How to become A Warrant Officer

Not as well-known as commissioned or non-commissioned officers and far fewer in number, Warrant Officers gain progressive levels of expertise and leadership in a specific technical area to operate, maintain and manage the equipment, support activities or technical systems of the armed forces.

• Army Warrant Officer
• Navy Warrant Officer
• Marine Corps Warrant Officer
• Coast Guard Warrant Officer

What do Warrant Officers do?

A Warrant Officer would typically need to:

• Serve as a technical and tactical leader and subject matter expert in their respective military occupational field
• Accomplish the assigned missions and tasks 
• Command and maintain detachments, units, vessels, aircraft, marine vessels and armoured vehicles
• Integrate technology into the combat operations; provide subordinates with the direction and resources necessary to perform their duties
• Teach military personnel about new and integrated technologies; lead and train functional sections, teams and crews
• Provide developmental guidance, assistance, supervision, mentorship and counselling to enlisted soldiers, non-commissioned officers and army civilians
• Serve as critical advisors to commanders in conducting organisational training
• Execute any other branch-related duties assigned to them

Most Warrant Officers live and work on or near domestic and international military bases and facilities. Travel is an integral part of the job.

Your working environment may vary from a comfortable office on base to flying a helicopter on dangerous missions, steering a large boat or directing armed forces bands and musicians in performances.

Warrant Officers on active duty work full-time. However, their work schedule may vary with their occupational speciality, rank and branch of service, and the defence needs of their country. You must be prepared to put in long hours to fulfil missions.

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Warrant Officers can boost their job search by contacting the specific branch of the armed services they plan to enter.

Warrant Officers are generally employed by:

• The Army
• The Navy
• The Airforce
• The Marines

Professional associations and organisations, such as The Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association International, are crucial for Warrant officers interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• High probability of being placed in dangerous situations carrying the risk of serious injury or death
• Continual training that is physically tough, frustrating and highly stressful to prepare one to stay calm and lead the troops into combat
• Long periods spent away from home and family during training and deployment

Selection to Warrant Officer programs is highly competitive. It is not an entry-level position, and only candidates with a desirable rank and time-in-service in the armed forces stand a chance of being selected to the training school. 

A thorough study of the WO MOS (Military Occupational Speciality) duty description will help you determine the experience/training required by an applicant. If you have already done work similar to that described therein, an adequate justification of your current skills and experience may lead to authorised approval of a prerequisite waiver. 

You may need to submit military records showing your MOS training and any experience in the particular speciality area. Specialised training will enable you to function as a technical and tactical expert in your discipline and an effective leader, instructor and advisor to subordinates and commanders who depend on you.

In some locations, prospective army aviator WOs will not require previous military experience or flight training. Recruits to the army flight school typically undergo a six-week training program, which is probably the most direct route for those who qualify to become WOs. Typically, such newly enlisted soldiers complete a longer stint at officer candidate school than the experienced soldiers training to be technical army WOs.

Read about the profession and interview seasoned Warrant Officers to understand different behaviours, situations, and problems you may encounter in this profession.

A high school diploma or GED is the minimum qualification required to apply to a Warrant Officer (WO) position. You may need to pass the armed forces vocational aptitude test with a score of at least 110.

Requirements can be strict and include many “no waivers allowed” including those to do with fitness and command recommendations. All aspiring Warrant Officers must submit an application package that includes endorsements by supervisors and commanders.

Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive the career progression of Warrant Officers who may eventually serve in supervisory, managerial and leadership positions.

They are on the path to a higher rank, increased responsibility and authority along with greater pay and benefits, regardless of the branch of the specific armed services branch they might choose and the particular part of the world they reside in.

Each branch of the armed services has varying criteria for promotion of personnel, including time in service and grade, job performance, a fitness report and passing scores on written exams. Contact your local defence services department for more exact details on how a particular career path may evolve.

Retired WOs will find the management and professional training and experience gained during service will open many doors in the private sector.

Candidates with the necessary skills and military experience have the best job prospects.

Continuing professional development (CPD) will help an active Warrant Officer build personal skills and proficiency through work-based learning, a professional activity, formal education, or self-directed learning.

All armed services provide initial officer training, which includes physical training, military training and exercises, adventurous training and participation in a range of sporting activities, army organisation, current affairs, defence issues and management skills.

Invest additional time developing expertise in one of 40 different tech warrant specialities, so you are ready to take on a relevant leadership role. You will undertake short residential courses, employment training, distance learning and the acquisition of new skills throughout your career to retain up-to-date information regarding the technical aspects of defence training.

Warrant Officers with significant experience may be selected to attend extended command and staff training courses in preparation for senior and top management appointments.

A Historical Perspective

The military rank of Warrant Officer came into being in the mid-1500s, during the formative years of the British Navy, when noblemen with military experience assumed command of the new Navy. 

Their adoption of army ranks such as lieutenant and captain notwithstanding, these aristocratic officers had little to no knowledge of life aboard a ship, leave alone navigating the vessel or operating the guns.

So, they had to rely on the technical expertise and cooperation of the ship’s captain or senior sailors who took care of the mechanical aspects of running the ship and operating the cannons.

These sailors became so indispensable to the success of a mission that a Royal Warrant was designed to separate them from their illiterate and less capable maritime colleagues while still maintaining the status quo of a rigid class system.

How Do Warrant Officers Differ From Commissioned Officers And Non-Commissioned Officers?

One can become a Warrant Officer with less educational qualifications and earn their way up the military chain while gaining the knowledge and expertise necessary to apply for a position on par with a commissioned officer who has higher education requirements and is groomed to become a military leader. By contrast, a non-commissioned officer is designated an officer, often by seniority.

Warrant Officer ranks are especially prominent in the militaries of Commonwealth nations (former territories of the British Empire) and the United States.

Considered to be the cream of the crop, Warrant Officers enjoy the privilege of being the leader that officers and enlisted soldiers alike look to for advice and guidance.

Constantly study your craft and seek opportunities for lifelong learning.