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?

nightzip SG

thats all in the army.

I believe our SAF have WO posts in navy and airforce too. They may be taking up senior or expertise positions, not sure though. Very Happy

New_WO1 SG

US Warrants on initial appointment as Warrant Officer Grade 1 receive a Warrant. They receive a Commission on promotion to the next Warrant Grade, Chief Warrant Officer Grade 2. As you say, WOs are specialist officers, mainly in technical fields but also aviators. Warrant Officers in most Military Occupational Specialties have reached a minimum rank of Sergeant (E5) before applying to become a Warrant. The exceptions are aviators who can apply as civilians.

Sergant Majors are the most senior NCOs in the US Army (E9s). There are three ranks, Sergeant Major, Command Sergeant Major and the Sergeant Major of the Army who is the senior enlisted advisor to the Chief of Staff of the US Army. It seems weird that your equivalent ranks (WOs) are members of the Officers Club.

And yes, Black Hawk features in the film of the same name.

A summary of the aviator program can be found at:

http://www.goarmy.com/life/aviation_school.jsp

Is there a list of equivalent ranks for the US and Singapore Armed Forces on the web?

palmerised SG

Question not relating to the topic, but i'm just curious as to how you came across this page.

welcome anyway! Mr. Green

LazerLordz SG

Yeap.Airforceand Navy RSMs are called Chief Warrant Officers.

LazerLordz SG

Ah...Let me understand, you're saying that a E-5 can apply to be a Warrant Officer and it will be a new career path that branches out for him/her?

I can assume that he/she won't be eligible to rise to E9 then?

Regarding our Warrants, that reason IMHO, would be due to their eligibilty to hold appointments that are similar to that of junior commisssioned officers' rank up to Major, which makes them eligible for the Officers' Mess.

New_WO1 SG

LazerLordz

The Sergeant (E5) or Staff Sergeant (E6) can apply to become a Warrant Officer in their area of expertise. As you say, if they go down this route they will no longer be able to rise to Sergeant Major - similar to a Sergeant being commissioned as a Second Lieutenant.

All Warrant Officer Candidates in the US Army have to pass Warrant Officer Candidate School (WOCS), a six week program, before they become WO1s. From what I've read on the web, you have a Joint Warrant Officers Course and Warrant Officer School. How long is this course and what does it involve?

Palmerised

Did a search on Google and found this site. Very Interesting!

LazerLordz SG

Our population base is not big enough for us to exclusively use Commissioned Officers in junior command roles.Further more, our NCOs undergo their advanced specialisation training at the SSG level, therefore by the time they are eligible for the 2WO rank(remember not all WOs are Regimental Sergeant Majors), they will go for their WO course, which includes IIRC, lessons on platoon leadership etc.

Each vocational WO has his or her own skill in addition to this junior leadership course taught to them, therefore we can utilise them as both SMEs and OCs when there is a shortage of Commissioned Officers.

Simply put, our WOs gain their rank by progression , not a technical specialisation. Razz FYI, I happen to be a junior Specialist, 3SG.In the US Army, theoretically I may be able to apply to be a WO.But in the SAF, if I'm a regular, I'll have to progress up the ranks. Mr. Green

http://www.mindef.gov.sg/arc/specialist/spe_2500.html

See here for more info on how our Specialist Corps and WOs advance. Wink

New_WO1 SG

Thanks for the information (and apologies for editing whilst you were posting!).

The Army has just released new definitions of US Warrants. I've added these below.

US Army Warrant officer definitions

The Army WO is a selfaware and adaptive technical expert, combat leader, trainer, and advisor. Through progressive levels of expertise in assignments, training, and education, the WO administers, manages, maintains, operates, and integrates Army systems and equipment across the full spectrum of Army operations. Warrant Officers are innovative integrators of emerging technologies, dynamic teachers, confident warfighters, and developers of specialized teams of soldiers. They support a wide range of Army missions throughout their career. Warrant officers in the Army are accessed with specific levels of technical ability. They refine their technical expertise and develop their leadership and management skills through tiered progressive assignment and education. The following are specific characteristics and responsibilities of the separate, successive WO grades.

a. Warrant officer one. An officer appointed by warrant with the requisite authority pursuant to assignment level and position given by the Secretary of the Army. WO1s are basic level, technically and tactically focused officers who perform the primary duties of technical leader, trainer, operator, manager, maintainer, sustainer, and advisor. They also perform any other branch-related duties assigned to them. They also provide direction, guidance, resources, assistance, and supervision necessary for subordinates to perform their duties. WO1s have specific responsibility for accomplishing the missions and tasks assigned to them and, if assigned as a commander, the collective or organizational responsibility for how well their command performs its mission. WO1s primarily support levels of operations from team or detachment through battalion, requiring interaction with all soldier cohorts and primary staff. They provide leader development, mentorship, and counsel to enlisted soldiers and NCOs.

b. Chief warrant officer two. CW2s are commissioned officers with the requisite authority pursuant to assignment level and position as given by the President of the U.S.. CW2s are intermediate level technical and tactical experts who perform the primary duties of technical leader, trainer, operator, manager, maintainer, sustainer, and advisor. They also perform any other branch-related duties assigned to them. They provide direction, guidance, resources, assistance, and supervision necessary for subordinates to perform their duties. They have specific responsibility for accomplishing the missions and tasks assigned to them and, if assigned as a commander, the collective or organizational responsibility for how well their command performs its mission. CW2s primarily support levels of operations from team or detachment through battalion, requiring interaction with all soldier cohorts and primary staff. They provide leader development, mentorship, advice, and counsel to NCOs, other WOs and company-grade branch officers.

c. Chief warrant officer three. CW3s are commissioned officers with the requisite authority pursuant to assignment level and position as given by the President of the U.S.. CW3s are advanced-level technical and tactical experts who perform the primary duties of technical leader, trainer, operator, manager, maintainer, sustainer, integrator, and advisor. They also perform any other branch-related duties assigned to them. They provide direction, guidance, resources, assistance, and supervision necessary for subordinates to perform their duties. CW3s have specific responsibility for accomplishing the missions and tasks assigned to them and, if assigned as a commander, the collective or organizational responsibility for how well their command performs its mission. CW3s primarily support levels of operations from team or detachment through brigade, requiring interaction with all soldier cohorts and primary staff. They provide leader development, mentorship, advice, and counsel to NCOs, other WOs and branch officers. CW3s advise commanders on WO issues.

d. Chief warrant officer four. CW4s are commissioned officers with the requisite authority pursuant to assignment level and position as given by the President of the U.S.. CW4s are senior-level technical and tactical experts who perform the primary duties of technical leader, manager, maintainer, sustainer, integrator and advisor. They also perform any other branch-related duties assigned to them. They provide direction, guidance, resources, assistance, and supervision necessary for subordinates to perform their duties. CW4s have specific responsibility for accomplishing the missions and tasks assigned to them and, if assigned as a commander, the collective or organizational responsibility for how well their command performs its mission. They primarily support battalion, brigade, division, corps, and echelons above corps operations. They must interact with NCOs, other officers, primary staff, and special staff. CW4s primarily provide leader development, mentorship, advice, and counsel to NCOs, other WOs and branch officers. They have special mentorship responsibilities for other WOs and provide essential advice to commanders on WO issues.

e. Chief warrant officer five. CW5s are commissioned officers with the requisite authority pursuant to assignment level and position as given by the President of the U.S.. CW5s are master-level technical and tactical experts who perform the primary duties of technical leader, manager, integrator, advisor, or any other particular duty prescribed by branch. They provide direction, guidance, resources, assistance, and supervision necessary for subordinates to perform their duties. CW5s have specific responsibility for accomplishing the missions and tasks assigned to them. CW5s primarily support brigade, division, corps, echelons above corps, and major command operations. They must interact with NCOs, other officers, primary staff and special staff. They provide leader development, mentorship, advice, and counsel to WOs and branch officers. CW5s have special WO leadership and representation responsibilities within their respective commands. They provide essential advice to commanders on WO issues."

LazerLordz SG

They seem to be holding the role of either a independant, neutral policy and doctrine advisor and technical subject matter expert...

Well, I'm heading off now.Thanks for the info, we'll look through it again Cool

nightzip SG

a side issue,

so lets say CW4 or CW5 versus a Captain or Maj, who is higher ranked (i mean in terms of held appointments) ? How about in terms of remuneration?

just curious. Very Happy

specfore SG

Hi, I had the opportunity to meet US Army aviators during my reservist training stint some years ago. There were a handful of UH1 and Blackhawk warrant officer pilots attached to my unit. They were from the Tropic Lightning Division based in Hawaii.

As far as I was aware, I'm not an officer but was a 2nd Seargeant (platoon sgt) during that time.... the US Army WOs who were attached to us, were treated by our army as officers in respect of hospitality and protocol shown. Afterall, their counterparts in the Singapore Air Force were either Lieutenants or Captains ( heli pilots).

But the stint by the WO aviators with us was short... only for a few days of the exercise we were running. So I am not sure what the long term protocol would be like if they were permanently attached to my unit.

LazerLordz SG

But in terms of rank in their Army, you can apply to be a Warrant Officer, unlike us here. Laughing

Shotgun SG

In order to become a warrant officer in Singapore, one must first complete PP1 as a specialist. Only after completing PP1, the Army will consider asking u to stay for PP2. PP2 would be the warrant officer stage.

PP1 is about 10 years (to attain rank of Master Sergeant) , and PP2 (starts and 2nd Warrant Officer, aka 2WO) another 5-10 years. Advancement depends on qualification and performance. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

LazerLordz SG

I think you're roughly correct. Razz

New_WO1 SG

CW5s are junior in rank to a Second Lieutenant, as are all Warrant Officers. However, their pay will be equivalent to a Lieutenant Colonel, reflecting their experience and influence.

LazerLordz SG

Easier for them during their transition to the private sector I suppose?

New_WO1 SG

Many WOs in the US Army have Bachelors Degrees and some have Masters Degrees. With the right technical skills they are employable in the private sector.

But no doubt that is also the case for your WOs Wink

LazerLordz SG

Well, the older WOs have diplomas and technical certificates and as the generations progress, the current senior Specialists do have advanced diplomas too. Wink

New_WO1 SG

So you are a 3rd Sergeant now and your aim is to become a 1WO?

Shotgun SG

LazerLords, r u a regular?

New_WO1, most of us in Singapore are "national servicemen." (Reserves) Sort of like the equivalent of your national guards. After our 2 year compulsory/volunteered conscription or national service, we return to our civilian life to resume work or studies. Once a year, for 10 years, we'll be called back to our units for in camp trainings, courses, upgrades or exercises.

Promotion pretty much halts after completing our NS liabilities.. So our friend LazerLords won't be promoting beyond 3sg unless he decides to join the Army as a career.

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