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CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait -- Warrant officers are highly specialized
officers. They are self-aware and adaptive combat leaders, trainers,
staff officers and advisors. Warrant officers are competent and
confident warriors, innovative integrators of emerging technologies,
dynamic teachers, and developers of specialized teams of Soldiers
... Department of the Army Pamphlet 600-3.
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July 26, 2016 - Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Thomas E. Perry III,
mobility officer with the 1st Sustainment Command (Theater), assists
Army Sgt. 1st Class Jade V. Morman, sustainment cell noncommissioned
officer with the 1st TSC, with her warrant officer packet. (U.S.
Army Reserve photo by Sgt. 1st Class Naurys Marte)
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During the 98th birthday of the Warrant Officer Cohort,
the Soldiers of the 1st Sustainment Command (Theater) joined
the celebration. To bring awareness of the benefits of
becoming an Army warrant officer, several activities were
organized, including a 5k run, a cake cutting ceremony at
the dining facility, and a recruiting briefing.
At
the recruiting briefing, some of the benefits outlined
focused on differences of pay, promotions, and education
between being a warrant officer and an enlisted Soldier in
the Army.
“Some of the reasons to go warrant officer are the
increased leadership and technical training, more
responsibility, increase in pay, faster promotions than the
enlisted, and paid civilian and military certifications,”
said Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Richard D. Brumfield,
recruiter with U.S. Army Recruiting Command.
The pay
difference may alone be an incentive for many
noncommissioned officers to make the switch. However,
retirement pay was a driving factor for some.
“The
retirement pay seems beneficial, especially because I am
approaching the 20-year mark.” said Army Reserve Sgt. 1st
Class Anthony Hayner, country container authority with the
451st Expeditionary Sustainment Command.
Besides an
increase in pay, there are also many opportunities for
warrant officers when it comes to furthering their careers
in and outside the Army. The cohort offers paid training and
technical certifications.
Yet, tangible incentives
are not the main reasons why most noncommissioned officers
chose to become warrant officers, said Chief Warrant Officer
3 Francisco Villarreal, logistics automation with the 1st
TSC.
Army Sgt. 1st Class Jade V. Morman, sustainment
cell noncommissioned officer with the 1st TSC, has an
intangible reason to become a warrant officer, but she has
experienced how competitive becoming a warrant officer can
be. Morman has applied twice with no success.
“I
have my packet ready. This is my third time applying to be a
warrant. The first time it was very competitive; I had
college credits, but I didn't have a degree. The second time
I applied, it was still competitive and, I had not finished
my civilian education. So, I had to wait to reapply.
“I waited longer than required until I completed my degree.
Now I have an associate's degree in general studies, a
bachelor's degree in supply chain management, and I'm
currently working on my Master of Business Administration
with supply chain management concentration at Ashford
University, San Diego,” said Morman.
Nevertheless,
what has driven Morman to continue to pursue the warrant
officer rank is not the pay, education, or promotion
incentives; but her observation of the work ethics of a
warrant officer when she was a junior enlisted Soldier.
“When I was a specialist at Fort Hood, Chief Warrant
Officer 2 Jubaba Kemp taught me how to properly do my job;
he is now a Chief Warrant Officer 4. He was the property
warrant officer. I told him I would someday do his job; I've
been chasing that dream ever since,” said Morman.
Becoming a warrant officer is very competitive, confirmed
Brumfield as he proceeded to specify that there are only 43
MOSs available in the cohort and some have higher
requirements.
NCOs interested must meet the minimum
basic requirements mandated by the cohort.
Some of
the basic requirements to become a warrant include U.S.
citizenship, an armed services vocational aptitude battery
general technical score of 110 or higher, a high school
diploma or GED, final secret security clearance, the ability
to pass the Army physical fitness test and meet the
high/weight requirements.
Also, a letter of
recommendation is required from at least a Warrant Officer 3
and the recommendation must be from a warrant officer who
also has the same military occupational specialty for which
the Soldiers are applying, said Brumfield. “Some MOSs
require a recommendation from a Chief Warrant Officer 4 or
5.”
Those interested in aviation, must also pass the
flight physical for aviators.
“Warrant officers are
bridge builders; we find ways to repair, foster teams, and
figure out how to do things better,” said Villarreal. “We
leverage personnel with business and apply them to support
the warfighter.”
Brumfield recommended, to those
interested in becoming a warrant to read over the Warrant
Officer 2025 which outlines the future of the cohort.
By U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Naurys Marte
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2016
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