Posted on Oct 7, 2013
CPT Aaron Kletzing
CPT CPT Aaron Kletzing
58.3K
116
45
8
8
0
A few of my former Soldiers have contacted me with this question. In my effort to give them the best advice possible, I wanted to first ask all of you with expertise and experience with this decision.
Posted in these groups: Warrant officers logo Warrant OfficersOfficers logo OfficersImages 20 NCOs
Posted 12 y ago
Avatar feed
Responses: 27
SSG Instructor
0
0
0
SSG
Posted >1 y ago
I asked the same question to a CW4 once and he put it very simply. We all know how when on deployment you fill a position when needed even though it is not our MOS, i.e. an intel soldier working in S1 or S4 for that matter. So when I asked this CW4 this same question, he simply said "Why would you go officer when as a 2nd Lt you're in S1, as a 1st Lt you're in S2/3/4 knowing you're a transportation officer. As an officer you're just a manager while as Warrant you get to do your job as an officer."
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
WO1 Student
0
0
0
WO1
Posted >1 y ago
In my case it was due to the changing army and the fact that after SSG in the Armor world it's just not what I wanted to do. As I got closer to PSGs and 1SGs I saw how run down and stressed out they are jumping through all the hoops and systems we have in place now. Sometimes I feel like my unit just doesn't care to disseminate information until the morning of, thereby ruining any attempted prior planning you had made for the day. It's exhausting and I had had enough of it. Warrant Officer was really the only way I can stay sane and continue to serve, which is all I want to do.

I know in Aviation that if you aren't on top of your stuff, you're going to be grounded. I can't wait to work with people who don't tolerate substandard performance on a daily basis.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SSG S4 Logistics Ncoic
0
0
0
SSG
Posted >1 y ago
Sir,
I am currently in the process of dropping a warrant packet. Age requirements are much stricter to become a Officer versus Warrant Officer. For Technical Warrant packets max age is currently 46 y/o.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
CW3 Geospatial Engineering Technician
0
0
0
CW3
Posted >1 y ago
There are lots of reasons to choose one over the other but in my case it was the age factor.  I met the requirements for both except that I ran into the age limit for OCS but not WOCS. Too easy!
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SSgt Forensic Meteorological Consultant
0
0
0
SSgt
Posted 12 y ago
I have met so few WO that I never really considered being a pilot.  I respect what I know of them and even knew a few of the pilots who flew UH-1s,  because I briefed them and enjoyed their down to earth style.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
MSG Timothy Smith
0
0
0
MSG
Posted 12 y ago
Perhaps another reason is that the Enlisted's career field has no Officer slots. I'm a 68P5, which means I'm a Radiologic Technologist. Short of going back to college to pursue an MD, if we even have a slot for Warrent (which we don't), that would be my only avenue to advance to the "Dark Side". So, in my MOS, with the advent of the super tech, there should be a Warrent. They could take the place (in most aspects) of the Radiologist. Having been overseas, I've been where there was a Radiologist, but other sites had none. The Warrent could fill that slot, especially with digital radiography and RIS/HIS systems in place. They could do the preliminaries, then the Radiologist could tdo the redundant reading, checking for accuracies or missed readings.
(0)
Comment
(0)
MAJ Samuel Weber
MAJ Samuel Weber
12 y
That is not true Master Sergeant. Unless you simply wanted to remain in the Radiology Field, you could serve as a 67A/70B Health Services officer. They manage clinics and divisions in the hospital. Or you could become a Nurse Corps Officer or PA.....
(0)
Reply
(0)
SSG Laureano Pabon
SSG Laureano Pabon
12 y

During my tour of duty, my only dream was to fly. Before I had reenlisted, I made a decision. I went to the flight surgeon to start a Class A flight physical, before I started the test, the flight surgeon told me one question, do you wear glasses, I said yes. She told me I won't pass the class A exam then, because I need to have 20/20,  So as upset as I was, I took ATC as an MOS, 93H. I passed the Class 2 exam because one can have 20/30 and wear glasses. Well that went ok. Ft. Rucker here I come. I graduated, got my FAA ATC certification, well, at that time there were no Warrants officers. Now that I'm out of the Army, ATC has Warrant officers and one can now get their eyes corrected to 20/20 with the technology out their. For me it must not have been my time, but don't get wrong every so often I do think about it and wonder what life would have been if what's now was then. Perhaps I would have been flying with a CWO rank.

So someday in the future, things may change in your field as well. :) 
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
SSG Mortar Section Leader
0
0
0
SSG
Posted 12 y ago
more knowledge in a technical field is my guess.
(0)
Comment
(0)
CPT Gary Valencia
CPT Gary Valencia
12 y
More hands on knowledge
(0)
Reply
(0)
CPT Aaron Kletzing
CPT Aaron Kletzing
12 y
In your response, are you meaning that they choose Warrant because it gives them the opportunity to focus more deeply on a specific technical field? Just want to ensure I am clear.
(0)
Reply
(0)
SGT Ameri Corps Member
SGT (Join to see)
12 y
If I were to pursue the Army as a career soldier I would definately go Warrant
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
Read This Next
RallyPoint Home

Join nearly 2 million former and current members of the US military, just like you.

Log In
© RallyPoint Networks, Inc 2025

RallyPoint is not affiliated with DoD
close

Welcome to RallyPoint!

Terms of Service | Privacy Policy I'm a civilian Supporter