The life of a Warrant Officer vs Commissioned Officer; which would you choose at age 35?

The Marines and Army are different. But, in the Army Officers are generalists, leaders, managers, and Commanders.... whereas Warrant Officers are technical experts in their chosen field. They are leaders too, but in most cases they are more technical experts vs. leaders, managers or Commanders. It depends on whether you want to be responsible, or want to be an SME. If you want to be a leader, then you want to be an Officer. If you want to be a subject matter or technical expert, and generally not the responsible officer, then that is a warrant officer. My vote would be Officer. I suspect Warrant Officers will say otherwise...

I spent 4 years an enlisted guy... SGT, before I went to OCS in 1984-85.

Addressing the age portion of your concerns. There is a specific USNR DIRCOM program for SUPPO which you may find interesting given your current MOS. If you were to look into the DIRCOM program you would find that a large number of newly commissioned O-1's are prior service as well as near, if not older, than your current age. I personally know reserve O-1's who came into service at 40 and they integrate in perfectly fine. Because its the reserve side as well its assumed that you're more than your rank given relevant civilian work experience that many reservists bring to the table.

Mustangs, especially in the Navy, are very highly respected. As an older O-1E you are generally kept in high regard by the enlisted as you have been in their shoes and understand the unique challenges which face them. Senior officers will look to you for your experiences and maturity and there is certainly a certain bond that exists due to age. Last but not least you would be looked to by the non-prior/younger O-1's as a mentor who, due to being the same rank as them, is far more approachable and less scary than a Chief or a higher ranking O.

I think you should give it some thought and don't let the age issue affect you too much. If you're still looking to serve then you should be proud and own it in whatever capacity you choose.

I definitely agree with both officers who have posted. I am SGT with a B.A. and a Master's degree and have had opportunities to commission, but for me, it's a personality issue. I like to be with my Soldiers, and it's not about the money for me. I could, of course, make more money as an officer with my civilian education, but that's not what I'm after. Again, to reiterate these two gentlemen, it depends on what you want to do on a daily basis that should help you decide which route you want to go down. Best of luck on whichever path you choose!

The reason I chose a unrestricted line commission over a warrant is because I wanted to Command at Sea. As far as being a "Butter Bar" the fact that I was prior and a Chief I did not have a problem with respect. I think in the end people really respect the person not just the rank.

I did wear my dress khakis a lot to meeting where people did not know me so they would see my ribbon bar because I was always asked to "play up" so sometimes O-6s would be like "who is this guy" but with my ribbons on they knew I was speaking from experience.

I am not sure I follow you on the pay issue a W-4 does not make as much as a O-4 plus if you stay to 30 there is a good chance you will retire as an O-5. So as a retired O-4 I make over $500 more a month in retirement pay then if I would have gone Warrant, if I would have stayed to 30 I would have made O-5 and that would have added another $600+ in retirement.

But in the end the decision between Warrant and Commission depends on a lot of things like what you want to do. As a Warrant or LDO you will stay in your field. Some of the most important people on the ships I served were the Warrants because hands down no one knew their job better. They were practitioners with decades under their belt in the job. That is where the respect come from not what bar you have on your uniform.

After scrolling down the page and reading all the post. The responses on here are awesome and I think its great that we see both sides engaging in this post. As a Non-Commissioned Officer and from my perspective both are respected. It doesn't matter if you are on the W or O side of the house. Once your troops know you were prior enlisted, you will have earned their respect because they will know that you have been in their shoes before. But at the end of the day your troops will respect you for the person you are and the kind of leader you chose to be.

Just my $0.02

Current commissioned officer, prior enlisted. When enlisted see your good conduct medal they immediately know, and the respect will be there, unless you let that commission go to your head and start thinking you're better. I love being a "mustang" and my enlisted appreciate that. I mentor many of them into pursuing a commissions. I will become an O4 on Aug 1, and wouldn't change a thing! BTW...I'm in my 40's. Go for it brother!!

I have been enlisted, warrant and I am commissioned officer. I am telling you because I am living it... COMMISSIONED OFFICER!

The whole mentality of respect is an enlisted fear because you dont want to let go of what you already busted your balls for and you feel that as a warrant you dont give it up as much VS looking at what you getting as commissioned officer which is like starting back again in kindergarden and now you will be the one enlisted talk about when they say that officers dont work.

Once you come in to the commissioned officer side and you see the amount of respect and responsibility besthow on your shoulders you will change your mind really quick. I dare and double dare anybody to tell me that I havent work my ass off. In fact I thought that I worked hard as a petty officer and a sergeant BUT in comparison with commanding over 400 Soldiers, all my years of enlistment were cake. As a warrant officer I was the SME so it was sorta easier, technically hard but easier.

Like you I was 11 yrs when I crossed over to warrant. Remember as a warrant you are a SME and thats great because you love what you do and thats all you do. HOWEVER as an officer you will do your specialty and then you can also do other things and better yet, you can have the honor of commanding. Warrants and enlisted can say all they like about been in charge of lots of people but being the commander its a whole different game. Also in ten yrs from now you might and probably will be tired of being the SME of the same thing... not as an officer, where there are so many opportunities to branch out to totally unrelated fields which I think keeps it very exciting and this was the second reason I jumped ship to the evil side of the Force... The Commissioned Officer Force!

Like you I am looking at 30 yrs so lets talk gravy... lets talk money. I will for sure make it to MAJ next year or the following. SO most likely at the rate that I am going I will be an O-5 when I retire. Brother just check the payscale... this just became a mute point and obvious to go officer.

If you fear the whole being a butter bar... stop having this chicken shit mentality and stop crying a river. You will be a butter bar for up to 2 yrs and so what. Its up to you to demand and earned respect. If your work ethic is in check, all your subordinates will know what they of the week it is. You have a freaking commission so act like you are a leader that is in the known and people will follow. You can expect to become a manager and a leader and not having to earn it... guess what? O-2 and O-1 is where you learn and made mistakes so when you become an O-3 you know whats going on.

You need to let go of that non-sense of the respect that you will loose and blah blah blah. Look at the end game... your retirement will be higher because you will have greater responsibility and more people depending on you.

If the respect or lack of respect of being a butter bar will be your decision breaking point I suggest you stay enlisted or warrant. I sure dont want anybody with that mentality wearing the ranks I wore with great pride and honor. I sure dont want anybody with that priority leading the best troops in the world...

Being a former Warrant Officer (2000-2005), and now being a commissioned officer (2005-present), all active U.S. Army, it boils down to personal preference. I wanted to lead Soldiers and fly helicopters. My ability to do this solely as a warrant was very diminished. I chose leadership opportunities over just being a "pure Aviator". Promotion potential was better as a commissioned officer as well. My two cents.

MAJ McMillan
AH-64D Pilot
U.S. Army

I would focus less on the "respect" issue and more on what each does and how they fit into the big picture as COL Charles Williams stated.

So I went the commission route after 14 years of enlisted service. I was 38 at the time of commissioning. It has been both rewarding and a headache at the same time. But I wouldn't change it for the world. If you want to make a difference and a decent retirement commission