What made you choose to go down the Warrant's path?

Truth: I was tired of being a babysitter. I was a Plt Sgt in Korea and hated when I had to answer this question: "Why were SPC XXX and PFC XXX in the Ville getting drunk past curfew and assaulting the MPs trying to apprehend them?"

Really? What's the correct answer to that? My First Sergeant took me into his office and said, "Don't worry, you just got picked up for Warrant. Go get your coffee cup and start growing your mustache."

I got tired of fighting for positions that were not even on the MTOE (HHC Plt Sgt). I got tired of having 5+ bosses at any given time. I got tired of sitting in NCODPs about NCOERs when I knew I needed to be in the motor pool getting equipment FMC. As a Warrant Officer I only have 1 boss and I am fully committed to the maintenance missing when at times, no one else is. My BN XO knows if I am taken out of the motor pool for stupid stuff, maintenance is fall behind. I spend most of my day teaching enlisted personnel what the standard is.

For me it was all about being able to focus on the job and develop into something of an expert in the field. I enjoyed being an NCO, but I'm glad I went Warrant.

For me, it was always about doing the job. As much as I enjoy mentoring and training Soldiers, I enjoy the work that we do much more, and ensuring that the mission can be accomplished is the most critical factor for me. The way I illustrate this career choice for younger servicemembers is to decide what they enjoy most about the military: being in charge, being with Soldiers, or being on mission. If they like to be in control, I advise them to go to OCS and follow the commissioned officer progression. If developing, mentoring, and guiding Soldiers is their passion, then they should remain enlisted and move along that career path. If they are most interested in handling the mission, of resourcing it and seeing that it gets done, then warrant officer is the best career path.

I also loved being an NCO but I prefferred to focus on the technical aspect of my duties. I was also very impressed by the job performance of my Warrant Officer Platoon Leader. He always mastered any tasks at hand and made it look easy. He never yelled, he never talked about it, he just did it and went about his business. I wanted to be like him. I wanted to be "The Quiet Professional". The comraderie within the cohort is much better than what I experienced as an NCO. I am 100% sure I made the right decision.

It was a hard decision however I had senior mentors that sought out my qualities and asked me if I had ever thought about becoming a Warrant Officer. I always like working alone and just doing my job and more. I did not like to be lead and I wanted to make things better and work with little to no guidance. After talking to Senior Warrant Officers and the main statement that made me follow through with it was, "Do you have what it takes to become a Warrant Officer or Are you scared? Glad I went through the hurdles because I was able to display what I can accomplish and balance the NCO's duties in the process. As a Warrant Officer you will make major changes that can impact the company and the Battalion. As a Technical Warrant, I am still able to coach and mentor junior NCO's and Soldiers as well. I do miss the NCO Corp but glad I made the transition because I am able to make recommendations and decision that commanders seek from my experiences. If the opportunity is there and you feel you have what it takes, go for the challenge because you will not regret it at all.

If we are being honest, I made the SFC list between my 7th and 8th year in service and pinned on before leaving for WOCS but I knew for my MOS as a 63 series now 91, I would have had a hard time moving up for many years. I decided that I needed to switch to an O-grade officer or Warrant Officer to better enhance my career and set up myself and family for a better retirement in the future. I loved being a NCO and I experienced a lot and held many positions in a short period of time but I wanted the opportunity to stay in the Ordnance field and becoming a Warrant Officer was the way to go. Now, almost 8 years later, I haven’t looked back. This has been the best decision of my career. I get to affect the maintenance and logistics mission from all angles and levels. I still interact heavily with NCO’s and Soldiers along with increased interaction with Staff and Command level officers of all grades. It is not for everyone. You have to really care about your job and be willing to put in a lot of hours of continuous learning in order to be the SME that you need to be and what others are counting on you to be.

It's the opportunity to take the knowledge I have received and impart it to others. I also love the problem solving aspect of the job. And it's a job where you have the opportunity to have a major influence upon your superiors as well as your subordinates

I personally like being the person that everyone can count on for the answers. I love the respect warrants get because they have been NCOs unlike a lot of commissioned officers. It's a very tough school but the best life decision I made this far. I say go for it!!!

I sat down with the SMAR in 2011. I was an E-6 then, and said to him, " I'm coming for your job Sergeant Major! You might as well make my reservation at the Sergeant Major's Academy now!
"Oh really?" He laughed. "What MOS are you?
"88N Sergeant Major. I've been the same MOS since I've been in," I replied.
He rubbed his chin and said,"Why do you like being a soldier? What makes you want to put this uniform on for the next 20 to 30 years?"
"Well, I love it all Sergeant Major. From the qual range to to field, from executing orders to leading soldiers."
"How do you like briefings? Staff meetings that make your butt go numb?" He asked.
I can't recall exactly how he worded it, but he went on to say that at his level, he really isn't doing the things that I love to do. He doesn't go to the range with a unit to qualify, he goes to shake hands and meet soldiers. All the things I love about my job, being a soldier, and the Army, are lost in the sauce. Even E-9's at the BN level don't participate in all training events, and participate like a regular "joe".
"If you really love your job, try becoming a Warrant Officer. As much as I'd love to keep great NCO's, it would behoove you to at least take a look at what the Warrant Corps has to offer you." Wise words coming from the SMAR.