Posted on Jun 22, 2015
The life of a Warrant Officer vs Commissioned Officer; which would you choose at age 35?
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Marine Corps Reservist here. I'm in a position in my career where I can go either warrant officer in the SMCR or commission in another reserve component branch.
However at 35, I don't like the idea of being a butter bar after 13-years of enlisted service. I like the idea of a warrant officer because of the respect that comes with the rank. People know you went through the ranks on the enlisted side first. However, I also don't like the idea of ranking under a butter bar.
I've looked at the DFAS pay chart and I can see that if I at least make it to CWO4 and retire with 30-years of service, I will make a little more than an 04. Basically, if I commission or go warrant and serve up to 30-years, I will make a very similar paycheck for retirement. I will just be forced to retire after 30-years as a warrant where I will be able to serve another 9-years (up to the age of 60) as a commissioned officer.
I'm just throwing facts and figures here. Not really sure how long I want to continue serving. I just know I'm not done yet. But with bachelors and masters degree, I don't want to stay enlisted.
The big question is who has a better life? I've heard that as a warrant, you get to enjoy the best of both worlds (enlisted and officer) whatever that means, whereas a commissioned officer will deal with more stress and politics.
I just want to get some feedback, what your feelings are, etc.
However at 35, I don't like the idea of being a butter bar after 13-years of enlisted service. I like the idea of a warrant officer because of the respect that comes with the rank. People know you went through the ranks on the enlisted side first. However, I also don't like the idea of ranking under a butter bar.
I've looked at the DFAS pay chart and I can see that if I at least make it to CWO4 and retire with 30-years of service, I will make a little more than an 04. Basically, if I commission or go warrant and serve up to 30-years, I will make a very similar paycheck for retirement. I will just be forced to retire after 30-years as a warrant where I will be able to serve another 9-years (up to the age of 60) as a commissioned officer.
I'm just throwing facts and figures here. Not really sure how long I want to continue serving. I just know I'm not done yet. But with bachelors and masters degree, I don't want to stay enlisted.
The big question is who has a better life? I've heard that as a warrant, you get to enjoy the best of both worlds (enlisted and officer) whatever that means, whereas a commissioned officer will deal with more stress and politics.
I just want to get some feedback, what your feelings are, etc.
Army National Guard
Warrant Officers
Officers
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 65
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I have always considered Warrant Officers as a more technical or specialized officer, that has the best of both worlds as you mentioned. A Commissioned officer has, at least to me, a more political position.
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Warrant promotion are faster and it's more of a specialized field. It's the only way to go.
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Commissioned life is more leadership and baby sitting, to include baby sitting the WO's, but the life style is much nicer too. WO's are "still treated as enlisted with an education" as I was enlightened to many years ago! Me personally...the DoD needs to get rid of the WO branch.
Let me add my disclaimer, I have nothing against any person, regardless or rank, branch, etc and the individuals choices. I was an enlisted soldier, an NCO before I chose to become a Commissioned Officer. I was married to a Warrant Officer...She was an E-8 prior and made the mistake of taking on the WO as the rank and branch does not have the same credibility as a Senior Enlisted or that of a Commissioned Officer.
Do yourself a favor, go the commissioned route.
Let me add my disclaimer, I have nothing against any person, regardless or rank, branch, etc and the individuals choices. I was an enlisted soldier, an NCO before I chose to become a Commissioned Officer. I was married to a Warrant Officer...She was an E-8 prior and made the mistake of taking on the WO as the rank and branch does not have the same credibility as a Senior Enlisted or that of a Commissioned Officer.
Do yourself a favor, go the commissioned route.
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CPT(P) (Join to see)
LT Phillip Richmond, I've never been in or worked with the Navy so I cannot say either way. In the ARMY, MOST...and I repeat MOST, WO's I have encountered/supervised/worked with are over-paid enlisted. They use the rank to hide behind and shuck responsibility. I have written numerous reports at the cost saving ARMY Aviation alone would save, not to include Commissioned Officer headache, if the ARMY would do away with the WO Branch. In Army Aviation, bring back the Flying Enlisted...who cares. For the rest, if you want to be an Officer, become a Commissioned Officer and be done with it!
Two of the Best Warrant Officers I have come across, both W5's in the OK-ARNG, had the college education, the military leadership and technical expertise but both agreed they chose the WO path to have the rank and no responsibility. To me...that reason alone is the main reason WO's chose the WO path.
Two of the Best Warrant Officers I have come across, both W5's in the OK-ARNG, had the college education, the military leadership and technical expertise but both agreed they chose the WO path to have the rank and no responsibility. To me...that reason alone is the main reason WO's chose the WO path.
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CW4 Daniel Flores
I am a retired CW4/CID Special Agent and had plenty of responsibility from the time I was a WO1 through retirement, nobody baby-sat me and I NEVER shucked my responsibilities. We don't have O grades as agents, and they don't conduct felony level investigations, the Enlisted and WOs do, working more hours than any other MOS in the Army, to include weekends and holidays. To insult the entire WO Corps on a few bad apples you claim to have dealt with shows me what type of "leader" you are, no thanks! I had to baby-sit more Lts, CPTs, and MAJs than junior WOs in my 25 years of service, to include 5 combat tours where I was in charge of my unit and Soldiers...HOOAH!
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CWO4 (Join to see)
CWOs are commissioned Officers. W1's are not. The Army must be different than the Navy because as the AMO I have 240 people working for me in a maintenance department...including Junior Officers. The decision should focus on how much time you have left in the service and what your goals are. If you like the technical aspect of your job and want to stay in your field go CWO. Also, make sure you have the time left to hit O5 before your 30 year mark because a CWO4 at 30 makes more than an O4 at 30.
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SSgt (Join to see)
Sounds like you've had a bad run of Warrant/Chief Warrant Officers that you've dealt with over the course of your career. Never have I heard of commissioned officers "baby-sitting" W/CWOs, I've found more often than not it's the other way around when any "baby-sitting" is to be had. It's odd; I've come across several enlisted Soldiers (some of which are former Marines), that say that "95%" of the CWOs they've come across are professional skaters, and the other "5%" are the SMEs that the Warrant community is SUPPOSED to be comprised of...you may be highlighting a trend. Despite how low you might think of them, there are plenty of tried and true SMEs out there that have plenty of credibility; I'd suggest looking at W/CWOs individually as opposed to grouping them as a whole.
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Go commissioned and stay as long as they'll let you. Good chance you'll make O-5 and retire at more than a CW-4. The Air Force dropped the Warrant Officer program in the 1950's or I would have applied for it. Stayed enlisted an retired as an E-9.
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