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

I thought I had responded already, but don't see it...anyway, I was a prior service AD USMC NCO, had a large break in service went back into Guard for OCS. I commissioned at 36. There are a lot of older LTs/ CPTs in the Guard, so no worries there. The pay is great compared to enlisted scale, but the responsibility and extra time can be tough. Most enlisted guys who do not have a diamond or star just show up for drill, for the most part. As an "O" you have so many additional duties and your regular MOS, it can border on the absurd. As an Officer, you spend very little time around the troops, its usually spent doing paperwork, even in combat arms branches. The anecdotal story I tell to enlisted guys considering switching is about my first AT as a 2LT. They made me the XO and had to be the convoy commander for a 350 mile/ 5 state movement...little shock there. Good luck with your decision.

My mothers husband took the warrent and he loved it.

It all comes down to which you would prefer.

You might want to check with Manpower to get a little more help in answering your question. Not sure what the "pipeline" is for a 3002 v. 3010. Taking a look at available spots for a new 3010 (WO) may offer some dynamic and very unique opportunities. The career path of a 3002 (2ndLt) offers a predictable path.

If you're trying to avoid "butter bars," I'd say "get over." The first time anyone sees your ribbon rack resume (and, presumably, a few grey hairs), they'll know you're a mustang. Either way, congratulations on this next step in your career!

I believe the difference between warrent and officer is the same as the need and the jock in high school. One truly cares about the job enough to master it.The other enjoys the perks of being on top.

Army commissioned officers are subjected to reduction in forces (RIF) for the convience of the government thousands after both RVN and southwest Asia Warrants cannot be RIFed

I continuously see references that Chief Warrant Officer is not an officer or commissioned officer. I had too many years of active duty to go the LDO route. Navy CWOs are discharged from the Navy upon commissioning and become permanent officers. LDOs are or were in my day temporary officers until they are promoted to O-3E. CWOs were not to be treated as junior officers with large collateral duty assignments. Unfortunately, too many URL Officers view the CWO as not being a real officer. I educated a number of JOs and enlisted where the Navy CWO fit in. I had a C.O. that was a Commander LDO wanted me to go LDO which would have meant promotion to LTJG (02-E) I had 22 years in at time and besides I could take LDO billets up to 0-5 if the gaining command would accept me. Unfortunately, being a single parent and health issues made my decision to retire at almost 24 years. As a communicator I always was assigned to increasingly difficult jobs.
I do believe the CWO promotions are unfair when a peer LDO will promote to O-3 by the time CWO-3. I retired and have not regretted it.

Go get some Helicopter time, and apply for the Army's WOFT.
There are WOFT Study Guides, and see the You Tube videos titled 'Greenbaggers' which entails how to go about applying.
If possible, go & get a Class One (1) Flight Physical on base, and your Degree transcripts.
Then, proceed to a civilian flight school and pick-up some helicopter instruction.
This is expensive, I know; BUT; it will pay for itself in due course, and it will also show the WOFT Selection Board that you are and were motivated to go and seek training on your own first. In addition, this lessens your chance of washing-out.
If flying helicopters isn't your thing, then the Army also has Warrant Officers in a very broad range cadre' , and they even have more watercraft than the US Navy, and more aircraft than the US Air Force.
As a Warrant Officer, you may be assigned some smaller extra details, but you won't get bogged down in the bureaucracy and politics of the Commissioned Officers!
As defense systems become more complex, the Warrant Officer will be needed more than ever in most branches of service.
Even the USAF, which closed it's Warrant Officer Corps down in 1959 is now seriously looking at re-starting the same, and having Civilian trained Pilots enter mission flight training, thus skipping UPT. But, over the years, the USAF missed out on using some incredible talent amongst the Enlisted Ranks who had an average of 2 years of CCAF, and paid for their own advanced FAA Certificates and Ratings. Many of us even had more broad-range experience than the UPT Grads.
The US Navy had a Warrant Officer Pilot program, but I believe that it closed 2 years ago.
I served in the USAF from 1973-1990, retiring as a Service-Connected Disabled Veteran.
I never went beyond SSgt, and was also a FCF Flight Engineer on the* C-130B, E & H. (*2,000+ hours) I was also qualified in 25 different makes and models of civilian aircraft, and participated in the USAF Auxiliary (Civil Air Patrol) as a Search & Rescue Pilot.
While in the CAP, I was a 1st Lieutenant, and got bogged down with Squadron Operations duties, so I took a voluntary downgrade to Chief Warrant Officer and from that point on was dedicated only to fly training and search missions.
& BTW; whilst the USAF always pushed 'involvement in the community', my CAP time didn't seem to matter...
The other BIG problem right no is that Freemasonry is subverting the talents and dedication of many good people who are non-Masons. That if a given, and until this mess is cleaned-up in ALL branches of the military, don't look for fair and equal treatment.
Best wishes to you & other like you. Think Warrant Officer, do Warrant Officer, and stay Warrant Officer!

Go Warrant and don't look back !

I can't speak to USMCR, but the choice depends mostly on your MOS and if you want to stay in it. Supply Officers (3002) are regular, but don't they now have a Supply Ops (3010) WO billet? A regular is supposed to be a generalist. A WO/CWO a specialist. If you have to make a lateral move that means a lot of catching up, because you're expected to have very solid MOS credibility from day one as a WO. There would be even more catch up to transfer to another service though, plus the possibility of a new MOS there. Can't speak to other services either, but first question is as a Gunny do you want to stay Marine or does it matter? Most WO/CWOs in USMC get Platoon Commander jobs, and occasionally Company CO slots, but depending on the MOS it could all be staff work. There's really not that much difference in lifestyle in junior officer ranks between regular and warrant. The pay is a wash. Mandatory retirement is based on years of commissioned service, but you are correct about the age 60 requirement. With 2 degrees you should consider direct commissioning programs in USMC, unless you are set on being a CWO. My advice would be stay Marine, but I'm naturally biased as a Marine. You could probably retire as a LtCol with 25 years left - plus or minus one grade. Feel free to drop a line, as I'd be glad to help fill in any blanks on warrants in general. Best wishes.