Questions about the Warrant Officer Corps

SSG (Join to see) First thing I would do is direct you to the Warrant Officer Recruiting website. If this is a serious path you want to pursue, that website will be your "bible" (no sacrilege intended) over the next few months while you're assembling your packet. Check out the website, http://www.usarec.army.mil/hq/warrant/WOgeninfo_mos.shtml and see what you qualify for. It looks like as an 88M the only WO MOS's available are 153A (Aviator) and 882A (Mobility Officer), though 882A has a requirement of being a SSG before you can apply for that WOMOS. Which ever WOMOS you choose, make sure it's something that you are passionate about and not just choosing because it's the only option available.

The next best advice I can give you, is that you want to convey attention to detail, show ambition, and self reliance. Your packet should be 95% complete by the time you go for your SWO Letter of Recommendation. Their LOR should be the last piece of the puzzle. Have your PL look over your packet before you take it to the SWO writing your LOR. Ensure that it is free of spelling or grammatical errors. Realize that more than likely whomever the SWO is that is writing your LOR will not know you and this will be their first impression of you. You don't want something as silly as a grammatical error casting doubt on their recommendation of you. Also, you should already have your Company and Battalion Commanders' Letters of Recommendation in the packet for the SWO's review. As I said, they will most likely not know you so whether or not they choose to endorse your packet will be almost entirely based off of a couple of interviews, how you present yourself, and your Chain of Command's recommendations. By you showing up with a packet that is already complete (just missing the SWO LOR) you are showing that initiative that every officer wants to see and every Commander wants in their subordinate officers.

Realize that this can sometimes be a long arduous path, and a little bit of a pain. Make no mistake though, that is the intent. This IS the first step in weeding out unfit candidates. A soldier that doesn't have the drive to complete this first step is not the kind of officer that deserves to be in the Warrant Officer cohort.

All that being said though, this is a path that I do not regret taking for a minute. I count myself lucky to be able to call myself a Warrant Officer. Best of luck to you in whichever path you decide to take. If you have any more questions feel free to send me a message and I'll help you out the best I can.

I think the first thing you need to decide is whether you want to be a leader of Soldiers or not. I'm not saying that Warrant Officers aren't leaders, but generally speaking they are specialists in a particular field and do not lead Soldiers directly. There is nothing wrong with that. The Army needs good Warrant Officers and the pay is certainly better now and in retirement than you can expect to earn as an NCO. I find the rewards of being an NCO outweigh the increased money, and honestly I think the Army pays me pretty damn well already. So, it really comes down to what you want to be…do you know?

Your SSG, who as most likely dealt with a WO somewhere in your career. WHat was your experience. If it was a good one, do you want to emulate that person? For me, I had worked with some very good WO's in both the AD and NG, so it was an easy choice for me.