Warrant Officer Ranks

Warrant Officer Ranks (grade W-1 to W-5) is rated as an officer above senior enlisted ranks, but below the officer grade of O-1 (see Officer Ranks). Warrant officers are highly skilled, single-track specialty officers, and while the ranks are authorized by Congress, the Army manages and utilizes warrant officers in slightly different ways.

Warrant Officers are approved by the secretary of the respective service. For chief warrant officer ranks (W-2 to W-5), warrant officers are commissioned by the President of the United States and take the same oath as regular commissioned officers (O-1 to O-10).

Warrant officers can and do command detachments, units, activities, vessels, aircraft, and armored vehicles as well as lead, coach, train, and counsel subordinates. However, the warrant officer’s primary task as a leader is to serve as a technical expert, providing valuable skills, guidance, and expertise to commanders and organizations in their particular field.

Technically, warrant officers are to be addressed as “Mr. (last name)” or “Ms. (last name).” However, many people do not use those terms, but instead say “Sir”, “Ma’am”, or most commonly, “Chief” and “Warrant.”