O-2, 1st Lt. and USN Lt. JG, they realize the value of the men/women and resources that they work with is essential to the accomplishment of the mission.

EDIT: Since the questioner is British, it might be a different story there as they stand on tradition. "Other Ranks" might be just tools to do the job.

Only the ones that are. It's not hard to tell.

Depends really on the officer. Example. The phrase that my branch maybe known for. "With all do respect to your rank." The phrase in which begins one's likely refusal of an illegal order. Illegal, cause you still may pay for being right. My branch has this and methinks they test such.

That thought or idea is sometimes still conveyed today when young officer candidates are going through OTS or COT along with enlisted also being lazy sometimes. Its largely a myth in some ways except maybe for those younger, lower ranking enlisted who are still new to the military and struggling to find their way and need more in the way of direction and guidance. Along with this most young officers are taught to respect the NCO ranks and to use and rely on the breadth of experience that especially senior NCOs have and bring to the table. So its a bit of a dichotomy in some ways really and should not be taken literally.

Successful and good officers learn pretty quickly how to manage and rely on their people and accomplishing things with a minimum of trouble and effort and in doing so usually have the respect and support of those under them. Bad officers don't do that near as well and may not accomplish things so easily nor be as successful and in the military you will find bad officers, bad NCOs, and bad enlisted just like you find bad managers and bosses, supervisors, and employees in the civilian world. One of the tricks is to not be a bad one yourself and manage and direct your people so that you accomplish that which you are tasked to do with a minimum of trouble and effort. Getting the buy in of those under you is key to that along with supporting them and also watching out for them and their careers when and where that is needed.

that would be extremely short sighted.

now talking about conscript army, that was something.