Chief warrant officer 5 (W-5)

How to read it

DA Pamphlet 670-1 describes the CW5 insignia as a silver-colored bar, 3/8 inch wide and 1 1/8 inches long, with a black line in the center of the bar, where the grades below it, from Warrant officer 1 (W-1) to Chief warrant officer 4 (W-4), have one to four black squares. The Army’s ranks page describes CW5s as master-level technical and tactical experts who support brigade, division, corps and higher commands, and who mentor and advise both warrant officers and other officers. The Department of Defense lists the grade as W-5. Army Regulation 600-20 puts CW5 at the top of the warrant officer grades, immediately below the Second lieutenant (O-1).

Also searched as: CW5.

How a chief warrant officer is addressed

Army Regulation 600-20 gives the title of address for chief warrant officers 2 to 5 as “Chief” or Mr., Mrs., Miss or Ms. The Army Recruiting Command’s customs training says all five warrant officer ranks are addressed as “Mr.” or “Ms.” followed by the last name.