If an NCO approached you asking about staying Enlisted vs Warrant vs Officer, what would you say?

Warrant cause you get the best of both worlds and nobody screws with you

I'll keep it short and sweet. I'll tell them that everything ain't for everybody and that they need to follow their heart. When they make a decision, I'll help them in every way possible.

Well, since I went down that road, and had solid guidance, I would ask the Soldier what they wanted to do, what their goals were, and their long term vision was. I would also explain who does what in the Army, and differences between the three. If they were planning on the Army as career, retirement pay differences should also be discussed. Not the prime reason for transitioning, but it does need to be discussed.

The Army needs skilled and committed NCOs, Warrants and Officers. I would always recommend to a Soldier, if they had a desire and the ability to be an Officer, or Warrant Officer, that they should always give it a go.

At the same time, I know that we also need Superior NCOs, as our Army lives and dies by our NCOs Corps.

I was successful as a Soldier and an Officer all because of many great NCOs.

I know this is an old question, but it resurfaced. I find myself at a crossroads. This year I am going to be considered for WOC and for SFC. I already have SLC dates scheduled. It will be around the same time as WOC selection board. It would be interesting if I get selected while in school. Do I still wear the WOC "rank"?

I am hoping for WO. Regardless, I am planning for both eventualities.

Some comments talk about leadership. How does walking vs wing warrants factor into that?

Of the four branches that use Warrants, there are three broad views. I can really only speak to the Navy's (and, presumably, the Coast Guard's).

In the Navy, a Warrant is an alternate career path for CPOs. They fit one of the three basic areas in the Navy's management. That is:

- Chiefs manage people
- Warrants manage materials and processes
- Commissioned officers (yes, I know, I know) manage the navy.

With officers and chiefs, as they move up, their scope becomes broader. They start out specialized - M-Division Div-O, and grow less so - Main Propulsion Assistant, Engineer Officer, XO, CO... (and similar for Chiefs).

On the other hand, a newly-commissioned CWO2 is about as general as he's going to get. Instead, he moves to more and more specialized assignments, growing more and more detailed in knowledge. Eventually, a CWO5 becomes the god of his own little area of the Navy.

This is why I question the Navy's recurring attempt to end either the LDO or CWO communities (alternating every five years or so). They're completely different career fields which require completely different methods of personnel management.

This is a very personal decision and requires a lot of consideration.  There are some great answers already.  It's hard to know "who you want to be when you grow up."  It's even harder to make those very binding decisions when you are in your twenties.  I was seven years prior enlisted before deciding to make the jump to becoming a commissioned officer.  My decision was entirely based on the job that I wanted, period.

And be wary of those that are so ambitious that they want to be four-star generals.  Ambition, if kept in check, is not a bad thing, if you manage your work and your people well. We are not all going to be Chiefs, CW5s, or Generals.  I would recommend you make your decision based on WHAT you want to do with the rest of your life.  Those around you can tell when you don't like what you do.  It's like showing up a major event in your father's suit.

"If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and
endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a
success unexpected in common hours."
- Henry David Thoreau

I feel that I was a pretty good Army NCO.  I feel that I am a pretty good Air Force Officer.  Never tried Warrant (there are none in the AF and are none in any of my career paths). I think that success is what the individual makes of it.  I have a buddy that is SSgt(P) (we were room mates WAY back in the day).  He is very successful on the Enlisted side of the house.  I have gone from Enlisted to Officer and I feel that I have had a successful career.  Overall, it is what you want it to be.

This question is nearly impossible to answer. Why you ask? Because it completely depends on the individual. All paths provide great rewards and fulfillment. I was proud to be an NCO and I think I would have excelled as a 915A (Warrant) but in the end I have found my place as an Officer and truly enjoy it. What is hard to do is to figure this out at the young ages of 18-21. How does a young person choose the right path at such a young and inexperienced age? Every path has its top positions. Nothing is more rewarding then serving as a PSG, 1SG, CSM or CW3-5 or as a commander (CPT, LTC, COL). Sorry I don't have a better answer.   

I get told all the time by everyone (Soldiers, NCOs, Warrants, and especially my wife) to go warrant but dont feel I am good enough to be a warrant. My wife beats me up all the time about it especially since all her friends are warrants. I love working with Soldiers and dont know how anything works as an officer (ie. the promotion system, OERs, etc). I have pretty good NCOERs and never have been in trouble. Am I just crazy or should I just do it? I am a 91B30 with 8 years active duty service. I am currently in Korea and I am headed to The Old Guard for my next assignment. Can anyone give me any advice?

When I was a young soldier in the Army I wanted nothing more than to be an Officer because I wanted to be a Company Commander and I saw how men who were Enlisted reacted to Officers.  When I made SGT, I wanted nothing more than to be a Non-Commissioned Officer.  They started the big push for Warrant around the time I was a SSG, I never submitted my packet because as a SSG 25B I enjoyed what I was doing and had no desire to be a Warrant or an Officer at the time.  Now I am a SFC and began to realize that as an Enlisted soldier you literally compete with your peers for promotion and I rarely if ever get to do what I enjoyed the most about the Army.  That was being a 25B. I spend the majority of my time with paperwork and meetings and rarely touch Computers, Servers or any other IT equipment.  Warrants and Officers do not have to compete on the level that Enlisted soldiers do for promotion and in some cases don't deal with the BS that NCO's do (DUI's, MP's called on a soldier, basic soldier issues) and we get paid significantly less money than both.  Looking back on things I wish I would have completed my degree and went to OCS for the money, or submitted my Warrant packet so I could focus on being a Technician and not being pulled in 5 different directions to do something not so exciting.  My recommendation would be if you're in it for the money go Officer, if you're in it professional job satisfaction go Warrant.  It's all what you want out of your decision.  I always recommend Officer if they plan to retire and Warrant if they just want to gain a high level of expertise.