Chief Warrant Officers

[jeonpaolo]

Evening Marines,

First of all I'm sorry for all the questions I have been asking recently. High School has just ended so my moto level has tipped the maximum level permitted therefore all I am doing everyday besides PT is reading Marine stuff lol.

My question is about 0306 CWOs. I couldn't find any information on the forums nor google on this. I was wondering what is the average day for 0306s on base and on a deployment. All I got from wikipedia was that 0306s provide advise on tactical employment of weapons. Any knowledge of 0306s would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[USNAviator]

It takes years to become a CWO. I'm not sure why your asking but I'd concentrate on making your way through boot first. But since you asked, below is some info.


The United States Marine Corps MOS 0306, Infantry Weapons Officers, or Marine Gunners, are Chief Warrant Officers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warrant_Officer_%28United_States%29#Marine_Corps) that are technical weapons specialists and are knowledgeable (as pertaining to their acceleration of grade and experience) in the tactical employment of all the weaponry in Marine Corps arsenal; all weapons organic to the Marine infantry units (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_combat_element).
Their technical skills complemented with infantry field experience fundamentally posits them as advisers to the force commanders (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Force_commander) within the Fleet Marine Force (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fleet_Marine_Force)'s task forces (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_Air-Ground_Task_Force) . When assigned directly to a section of the general staff (usually 'S-3/G-3' [Operations] sections), Marine Gunners may be responsible for developing and monitoring weapons training protocols, its tactical employment of weapons, and preventive maintenance of the unit's infantry weapons. During combat operations, Marine Gunners assists their force commanders in battle tracking.
They are sent forward to oversee the battle, reporting directly to task force commanders in a "directed telescope" fashion. Additional assignments may be assigned based on future needs of the Marine Corps; such as new weapons systems acquisition, new weapons systems research and development, management of the units ammunition allocation—and the unit training plan, infantry training, and fire support planning.
They have oversight of the unit's annual re-qualification programs for the service rifle and pistol, and supervise the unit's training programs with respect to individual and infantry crew served weapons—to include preparation of training plans and schedules. They also design, develop, implement and control expeditionary ranges, world wide. They have the ability to "set-up" combined arms training. As infantry weapons officers advance in grade, they are assigned to instructor/trainer billets, usually at the School of Infantry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_of_Infantry), Infantry Officer Course, The Basic School (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Basic_School), etc., or more prestigious assignments, such as the Anti-Terrorism Battalion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Terrorism_Battalion) of 4th Marine Division (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4th_Marine_Division) [under the Fleet Marine Force [I]operational status–the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (4th MEB)].


MOS/Title: 0306 -- Infantry Weapons Officer
Type of Officer (http://usmilitary.about.com/od/officerj3/a/officertype.htm) : Warrant Office
Type of MOS (http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjo2/a/mosdef.htm) : PMOS
Rank (http://usmilitary.about.com/od/theorderlyroom/l/blenlrank.htm) Range: CW05 to CW02
Job Description: Infantry weapons officers are advisers to the commander at all levels on the tactical employment of the weapons organic to infantry units. Gunners assist the primary staff in the development and monitoring of unit training programs related to the training, tactical employment and the preventive maintenance of the unit's organic weapons. They have oversight of the units annual re-qualification programs for the service rifle and pistol and supervise the units training programs with respect to individual and infantry crew served weapons to include preparation of training plans and schedules. They also design, develop, implement and control expeditionary ranges, world wide, to accommodate all weapons organic to the MAGTF in accordance with the CUrrE!nt version of MCO 3570.1. Additional duties may include: new weapons systems acqui.sition, new weapons systems research and development, management of the units ammunition allocation, the unit training plan, infantry training, and fire support planning. His strength is his ability to "set-up" combined arms training. During operations the Gunner will assist the commander in battle tracking. He can be sent forward to oversee the battle, reporting directly to the battalion/regiment.al/division commanders in a "directed telescope" fashion. As infantry weapons officers advance in grade, billet descriptions will include: Marine Gunner Infantry Training Battalion (SOl East or West), Marine Gunner Advanced Infantry Training Company (SOl East and West), Tactical Training and Exercise Control Group (TTECG) MAGTF-TC, Marine Gunner Infantry Regiment (Active and Reserve) Marine Gunner Infantry Division, Marine Gunner Infantry Officer Course, Marine Gunner the Basic School, Marine Gunner Small Arms Weapons Instructor school, and Marine Gunner 4th MEB (AT). Additional assignments may be assigned based on future needs of the Marine Corps.
Job Requirements:
(1) Must have a minimum GT score (http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjo2/a/asvab.htm) of 110.
(2) Must have previously served in MOS 0369 (http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjo2/a/0369.htm).
(3) Must be a minimum of Gunnery Sergeant when selected.
(4) TIS requirements are determined annually by CMC based on the needs of the Marine Corps.
(5) Must complete the Warrant Officer Basic Course.
(6) Must complete a specifically designed course of instruction sponsored by the Commanding Officer, The Basic School and the Marine Gunner OccFld manager.
Duties: For a complete listing of duties and tasks, refer to NAVMC Directive 3500-87, Training and Readiness Manual.

[jeonpaolo]

Thank you so much for the info Commander. I know its a long ways away, but it was bugging me to know more about it ever since I started reading about it. Thanks again.

[USNAviator]

Thank you so much for the info Commander. I know its a long ways away, but it was bugging me to know more about it ever since I started reading about it. Thanks again.

You're welcome. One other thing is that CWO can be become a commissioned officer, even if that individual has not graduated from college. They are called limited duty officers