Status and Roles of Warrant Officers

last SG · 2005-12-12T02:02:23+00:00

Interesting discussion. Can you tell me where on the web I can find a list of US (or NATO) - Singapore equivalent ranks?

New_WO1 SG

Hi guys! I'm a Warrant Officer in the US Army and am interested to know more about Warrant Officers in the Singapore Army.

In the US Army, Warrant Officers are Technical Officers specialising in a particular field. We have the status of Officers, are saluted and are members of the Officers Club. There are five ranks. On qualifying from Warrant Officer Candidate School (WOCS), WOs are initially appointed (i.e. receive a 'warrant') at the rank of Warrant Officer 1 (WO1). When they are promoted to Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CW2), they receive a Commission from the President of the United States. The more senior ranks are CW3, CW4 and CW5.

(see the attached link http://usawocc.army.mil/whatiswo.htm )

Do your Warrant Officers have similar roles and status to US Warrants or are they more similar to British and Australian WOs Question

LazerLordz SG

I would say that the WOs in the SAF are closer to the British and Australian WOs, where they are senior non-comm officers who can lead companys and hold junior comm officer positions.

They are not saluted FYI.But are to be addressed as "Sir" or more commonly, "Encik"(Malay term for a older, respected male figure).

New_WO1 SG

So Warrant Officers in your army are members of the NCO Club rather than the Officers Club?

Gordonator SG

yup.

banzie SG

Actually I would say they are in the officer club but rather they are so much the same as officer just without the prestige. Majority of their roles are in the support or assisting the officer commander of the running of the unit. Further more the authority is based on appointment rather than just rank in itself. A senior WO with much important appointment can still allocate punishment on junior officer.

hmsg SG

WO are members of the Officers Club, NOT NCO club...

Gordonator SG

actually depending on units, warrants can go into both specialists and officers club. Laughing

Patrik SG

I respect warrant officers more than commissioned officers.

Shotgun SG

Our warrant officers are soldiers, who worked their way up from NCOs (we refer to them as specialists) to WOs.

They usually have lots of experience in their specialisation, and often take on roles usually filled in by officers. Some are platoon commanders/leaders in training schools, and most of them will have an opportunity to serve as regimental sergeant majors.

As mentioned, they are not saluted as they are not commisioned by our President. Warrant Officers do have an opportunity to convert to become Commissioned officers, but few would. Doing so usually means a pay-cut as their Warrant officer rank pay is somewhat higher than the equivalent Officer rank pay.

Shotgun SG

Oh, and welcome to sgForums! =D

New_WO1 SG

Thanks for your welcome.

From what I've read here, your WOs are equivalent to our Staff NCOs but also filling Officers' roles.

I'm surprised about the arrangement to allow Staff NCOs in the Officers Club. Has this always been the arrangement in Singapore? I've never heard of this in any other army.

What happens when foreign Staff NCOs visit Singapore? Do they go in the Officers or NCO Club?

LazerLordz SG

Well, the Specialists Mess is for the NCOs.The Officers Mess has Warrant Officers on the Mess Committee, as many have said, we operate on an appointment basis, therefore it would not be good to exclude them.

WOs may hold OC appointments, especially those who are Master Warrant Officers and Senior Warrant Officers..They can also be subject matter experts concurrently.

London9 SG

Some Singapore WOs have attended the US Army Sergeant Majors Academy and the USAF SNCOs Academy. As such they would have been given the status of Senior NCOs. And I would think any WOs from Singapore serving with, for example, the Australian Armed Forces would be regarded in the same way i.e. they would be members of the Sergeants Mess - the same would likely apply for the British Army which has an almost identical rank structure and traditions as the Australians.

As to how WOs on exchange from other armies such as Australia are treated in Singapore, I would guess they would be treated in the same way as local WOs i.e. they would be members of the Officers Mess. I'm sure someone here will be able to confirm that, however.

LazerLordz SG

Originally posted by London9:

Some Singapore WOs have attended the US Army Sergeant Majors Academy and the USAF SNCOs Academy. As such they would have been given the status of Senior NCOs. And I would think any WOs from Singapore serving with, for example, the Australian Armed Forces would be regarded in the same way i.e. they would be members of the Sergeants Mess - the same would likely apply for the British Army which has an almost identical rank structure and traditions as the Australians.

As to how WOs on exchange from other armies such as Australia are treated in Singapore, I would guess they would be treated in the same way as local WOs i.e. they would be members of the Officers Mess. [b]I'm sure someone here will be able to confirm that, however.[/b]

If they are WOs, fine.If they aren't WOs.Then, it's the same as our Specs then.

Shotgun SG

Well, I've never seen how the SAF handled foreign troops before. But I guess they'll make arrangements for guest troops to visit both the Officers and NCO's clubs.

But hey! Why hang out at the Armed Forces clubs when ya can head down to town and hang out at civilian pubs/clubs. Its a whole lot more fun there! Good music, drinks, and well, girls. =D

Shotgun SG

Oh by the way, what do u do New_WO1? Chopper pilot?

New_WO1 SG

Yes, I'm on the Warrant Officer Flight Training (WOFT) program at Fort Rucker. I'm qualifying on the UH-60 Black Hawk. The following explains the program.

http://www.usarec.army.mil/hq/warrant/WOcivilian.html

Do you also have Warrant Officer aviators?

LazerLordz SG

Our pilots are all commissioned officers.
Wink

Ponders SG

I would say Singapore Warrant Officers are people who have seen 10 years of experience in any field they were in.

Usually Singapore Warrant Officers fill in the positions that is normally taken by Sergeant Majors in US Army.

As far as I know, Sergeant Major in US Army is a rank and he is usually the most senior NCO in a battalion/unit.

For example, Sergeant Major of the Army is the most senior NCO in US Army (wears chevrons on sleeve) our equivalent is a Army Regimental Sergeant Major who is a warrant officer (wears a chevron epaulette on shoulder).

In US Army, as i read the role of Warrant Officers, the difference between a Commission officer and a warrant officer is that Commission officer is a generalist whereas a warrant officer is a specialist (in a field). But both Warrant officers and commissioned officers holds a commission.

As far as i understand, Warrant officer in US army normally takes 3-4 years to attain because they will go thru specialised training. For example, they will fly a helicopter after intensive training.

LazerLordz SG

the helo pilots in Black Hawk Down were WOs right?