| To begin, there are five levels of Warrant Officer | | | | advanced course training for duty assignments in |
| rank in the United States Army. Rank begins with the | | | | such fields as Signal, Ordnance, Logistics, Maintenance, |
| Warrant Officer 1, and ends with the Chief Warrant | | | | Administration, and Legal. Aviation Warrants attend |
| Officer 5. Along with each proper rank name, is an | | | | training to become helicopter and fixed wing aircraft |
| abbreviated rank identifier and a Warrant Officer | | | | pilots. |
| grade, or pay grade. The grades also start at W1 and | | | | Warrant Officer 1, WO1, W1 - The Warrant Officer 1 |
| end at W5. | | | | wears the rank insignia of a single silver bar, that |
| Warrant Officers are probably the least understood | | | | includes a solid black square, centered within the bar. |
| service members in the military. The Warrant Corps is | | | | The square is sometimes referred to as a 'dot'. W1's |
| relatively small, having been established in the Army in | | | | are formally addressed as "Mr., Ms., or Sir". Both the |
| 1896. In fact, these rather unique ranks exist only in | | | | W1 and W2 are 'junior officers'. |
| the Army, Marine Corps and Navy. The Air Force has | | | | Chief Warrant Officer 2, CW2, W2 - The Chief |
| no Warrants. | | | | Warrant Officer 2 wears the rank insignia of a silver |
| Warrant Officers are technical experts, and come | | | | bar with two solid black squares centered within. |
| mainly from the enlisted ranks. Good Warrant | | | | Advancement to the rank of CW2 generally occurs |
| candidates are usually sergeants with a number of | | | | after completion of twenty-four months as a W1. |
| years of experience in certain military jobs. | | | | More informally, soldier may refer to these officers |
| The definition of the Warrant Officer is very fitting | | | | as "Chief". WO1 and CW2 are generally assigned at |
| for the role they serve: "An officer appointed by | | | | the battalion level, though they made be assigned to |
| warrant by the Secretary of the Army based on a | | | | detachments or other separate units. |
| sound level of technical and tactical competence. The | | | | Chief Warrant Officer 3, CW3, W3 - The Chief |
| warrant officer is a highly specialized expert and | | | | Warrant Officer 3 wears the rank insignia of a silver |
| trainer who, by gaining progressive levels of | | | | bar with three solid black squares centered within. |
| expertise and leadership administers, manages, | | | | The W3-W5 ranks are 'senior officers'. CW3's are |
| operates, and maintains the Army's equipment, | | | | usually assigned at the brigade or higher unit level. |
| support activities or technical systems for an entire | | | | Chief Warrant Officer 4, CW4, W4 - The Chief |
| career." | | | | Warrant Officer 4 wears the rank insignia of a silver |
| Like general-type officers, Warrant Officers wear | | | | bar with four solid black squares centered within. |
| 'brass' on their collars, although in the case of | | | | CW4's can be found at brigade and division level units. |
| Warrants, all of the brass is silver in color. Warrant | | | | Chief Warrant Officer 5, CW5, W5 - The Chief |
| Officers 1 are appointed by the Secretary of the | | | | Warrant Officer 5 wears the rank insignia of a silver |
| Army, and do not hold a commission. Upon promotion | | | | bar that contains a single black line, centered, that |
| to W2, Warrants become Chiefs, and are | | | | extends almost to either end of the silver bar. CW5's |
| commissioned by the President. While Warrant | | | | are usually assigned to division or higher level units. |
| Officers are specialist officers, they can also fill | | | | Each of the aforementioned ranks is special in its |
| command positions, such as Company Commanders, | | | | own way, and holds a valuable place in the military |
| under some circumstances. | | | | hierarchy. Though their ranks, duties and |
| Duty positions fall into two broad categories based | | | | responsibilities may vary, soldiers serving at every |
| on the skill set of the Warrant Officer: Technical and | | | | level of the military order are equally as important as |
| Aviation. Technical Warrants attend basic and | | | | their fellow service members. |