Yes I realize those are grades and not ranks. We have a bunch of current and former military members here so I thought it would be interesting to see how it breaks down. If you are former military please check the box of the rank you held upon separation/retirement. Non-US military, feel free to pick the grade that best equates.
This poll is anonymous.
I am an Army W3 (Chief Warrant Officer Three). For the civilians, warrant officers (with the exception of some aviators) start off in the enlisted ranks. I was in the Army for a couple years before I first laid my eyes on warrant officer. Warrant only make up about 2% of the Army. I was enlisted for 9 years before going warrant.
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I am an Army W3 (Chief Warrant Officer Three). For the civilians, warrant officers (with the exception of some aviators) start off in the enlisted ranks. I was in the Army for a couple years before I first laid my eyes on warrant officer. Warrant only make up about 2% of the Army. I was enlisted for 9 years before going warrant.
When I was attending my Warrant Officer Basic Course as a W1 at Fort Huachuca I walked past a group 2nd lieutenants who were fresh out of ROTC or OCS and were there for initial training in their particular field. The rank of a 2nd lieutenant is a gold bar. The next higher rank is 1st lieutenant and it is a silver bar. I guess these “butter bars” didn’t know what the hell to make of my silver bar with a black square in the center because one of them yelled “Group! AttenTION!” They all snapped to attention and the LT who called them to attention rendered a salute and in his loudest voice yelled “Sir, GOOD MORNING, SIR!” he may have also included the greeting of the day or some other nonsense soldiers and officers in initial training have to do.
I walked up to him, rendered a salute and just held it, staring him down. He was very nervous. We stood like that for a few seconds and the following conversation commenced:
Me: Lieutenant?
LT: Yes, Sir!
Me: Drop your salute.
LT: *hesitates and then drops salute*
Me: *drops salute* Lieutenant?
LT: Yes, Sir!
Me: I’m a warrant officer.
LT: *blank stare:
Me: YOU outrank ME
LT: Yes, Sir! Sorry, Sir!
Me: *sighs* Carry on Lieutenant.
My first experience with Army WO's was in Vietnam, there were hundreds and hundreds of them. The first time I got in to an Army Slick it was pointed out to me that Army WO's were different from Marine WO's that all of these Army helicopter WO's only had a high school education. But I learned they had high GCT scores around 115 and above.
Have no idea if I was being jerked off or not at the time but I was told that the Army WO's helicopter pilots made better helicopter pilots than the college grad officers. That they were crazier. That was reassuring to hear. Yep, they were crazy flyers and that's what the Army wanted.
The Marine Corps "Gunner Warrant Officer" is probably the most respected rank in the Marine Corps.
My first experience with Army WO's was in Vietnam, there were hundreds and hundreds of them. The first time I got in to an Army Slick it was pointed out to me that Army WO's were different from Marine WO's that all of these Army helicopter WO's only had a high school education. But I learned they had high GCT scores around 115 and above.
Have no idea if I was being jerked off or not at the time but I was told that the Army WO's helicopter pilots made better helicopter pilots than the college grad officers. That they were crazier. That was reassuring to hear. Yep, they were crazy flyers and that's what the Army wanted.
The Marine Corps "Gunner Warrant Officer" is probably the most respected rank in the Marine Corps.
I'm not too sure what your point is with the "crazy flyer" routine, .
A Marine or naval warrant officer is significantly different from an Army warrant officer. It's like comparing a Harley Davidson to a Schwinn bike. (Bad comparison, sorry Army.)
Marine Corps WO requirements:
Be serving on active duty (other than active duty for training) in the Regular Marine Corps and meet the following grade and time in service criteria, as applicable:
(1) For the Technical WO program, minimum grade of sergeant and have not less than 8 or more than 16 years of active naval service.
(2) For the Non-technical (Marine Gunner) WO program, minimum grade of gunnery sergeant and have not less than 16 or more than 23 years of active naval service.
Military Professional Development Center
My first experience with Army WO's was in Vietnam, there were hundreds and hundreds of them. The first time I got in to an Army Slick it was pointed out to me that Army WO's were different from Marine WO's that all of these Army helicopter WO's only had a high school education. But I learned they had high GCT scores around 115 and above.
Have no idea if I was being jerked off or not at the time but I was told that the Army WO's helicopter pilots made better helicopter pilots than the college grad officers. That they were crazier. That was reassuring to hear. Yep, they were crazy flyers and that's what the Army wanted.
The Marine Corps "Gunner Warrant Officer" is probably the most respected rank in the Marine Corps.
That's only aviation warrant officers. (pilots) There are many warrant officer branches. For instance, I was in a job where you had to have several years experience and leadership in the technical field you wanted to go warrant in. It was a big deal and a big honor for those that went.
I believe that only the Air Force doesn't have WO's.
I have no idea why E-5 is linked to E-6. ?
During the Vietnam War, any rank E-6 and above were considered to be lifers.
The Marines E-3 Lance Corporal of today is nothing more than a glorified PFC. Back when they brought back the L/Cpl rank in the early 60's it usually had some meaning. No real additional responsibilities but enough to keep you out of any real #### details. But when you made E-4 Cpl, it was a whole lot of new responsibilities, usually being responsible for well being and lives of three Marines. (The Rule of Three)
The Army's enlisted rank structure was really weird during the Vietnam War. All of the different specialist ranks, as if they were Navy ratings.
The requirements for your Technical WO program seem similar to ours, though you can get away with a few less years if you meet the rank requirement. In my particular MOS I ahd to get the written recommendations of two senior warrants in my field. I do think the way the Marines and Navy do it is better, though. A warrant is supposed to be a subject matter expert so there is an advantage in selecting from, say, E-7s.
I think the culture of the Army recruiting warrants earlier on comes from our aviator program. Most Army aviators are warrant officers and they like their pilots young, so there is no rank or time in service requirement for the aviator program. Hell, we even have what we call “high school to flight school” warrants. You think a senior NCO gets annoyed at having to salute sum 23 year old butter bar? What about saluting a 19 year old spot? Fortunately they just fly and don’t command, though. But I think to an extent that culture has carried over into the non-aviator warrant fields as well.
Sergeant, E-5 type. Currently thinking about going "O." :mrgreen:
I agree, the specialist ranks back then were confusing. Though I have to say, I don’t necessarily think that having a career path in the military, such as a career Specialist in which one just focuses on doing a particular job but never takes on higher leadership roles, is a bad thing. I have known Army mechanics who were damn good mechanics but who should NOT be leading soldiers. Why force them to move up to the NCO ranks or get out? Why not just let them keep fixing vehicles if that is what they excel at?
Do Army WO's have an equivalent to a commissioned officers rank like in the Marines and can Army WO's switch over to that equivalent rank like Marine WO's ?
When I first met Capt. Dale Dye ( the best military advisor in Hollywood, Saving Private Ryan, Flags of my Father, The Pacific, Platoon, etc.) he told me he was a Marine WO and some where during his career he switched over to his equivalent, Captain. I believe a Marine Chief Warrant Officer is equal to a Major.
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