24K views · 658 reactions | The inaugural class of the Air Force's newest Warrant Officer...

MAJ Byron Oyler Don’t know what you mean about situational. We were told you don’t have to salute them.

MAJ Byron Oyler - WWO's were always supposed to receive a salute. It might had been ok by someone especially the pilots. When a person was graduated from WOC school they were supposed to be saluted. They are now commissioned so they could be in command positions.

LTC James McElreath - They were commissioned W2 and up as of my OBC class back in 2003. Have not followed as it clearly did not apply to me:)

I know this is a a year old, but maybe the information will help. Warrant officers, whether a W1 or W5, rate a salute. If you were in a hostile fire area, it may have been that they didn't want to turn themselves into targets. As for being demoted, like any officer, warrants might be RIFed if there is no longer a need for that specialty, especially if they are Reserve warrant officers. In that scenario, they can leave active duty, or possibly revert to their last enlisted grade (as the one you knew). If they chose, as reservists, they might request a slot in a Reserve unit. It's extremely unusual for a Regular Army warrant officer to be RIFed, but as most warrants were brought on active duty as Reservists, it's likely that they guy you knew was from the Reserves.