Anyone know why the Space Force decided not to include the Warrant Officer ranks, other than it’s somewhat of an outgrowth of the USAF?

MSgt Neil Greenfield — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 11:15:53 -0500

Have any Warrant Officers applied for transfer to the Space Force?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 17 at 2021 11:27 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 11:27:35 -0500

Because they announced specific needs for RANK/MOS and they weren’t accepting any Warrant officers. The intent is to develop SMEs from within

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Dec 17 at 2021 11:48 AM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 11:48:45 -0500

Warrant Officers are generally considered SME experts and with Space Force being brand new it would make sense that nobody is an SME in that field yet.

Response by CWO4 Terrence Clark made Dec 17 at 2021 12:49 PM

CWO4 Terrence Clark — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 12:49:08 -0500

Nope. Lost interest when they didn't go with Petty Officer rates. :-)) :-))

Response by Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin made Dec 17 at 2021 2:30 PM

Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 14:30:05 -0500

Billets. They are still under the Dept of the AF and the Air Force ultimately decided not to have Warrant Officers. To make WOs they need to take current Enlisted and Officer billets and turn them into WO billets. The AF, even when they had Space, was already structured with only an Enlisted and Officer force structure. To suddenly change that force structure would have created a significant amount of chaos in the transition, on top of the leadership additions and unit identification changes.

Look at it this way. Let's say they decided to do it and take roughly 10% of the Enlisted billets and 10% of the Officer billets. Those already serving in those roles (mostly from the AF) do what? Suddenly get to be WOs from being NCOs or Officers?

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Dec 17 at 2021 3:58 PM

SFC Ralph E Kelley — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 15:58:34 -0500

There aren't enough highly trained spaceship repair personnel to have 'expert' yet. Give it a few years for experience to determine exactly where warrant officers will be needed.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 17 at 2021 9:04 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 21:04:43 -0500

I was really hoping for a master chief in the Space Force.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Dec 18 at 2021 1:01 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Sat, 18 Dec 2021 01:01:15 -0500

There's the canned history about WOs and what niches they've filled. Other than initial politicking to get the Army warrants in the coastal artillery, there is an overall force structure aspect that almost never gets print. When you need a overall skill, capability, authority, etc. mix and you only have enlisted and commissioned officer, you can easily create constipation in the promotion flows on the commissioned side and early capping on the enlisted side. If you pull a bunch and put them in a separate category with promotion flow, you can fix the problem. Everyone knows what stagnant promotion opportunity has on morale and the desire to hang around I'd expect to see WOs at some point in the SF if we see the structural demand for it. That remains to be seen and then figured out.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2021 2:52 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Dec 2021 02:52:45 -0500

Here is a better question: Why did the Air Force decide to do away with enlisted pilots (again) but complain there are not enough pilots?

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Dec 18 at 2021 12:40 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Sat, 18 Dec 2021 12:40:16 -0500

Growing from its USAF roots there’s a tradition of not having WOs. I think USSF and USAF should reconsider using WOs. Both could have programs similar to the Army. USAF and USSF have the need for highly skilled operations personnel, such as drone pilots, who should be WOs in a program similar to Army Aviation Warrants. Perhaps USSF will recognize this in the future

Response by SMSgt Bob W. made Jan 2 at 2022 7:54 PM

SMSgt Bob W. — Sun, 02 Jan 2022 19:54:21 -0500

I believe you nailed it [...it's somewhat of an outgrowth of the USAF...]. The WO program doesn't fit into the present organizational structure of the SF. As Ralph put it, "...Give it few years for experience to determine...[if]...needed...

Response by Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis made Jan 3 at 2022 12:13 PM

Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis — Mon, 03 Jan 2022 12:13:42 -0500

Originally, the AF had WO's. The "top two" EM grades were viewed as being suitable replacements for WO's, and so the AF did away with their WO forces (every WO was allowed to retire, and the AF did not replenish). I remember meeting one of the last AF WO's at Edwards AFB, in the late seventies.

The SF EM structure was intended to carry the benefits of the AF EM structure. The top two grades (Sr. MSG and Ch. MSG) are intended to fulfil the WO's roles.