Do the services actually need five Warrant Officer grades?

Warrant Officers in the Army have very critical roles to serve in. There technical expertise, coupled with the advancement of that expertise keeps Army systems moving forward. The CW5 has been in existence for many years, the voice of that senior technician at Division and hire is required to sustain the focus on the level of proficiency of subordinates Warrants throughout. While I can speak to no other service and the management of their Warrants, I can state, unequivocally that the Army Warrant is,?and always has been a necessity and extreme commodity for us. I have seen Warrants pull off minor miracles in peacetime and combat, keeping our mission afloat during some very difficult situation. I say Hoooah to the Army Warrants. Thank you for your service.

There are almost as many Army Warrants as AD Coast Guard personnel.

The Army Warrant Officer Corps is diverse and fulfills what the Navy and Marines use LDOs for, technical expertise. It has been a while since the Army had two warrant grades, at least as far back as 1971. (1950 there were four grades until 1974 the there was the MW4, the MW5, then just CW5). There was an OD warrant by the name of Reno. When I came in in 1994, Chief had been a CW4 since 1971...as long as I’d been alive. He was the first CW5. There is actually CW6 authorized by law, we just haven’t enabled it yet.

The grades are distributed by echelon so there is a hierarchy between echelons of Command. The Senior Corps Maintainer will always outrank a BDE Warrant etc. the experience is used to advise, mentor, and stand ground on technical issues. That is how Sustainment Warrants function. I have seen a tidbit of Aviation, and their senior 3,4,and 5 are IPs, Maintenance Test, and Safety where they advise, mentor, train, and stand ground.

Ive only casually met SF Warrants and can’t describe how they operate, but they are glue that holds teams together and are highly experienced with three SF enlisted MOSs as the entry requirement. The five grades are really just four in that WO1s are sort of like 2LTs, probationary. It isn’t until CW2 they are commissioned.

Now CW5s are being leveraged as Command Warrants, like CSMs, but advising the command on warrant talent and technical issues. BDE is the first level with them.

https://warrantofficerhistory.org/Hist_of_Army_WO.htm

With the Army, the reason for the five grades is different than other services. Other Branches promote to WO ranks from prior senior enlisted only. The Army promoted from prior enlisted, but they also take people straight off the streets to attend WO flight training and make them a WO1. When you see a 19 year old, wearing WO1 tank, you know they are fresh off the street and must be handled much like you would a new soldier or LT. Now, if you see a WO1 with, for example Jumpmaster wings, Pathfinder Torch, Drill Sergeant Badges, you now it’s different, but they have to be properly progressed as a pilot. The other grades, CW2-CW5 are there for positions within the Army. A CW2 is a company grade officer similar to a senior LT or junior CPT. Once promoted to CW3, a WO is a Field Grade Officer and is given the responsibility and courtesy as one. CW4’s typically advisors and senior leaders within the battalion and brigade. CW5’s are generally the senior WOs at the BDE, Division, or higher level.