the War resulted in the extension into so many areas of mixed use that, in practice, warrant officers became largely
interchangeable with junior commissioned officers and senior enlisted personnel.
9. ATTEMPTS TO CONSOLIDATE THE WARRANT OFFICER CORPS
a. During 1948 and 1949, competitive examinations were conducted to appoint or select for appointment
approximately 6,000 Regular Army warrant officer personnel. These examinations were conducted in connection with the
Enlisted Career Guidance Program to provide an incentive for enlisted personnel. Appointments were made in 47 MOSs
and 4 special (classified) occupational areas. Approximately half of the 6,000 appointees and selectees were
commissioned officers on extended active duty under Reserve commissions.
b. In late 1948, a considerable number of table of organization and equipment positions were authorized for
warrant officer use. Despite these increased requirements, continuing budgetary constraints prevented the appointments
necessary to fully implement this broadened concept of warrant officer use. In 1950, approximately 900 warrant officer
appointments were made from eligibility lists established as a result of the 1948-49 competitive examinations.
c. Temporary appointments were again decentralized in 1951 to major commanders who appointed
approximately 1,400 warrant officers in 60 MOSs. This return to the use of the warrant officer grade as an incentive in
connection with the Enlisted Career Guidance Program proved inflationary. In an attempt to base the incentive on
requirements, an effort was made to establish warrant officer positions that were logical caps for all enlisted MOSs.
However, the program eventually encountered a lack of spaces despite the expansion of the Army as a result of hostilities
in Korea. Budgetary constraints again severely restricted warrant officer appointments beginning in March of 1952. Only
a very limited number of appointments were made until the growth of the missile program in the mid 1950s. Also, in 1951
the Army Mine Planter Service was disbanded.
10. DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY'S ANALYSIS OF THE WARRANT OFFICER PROGRAM
In August 1953, plans for an Army reduction in force following hostilities in Korea found that the total warrant
officer requirement had to be reduced by one-third to meet an end of FY 54 budget authorization of a total warrant officer
strength of 12,400. A surplus in the total strength and a critical shortage of spaces and personnel in the fields of
electronics, missiles, aviation, and other related hard-skill areas further complicated the situation. The concepts of reward
and incentive
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