Should the Military Create New Warrant Officer Occupational Specialties?

2017-07-21T12:02:38-04:00

The creation of the new Cyber Warrant Officer (170A), has many asking if more new WO jobs should be created. Branches without could see benefits in having single-track specialty officers who are SMEs like NCOs but also have commissioned officer authority. Special Forces figured this out many years ago replacing LTs with WOs as ODA Asst Det CDRs. What new WO MOS would you create (or would you)?

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 21 at 2017 12:05 PM

2017-07-21T12:05:21-04:00

The Army WO program has changed a lot in the last 20 years. They have expanded, clarified their duties, and even made them officially part of the larger Officer Corps. The added benefit of having technical expert officers capable of specialized skills and unit longevity seem obvious to some, but military branches like the Air Force are still opposed to re-introducing them.

Response by MSgt Jason McClish made Jul 21 at 2017 12:13 PM

2017-07-21T12:13:33-04:00

How about this one sir? Create a WO MOS for Army Weather Support. We can get all the training like we do now from the AF, but when we get our assignments to Army installations, we do things regular AF guys can't even dream about. With our field being highly technical, a SME (WO) would be great to have in the units, but I'd probably put a few at each unit. The current NCO corps is routinely deployed or away for nearly continuous training from the AF or things thing NTC/JROTC. The SNCOs rarely do the job anymore and are more managers. Recruiting some of your NCO corps to become a WO would alleviate a lot of burden on the NCOs and training would dramatically improve. Thoughts?

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 21 at 2017 12:28 PM

2017-07-21T12:28:54-04:00

You know, I wouldn't mind hearing from other military branches as well. Does anyone think the Navy/Marines/Coast Guard Warrant Officer programs should be expanded to more jobs as well?

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 21 at 2017 2:21 PM

2017-07-21T14:21:29-04:00

I don't see how it couldn't be a good idea. Gives a different impact on the up or out for SM's as well. I think if we expanded WO's to more MOS's then we could keep more experienced SM's where their experience and knowledge could do a lot of good.

I don't think the Medics (68W) have a Warrant Officer, seems to me that could be a good one to have SME's in. So Healthcare Specialist to Healthcare Technician?

EDIT

In addition I think maybe the Infantry should adopt the Marine Corps idea of an Infantry Weapons Officer which is a Marine Warrant Officer MOS for Infantry (0306). Right now Army Infantry can only become a Warrant as a Rotary Wing Pilot or a Field Artillery Technician. Keeping experienced Infantrymen on the Battlefield as WO's might not be a bad idea either.

Response by SSG Robert Perrotto made Jul 21 at 2017 4:35 PM

2017-07-21T16:35:20-04:00

Why don't they just find the ones they have? I for sure would love to visit the jedi school where the WO teach the specialists their lesser tricks. just kidding - sure - if there is an actual need for specialized personnel within certain fields, then yes.

Response by SFC Harry (Billy) Tison made Jul 21 at 2017 6:15 PM

2017-07-21T18:15:53-04:00

With what I'm hearing, they might want to create a Warrant Officer for the space program

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Jul 22 at 2017 12:00 AM

2017-07-22T00:00:26-04:00

Even though I had been around the block a few times, I periodically trip over a new Warrant Field I never knew existed, like 740A CBRNE and Legal Warrants.

Surprised there are not Mortuary Affairs or EOD Warrants. Maybe an ABCS Warrant since no one seems to own these when they don't work. Definitely bring back Calibration Warrants, not just Electronic Maintennace Warrants.

Issue is every time they create one, like EWO and cyber, it cannibalizes other Warrant fields and candidates.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Jul 22 at 2017 12:22 AM

2017-07-22T00:22:57-04:00

Something on the rise is the Command Chief, where they serve an O6 or above command kind of like a hybrid function of what CSMs do withe managing NCOs and what he XO does managing officers. Perhaps they would have a branch immaterial CW4/5 that is the senior warrant officer that could serve that function. special operations does this with their log units. My last BDE CDR did this with our Air Delivery Officer split with his ADO mission.

I am on record in another discussion here that it would have to have a task and purpose, especially at the nominative level...but AMC has done this (Command Chief Warrant Officer).

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 22 at 2017 2:11 PM

2017-07-22T14:11:49-04:00

I think a WO for the PSYOP field would be useful, similar to their use in Special Forces. It takes years to develop the cultural and language skills needed in PSYOP, and commissioned officers often have to rotate through various other staff positions. But a WO who stays in the line companies would add a capacity in addition to the senior NCOs.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Jul 25 at 2017 7:14 AM

2017-07-25T07:14:24-04:00

Why not simply adopt the Limited Duty Officer from the Navy? They seem to be able to promote any MOS to LDO and it certainly helps solve the problem of retaining trained specialist.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 25 at 2017 9:19 AM

2017-07-25T09:19:24-04:00

I think the Army should create a 360B MOS for Financial Management. I've worked with some 36B NCOs who were top notch in the specialties on which they chose to focus, and were excellent leaders. They would have made great Warrant Officers.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2017 12:48 PM

2017-09-08T12:48:14-04:00

I, personally, believe a WO field should be created for the 51C MOS.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 10 at 2020 6:09 PM

2020-03-10T18:09:09-04:00

Yes, the Army should explore adding Warrant Officers to a number of MOSs as well as possibly going back to some version of the specialist E-4 to E-8 ranks. As much as the Army May hate it, not everyone can be trained to be a good leader and bad leadership makes good Soldiers leave faster than any other reason. I also think making specialists ranks based on job skill, not management, would prove to be extremely beneficial in the long term operations of the Army. Additionally for the more technical MOSs like cyber security, special forces, information operations, psychological operations, the many different jobs in intelligence branch and communications should all have warrants (I know some listed MOSs already do) in their ranks.