Posted: 2/2/2005 7:29:35 PM EDT
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I've always been curious how Warrant Officers fit into the Army hierarchy and what their primary duties are. Are they always helicopter pilots or do they serve other roles? How are they addressed (Sir, Mister, etc.)? Do they fall between the E's and O's or are they a separate entity unto themselves? I was told by an older deputy I worked with that when he was a sergeant in the service during the 60s that there were Warrant Officers that weren't messed with even by Officers, they were sort of untouchable due to the clout they had, was the impression I got from him. Is this sometimes correct? Any and all information would be appreciated so if you can, educate a civilian. To those who serve and have served, Thank you. Scott |
| They are specialists/technicians. Generally NCOs that have a lot of experience in their field that the Army wants to keep around (not counting Helicopter Pilots-whole diff program). There are alot of them in Intelligence. I worked with a number of them overseas while with Soccent. They provide alot of continuity and experience. They rank between the highest enlisted rank and 2nd Lt. They are subordinate to officers but generally are respected because of their extensive experience. Its a good program for the Army, its a shame that the other services have pretty much done away with warrants. |
| You can call an Army warrant sir, Mr., or chief. The title of chief is not used for the lowest warrant, the WO-1. A WO-2 once told me that "you can call me Mr, but I'll ignore it". There are a number of reasons WO's don't get too much crap. Pilots are under flight regulations that strictly govern what they can and can't do while on flight status, and specifically what they can and can't do it they are flying that day or night. Most of the remaining WO's are in very technical maintenance slots, special operations, and law enforcement. There are also a few supply and support WO positions. Here's the kicker, most WO's outside of avation don't report to a typical company level chain of command. A WO will usually be in charge of a maintenance depot ot other battalion or higher level asset. If Capt. Buttmunch or Major Crappypants makes trouble for WO2 Smith, the first person in the WO's direct chain of command is LTC Jones. I've seen officers try to throw their weight around getting a vehicle turned in only to come back an hour later to PERSONALLY clean the vehicle out or complete paperwork that wasn't done right the first time. |
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In the Marine Corps, there are usually a couple of WO billets in each section of a company(few of which are filled at any given time). On the pouge side (which is really all I know) you pick up Sgt and then go to the school. They outrank enlisted and are junior to comissioned 0s. They are generally respected a little more by the junior troops and NCOs, because they've done the whole enlisted thing as opposed to a fresh out of college 2nd lt. You address them as sir, I had no idea that anyone in any branch of the U.S. military was ever instructed to address anyone in uniform as Mr. but the Army does their own thing I guess. Leather |
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Awesome guys, thank you for so much info. The next question I had was, how do they get to where they are but Leatherneck seems to have partially answered it. Do they work up through the Es and how far into the Es do they have to get (E-6, E-7, etc.) to become Warrant Officers? Are they chosen or do they choose to be Warrant Officers? Still really interesting. Thank you very much, Scott |
What does that mean? Warrant officers of all services are US Naval officers? Huh? I have an old OIC that was a US Army CW3 that would disagree... maybe that was some sort of typo? -Randy |
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I think he ment 'as are Naval officers'. Most WO's come out of the enlisted ranks because it takes time to train and identify the Soldiers wo have the skill and knowledge to become good WO's. Pilots are the exception because you can go from high school to flight school.
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I like this topic, it answers some questions I've had.
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As stated above Warrant Officers are generally technical experts or helo pilots. Also a lot of them are Intelligence Analysts, Interrogators, Photo Recon analyst and Counter Intelligence agents. They are senior enlisted personnel who go thru a fairly lengthy application process altho i think now at least the Army has a Warrant Officer school similar to OCS. Warrants are treated and function more like officers than enlisted. They bunk in the BOQ, and may dine in the Officers mess and O clubs. As a WO3 I have served as shift officer in a DTOC G2 section. The really cool thing about being a WO is that unlike officers who must change jobs in order to get promoted a warrant could in theory perform the same function as a WO1 all the way up to WO5. Money was not bad either as a senior warrant made about as much a a Senior 03 or newbie 04 Since they were recognized as tech experts nobody would mess with them either. Best Job in the service in my humble opinion |
The application process is pretty streamlined now, and the Warrant Officer Candidate School (WOCS) has been around since 1991, the same year they authorized the CW5 rank and W-5 pay grade. There has never been a "WO3" or WO5" rank in the Army, the CW3 and CW4 ranks came around in the 1960s. The ranks are WO1, CW2, CW3, CW4, and CW5. The pay grades are W-1 through W-5. You should know this stuff, you've got that Military Intelligence Branch Insignia up there! Why not proudly display the "Rising Eagle" if that was the best job in the service? Now, Army warrants only wear it from blue (senior) phase of WOCS until they graduate their basic course, then they pin on their assigned branch insignia. -Randy 
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I was an E-6(P). My MOS and the similar ones require at a minimum you be an E-5 who ahs completed BNCOC, but rarely will the minimum get you selected. You must put in an application packet that is very detailed, then it goes through a board that selects who gets to attended WOCS. On the Active side of the house in my MOS they have a goal of selecting 12 a year, from anywhere from 300-500 applications a year, and sometimes even more. Then you must complete WOCS or all bets are off. My class at Rucker (all NG/USAR) was at average E-7, with a number of E-8's. The class before hand a 53 year old SGM come through. My WOBC was woth almost all active, and they averaged E-6 with one E-5(p) and one E-7 in the class. Definitley the best job in the Army! |
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In the Navy the process for selection is very competitive for the program. You must have a minimum of 12 years service and be in pay grade E-7. If selected you will be commissioned, yes, commissioned with your appointment to either CWO-2 or CWO-3 (depending on pay grade upon selection) as a permanent commissioned officer in the Navy. After commissioning you will then attend a six week course at NAS Pensacola called Officer Indoctrination School (Knife & Fork School.) Then assigned back to the fleet in a division officer billet or possibly as an OIC. Depending on the specialty Navy CWOs can be assigned in any CWO Grade or up to O-5 slots. It is really a great officer program. Navy CWOs have the best union in the military. According to the rules in the Navy, CWOs are not to be treated as JOs due to their years of experience and why reduce them to the SLDO (shitty little duties officer) that the O-1s get stuck with. Regards, Rich |
You are correct about the WO3 WO5 I have been out since 1985 and got a little careless. As to why the MI branch insignia over the Rising Eagle. Well just did not want to get mixed up with the Band Conductors and the PBO's. I busted my ass to change MOS from Light Weapons Infantry to OB analyst and then get my Warrant as an OB Technician. So I am damn proud of that accomplishment and decided to go with the MI insignia. |
Good choice! I play golf with the OIC from my old section, he's a CW3 352C, and he said the day they switched to wearing their branch insignia instead of the Rising Eagle was one of the happiest days of his career. Weird fact, federal law limits the number of CW5 Warrant Officers to no more than 5% of the total Warrant Officers on active duty. My girlfriend's OIC is a CW5 352C, and I think he likes being special... of course, he should since he's been around long enough to make it to the top!  -Randy |
Sorry, typo! I meant as are US Naval officers. |
| Any enlisted guy who plans to make a career of the military should submit a warrant packet, theres no shame in it at all, you still get to work for a living. I wont reenlist again unless I decide to submit my flight packet, Ive got almost 4 years and a degree plan worth of time to figure out if the extra 10 would be worth it. |