Warrant officer (WO) is a rank or category of ranks in the armed forces of many countries. Depending on the country, service, or historical context, warrant officers are sometimes classified as the most junior of the commissioned officer ranks, the most senior of the non-commissioned officer (NCO) ranks, or in a separate category of their own. Warrant officer ranks are especially prominent in the militaries of Commonwealth nations and the United States.
The name of the rank originated in medieval England. It was first used during the 13th century, in the Royal Navy, where warrant officers achieved the designation by virtue of their accrued experience or seniority, and technically held the rank by a warrant, rather than by a formal commission (as in the case of a commissioned officer). Nevertheless, WOs in the British services have traditionally been considered and treated as distinct from non-commissioned officers.
Warrant officers in the United States are classified in rank category "W", which is distinct from "O" (commissioned officers) and "E" (enlisted personnel). However, chief warrant officers are officially commissioned, on the same basis as commissioned officers, and take the same oath. US WOs are usually experts in a particular technical field, with long service as enlisted personnel; in some cases, however, direct entrants may become WOs—for example, individuals completing helicopter pilot training in the US Army Aviation Branch become flight warrant officers immediately.
In Commonwealth countries, warrant officers have usually been included alongside NCOs and enlisted personnel in a category called other ranks (ORs), which is equivalent to the US "E" category (i.e. there is no separate "W" category in these particular services). In Commonwealth services, warrant officers rank between chief petty officer and sub-lieutenant in the navy, between staff sergeant and second lieutenant in the army, and between flight sergeant and pilot officer in the air force.
Warrantofficer (WO) is a rank or category of ranks in the armed forces of many countries. Depending on the country, service, or historical context, warrant...
ranks that are subdivided into general officers, field-grade officers, and company-grade officers. Warrantofficers provide leadership and training in specialized...
the rank of chief warrantofficer (CWO) is distinguished from the rank of senior warrantofficer with the addition of a laurel. Officers exercise leadership...
three groups: enlisted (E), warrantofficer (W), and officer (O). Enlisted pay grades begin at E-1 and end at E-9; warrantofficer pay grades originate at...
new series of warrantofficer ranks were introduced. Warrantofficer 1st class (1921– ) Warrantofficer 2nd class (1921– ) Warrantofficer (1912–21) Staff...
Restricted Line Special Duty or RL SD), Staff Corps Officers, Limited Duty Officers (LDO), or WarrantOfficers (WO/CWO). Each community is further subdivided...
Commissioned officers' rank comparison chart of all land forces of NATO member states. Warrantofficers (WOs) and chief warrantofficers (CWOs) in the...
currently authorized. Warrantofficers are specialists, accounting for only 8% of the officer corps. Warrantofficers hold warrants from their service secretary...
petty officer in Indian Navy is a junior-commissioned officer. This rank is equivalent to Naib subedar in Indian Army and Junior warrantofficer in Indian...
Senior warrantofficer (SWO) is a warrantofficer rank in the Bangladesh Armed Forces, the Singapore Armed Forces and the South African National Defence...
Note that the most senior WarrantOfficer in each of the three services is appointed and promoted to either WarrantOfficer of the Navy WO-N, Regimental...
Duty Officer and Chief WarrantOfficer Selection Programs, the United States Merchant Marine Academy, or receive direct commissions via Officer Development...
modern petty officer dates back to the Age of Sail in the Royal Navy. Petty officers rank between naval officers (both commissioned and warrant) and most...
WarrantOfficer Basic Course (WOBC) is the technical training program a newly appointed U.S. Army WarrantOfficer receives after attending Warrant Officer...
as military ranks (US Army examples: Private, Corporal, WarrantOfficer 1, Chief WarrantOfficer 5, Captain, Major, Colonel, etc.) and military pay grades...
(OCH), with a few exceptions. A WarrantOfficer with a trade of weapon technician would hold the rank of WarrantOfficer Weapon Technician (WOWT). The rank...
appointment is usually held by a senior warrantofficer or a master warrantofficer, although at times a 1st warrantofficer may be appointed. A company sergeant...
rank Non-commissioned officerOfficer (armed forces) Field officer General officer Lieutenant grades Subaltern Warrantofficer Dorosh, Michael A. "Rank...
Global Information