Not necessarily an anomaly Haraka.

In some respects their top rank (CWO-5?) is regarded as Wg Cdr equivalent. I think in RAF terms it's more like Spec Aircrew (but not PA!) but with more ranks.

Certainly a lot of the instructors at Rucker are CWOs, up to and including those positions which would certainly be sqn ldr or wg cdr on RAF Stations.

Yes, it is anomalous, but in UK thinking, so is the situation of holding both a Royal warrant and a Royal commission. The US, not having a "Royal", do not encounter this apparent disparity.

I presume that you mean not being allowed to stay in an officers' mess; that's probably because of a lack of knowledge/information in UK military circles about the status of CWOs (certainly the RAF not knowing about anyone's army, let alone the US:E, and the aforementioned anomaly).

Mister B

Wiki is quite informative on this subject.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warrant...(United_States)

Having known and worked with a few CWOs, they are a singular breed! But, essentially, they're specialists in their field and don't go leaping from job to job every couple of years on posting. The Spec aircrew comparison is pertinent!

Following the Wiki link has just confused me - the US Army seem to have "Chief" Warrant Officers; I didn't see a reference to "Commissioned" WO.

Any US Army types (current or serving) able to enlighten us?

Mister B

From "about.com US Military"
"Title 10 USC authorizes the commissioning of warrant officers (WO1) upon promotion to chief warrant officer (CW2). These commissioned warrant officers are direct representatives of the president of the United States. They derive their authority from the same source as commissioned officers but remain specialists, in contrast to commissioned officers, who are generalists."

Thanks, Haraka ... I'd read the 'specialist' VS 'generalist' quote a few years back, and couldn't recall where! Sums it up perfectly.

There was a very argumentative but often amusing debate about the US warrant officers' status on PPRuNE Mil a while ago. Unbelievably long topic debating whether a US WO should be in the Os' or SNCOs' Mess - which ISTR ended with the US side saying "you lot don't understand how important we are" and the UK (and International) side saying "get over it; the clue is in the warrant officer bit". :E

only by the 'Mercans I suspect :E :E

In the USMC Warrant Officers who have served 8+ years as a WO/CWO can convert directly to Captain (O-3) if they so choose - they continue in their specialty but are "limited duty officers", which means they can never command squadrons, companies, etc. They can command non-combat units, such as logistics centers, admin units, training schools, etc.

They can be promoted to Lieutenant Colonel (O-5), but no higher.

MPN11

Not if you know newt!

Bloggs:hmm: