DA Pam 670-1 announced that both Officers and Warrant Officers will wear the Coat of Arms of the US Army. What are your thoughts?

2015-07-14T11:15:18-04:00

The "Eagle Rising" has been the symbol of the Army Warrant Officer for going on a hundred years. With the change to wearing the Army Coat of Arms is another piece of tradition falling by the wayside? Or is this something we should embrace? Officers how do you feel about this?

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jul 14 at 2015 11:35 AM

2015-07-14T11:35:31-04:00

I thought Warrant officers were already wearing branch, US, and the standard officer hat insignia. Is this hat insignia a new change? If I got vote, I would keep the hat insignia.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 14 at 2015 12:05 PM

2015-07-14T12:05:34-04:00

I do not understand why traditions are falling away from our military? Warrants should be recognized as such. Those connections to the past are what inspire the future leaders and service members of our military forces. Do you agree?

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 14 at 2015 12:16 PM

2015-07-14T12:16:28-04:00

This has been a highly debated topic on RallyPoint in the past. I think there is a balance that can be established between wearing the "Eagle Rising" and keeping the history of it alive. It is a symbol of our history, and as such, it should be remembered and displayed proudly where appropriate to celebrate our lineage and the Warrant Officers that came before us.

https://warrantofficerhistory.org/Hist_WO_Insignia.htm

WARRANT OFFICER INSIGNIA OF GRADE - Warrant Officer Historical Foundation

The Army Institute of Heraldry's Rank Insignia Section, Warrant Officer Page

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 14 at 2015 12:49 PM

2015-07-14T12:49:07-04:00

As long as teh Rising Eagle has a moustache.

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Jul 14 at 2015 12:52 PM

2015-07-14T12:52:55-04:00

CW3 Kevin Storm, I must comment for a couple of reasons and please do not take it the wrong way as I mentor publically in a thread such as this. The ARSTAFF SWO and the team of Chief Warrant Officer Fives concluded that we need to give that part up already as it has changed on the uniform a decade ago. The fact that things like the "EAGLE RISING" and not "Rising Eagle" have stuck around is the lack of representation at the senior levels when AR and FM were changed to reflect new and developing policies. Us being a cohort must first be able to represent the proper Eagle (ER versus RE).
Lastly my immediate attention was drawn not so much to the subject as it was the misspelling of the word announced in the title of your question. As warrant officers, the most critical thing we can do is communicate and be the SMEs for the force of the future. Credibility is jeopardized when we do not either properly express ourselves or don't check our six (misspell).

The coat of arms is fine for the head gear, the fact that is not brought up that the now defined Field Grade warrant officers are not wearing scrambled eggs on the hat is probably a better question than the Eagle Rising versus the Coat of Arms.

Just my .02 and like I said, have thick skin and drive on, looks like the voters are wishing to keep the Eagle, but I assure you that it probably will not return.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Jul 14 at 2015 12:54 PM

2015-07-14T12:54:59-04:00

Just offering $0.02 from an ol' Jarhead: While I don't like to see traditions fall to the wayside, uniform changes, don't seem to be a big deal to me. On one hand, I like the Army's warfare/specialty designations displayed. On the other hand, I do like uniformity. Marines all wear the eagle, globe, & anchor (EGA). To this, the WO & Officers' EGA is slightly different from the enlisted Marines' EGA. But, we're all identified as Marines --first. Why wouldn't the Army's Officer Corps want the same?

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 14 at 2015 2:01 PM

2015-07-14T14:01:11-04:00

I honestly don't think this is a big deal. I've never worn the Rising Eagle on my service cap because my mentor told me that when the Rising Eagle went away in 2004, so did the emblem on the service cap. It just takes too much time for regulations to catch up and he was right. I've been a Warrant Officer since 2007 and I've never seen anyone wear the Rising Eagle on their service cap. I actually wear the Rising Eagle belt buckle with my ACU's although I probably shouldn't. I think traditions mean something but I also believe in change and now that we are a Cohort, we have to stop trying to bring things back that is keeping us from moving forward. I keep hearing people say that we are Field Grade Officers when in fact we are Field Grade Warrant Officers. There is still a difference. The only thing that our Field Grade Warrant Officer status grants us similarities with Field Grade O-Grade officers is on-post housing and the OER template.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 15 at 2015 12:04 PM

2015-07-15T12:04:18-04:00

I think CW2 and above should wear the Coat of Arms. I beleive they actually become commissioned officers.

Response by CW4 Guy Butler made Sep 1 at 2015 9:27 AM

2015-09-01T09:27:27-04:00

When I see us described as a "cohort" instead of a "corps", I'm thinking the battle is already lost.

Looks like I need to put getting a coat of arms on my "to do" list.