What role do Warrant Officers have in the different branches?

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 23:01:26 -0500

In the Air Force we don't have WO's, but I try to have a basic understanding of other branches so that when I encounter them I know how they wish to be addressed, etc. (example: every Air Force NCO I've encountered has been fine with being addressed as sir or ma'am, but I've encountered Army NCO's who clearly don't like being addressed as sir or ma'am) So, what grades of WO does your branch use (I know Navy doesn't use them all)? What rank/paygrade do they have to reach before they can become a WO? How do their job duties differ from SNCO's or Officers? How does their amount of responsibility differ from SNCO's or Officers? What is the proper way to address a Warrant Officer (sir/ma'am, Chief, "hey you")? Does the term of address differ depending on their paygrade? What is the process if a WO wished to become a Commissioned Officer? And anything else that is unique to WO's in your branch? And my apologies if this is too long/too many questions.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2015 11:04 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 23:04:38 -0500

Actually, back in the day, yes the Air Force did have WO's. But, like most things Air Force, they changed the rank structure and did away with them.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2015 11:40 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 23:40:27 -0500

In the Navy it is appropriate to call a Warrant Officer as, Sir/Ma'am, Warrant, Mister or Miss. In the Navy you can not become a Chief Warrant Officer without first being a Chief Petty Officer (E7), Senior Chief (E8) or Master Chief (E9). The Navy does not use WO1, we start at CWO2.

In the Marine Corps, the are called Sir/Ma'am or Gunner.

From Navy History & Heritage Command
http://www.history.navy.mil/trivia/triv4-5n.htm

An article from few years ago,
http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=61818

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Jan 12 at 2015 11:49 PM

CW5 Sam R. Baker — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 23:49:56 -0500

In the Army the technical warrant officer is usually an NCO with a stellar performance record and a minimum E5/6 learning his field before becoming a warrant. The flight warrant on the other hand can come right off the street with no military back ground whatsoever and become a warrant. The selection rate for flight used to be 60% active duty regardless of service and was changed a few years ago in a attempt to get to an accession of 60% civilian. However recruiters don't like the time and effort it takes to produce an application for a warrant. Tale of tech versus aviation in the Army. Sir, ma'am, mister is standard with chief being usually less desired.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2015 1:16 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 01:16:18 -0500

Warrant officers are subject matter experts in there field of expertise. I cant say all WO like being called sir/ma'am. And they prefer chief or mr/mrs. I will say since i have been around alot of aviation warrants that we do use first name bases working together.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Jan 13 at 2015 8:36 AM

Capt Richard I P. — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 08:36:47 -0500

In the Marine Corps they are technical experts nominated and then promoted by boards from the E6 E7 range, then sent to The Basic School, just like Marine 2ndLts. They are supposed to run specialized shops and not be put in combat leadership positions regularly...but they're Marines.... so they end up there more often than not.

And you address them by their rank (but not number) and name. "Warrant Officer Smith" or "Chief Warrant Officer Jones" if you're equal or senior and "Sir or "Ma'am" if junior. Some Officers will call them by first names, but I rarely will out of respect, unless they're close friends and it's a private setting.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2015 6:29 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 18:29:03 -0500

In the Army:

WO1 = SIR,MA'AM, MR,MISS

WO2 and above = chief

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2015 6:30 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 18:30:14 -0500

Good question. I like this type of descation it helps me to learn

Response by John Russell made Jan 13 at 2015 6:31 PM

John Russell — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 18:31:08 -0500

From my own experience they prefer to be called Chief more than anything. Sir is better than calling them Mister so and so. Ive met pilots who went to flight school after putting in a packet as an E4. As long as they show great potential for leadership;they can put in a packet for flight. Walking warrants must have a certain amount of time in their current job field to specialize as warrant officers for their particular job. Warrant officers can also have command positions. They do just as good or even better than some commissioned officers in that type of role. Whenever I did a tasking or a mission with any warrant officer they always tried to make sure I was taken care of by paying for my meal. You take care of them,they look after you.They never forget their roots.

Response by SSG Trevor S. made Jan 14 at 2015 1:30 PM

SSG Trevor S. — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 13:30:33 -0500

They work?
Ok levity is over. In the Army they are our non-command pilots, and technical SME's for ground side.

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Jan 14 at 2015 6:37 PM

LTC Yinon Weiss — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 18:37:34 -0500

I would ask CWO2 Shannon Reck to add perspective on the Coast Guard if he can (please respond as a separate response, not as a comment to this response). Thanks.

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2015 8:02 PM

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 20:02:58 -0500

The Coast Guard and Navy are very similar except you can also apply to WO from E6 if you're above the 50% cut on the CPO promotion list. It's rare but it does happen. CWOs in the Coast Guard are both Tech Experts in their field and can command small cutters or stations. My XO in Afghanistan was a CWO.

Response by PO1 Rick Serviss made Aug 31 at 2015 4:40 AM

PO1 Rick Serviss — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 04:40:58 -0400

In the Navy they're commissioned officers that seem to carry more respect because they walked in the enlisted shoes. We consider them technical managers.

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 31 at 2015 2:05 PM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 14:05:52 -0400

In order to muddy the waters a bit, the Marine Corps also has a Warrant Officer that only wears their rank insignia on their right collar, the left collar has a black "bursting bomb" you can call them and only them "Gunner". They are Infantry Weapons Officers, arguably the most esteemed rank in the Marine Corps.

Response by CWO2 Shelby DuBois made Jul 27 at 2017 4:09 PM

CWO2 Shelby DuBois — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 16:09:24 -0400

In the Marine Corps they are the epitome of leadership. They are a fountain of knowledge where all come to drink. Tellers of tales true and legend. Connoisseur's of caffeine. One whom the enlisteds trust by virtue of their past, and officers to rely on if they value their future. Ooorah. Oh...and we're humble. Very humble.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2017 6:28 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 Jul 2017 18:28:53 -0400

Additional question if anyone still follows, does every rate/MOS have Warrant Officers, or only certain career fields?

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2020 11:43 AM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 11:43:38 -0500

Originally, yes, the Air Force DID have Warrant Officers. From 1947-1958, warrant officers did operate, but the the Air Force did not know how to use them, so they did away with them creating the senior master sergeant and chief master sergeant in their place. Since I served in both the Air Force and Army, I did rub elbows with aviation and maintenance warrant officers. They can tend to be arrogant and humble at the same time. I came against a maintenance WO once, when he told us to change out an engine on a truck that came back a third time for a front oil seal leak. They thought it was a bent crankshaft. I questioned who did the work and found out the same person had installed the seal twice before wrong. I got into it and corrected the install: it never came back for that problem. But, not long after that, I was transferred to a contact team. I guess I was a seen as a bit of a rebel, as I did what was right, not what cost the military needless money. Oh, I got a chance to look at what a rebuilt engine was going to cost: $15,000 approximately. I got no recognition for saving the military that money. LMAO, oh well!