Argus,
You too fail to catch the catch...kinda like Catch 22 here. The catch is CW2 through CW5 are commissioned. Despite the rank being called "Warrant Officer", some Nimrod of a senior Commissioned Officer decided against both logic and tradition to make certain grades of Warrant Officers commissioned officers. That decision like so many the Commissioned Officers that infest senior headquarters make....wreaks havoc upon those that have to carry out the decisions. Never minding upsetting the old apple cart in the process, mind you.
Our newbie Warrant Officer pilots are usually known as WoJugs, Wobbly One's and other less polite names within their initial operational units thus we share much the same appreciation of their various flying abilities as do your Army. In some units, WO-1's and 2nd Lt's are required to go about in pairs...with the view that between two of them, they might not get into so much trouble as left to their own devices.
Senior Warrant officers are tasked both officially and unofficially to mentor the youngsters, even if they happen to be old leathery farts that have moved up from the enlisted ranks, into the fine art of "being" a Warrant Officer. There is far more to "being" a Warrant Officer than merely pinning on the rank insignia....which we can all agree upon.
There has been much whinging by the Chattering Classes here about American Warrants not being officers...not being commissioned....and such. That ignores facts.
They are officers. After reaching CW2...they are commissioned officers. While in training they are Warrant Officer Candidates with an equivalent rank of Specialist Fifth Class (pay grade E-5 or actual pay grade held if higher) which is equal to the lowest rank of Sargeant.