Warrants versus O-Grades

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 14 Dec 2013 15:26:11 -0500

Do you believe friction exists between Warrants and
O-Grades? If so, why and where does it stem from?

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 14 at 2013 3:37 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 14 Dec 2013 15:37:54 -0500

I never saw enough Ws to even say one way or another. Have you seen that yourself?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 14 at 2013 3:43 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 14 Dec 2013 15:43:21 -0500

Great topic CW3 Jones, I am curious to see everyones point of view on this. I have witnessed friction between the two but overall it depends on if they understand each others roles within the organization.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 23 at 2013 7:25 AM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 07:25:22 -0500

Chief,

Unfortunately Warrants are our own worst enemy and some get into that "i'm a Warrant I cant be touch attitude." I wouldn't necessarily say there is friction between us but when there is a problem between an O and W, its a little more magnified because of the stigma Warrants carry that we do what we want.

Personally, I always think about that future WO1 and ensure never to disrespect a LT/CPT by yelling or talking back to him in a bad manor although I probably could get away with it to an extent.

At the end of the day O-Grades run the show and us Warrants are here to advise/manage.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 23 at 2013 9:11 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 09:11:14 -0500

I've personally never encountered friction - one of my best friends in the Army is a CW3.  Everyone has defined roles and responsibilities - as long as you adhere to those...I fail to see where the friction comes into play (other than potential immaturity on either side).

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 23 at 2013 9:24 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 09:24:34 -0500

When I was a LRS scout back in the day we have a Chief that we closely worked with. He was an awesome guy and we had a great working relationship. In the infantry you really don't deal much with chiefs but I hope other chiefs were as professional as this guy was. He made our life easy and we appreciated it.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 1 at 2014 11:48 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 23:48:52 -0500

Chief,

I'm in a Sustainment unit (Many Warrants, WO1-CW4) and I have had both good and bad experiences. I'm an AMEDD officer so we only have two Warrant MOS in our branch (Vet Food Inspectors and Medical Equip Repairers). I was a young 2LT and witnessed a CW2 and a CPT arguing, the part of the conversation I heard was "Don't confuse your authority with my technical expertise!" I had to do a double take....The only thing that really rubs me wrong is when I hear a Warrant officer state that CW3 and above are "Field Grades". I once discussed this with a few Warrants and told them my take was that WO1-CW2 are Jr. Grades, CW3-CW4 are SR. Warrants and a CW5 is a Master Warrant. I've never seen a CW3-5 wear gold leafs on their service caps and their CAC IDs still say Geneva Category III.......I just wish that Warrants would stop trying to compare themselves to Officers. Be who you are, Technical Experts and Leaders. Not commanders, not PLs, not OICs......

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 21 at 2015 4:01 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 16:01:34 -0400

Perhaps the Navy experience is different. I only knew a few Warrants during my time, but if the E7-E9 crowd got their Shellback with Nelson...the Warrants must've been Plank Owners on Noah's Ark. If you were LUCKY enough to form a working relationship with one, especially the Boatswains, you learned a lot, and got into some wild situations in liberty ports.