A PO2 is allowed to give a lawful order to a PO3 who is not in his command by what authority?

The correct choice is based on the concept of "general authority." This type of authority allows a Petty Officer 2nd Class (PO2) to provide lawful orders to personnel who may not be directly under their command but are in the same chain of command within the Navy. General authority is tied to the rank structure and relationships in military operations, enabling leaders to give direction and orders to ensure mission success and unit cohesion.

In a military context, all personnel are expected to follow lawful orders from those of higher rank within the command structure. Therefore, a PO2, while not directly in command of a Petty Officer 3rd Class (PO3) from a different unit, can still exercise general authority to issue a lawful order. This reinforces the principle of maintaining discipline and operational effectiveness across the ranks, as everyone in the military is part of the broader command framework and must act in accordance with established hierarchy and protocols.