How do officers address warrant officers in the Army?

2020-09-12T19:44:40-04:00

I recently joined the state guard where I live as a 2LT. We use the army rank structure. I was wondering how I would address a WO1; WO2 thru WO5 I just call chief.

Response by CW5 Jack Cardwell made Sep 12 at 2020 7:56 PM

2020-09-12T19:56:48-04:00

State guard or your state National Guard ? Chief is not the proper form of address by regulation. Learning point, check the regulation.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 12 at 2020 8:04 PM

2020-09-12T20:04:42-04:00

Chief. The regulation just changed about a month ago. Chief is now a proper form of address.

Response by Maj John Bell made Sep 12 at 2020 8:26 PM

2020-09-12T20:26:06-04:00

Ask them how they would prefer to be addressed, then do that.

My first fleet assignment the PersO was a CWO-2, and kind of a grumpy hate Lieutenants kind of guy. When I was checking in to the battalion, I asked him how I should address him, he smiled and said "I don't care..., you can call me $#!*head 2ndLts don't belong in my admin section, now get out of my office, sir."

He showed up at happy hour at the O-club that weekend. I approached him and quietly asked "Hey $#!*head, can I buy you a beer?" He looked pissed and stared for about 10 seconds, then said "F^%@#!*% Butter bar, you and I are going to be good friends. You can call me Chief MacLemore. I drink scotch."

For the rest of my tour, in private he was "$#!*head", and "I was F^%@#!*% Butter bar."

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 12 at 2020 8:36 PM

2020-09-12T20:36:55-04:00

I've never seen a soldier get more bent out of shape about being addressed incorrectly or failed to be saluted than a WO1. Miss a salute to a 2LT and chances are it won't go noticed. Miss a salute to a WO1 and holy crap you'd think the Joint Chiefs of Staff just walked by you.

I literally had a FULL COL thank me for saluting him while I was in South Korea. Had that been a WO1, I'm sure he'd say "damn right you little biatch, or correct my hand placement.

I was so glad to make 2LT and not have to deal with WO1's as a subordinate.

WO1 = Mr
CW2+ = Chief.

As a 2LT+, "Chief" does just fine for them across the board.

I usually see WO1's be addressed as "Mr." mostly by CW2+ to remind them of their place.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 12 at 2020 8:53 PM

2020-09-12T20:53:14-04:00

I play it safe and call all Warrants Sir or Ma'am.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 12 at 2020 10:40 PM

2020-09-12T22:40:01-04:00

Sir, Mr., Chief If they are CW2 or higher.

Response by CW4 Keith Dolliver made Sep 13 at 2020 1:29 AM

2020-09-13T01:29:29-04:00

If you outrank me, I prefer you just call me "Keith". If you don't know my first name, then I prefer Mr. Dolliver. I personally cringe every time I hear "Chief" and I'm annoyed that the Army changed it to be an official title of address.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 13 at 2020 2:01 AM

2020-09-13T02:01:16-04:00

PO3 Chris Wright, MBA look in the regulation AR 600-20 (Army), you address as Mr. or Ms., etc. then their last name. Chief is generally acceptable if you know them if they are CW2 or above given that WO1 are technically not a commissioned officer yet, but when it doubt ask them if they prefer to to be call Mr./Ms or if you are close enough to call them Chief already. If they outrank you, you can call them Sir or Ma'am as well.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Sep 13 at 2020 2:26 AM

2020-09-13T02:26:33-04:00

On our side, we occasionally use "Guns" as the honorific dating back to the wooden ships. The Gunner was a warrant officer rank. Calling a CWO "Chief", if they are Navy, tends to rankle them as that refers to the E-7 rank. The two CWOs I had tended to like me calling them Guns but were quick to chastise the junior officers if they did because only the Skipper was allowed to. I think that was one of their ways of terrorizing the flock.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 13 at 2020 7:34 AM

2020-09-13T07:34:27-04:00

I like and will continue to like (Mr.) when I pin W2. Sometimes I pretend I am a civilian. In fact, very early on before 1918 it is believed the contract of civilian pay clerks during the 1st World War were the first steps to creating the WO corps.

Response by SFC Stephen P. made Sep 13 at 2020 9:00 AM

2020-09-13T09:00:19-04:00

IAW AR 600-20 Table 1-1: Mr./Mrs./Miss/Ms

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 13 at 2020 9:45 AM

2020-09-13T09:45:20-04:00

A WO1 is called Mr, Miss, Mrs or Ms (depending on gender). WO2 or higher is called Chief.

Officers call each other by their first names (unless the person outranks them). So officers are probably using Chief or the person's first name. That's what I've noticed in my time in the Army.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 13 at 2020 10:37 AM

2020-09-13T10:37:34-04:00

Where I work all the commissioned officers address Warrant Officers by their first names. However, the Warrant Officers address the Commissioned Officers as Sir. This is aviation though. Been like that my whole career

Response by CW3(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 13 at 2020 12:02 PM

2020-09-13T12:02:04-04:00

I've been called Sir, Chief and Mr. Robinson by a few. It doesn't really matter to me as long as its kept professional.

Response by CPL Annette Bryant-Grimenstein made Sep 13 at 2020 12:51 PM

2020-09-13T12:51:33-04:00

Hey Bud.

Response by SCPO Morris Ramsey made Sep 13 at 2020 10:52 PM

2020-09-13T22:52:54-04:00

Call me in time for dinner

Response by SGT Robert Pryor made Sep 13 at 2020 11:03 PM

2020-09-13T23:03:57-04:00

Hey you.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Sep 14 at 2020 4:11 PM

2020-09-14T16:11:42-04:00

I just saw a recent post on FB where the Army made Chief an official designation for Warrants. I will try to find it. But it basically said WO's can go by Chief, Sir/Ma'am, or Mister.

Response by SSgt Vernon Nelson made Apr 28 at 2023 6:13 PM

2023-04-28T18:13:12-04:00

Over 50 years ago, the correct address used to be Mister and last name. Don't know if that still holds.