A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ARMY WARRANT OFFICER

The rank of warrant officer has a long history. Evidence suggests that Napoleon used a form of 'warrant officer' as liaison between his commissioned officers and the rank and file soldiers. The actual military grade of warrant officer dates back two centuries prior to Columbus, during the fledgling years of the British Navy. Officers were drawn from royal families and often had no knowledge of life on board a ship, let alone how to navigate such a vessel or operate the guns. They relied on the technical expertise and cooperation of a senior, expert sailor. These sailors, sometimes referred to as ‘Boat Mates’ or ‘Boswans Mates’ were indispens-able to the less experienced officers and were frequently rewarded with a 'Royal Warrant', as opposed to a 'Royal Commission'. This special designation set them apart from other sailors, yet did not violate the strict class system of the day. In the U.S. Navy, warrant officers have traditionally been technical specialists whose skills and knowledge were an essential part of the proper operation of the ship. The Navy has had warrant officers among its ranks, in some form or another, since its conception.

Officially, the birth date of the Army Warrant Officer Corps is 7 July 1918, with the passing of the Act of July 1918. This act established the Army [coastal] Mine Planter Service in the Coastal Artillery Corps and directed that 'warrant officers' serve as masters, mates, chief engineers, and assistant engineers of each vessel. The Act of 1920 broadened warrant officer positions by authorizing warrant officers in clerical, administrative, and band-leading activities, and establishing warrant officer assignments in various headquarters and tactical units. Perhaps the most significant motive for the expansion was "a desire to reward enlisted men of long service and also to reward former commissioned officers of World War I who lacked either the educational or other eligibility requirements necessary for continuance in the commissioned status."

The distinctive insignia of the Warrant Officers Corps was approved on 12 May 1921, and was first worn by warrant officers in the Tank corps. It consists of an eagle rising with wings displayed, standing on two arrows and enclosed in a wreath. It was derived from the Great Seal of the United States , with the arrows symbolizing the military arts and sciences.

The Act of 1941 created two grades, Chief Warrant Officer and Warrant Officer Junior Grade, and authorized flight pay for warrant officers whose duties involved aerial flight. It also provided for appointments of up to one percent of the Regular Army enlisted strength to warrant officer positions. In November 1942, the War Department defined the position of all warrant officers within the overall rank structure as "being above all enlisted ranks and immediately below all commissioned officers".

Women were first authorized for appointment to warrant officer in January 1944. By the conclusion of World War II, there were 42 female warrant officers on active duty.

The Career Compensation Act of 1949 provided two new pay rates for warrant officers. The designations of Warrant Officer Junior Grade and Chief Warrant Officer were retained; however, the grade of Chief Warrant Officer was provided with pay rates of W2, W3 and W4. In January 1957 the following definition was adopted: "The warrant officer is a highly skilled technician who is provided to fill those positions above the enlisted level which are too specialized in scope to permit the effective development and continued utilization of broadly-trained, branch-qualified commissioned officers."

Until 1984 warrant officers were promoted from the enlisted ranks by direct appointment. In that year, however, the Chief of Staff chartered the Total Warrant Officer Study (TWOS) and the Vice Chief of Staff ordered that all direct appointments cease, while a Warrant Officer Candidate Course was established at Fort Sill. Among other changes and refinements in the Army's Warrant Officer Corps, the TWOS commission provided a redefinition of the warrant officer:

"An officer appointed by warrant by the Secretary of the Army based upon a sound level of technical and tactical competence. The warrant officer is the highly specialized expert and trainer who, by gaining progressive levels of expertise and leadership, operates, maintains, administers, and manages the Army's equipment, support activities, or technical systems for an entire career."

The study also recommended the creation of a 5th warrant officer level - Master Chief Warrant Officer.  On

5 December 1991, with the implementation of the Warrant Officer Management Act, the new grade became a reality.