Path: utzoo!censor!geac!torsqnt!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!emory!att!cbnews!cbnews!military From: qj0309@westpoint-emh2.army.mil (Welsh James CPT) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Warrant Officers Message-ID: <1991Feb20.053749.1568@cbnews.att.com> Date: 20 Feb 91 05:37:49 GMT Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (William B. Thacker) Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories Lines: 38 Approved: military@att.att.com From: Welsh James CPT Some of the information presented concerning USMC Warrant Officers is not correct. All Marine Warrant Officers come from the enlisted ranks. Most were staff NCOs. Warrant officers are generally specialists in a limited field. They are sometimes inaccurately called "Gunner". Gunners are infantry warrant officers. They wear the appropriate warrant officer rank insignia on one collar, and a bursting bomb (flaming onion?) on the other. Gunners attend the warrant officer basic course with other W.O.'s, then they go on to the infantry officers course for more training. The average gunner has 20+ years time in service. He was probably a senior gunnery sergeant or first sergeant. Several sergeant majors have been selected. Needless to say, the competition for selection has been fierce. One gunner is found in every infantry battalion and most infantry regimental HQs. He is the commander's expert on infantry training, marksmanship, and weapons. Most C.O.s put him in the S-3 (Operations), but an increasing number have decided that the gunner is better employed in the weapons company. Other warrant officers are not gunners. They are strictly technicians. They assumed a title they didn't deserve during a period when infantry warrant officers were no longer being made. The concept of an official chain of command and a real one is absurd, at least on the ground side of the Corps. Lieutenant platoon leaders are tactically and technically competent, or else they are quickly removed. There have never been 90 day wonders or shake and bake lieutenants in the Marine Corps, even at the height of the Vietnam War. The role of an NCO at all levels is to be a partner in leadership. They provide advice based on experienced leadership. They are given a great deal of authority, but in the end, an officer bears the responsibility for the unit. I worked closely with my first sergeant, but there was never any question concerning who made the final decisions. Sorry to get on my soap box in a non-science area, but I have developed strong feelings regarding the issue of leadership at the company level in my 12 years as an infantry officer. I'd welcome any interested parties to respond to me directly. Welsh James CPT Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com