Warrant Officer Coast Guard Requirements

Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard, a Chief Petty Officer has unique responsibilities. With the exception of the U.S. Navy, no other force in the world assumes the responsibilities or grants its senior soldiers privileges comparable to those of a Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard. The Chief Petty Officer is responsible for directing the recruited force and advising Coast Guard leaders on the creation of operational naval forces. Some who go on to high-level leadership become master masters of command and serve as senior advisors to the commanding officer on issues and policies related to morality, welfare, job satisfaction, discipline, use and training. In this position, they report directly to the Commanding Officer. Members registered for promotion may attain the rank of Chief Petty Officer in individual grades. The ascent is competitive and only the most qualified coastguards are promoted. To move forward, a recruited Coast Guard must seek a recommendation from the commanding officer; Perform performance qualification tasks; Complete the required assessment course; successfully complete all required service schools; compliance with seniority and working time requirements in the grade; meet safety requirements; be on track for their evaluation; and, where appropriate, participate in public service-wide audits. Upon successful completion of the examination, promotion shall be subject to actual and anticipated vacancies in rank and the maximum number of additional non-commissioned officers entitled to promotion. In the first year following appointment, the Chief Warrant Officer should participate in the two-week Professional Development Course for Chief Warrant Officers to bridge the gap between the enlisted and warrant officer categories and to develop leadership skills. Once the Coast Guard has completed the training of recruits, they leave as E-2 (apprentice deckhand, apprentice aviator or apprentice firefighter) or E-3 (deckhand, airman or firefighter).

Your first task may be a Coast Guard unit (cutter station, sector, etc.) or a technical school (School « A ») to learn one of the Coast Guard`s professional specialties commonly referred to as « qualification ». (A detailed explanation of all Coast Guard ratings, including guidance on the types of jobs to which collectively agreed training can lead in the civilian world, can be found in the « Enrolment Opportunities » section under www.gocoastguard.com.) The Coast Guard Officer Corps is comprised of graduates of the United States Coast Guard Academy and the Officer Nominee School, as well as a number of direct commission programs. The officer corps provides leadership and professional development in all hands. The Coast Guard Officer Corps is largely involved in tasks that provide direct or indirect leadership for the day-to-day operations of the operational forces, mobile or land-based, that carry out our missions. Chief Warrant Officers Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officers are previously recruited members selected to become specialized members of the officer corps. As such, they have a unique organizational position and offer in-depth knowledge and management in a technical specialty, such as ship inspection. Coast Guard officers are regularly assessed on merit and, upon completion of salary and training requirements, eligible candidates are reviewed and selected by a promotion committee. The Council selects those who will be promoted to the salary class of their choice. The number of posts promoted depends on the actual and anticipated vacancies in each salary bracket and the maximum number of civil servants authorized by Congress. A Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) is considered part of the officer corps and is intended to bridge the gap between the recruited force and the commissioned officer corps. A CWO is a technical expert in a particular field and has the ability to fully understand and communicate with a hired technician. Not only because he has the technical knowledge, but also because he was a member of the recruited force.

In addition, a CWO has the leadership capability of an officer, so he is able to communicate effectively up and down the chain of command. The Chief Warrant Officer acts primarily as a technical expert, providing valuable information and advice to officers, but may be appointed to command a small vessel, unit or station within the Coast Guard. The Chief Warrant Officer also usually participates in training and advisory roles. His salary grade is W-2. The Chief Warrant Officer is best described as a leading technical expert who is highly qualified in his or her area of expertise. Like other officers, the Chief Warrant Officer is appointed by the President of the United States and takes the same oath as the appointed ranks. He or she will be appointed to an investment (or « ticket ») in an agency specialty. Since the abolition of the rank of warrant officer (W-1) in the U.S.

Coast Guard in 1975, Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CWO-2) is the junior warrant officer rank in the U.S. Coast Guard. In the U.S. armed forces, unlike the military organization of other nations, warrant officers are not considered the highest ranks (as opposed to officers), but occupy a class for themselves. This class of warrant officer (W) is above the highest rank (ends at grade E-9) but is subordinate to officer ranks (from grade O-1). Highly qualified personnel in grades E-6 to E-9 with at least eight years of experience may apply for the position of warrant officer each year. Successful candidates will be selected by a Board of Directors and appointed Chief Warrant Officers (CWO2) in one of twenty-one areas of expertise. Over time, Chief Warrant Officers may be promoted to Chief Warrant Officer 3 and CWO 4.

The ranks of Warrant Officer (WO1) and Chief Warrant Officer Five (CWO5) are not currently used in the Coast Guard.