Warrant officer

Warrant officer (WO) is a rank or category of ranks in the armed forces of many countries. Depending on the country, service, or historical context, warrant
officers are sometimes classified as the most junior of the commissioned officer ranks, the most senior of the non-commissioned officer (NCO) ranks, or in a
separate category of their own. Warrant officer ranks are especially prominent in the militaries of Commonwealth nations and the United States.

The name of the rank originated in medieval England. It was first used during the 13th century, in the Royal Navy, where warrant officers achieved the
designation by virtue of their accrued experience or seniority, and technically held the rank by a warrant, rather than by a formal commission (as in the case of a
commissioned officer). Nevertheless, WOs in the British services have traditionally been considered and treated as distinct from non-commissioned officers.

Warrant officers in the United States are classified in rank category "W", which is distinct from "O" (commissioned officers) and "E" (enlisted personnel,
including non-commissioned officers). However, chief warrant officers are officially commissioned, on the same basis as commissioned officers, and take the
same oath. US WOs are usually experts in a particular technical field, with long service as enlisted personnel; in some cases, however, direct entrants may
become WOs—for example, individuals completing helicopter pilot training in the US Army Aviation Branch become flight warrant officers immediately.

In Commonwealth countries, warrant officers have usually been included alongside NCOs and enlisted personnel in a category called other ranks (ORs), which
is equivalent to the US "E" category (i.e. there is no separate "W" category in these particular services). In Commonwealth services, warrant officers rank
between chief petty officer and sub-lieutenant in the navy, between staff sergeant and second lieutenant in the army, and between flight sergeant and pilot officer
in the air force.

Origins
The warrant officer corps began in the nascent Royal Navy,[1] which dates its founding to 1546. At that time, noblemen with military experience took command
of the new navy, adopting the military ranks of lieutenant and captain. These officers often had no knowledge of life on board a ship—let alone how to navigate
such a vessel—and relied on the expertise of the ship's master and other seamen who tended to the technical aspects of running the ship. As cannon came into
use, the officers also required gunnery experts; specialist gunners began to appear in the 16th century and also had warrant officer status.[2] Literacy was one
thing that most warrant officers had in common, and this distinguished them from the common seamen: according to the Admiralty regulations, "no person shall
be appointed to any station in which he is to have charge of stores, unless he can read and write, and is sufficiently skilled in arithmetic to keep an account of
them correctly". Since all warrant officers had responsibility for stores, this was enough to debar the illiterate.[3]

Rank and status in the 18th century

In origin, warrant officers were specialist professionals whose expertise and authority demanded formal recognition.[3] In the 18th century they fell into two
clear categories: on the one hand, those privileged to share with the commissioned officers in the wardroom and on the quarterdeck; and on the other, those who
ranked with more junior members of the ship's crew.[4] Somewhere between the two, however, were the standing officers, notable because, unlike the rest of the
ship's company, they remained with the ship even when she was out of commission (e.g. for repair, refitting or replenishment, or whilst laid up); in these
circumstances they were under the pay and supervision of the Royal Dockyard.

Wardroom warrant officers

These classes of warrant officer messed in the wardroom with the commissioned officers:

the master: the senior warrant officer, a qualified navigator and experienced seaman who set the sails, maintained the ship's log and advised
the captain on the seaworthiness of the ship and crew;
the surgeon: who treated the sick and injured and advised the captain on matters of health;
the purser: responsible for supplies, food and pay for the crew.
In the early 19th century, they were joined in the wardroom by naval chaplains, who also had warrant officer status (though they were only usually present on
larger vessels).

Standing warrant officers

The standing officers were:[4]

the boatswain: responsible for maintenance of the ship's boats, sails, rigging, anchors and cables;
the carpenter: responsible for maintenance of the ship's hull and masts;
the gunner: responsible for care and maintenance of the ship's guns and gunpowder.

Junior warrant officers

Other warrant officers included surgeon's mates, boatswain's mates and carpenter's mates, sailmakers, armourers, schoolmasters (involved in the education of
boys, midshipmen and others aboard ship) and clerks. Masters-at-arms, who had formerly overseen small-arms provision on board, had by this time taken on
responsibility for discipline.

Warrant officers in context

By the end of the century, the rank structure could be illustrated as follows (the warrant officers are underlined):
Relative ranks in the Royal Navy, c. 1810. Warrant officers are underlined in the chart.[5]

Demise of the royal naval warrants

In 1843, the wardroom warrant officers were given commissioned status, while in 1853 the lower-grade warrant officers were absorbed into the new rate of
chief petty officer, both classes thereby ceasing to be warrant officers. On 9 July 1864 the standing warrant officers were divided into two grades: warrant
officers and chief warrant officers (or "commissioned warrant officers", a phrase that was replaced in 1920 with "commissioned officers promoted from warrant
rank", although they were still usually referred to as "commissioned warrant officers", even in official documents).

By the time of the First World War, their ranks had been expanded with the adoption of modern technology in the Royal Navy to include telegraphists,
electricians, shipwrights, artificer engineers, etc. Both warrant officers and commissioned warrant officers messed in the warrant officers' mess rather than the
wardroom (although in ships too small to have a warrant officers' mess, they did mess in the wardroom). Warrant officers and commissioned warrant officers
also carried swords, were saluted by ratings, and ranked between sub-lieutenants and midshipmen.[2]

In 1949, the ranks of warrant officer and commissioned warrant officer were changed to "commissioned officer" and "senior commissioned officer", the latter
ranking with but after the rank of lieutenant, and they were admitted to the wardroom, the warrant officers' messes closing down. Collectively, these officers
were known as "branch officers", being retitled "special duties" officers in 1956. In 1998, the special duties list was merged with the general list of officers in
the Royal Navy, all officers now having the same opportunity to reach the highest commissioned ranks.[2]

Modern usage

Australia
The Royal Australian Navy rank of warrant officer (WO) is the Navy's only rank appointed by warrant and is equivalent to the Army's WO1, and the RAAF's
warrant officer. The most senior non-commissioned member of the Navy is the Warrant Officer of the Navy (WO-N), an appointment that is only held by one
person at a time.[6]

The Australian Army has two warrant officer ranks: warrant officer class two (WO2) and warrant officer class one (WO1), the latter being senior in rank. The
equivalent rank of WO2 in the Navy is now chief petty officer, and the RAAF equivalent of the Army's WO2 is now flight sergeant, although in the past there
were no equivalents. All warrant officers are addressed as "sir" or "ma'am" by subordinates. To gain the attention of a particular warrant officer in a group, they
can be addressed as "Warrant Officer Bloggs, sir/ma'am" or by their appointment, e.g. "ASM Bloggs, sir/ma'am". Some warrant officers hold an appointment
such as company sergeant major (WO2) or regimental sergeant major (WO1). The warrant officer appointed to the position of Regimental Sergeant Major of the
Army (RSM-A) is the most senior enlisted soldier in the Australian Army and differs from other Army warrant officers in that their rank is just warrant officer
(WO). The appointment of RSM-A was introduced in 1983. The rank insignia are: a crown for a WO2 (or a crown in a square on AMCU (camouflage uniform)
rank slides); the Australian Commonwealth Coat of Arms (changed from the Royal Coat of Arms in 1976) for a WO1; and the Australian Commonwealth Coat
of Arms surrounded by a laurel wreath for the RSM-A.[7][6]

The Royal Australian Air Force rank of warrant officer (WOFF) is the RAAF's only rank appointed by warrant and is equivalent to both the Army's WO1 and
the Navy's WO. The most senior non-commissioned member of the RAAF is the Warrant Officer of the Air Force (WOFF-AF), an appointment that is only held
by one person at a time.[6]

Navy Army Air Force

Insignia

Title Warrant officer Warrant officer class 1 Warrant officer

Abbreviation WO WO1 WOFF

Bangladesh
Rank insignia

Master chief petty Master warrant officer Master warrant officer

officer

Warrant officer is the lowest junior commissioned officer rank in the Bangladesh Army[8] and Bangladesh Air Force,[9] ranking below senior warrant officer and
master warrant officer.

Canada
In the Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Air Force, the cadre of warrant officers includes the specific ranks of warrant officer (French: adjudant), master
warrant officer (adjudant-maître), and chief warrant officer (adjudant-chef). Before unification in 1968, there were two ranks of warrant officer (WO2 and
WO1) in the Canadian Army and RCAF that followed the British structure.

Rank insignia

Insignia of a chief Insignia of a master Insignia of a warrant

warrant officer warrant officer officer

India
Junior commissioned officers are the Indian Armed Forces equivalent of warrant officer ranks. Those in the Indian Air Force actually use the ranks of junior
warrant officer, warrant officer and master warrant officer.

In the British Indian Army, warrant officer ranks existed but were restricted to British personnel, mostly in specialist appointments such as conductor and sub-
conductor. Unlike in the British Army, although these appointments were warranted, the appointment and rank continued to be the same and the actual rank of
warrant officer was never created. Indian equivalents were viceroy's commissioned officers.

Junior commissioned officers[10]

Master warrant officer Warrant officer Junior warrant officer

Ireland

Irish Naval Service

Equivalent NATO Code OR-9

Ireland

Executive Administrative Engineering Communications

Irish Oifigeach Barántais

English Warrant officer

Malaysia
In the Malaysian Armed Forces, warrant officers (Malay: pegawai Waran) are the highest ranks for non commissioned officers.

Rank group Warrant officers

 Malaysian Army[11]
Pegawai waran I Pegawai waran II

Royal Malaysian Navy[12]

Pegawai waran I Pegawai waran II

Royal Malaysian Air Force

Pegawai waran udara I Pegawai waran udara II
English Warrant officer class I Warrant officer class II

New Zealand
The New Zealand Army usage is the same as the British Army, having two ranks: warrant officer class two (WO2), addressed as "sergeant major", and warrant
officer class one (WO1), addressed as "sir" or "ma'am". There are also appointments such as company and squadron sergeant major (CSM and SSM) which are
usually WO2 positions and regimental sergeant major (RSM), which are usually WO1 positions. The highest ranking WO1 holds the position of Sergeant Major
of the Army (SMA).

The Royal New Zealand Navy has a single warrant officer rank, addressed as "sir" or "ma'am". This rank is equivalent to the Army WO1. The RNZN's highest-
ranking warrant officer is the Warrant Officer of the Navy.

The Royal New Zealand Air Force also has a single warrant officer rank, equivalent to the Navy warrant officer, and the Army warrant officer class 1 (WO1). A
warrant officer in the RNZAF is addressed as "sir" or "ma'am". Previously an aircrew warrant officer was known as master aircrew; however this rank and
designation is no longer used. The RNZAF also has a post of Warrant Officer of the Air Force (WOAF), the most senior warrant officer position in the RNZAF.

There is also the Warrant Officer of the Defence Force (WODF). This appointment is held by a warrant officer class one (if the recipient originated from the
New Zealand Army), or warrant officer (if the recipient originated from the Royal New Zealand Navy or the Royal New Zealand Air Force).

Singapore

Boys' Brigade
The rank of warrant officer is the highest rank a Boys' Brigade boy can attain in secondary school.

National Civil Defence Cadet Corps

The rank of warrant officer is given to selected non-commissioned officers in National Civil Defence Cadet Corps units. It is above the rank of staff sergeant,
and below the rank of cadet lieutenant.[13] It is the highest rank a cadet can attain in the NCDCC while they are in secondary school. The rank insignia is one
point-up chevron, a Singapore coat of arms, and a garland below.

Singapore Armed Forces

In the Singapore Armed Forces, warrant officers begin as third warrant officers (3WO), previously starting at the rank of second warrant officer, abbreviated
differently as WO2 instead. This rank is given to former specialists who have attained the rank of master sergeant and have either gone through, or are about to
go through the Warfighter Course at the Specialist and Warrant Officer Advanced School (SWAS) in the Specialist and Warrant Officer Institute (SWI). In order
to be promoted to a second warrant officer (2WO) and above, they must have been selected for and graduated from the joint warrant officer course at the
SAFWOS Leadership School.[14] Warrant officers rank between specialists and commissioned officers. They ordinarily serve as battalion or brigade regimental
sergeant majors. Many of them serve as instructors and subject-matter experts in various training establishments. Warrant officers are also seen on the various
staffs headed by the respective specialist officers. There are six grades of warrant officer (3WO, 2WO, 1WO, MWO, SWO and CWO).

Warrant officers used to have their own mess. For smaller camps, this mess is combined with the officers' mess. Warrant officers have similar responsibilities to
commissioned officers.

Warrant officers are usually addressed as encik ('mister' in Malay language) or as "warrant (surname)" or "encik (surname)".[14] Exceptions to this are those who
hold appointments. Warrant officers holding the appointment such as commanding officer (CO) and officer commanding (OC) are to be addressed as "sir" by
other ranks, and those holding sergeant major appointments such as regimental sergeant major (RSM), company sergeant major (CSM), formation sergeant
major (FSM), institute sergeant major (ISM) and the Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA) are to be addressed as "sergeant major" by other ranks. Also, all
warrant officers holding the rank of chief warrant officer (CWO) are to be addressed as "sir" by other ranks. Since all warrant officers are non-commissioned
officers, they are not saluted.

Although ceremonial swords are usually reserved for commissioned officers, warrant officers of the rank of master warrant officer (MWO) and above are
presented with ceremonial swords, but continue to carry the pace stick, with the sword sheathed during drills and parades.

Singapore Civil Defence Force

In the Singapore Civil Defence Force, there are two warrant officer ranks. These ranks are (in order of ascending seniority) warrant officer (1) and warrant
officer (2).[15] Previously, before the Home Team Unified Rank Scheme was introduced, there were two additional ranks of warrant officer, namely senior
warrant officer (1) and senior warrant officer (2). Both ranks are now obsolete, although existing holders of these ranks were allowed to keep their rank.
South Africa

South African National Defence Force

In the South African National Defence Force, a warrant officer (WO) is set apart from those who hold a non-commissioned officer (NCO) rank. Warrant officers
hold a warrant of appointment endorsed by the Minister of Defence. Warrant officers hold very specific powers, which are set out in the Defence Act and the
Military Defence Supplementary Measures Act. Before 2008, there were two classes – warrant officer class 1 and 2. A warrant officer class 1 could be
appointed to positions such as regimental sergeant major, formation sergeant major or Sergeant Major of the Army or Warrant Officer of the Navy. In 2008, five
new warrant officer ranks were introduced above warrant officer class 1: senior warrant officer (SWO), master warrant officer (MWO), chief warrant officer
(CWO), senior chief warrant officer (SCWO) and master chief warrant officer (MCWO).[16]

Rank group Warrant officer

South African
National Defence
Force
Master chief Senior chief warrant Chief warrant Master warrant Senior warrant Warrant officer Warrant officer
warrant officer officer officer officer officer class 1 class 2

South African Police Service

In the South African Police Service, there is only a single warrant officer (WO) rank.

United Kingdom

Royal Navy
In 1973, warrant officers reappeared in the Royal Navy, but these
appointments followed the army model, with the new warrant officers
being ratings rather than officers. They were initially known as fleet
chief petty officers (FCPOs), but were renamed warrant officers in the
1980s. They rank with warrant officers class one in the British Army and
Royal Marines and with warrant officers in the Royal Air Force.[2]
WO2 badge WO1 badge
There are executive warrant officers for commands and ships.[17] Five
Warrant officer classes of the Royal Navy
branches (surface ships, submarines, Royal Marines, Fleet Air Arm, and
Maritime Reserves) each have a command warrant officer.[18] The
senior RN WO is the Warrant Officer of the Royal Navy.[19][20] Under the Navy Command Transformation
Programme, there are now a Fleet Commander's Warrant Officer and a Second Sea Lord's Warrant Officer, all
working with the Warrant Officer to the Royal Navy, taking over the roles of the Command Warrant
Officers.[21][22][23]

In 2004, the rank of warrant officer class 2 was introduced. However, the rank was phased out in April 2014,[24] but The Regimental Sergeant Major of the
is being reinstated for non-technical and technical branches of the Royal Navy in 2021.[25] Royal Bermuda Regiment, WO1 Herman
Eve, in 1992

British Army
In the British Army, there are two warrant ranks, warrant officer class two (WO2) and warrant officer class one (WO1), the latter being the
senior of the two. These ranks were previously abbreviated as WOII and WOI (using Roman instead of Indo-Arabic numerals). "Warrant
officer first class" or "second class" is incorrect. The rank immediately below WO2 is staff sergeant (or colour sergeant).[2] From 1938 to
1940 there was a WOIII platoon sergeant major rank.[26]

In March 2015, the new appointment of Army Sergeant Major was created, though the holder is not in fact a warrant officer but a
Arm badge of a
commissioned officer holding the rank of captain.[27][28] The creation of the appointment of command sergeant major was announced in
WO1 conductor
RLC (British
2009.[29]
Army)
Royal Marines
Before 1879, the Royal Marines had no warrant officers:[30] by the end of 1881, the Royal Marines had given warrant rank to their sergeant-majors and some
other senior non-commissioned officers, in a similar fashion to the army.[31] When the army introduced the ranks of warrant officer class I and class II in 1915,
the Royal Marines did the same shortly after.[32] From February 1920, Royal Marines warrant officers class I (renamed warrant officers) were given the same
status as Royal Navy warrant officers and the rank of warrant officer class II was abolished in the Royal Marines, with no further promotions to this rank.[33]

The marines had introduced warrant officers equivalent in status to the Royal Navy's from 1910 with the Royal Marines gunner (originally titled gunnery
sergeant-major), equivalent to the navy's warrant rank of gunner.[34][35] Development of these ranks closely paralleled that of their naval counterparts: as in the
Royal Navy, by the Second World War there were warrant officers and commissioned warrant officers (e.g. staff sergeant majors, commissioned staff sergeant
majors, Royal Marines gunners, commissioned Royal Marines gunners, etc.). As officers, they were saluted by junior ranks in the Royal Marines and the army.
These all became (commissioned) branch officer ranks in 1949, and special duties officer ranks in 1956. These ranks would return in 1972, this time similar to
their army counterparts, and not as the RN did before. The most senior Royal Marines warrant officer is the Corps Regimental Sergeant Major. Unlike the RN
proper (since 2014), it retains both WO ranks.
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force first used the ranks of sergeant major first and second class as inherited from the Royal Flying Corps, with the rank badges of the Royal
coat of arms and the crown respectively. In the 1930s, these ranks were renamed warrant officer class I and II as in the Army. In 1939, the RAF abolished the
rank of WOII and retained just the WOI rank, referred to as just warrant officer (WO), which it remains to this day. The RAF has no equivalent to WO2 (NATO
OR-8), an RAF WO being equivalent to WO1 (NATO OR-9) and wearing the same badge of rank, the Royal coat of arms. The correct way to address a warrant
officer is "sir" or "ma'am" by airmen and "mister or warrant officer (surname)" by officers. Most RAF warrant officers do not hold appointments as in the army
or Royal Marines; the exception to this is the station warrant officer, who is considered a "first amongst equals" on an RAF station. Warrant officer is the
highest non-commissioned rank and ranks above flight sergeant.

In 1946, the RAF renamed its aircrew warrant officers to master aircrew, a designation which still survives. In 1950, it renamed warrant officers in technical
trades to master technicians, a designation which survived only until 1964.

The most senior RAF warrant officer by appointment, although holding the same rank as other RAF warrant officers (OR9), is the Warrant Officer of the Royal
Air Force, previously known as the Chief of the Air Staff's Warrant Officer from the post's creation in 1996 until 2021.

United States
In the United States Armed Forces, a warrant officer (grade W-1 to W-5) is ranked as an officer above the senior-most
enlisted ranks, as well as officer cadets and officer candidates, but below the officer grade of O‑1 (NATO: OF‑1). All
warrant officers rate a salute from those ranked below them; i.e., the enlisted ranks. Warrant officers are highly skilled,
single-track specialty officers, and while the ranks are authorized by Congress, each branch of the military selects,
manages, and utilizes warrant officers in slightly different ways. For appointment to warrant officer (W-1), normally a
warrant is approved by the service secretary of the respective branch of service. However, appointment to this rank can
come via commission by the President, but this is less common. For the chief warrant officer ranks (CW‑2 to CW‑5),
these warrant officers are commissioned by the President. Both warrant officers and chief warrant officers take the same
oath of office as regular commissioned officers (O-1 to O-10).[36]

A small number of warrant officers command detachments, units, activities, vessels, aircraft, and armored vehicles, as
well as lead, coach, train, and counsel subordinates. However, the warrant officer's primary task is to serve as a technical
expert, providing valuable skills, guidance, and expertise to commanders and organizations in their particular field.[36]

All U.S. armed services employ warrant officer grades except the U.S. Space Force. Although still technically CW5 Robert Hart, Command Chief
authorized, the U.S. Air Force discontinued appointing new warrant officers in 1959, retiring its last chief warrant Warrant Officer, John F. Kennedy
officer from the Air Force Reserve in 1992. Space Force inherited the same lack of warrant officers from the Air Force, Special Warfare Center and School,
although its inaugural Chief Master Sergeant, Roger A. Towberman, stated in a January 2021 interview that Space Force c. 2018

would study the issue and decide whether or not to introduce them. In February 2024, U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff
General David W. Allvin announced that the Air Force will re-introduce the warrant officer rank within the information technology and cyber fields as a way to
maintain technical leadership with those skills. The first class of 78 future warrant officers were selected in August and began training at Maxwell AFB,
Alabama, in October 2024.[37][38]

The U.S. Army utilizes warrant officers heavily[a] and separates them into two types: Aviators and technical. Army aviation warrant officers pilot both rotary-
wing and fixed wing aircraft and represent the largest group of Army warrant officers. Technical warrant officers in the Army specialize in a single branch
technical area such as intelligence, sustainment, supply, military police, or special forces; and provide advice and support to commanders. For example, a
military police officer and a military intelligence officer both have to be branch qualified in their respective fields, learning how to manage the entire spectrum
of their profession. However, within those broad fields warrant officers include such specialists as CID Special Agents (a very specific track within the military
police) and Counterintelligence Special Agents (a very specific track within military intelligence). These technical warrant officers allow for a soldier with
subject matter expertise (like non-commissioned officers), but with the authority of a commissioned officer. Both technical and aviation warrant officers go
through initial training and branch assignment at the Army Warrant Officer Candidate School (WOCS), followed by branch-specific training and education
paths. Technical warrant officers are generally selected from the non-commissioned officer ranks (typically E-6 through E-9). Aviation warrant officer
candidates can apply from all branches of service, including junior enlisted and non-prior service civilians (aviation warrant officers join through the Warrant
Officer Flight Training Program).

The U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard discontinued the grade of W-1 in 1975, appointing and commissioning all new entrants as chief warrant officer two (pay
grade W-2, with rank abbreviation of CWO2). This was to prevent a pay decrease that an entrant may take since all Navy chief warrant officers are selected
strictly from the chief petty officer pay grades (E-7 through E-9). The Coast Guard allows E-6 personnel to apply for chief warrant officer rank, but only after
they have displayed their technical ability by earning a placement in the top 50% on the annual eligibility list for advancement to E-7. In 2018, the U.S. Navy
expanded the warrant program, re-implementing the W-1 pay grade for cyber warrant officers and accepting three new WO1s in fiscal year 2019.[39] This was
further expanded in 2020 when the Navy introduced the Air Vehicle Pilot (AVP) program. Personnel commissioning as AVPs will be awarded the rank of W-
1.[40]

Warrant officers in the Army holding the rank of warrant officer 1 (WO1) are formally addressed as "Mr/Ms" [last name]. Upon promotion to chief warrant
officer 2, "Chief" becomes an additional authorized term of address. WO1s are informally addressed as "Chief" by many soldiers as well. In the Navy, warrant
officers are typically addressed as "Mr/Ms" [last name], "Chief Warrant Officer", or informally as "Warrant" regardless of their grade.

The U.S. Maritime Service (USMS), which is established at 46 U.S. Code § 51701, falls under the authority of the Maritime Administration of the Department
of Transportation and is authorized to appoint warrant officers. In accordance with 46 U.S. Code § 51701, the USMS rank structure must be the same as that of
the U.S. Coast Guard while uniforms worn are those of the U.S. Navy with distinctive USMS insignia and devices. The USMS has appointed warrant officers,
of various specialty fields, during and after World War II.[41][42]

Warrant officer rank is also occasionally used in law enforcement agencies to grant status and pay to certain senior specialist officers who are not in command,
such as senior technicians or helicopter pilots. As in the armed forces, they rank above sergeants, but below lieutenants. For example, the North Carolina State
Highway Patrol had several warrant officer helicopter pilot positions from the 1960s until the mid-1980s. The WO insignia was a silver bar with a black square
in the center. The WO ranks were abolished when the aviation program expanded and nearly twenty trooper pilot positions were created. The New York State
Police rank of technical lieutenant is similar to a warrant officer rank insofar as it is used to grant commissioned officer authority to non-commissioned officers
with extensive technical expertise.

Modern insignia and grades of warrant officers of the U.S. military

Service CW5 or CWO5 CW4 or CWO4 CW3 or CWO3 CW2 or CWO2 WO1

Army

Air Force

Marine Corps

Navy

Coast Guard

Established in 1994; not implemented Discontinued in 1975

Gallery

Warrant officer

Warrant officer Warrant officer Warrant officer Warrant officer

(Bengali: ওয়ারেন্ট (French: Adjudant) (Nigerian Army)[45] (Royal Air Force)[46]
অফিসার, (Canadian Army)[44]
romanized: Ōẏārēnṭa
aphisāra)
(Bangladesh
Army)[43]
Warrant officer class 2

Warrant officer class Warrant officer class Warrant officer class Warrant officer class Warrant officer class Warrant officer class
2 2 2 2 2 2
(Antigua and Barbuda (Botswana Ground (Gambian National (Ghana Army) (Kenya Army)[49] (Lesotho Army)[50]
Regiment)[47] Force)[48] Army)

Warrant officer class Warrant officer class Warrant officer II Warrant officer class Warrant officer class Warrant officer class
2 2 (Rwandan Land 2 2 2
(Malawi Army) (Namibian Army)[51] Forces)[52] (Seychelles Infantry (Sierra Leone Army) (South African
Unit)[53] Army)[54]

Warrant officer class Warrant officer class Warrant officer class Warrant officer class Warrant officer class
2 2 2 2 2
(Eswatini Army) (Swahili: Afisa Mteule (Ugandan Land (Zambian Army) (Zimbabwe National
Daraja la Pili) Forces)[55] Army)
(Tanzanian Army)

Warrant officer class 1

Warrant officer class Warrant officer class Warrant officer class Warrant officer class Warrant officer class Warrant officer class
2 2 2 2 2 2
(Antigua and Barbuda (Botswana Ground (Gambian National (Ghana Army) (Kenya Army)[49] (Lesotho Army)[50]
Regiment)[47] Force)[48] Army)

Warrant officer class Warrant officer class Warrant officer II Warrant officer class Warrant officer class Warrant officer class
2 2 (Rwandan Land 2 2 2
(Malawi Army) (Namibian Army)[51] Forces)[52] (Seychelles Infantry (Sierra Leone Army) (South African
Unit)[53] Army)[54]
 Warrant officer class Warrant officer class Warrant officer class Warrant officer class Warrant officer class
2 2 2 2 2
(Eswatini Army) (Swahili: Afisa Mteule (Ugandan Land (Zambian Army) (Zimbabwe National
Daraja la Pili) Forces)[55] Army)
(Tanzanian Army)

See also
List of comparative military ranks

Notes
a. see Senior Warrant Officer Advisory Council CW4 Richard C. Myers and CW5 Todd M. Boudreau (Spring 2011) Charging toward an even
brighter future (https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a563031.pdf)

References
1. Welsh, David R. (2006). Warrant: The Legacy of Leadership as a 13. "National Civil Defence Cadet Corps (NCDCC) / National Civil
Warrant Officer (https://books.google.com/books?id=n-Q-rP7AnaI Defence Cadet Corps (NCDCC )" (http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?
C). Nashville, Tennessee: Turner Publishing Company. p. 6. option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=3489).
ISBN 978-1-59652-053-0. www.uniforminsignia.org. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
2. "A Brief History of Warrant Rank in the Royal Navy" (http://www.nav 14. "History Snippets, 1992 – The SAF Warrant Officer School" (http://w
al-history.net/xGM-Pers-Warrant%20Rank.htm). Naval-History.Net. ww.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/about_us/history/maturing_saf/v11n01_hi
Retrieved 7 April 2010. story.html). MINDEF. 7 January 2007. Retrieved 19 March 2007.
3. Lavery, Brian (1989). Nelson's Navy: The Ships, Men and 15. "Ranks and drill commands" (https://www.cmpb.gov.sg/web/portal/c
Organization (https://archive.org/details/nelsonsnavyships00lave/pa mpb/home/life-in-ns/saf/ranks-and-drill-commands). Central
ge/100). Annapolis, Md: Naval Institute Press. p. 100 (https://archiv Manpower Base. Singapore Ministry of Defence. Retrieved
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