As a Warrant Officer in the Army, you will be in charge of carrying out the orders of your commanding officer. You will also be responsible for training and advising other officers and soldiers. It is a great position for those who want to lead others in the military. There are several requirements that must be met before you can become a Warrant Officer in the Army.
The first requirement is that you must have at least four years of active duty as an enlisted soldier before applying to become a Warrant Officer. You must also meet certain physical standards, which include having 20/40 vision without corrective lenses, being able to hear without aid, running 1.5 miles in 12 minutes or less, and lifting 70 pounds over your head with ease. You must also pass an extensive background check before being considered for this position.
If you meet these requirements and want to apply for this position, contact your local recruiter today!
How To Become Warrant Officer In Army
If you have leadership ability and seek a career in a specialized field, you may wish to consider becoming a U.S. Army warrant officer. With the exception of warrant officers in aviation, technical warrant officer requirements include evidence of officer potential, such as physical fitness scores; five to eight years’ experience in a Military Occupation Specialty (MOS); transcripts of military leadership courses; and letters of recommendations from senior officers. To compete for an Army warrant officer position, check the Army warrant officer selection board website, download an application, confirm you comply with warrant officer requirements and meet the application deadlines.
Job Description
The U.S. Army warrant officer corps is an elite group of experts that constitutes less than 3 percent of the Army. They provide technical expertise and advice to soldiers in their command as well as to higher-ranking officers. Warrant officer requirements are intended to identify those who want to be known as experts and will work hard to earn that reputation. If selected through a highly competitive recruiting process, you will immerse yourself in your chosen area of specialization during your time in the military. More than 40 specialties are available if you want to gain valuable skills in a highly technical and tactical area like Army intelligence, aviation or military policing. Duties of a technical Army warrant officer may include such activities as gathering counterintelligence information, maintaining electronic systems and overseeing computer networks. In the role of an Aviation Army warrant officer, you will pilot helicopters to conduct air assaults and transport troops.
Education Requirements
You must have a high school diploma to attend Warrant Officer Candidate School. If selected to attend, you will receive officer training that builds management and leadership skills. Those in the Warrant Officer Flight Training program will then attend flight school, where they will learn to fly and maneuver Army aircraft like Black Hawk and Apache helicopters. Warrant officer training explains detailed Army procedures and repeatedly tests candidates’ mental and physical fitness to lead. Generally, training is held at Fort Rucker, Alabama, which is set up for orienteering and simulated combat exercises. School is a few weeks longer for those in the flight training track who don’t have a military background and learned about pilot training through Army warrant officer recruiting.
Industry
Army Warrant Officer Candidate School is intended to be physically tough, frustrating and stressful to help prepare officers to stay calm and lead troops in combat situations. Newly appointed Army warrant officers are assigned to a branch of the Army most closely related to their specialization, where they will continue to acquire technical expertise. Working conditions vary from a comfortable office on base to flying a helicopter in dangerous missions to steering a large boat or directing Army bands and musicians in performances. Information on specializations and possible assignments may be found on the U.S. Army warrant officer recruiting website.
Years of Experience and Salary
After completing basic training and MOS training, aspiring Army warrant officers must meet prerequisites for their intended area of specialization and achieve the rank of SPC/E6 or higher. Newly enlisted soldiers recruited for Army flight school must complete a longer stint at officer candidate school than the experienced soldiers training to be technical Army warrant officers. Graduates then launch their careers and attempt to prove themselves worthy of increasingly higher ranks on the Army promotion ladder as they gain experience in challenging situations. Army warrant officers outrank enlisted soldiers and rank below commissioned officers who are generalists rather than technical experts.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that the starting salary for an Army warrant officer with two years or less experience is $ 3,037.50 per month as of January 2018, not including additional compensation that may be earned such as hazard pay and drill pay.
Job Growth Trend
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that job opportunities in all branches of the armed forces will be “very good” from now through 2026, as compared to the average growth rate of all occupations. Anticipated retirements will increase openings in the officer ranks. Competition for good jobs in the military is less intense when the economy is strong and civilian jobs are plentiful.
