What valuable lessons did you learn during your first year as a WO1?

Talk less, listen more, be humble.

I reported to my unit with a bunch of other W01s at the same time. What made us stand out from each other was how we managed our additional duties. Your primary job is obviously where you need to shine, but make your name known by doing your additional duties better than the rest of your peers do theirs. And especially important in this process, is to trust and leverage your NCOIC for that additional duty.

One lesson you will learn is how eager junior officers (like me) are to seek you out for advice and your subject matter expertise! I had some outstanding WOs in my brigade in the 25th ID (Schofield Barracks), and I must have asked them hundreds of questions by the time I left the unit. WOs and Senior NCOs are often an endless repository of knowledge. ;-)

My most valuable lesson was patience. As a W01 most Commanders do not recognize you as a leader or expert yet. That usually comes when you get the "C" (Chief) in your title and completed some of your technical training.

Be patient, you have nothing to prove! Take your time to understand your role and where you most benefit your section. You are a warrant for a reason so you don’t have to show how smart you are, they already assume it!

No matter your age or experience, you are just kids to Senior SNCOs.

The big thing i think.... Find a mentor in your branch so that you can reach out to them for guidance on anything that you have questions on. They usually have a lot of knowledge, experience and insight into what you will be facing. Listen and learn from your mentor and overtime you will develop your own leadership style and work flow with their help.

That everyone takes wojg "duties" too seriously.

Damn good question!

1) Trust your NCOs, but validate their work.
2) Be transparent with your Boss; good news is always good to share and bad news doesn’t get better with age.
3) Don’t take problems higher that you haven’t troubleshot or networked yourself first.
4) Quarterly counsel everyone who you rate and senior rate. Everyone in your span of influence deserves leadership and FaceTime with their boss.
5) Smash your ACFT.
6) Show up to work and lead everyday; nothing worse than a lazy Warrant Officer.
7) Speak with facts and not assumptions or personal bias.

They didn’t call us “Wobbly Ones” for nothing.