Warrant Officer Rating Scheme

Many of the arguments that are made here regarding the ratings game could also be applied to senior non-commissioned officers. As I'm retired and I no longer have a dog in the fight I shall feel free to express my opinion. I feel that warrant officers in the grades of WO1 and CW2 should be rated by a Captain or above. CW3 and CW4 should be rated by MAJ or above and a CW5 should be rated by a COL at a minimum.

Rate a WO? How, you can never find the damn ninjas!

Simple answer — Who salutes who first? In the army, particularly in aviation, they make enlisted into aviators (WO1+) because they (the army brass) feel officers are too valuable to fly combat missions. Hence, when an aviation officer makes O3 they’re pretty much confined to office duties and the occasional check flight in a Kiowa. They’re basically flying sergeants.

In the Marine Corps a WO is a completely different thing. First, to even qualify to become one the Marine has to be a staff sergeant (E6), which means he or she has been in for a while. If approved there is a series of tests to prove they’re worth the rank. In the Corps a WO is an expert on a particular subject; armorer, galley, admin, etc. And having been enlisted they handle things differently. But even a WO-5 with 20+ years in has to salute a 2nd LT first and call him or her sir/ma’am.

Most of the comments here have been from Army Chief Warrants. As a former E9 and Navy Chief Warrant I was always afforded the acceptance and responsibilities of other Commissioned Officers. BTW, the Navy CWO's are commissioned. As was often the case in my field, Communications/Intelligence, I/we filled a variety of more senior officer billets. In my case, I filled O-4/O-5 billets during my 28 year career. I might add, having been a Senior enlisted prior to my commissioning, was a factor in many of my assignments since leadership experience exceeded that which many Commissioned Line Officers had. Suppose my comments are only meant to suggest that one cannot pidgeon hole Rank and or experience of Any Officer. Differences and circumstances dictate.

Rank is rank, and seniority is seniority. A second lieutenant is senior to a CWO5, just as he or she is senior to gunnery sergeant, even if both the gunny and the CWO5 have years more experience. So, if, as some post here, a 2ndLt should not rate a CWO5, then when is that lieutenant allowed to rate someone. First lieutenant? First lieutenant with a year in grade? Captain? Or, as one person posted, if the second lieutenant served as enlisted? Wait moment, what if he or she was an E3? What about if he or she was an E7? Sorry, but I don't buy any of that. We have a rank system for a reason, and seniority is seniority.

I'm not sure about the other services, but I can't think it is much different. After the senior rates a junior Marine, a still more senior officer reviews that rating. If some brand new second lieutenant, full of righteous indignation about ratings creep, decided to give a CWO3 an "average" report, thinking it is a good thing, then the reviewing officer would step in.

I can only imagine the intimidation factor of a 2nd Lt. evaluating a CW5. "Here Chief, you fill this out."

1SG Reed, I'm in an IN company, so we don't have WOs, but my 2LTs rate their SSGs with ABUNDANT INPUT from their platoon sergeants. After all, the squad leaders work for the platoon leader.
It wasn't long ago (in my memory) that field grade warrants didn't exist. It's interesting that they are outranked by a 2LT, but are perceived senior to them.
All of this is moot anyway - when's the last time any of y'all actually saw a non-flying warrant, anyway?

All officers are senior to any warrant officer!

Well sports fans when I in 503d DS Co late 70s, we had about 7 warrants (WO1 thru W4) no W5 existed and included myself who worked for 2nd LTs who were the shop officer. The CO next on line and Bn Cdr did our ranking profile So please dont overrate yourselves it is what it is. Not everyone reports to a 06 or above

What's the purpose of this thread? At the end of the day walking warrants are advisors to the commander at whatever level they operate. That commander should be in my rating chain, plain and simple. Who cares what you call me because calling me a Warrant Officer is more than enough. As warrants it's our job to bring up those LTs and not let them look are up in front of the commander. If your LTs aren't respecting you as a Warrant it sounds like it's a you problem.