b. Increased warrant officer participation in the development of policies and programs followed the inception of
the Warrant Officer Career Program. To lend greater visibility to the career program and to serve as a contact point for
warrant officer plans, policies, and programs, a Warrant Officer Plans Section, headed by a warrant officer, was
established in the Officer Personnel Management Directorate of the US Army Military Personnel Center. Warrant officers
also served as specialty managers and assignment officers in the Warrant Officer Division of the Officer Personnel
Management Directorate. Increasingly, the warrant officer viewpoint was sought in the development of plans that would
affect the Warrant Officer Corps. Since 1973, warrant officers have served as voting members of various HQDA selection
boards that consider warrant officer actions. As for the future, the increasing technological complexity of the modern
Army dictates a continuing need for a corps of highly trained, officer-level technicians to fill those positions in which a high
degree of specialization is required. This requirement establishes a definite and continuing need for the Army warrant
officer.
17. CURRENT CHANGES IN MANAGEMENT AND EDUCATION SYSTEMS
The Warrant Officer Corps management and education systems are currently undergoing major changes. The
impetus for these changes was the Total Warrant Officer Study (TWOS), which was approved by the Chief of Staff of the
Army in 1985.
a. Warrant officers are now assigned by grade level, either warrant officer (WO1, CW2), senior warrant officer
(CW3, CW4), or master warrant officer (MW4). When approved by public law, the grade of master warrant officer will be
CW5,
b. The new system for warrant officer education is called the Warrant Officer Training System. It comprises a
three-level education system consisting of a Warrant Officer Candidate School consolidated at Fort Rucker, Alabama; a
Senior Warrant Officer Training Course to be conducted at the specific branch school; and a Master Warrant Officer
Training Course to be conducted at Fort Rucker, Alabama.
c. In addition to the above changes in the Warrant Officer Corps is the approval of a new warrant officer
definition:
An officer appointed by warrant by the Secretary of the Army, based on a sound level of technical and tactical
competence. The warrant officer is the highly specialized expert and trainer who, by gaining progressive
levels of expertise and leadership, operates, maintains, administers, and manages the Army's equipment,
support activities, or technical systems for an entire career.
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