Advance Your Career As An Army Warrant Officer

The landscape of the Army has changed over the years. Today's Soldier has also evolved. Most join the Army already fully aware of the plethora of opportunities and benefits available to them. Local Army recruiters initially present many of the opportunities and benefits. Once in-service, career counselors may further advise, recommend and present various career advancement opportunities. As such, there is an officer producing program unlike any other aimed at advancing the career of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines.

The Army's Warrant Officer Recruiting Branch, part of USAREC's Special Mission Division present servicemen and women an opportunity to advance in their career field by serving as an active duty Warrant Officer. The branch is charged with recruiting globally for highly qualified applicants to serve as Army warrant officers. No other Army officer-producing program has a dedicated recruiting branch.

Applicants must meet seven basic administrative requirements in order to apply:

1. US Citizen
2. High school graduate or GED equivalent
3. General Technical (GT) score of 110 or higher (non-waiverable)
4. Eligible for secret security clearance (may apply with interim secret clearance, some MOSs require a completed Secret or higher)
5. Pass standard 3-event Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT). An APFT waiver may be submitted for applicants with permanent profiles who take 3 events with an alternate for the Run.
6. Pass appropriate physical exam (class 1A flight physical for aviation applicants)
7. Have no less than 12 months remaining on current service contract

The Warrant Officer Recruiting Branch has achieved success with an overall mission rate of 109% FY05. The branch recruited close to 1,200 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines in FY05 and expects approximately 1,400 more to fill the warrant officer ranks in FY06 with FY07 expected to top 1,700 new selections. Some specialties are challenging as the numbers of applications received have progressively dwindled. Special Forces, Military Intelligence and Ordinance specialties are most challenging to name a few.

Potential applicants will appreciate the ease in which they may apply for the program. CW4 Jack Bailey (Special Mission Director) and CW3 Stephen Beckham (Special Mission Branch OIC) are at the tip of the spear automating processes that were less than customer-centric. Over the last 3 months, USAREC's warrant officer application processing and board selection process has been automated, reducing time, labor and costs for everyone involved.

Applicants now may fax, mail, or e-mail the applications to USAREC for review. Additionally, applicants may check the status of an application by logging onto USAREC's web-site at www.usarec.army.mil/warrant. Planned USAREC initiatives for FY06 include briefings for deployed personnel and electronic submission of applications. A shortened Warrant Officer Candidate course (4 weeks, 4 days prep) for applicants that completed Warrior Leader Course (WLC) or higher "is a definite plus" according to SSG Timothy McWilliams (Ft Polk, LA). Yes, it's a great time to become a Warrant Officer!

For more information on how to become an active duty US Army Warrant Officer, logon to www.USAREC.army.mil/warrant.