Warrant Officer MOS'

[CKY2K]

I'm About to go in and i was wondering what were some MOS that would qualify me as a Warrant Officer :confused: :qmark:

[Echo_Four_Bravo]

No, you cannot sign up to be a Warrant Officer. These individuals are selected from the ranks of senior Marines that have proven themselves capable of being given this honor.

[awb5711]

I think right now its around 8yrs enlisted time before you can apply for WO. I can't think of an MOS that does not have a WO track.

[chrisnica]

I don't want to sound dumb here, but what exactly does a WO do? I mean, are they officers that can't be commissioned, or what? Don't mean to offend, just need to know more about them.

[Shadowman777]

I don't want to sound dumb here, but what exactly does a WO do?

LOL - When I was in I wondered the same thing ...

[VaMarine]

I'm not sure anyone knows exactly what a WO does.. but no they are capable of being officers, and nowadays most have degrees. The biggest difference is that i have noticed is that WO's havent been through OCS. As well you will see that some become LDO's later on. The other thing to remember is that WO's have been through boot camp and have been in your shoes.. They have been there done that shagged a the girl and gotten the t-shirt.. You will find that most WO's are respected more than the O's a lot of that comes with the fact that they were once one of us..

To become one I believe right now it requires that you are at least a Cpl and be proficient in your MOS Field and then you can submit a package to HQMC to be considered for one of the Highly coveted slots. I have never seen anyone below the Rank of SSgt get accepted to the program but it might have been done out there..

[awb5711]

It usually is the SSgt that becomes a WO. Here is the main difference between an O and WO. The CWO is THE duty expert in that field. The best comparison I can make is a MSgt and 1st Sgt. The MSgt and MGySgt are the duty experts in their MOS's. Same for the WO or CWO. The WO's won't often serve in Staff billets such as XO or CO. They stay in the field they have trained in their entire careers. Make any sense??? Its hard to put into words.

[Echo_Four_Bravo]

The way I always looked at it was this:
A WO has about the same job as a Lt. But, the Lt. is trained to see things as a "system". For instance, a communications officer is trained in putting together communications networks and plans, etc. Enlisted people are trained how to operate and maintain that communications equipment. So, a warrant officer would be an expert in the use of the equipment, but not necessarily on the whole system. (Of course, this is overly simplified because a SNCO would be well versed in the system as a comm chief and most officers know at least some of how to operate equipment...)

I can only remember one WO that was in a staff billet. He was either the company CO or XO with 3rd LAR.