Warrant officer 1 (W-1)

How to read it

DA Pamphlet 670-1 describes the WO1 insignia as a silver-colored bar, 3/8 inch wide and 1 1/8 inches long, with one black enamel square. The chief warrant officer grades add squares, from two on a Chief warrant officer 2 (W-2) to four on a Chief warrant officer 4 (W-4). The Army’s ranks page says a WO1 is appointed by warrant from the secretary of the Army, and describes warrant officers as technically and tactically focused officers: technical leaders, trainers, operators, managers, maintainers, sustainers and advisers. The Department of Defense lists the grade as W-1. In Army Regulation 600-20’s order of grades, warrant officers rank below the Second lieutenant (O-1) and above cadets, officer candidates and enlisted soldiers.

Also searched as: warrant officer, WO1.

Warrant officer or first lieutenant?

Both wear one silver bar, but a First lieutenant (O-2)’s bar is plain, with a smooth surface, and 1 inch long, according to DA Pamphlet 670-1. The warrant officer’s bar is 1 1/8 inches long and carries the black square.

Warrant, not commission

The Department of Defense says the lowest-ranking warrant officers serve under a warrant and receive a commission from the president on promotion to chief warrant officer 2. It describes warrant officers as specialists, where commissioned officers are generalists; the Army Recruiting Command’s training says the difference is that a warrant officer serves in a technical field.

How a warrant officer 1 is addressed

Army Regulation 600-20 gives Mr., Mrs., Miss or Ms., and the Recruiting Command’s training says all five warrant officer ranks are addressed as “Mr.” or “Ms.” followed by the last name.

Earlier warrant officer insignia

The Army Institute of Heraldry says warrant officers were given an insignia of identification on 12 May 1921, and that when the grades of chief warrant officer and warrant officer (junior grade) were created in 1942, their insignia were gold and brown enamel bars, approved on 14 June 1942.