ARMY WARRANT OFFICER HISTORY "The Legacy of Leadership as a Warrant Officer" Part III - 2008 and 2009
Please be patient while the pictures load
(Many files throughout this
History are Portable Document Format (PDF) files.
If you cannot open a PDF file
download the current version
of the free Adobe reader.) 2008 In January, 2008,
formal MOS qualification of the Air Traffic Services Warrant Officer began. The formal Technical Phase Training course is 6-weeks long and began in January 2008 at Fort Rucker, Ala
On January 11, 2008 - The Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower & Reserve Affairs) issued a memorandum authorizing 30 years of active service for all Regular Army Warrant Officers of any grade. Previously only Regular Army Chief Warrant Officer's Five (CW5) were allowed 30 years of active service - see the Memorandum .
(Photo and story by Sgt. Nicole Kojetin, USA)
On April 2, 2008, the article entitled "A breed apart: Warrant Officers mark 90 years with the Army" by Fred L. Borch and Robert F. Door, was published in the ARMY TIMES. The article is a short history lesson commemorating the 90th birthday of the Army Warrant Officer - see the article.
On April 15, 2008, a Warrant Officer Conference with the theme "The Future of the Warrant Officer" was held in the Al Faw Palace Main Ballroom in Iraq. It included a Senior Warrant Officer Meeting, a Warrant Officer Recruiting Briefing open to all soldiers, and a Warrant Officer Professional Development session. The points of contact for this conference were Chief Warrant Officer 5 David Williams and Chief Warrant Officer 4 Curtis Newkirk.
In April 2008, five Warrant Officers were selected for Intermediate Level Education (ILE) Pilot Program - selected were Chief Warrant Officer 4 Percy Alexander (Quartermaster), Chief Warrant Officer 4 (Promotable) Timothy Feathers (Aviation), Chief Warrant Officer 4 Nathaniel Jones (Air Defense), Chief Warrant Officer 4 Richard Myers (Ordnance), and Chief Warrnat Officer 3 Robert Russell (Ordnance). These officers will attend ILE (formerly Command & General Staff Course) at Fort Leavenworth, KS in the summer of 2008. The intent of this program is not for all Warrant Officers to attend, but for a select few who are the best candidates for strategic level positions within the Army.
On April 24, 2008, a memorandum, Subject: Basic Officer Leader Course (BOLC) Policy and Guidance, was signed by the Deputy Commanding General for Initial Military Training. BOLC is designed to ensure tough, standardized, small-unit leadership experience that flows progressively from the per-commissioning/appointment phase (BOLC 1) through the initial-entry field leadership phase (BOLC II) to the branch technical phase (BOLC III)- see the memo. Over time Warrant Officer training will be phased out of the Warrant Officer Education System (WOES) and into the Officer Education System (OES).
On May 6, 2008, the Warrant Officers Heritage Foundation published a short Warrant Officer History entitled "WARRANT The Legacy of Leadership as a Warrant Officer: 90 Years of Technical Expertise in the Army" by Chief Warrant Officer 5 (Retired) David P. Welsh. The article commemorates the 90th Birthday of the Army Warrant Officer in July 2008 - see the article.
On May 7, 2008, the Army Deputy Chief of Staff, G3/5/7 signed a memorandum, Subject: Request for Delay of Warrant Officer Integration into Phase III of the Basic Officer Leader Course. The memorandum approves the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) to delay Warrant Officer Integration in BOLC II until the third quarter FY 2009 - see the memo.
On July 9, 2008, the 90th Birthday of the Army Warrant Officer Corps in the Mine Planter Service of the Coast Artillery was celebrated. Several military-related magazines recognized the occasion. "WARRANT The legacy of Leadership as a Warrant Officer - 90 Years of Technical Expertise in the Army," by Chief Warrant Officer 5 (Retired) David P. Welsh on behalf of the Warrant Officers Heritage Foundation, was published in the Summer 2008 ON POINT The Journal of Army History of the Army Historical Foundation. Shorter versions were published in Army Aviation magazine of the Army Aviation Association of America, The Officer magazine of the Reserve Officers Association, and the NEWSLINER of the U. S. Army Warrant Officers Association. Also, "Fort Monroe's little-known history: Birthplace of the Army Warrant Officer," by Chief Warrant Officer 5 Dennis Erickson, Chief of Warrant Officer Leader Development at Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), was published in the July 25, 2008 edition of the Fort Monroe CASEMATE newspaper.
Also, on 9 July 2008, the U. S. Army Warrant Officer Career College (WOCC) at Fort Rucker, Alabama, celebrated the 90th Anniversary of Army Warrant Officer Service. Pictured are Colonel Mark Jones, WOCC Commandant and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Johnnie Schmitt cutting the cake.
On July 17, 2008, the Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced that the remains of two U.S. servicemen, missing from the Vietnam War, had been identified. They were Chief Warrant Officer Bobby L. McKain, of Garden City, KS.; and Warrant Officer Arthur F. Chaney, of Vienna, VA, both U.S. Army. McKain was buried with full military honors on August 11, 2008 in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C., and Chaney was buried with full military honors on September 16, 2008 in Arlington. On May 3, 1968, these men flew an AH-1G Cobra gunship on an armed escort mission to support a reconnaissance team operating west of Khe Sanh, in Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam. Their helicopter was hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire, exploded in mid-air and crashed west of Khe Sanh near the Laos-Vietnam border. The crew of other U.S. aircraft flying over the area immediately after the crash reported no survivors, and heavy enemy activity prevented attempts to recover the men's bodies.
In August 2008, a new Warrant Officer Military Occupational Specialty was established - The Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff G-1 at Department of the Army approved a proposal from the U.S. Army Chemical School to establish MOS 740A with Additional Skill Identifier L3 (Technical Escort) and Special Qualifications Indicator R (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Responder). Positions to support the establishment will transfer from Officer Area of Concentration 74A (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN)) and will be phased in over five years beginning in FY2011 and continuing through FY2015 - see more.
Also in August 2008, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jeffrey A Reichard assumed the duties as Chief Warrant Officer of the Aviation Branch (AV CWOB) - see photo and biography.
From September 9-11, 2008, the Senior Warrant Officer Advisory Council (SWOAC) to the Army Vice Chief of Staff (VCSA) Meet at Fort Lee, Virginia to discuss issues impacting on the Corps and the individual branches. See the After Action report at http://www.usawoa.org/downloads/SWOAC-AAR+9-11Sep08.pdf
In September 2008, The U. S. Army Warrant Officer Career College’s (USAWOCC) new shoulder sleeve insignia, distinctive unit insignia (DUI), and unit colors, were approved by the Army’s Institute, clearly indicating the level of excellence the College is striving to reach as it continues the greatest transformation in its history. In fact, it would have been extremely difficult to have developed something to better communicate the end stage the College is striving to reach during this transformation. The USAWOCC, currently located at Fort Rucker, Alabama, is a subordinate element of the Combined Arms Command located at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. (See complete story)
In September 2008, the Army kicked off the Military Aviation Centennial. With some 35% (almost 8,000) of the Warrant Officer Corps consisting of Aviation Warrant Officers this is a significant commemoration in the Corps History - see more.
Also in September 2008, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jeffie Moore (pictured left) was appointed Senior Chief Warrant Officer and Training with Industry Program Manager for Quartermaster/ Ordnance/Transportation Officer, Warrant Officer, and Noncommissioned Officers at the Combined Arms Support Command (CASCOM), Fort Lee. VA. CW5 Moore holds a 922A Food Service MOS in the Quarter Master Corps and has extensive military and civilian education - see biography. Also Chief Warrant Officer 5 Arthur G. Dahl, IV, (pictured right) was appointed as the 6th Chief Warrant Officer of the Ordnance Branch at the Ordnance Center and School, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD - see biography.
On November 17, 2008, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Roy Tolbert (left), outgoing U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne) command chief warrant officer, received his relief of orders from Brig. Gen. Michael S. Repass, USASFC(A) commanding general, during a ceremony at Kennedy Hall, Fort Bragg, NC. Tolbert, who joined Special Forces in 1972, retired after more than 39 years of service. CW5 Tolbert retired after passing responsibility to Chief Warrant Officer 5 Bruce Watts. (See complete story)
In November 2008, the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME), the Army Engineer Association (AEA) and the Battelle Memorial Institute added the Outstanding Engineer Warrant Officer Award - Each year the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME), the Army Engineer Association (AEA) and the Battelle Memorial Institute sponsor four awards to recognize the most outstanding contributions from the U.S. Army Engineer community (Active, National Guard, and Reserve). For 2008, the number of awards has increased to five with the addition of the Outstanding Engineer Warrant Officer Award sponsored by AEA. The award will be presented annually to honor an engineer warrant officer in the Active Army, National Guard, and Reserve in recognition of outstanding contributions to military engineering by demonstrated technical and leadership ability.- see FLW Pam 672-1, 14 Nov 08.
In December 2008, Chief Warrant Officer 4 (Promotable) T. L.. Williams assumed the duties of Military Police Regimental Chief Warrant Officer - view her biography. CW4 Williams replaced Chief Warrant Officer 5 Phillip Tackett who is retired after a long and distinguished career.
2009
In January 2009, the Army announced approval for establishing new Electronic Warfare (EW) military career fields for officers, warrant officers, and enlisted personnel. The reason for creating the new EW career fields came initially from the Army’s perceived need to increase EW capabilities required to defend against insurgent use of radio controlled improvised explosive devices in Iraq and Afghanistan with electromagnetic countermeasures. Approval of the new career field will result in adding approximately 1,600 EW personnel to the Army. Initial reclassification and accession will occur in fiscal year 2010 (FY10) to prepare for filling positions in FY11. Human Resource Command and DA G1 will fill EW positions over a three year period FY11-13, providing a robust EW capability to the Army. EW warrant officer and enlisted pilot courses will begin during FY09.
Also in January 2009, in an interview, U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Richard "Monty" Gonzales never fancied a Hollywood career. But now, he can add "movie consultant" to his resume. Gonzales worked with director Paul Greengrass and actor Matt Damon in the upcoming action thriller "Green Zone." The film, which portrays the 2003 search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, is based loosely on Gonzales and his team's experience. Gonzales led Mobile Exploitation Team Alpha, a crew of 15 to 22 people, depending on their task. (See article)
From March 17-19, 2009, the semi-annual Senior Warrant Officer Advisory Council (SWOAC) conference was held at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. During this three-day period, the following occurred: scheduled briefs and discussion of issues occurred and an open discussion period was conducted which allowed bringing undeveloped or unstaffed issues to the council’s attention. Additionally, one day prior to this conference, the branch CWOBs/RCWOs met together to discuss Branch specific issues in an open forum. All members felt that this was very successful and expressed a desire to continue this is the future. See After Action Report.
On March 26, 2009, All Army Activities Message 057/2009 announced the Calendar Year 2008 General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award Winners. An award ceremony and associated events will take place in Washington, DC during 7 - 8 May 09. Among the 28 officers selected for this prestigious award were Chief Warrant Officer 2 Alan R. Hamilton, Active Army, USASOC; Chief Warrant Officer 2 David J. Storer, Army National Guard, Utah; and Warrant Officer 1 Jose D. Ahumada, Army Reserve, USARCENT.
On April 3, 2009, the Chief of the Army Reserve (CAR) delegated management responsibility for USAR Active Guard (AGR) Warrant Officers to the Command Chief Warrant Officer - Army Reserve (CCWO-AR). For specifics see the HQDA-OCAR Memo.
On May 7, 2009, the 2009 Army Posture Statement. An APS Information Paper covers the evolving "Officer Education System - Warrant Officers (OES-W)" which when fully implemented will replace the Warrant Officer Education System (WOES) of the past.
In May 2009, The Chief of the Adjutant General's Corps, Colonel Robert L. Manning, announced the winners Adjutant General's Corps Officer, Warrant Officer, Noncommissioned Officer, Soldier, and Civilian of the Year. The Warrant Officer of the Year winners are: 1st - Chief Warrant Officer 2 Qasim Sattar, Warrant Officer Career College, Ft Rucker, AL; 2nd - Chief Warrant Officer 3 Aner Henriquez, Jr., 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Ft Bragg, NC; and 3rd - Chief Warrant Officer 2 (Promotable) Anthony Cavalieri, IV, Joint Special Operations Command, Ft Bragg, NC - see more.
Effective May 12, 2009,
Chief Warrant
Officer 5 Richard Ernest was appointed by the Director Army National Guard as Command Chief Warrant Officer in the National Guard Bureau -
see Memo. Ernest replaced
Chief Warrant
Officer 5 Thomas M. O'Sullivan pending selection of a permanent NGB CCWO. In June 2009, a
Warrant Officer Leader Development Overview Briefing was released by the
Army Leader Development Office, Fort Leavenworth, KS. The briefing provides
updates on the status of the five active WO-specific leader development initiatives included in the program: Warrant Officer Senior Staff Course Redesign; Transform Warrant Officer Education; Include Warrant Officers in Army Research Institute (ARI) Survey of Officer Careers; Warrant Officer Professional Military Education (PME) Course Completion Requirement; and Warrant Officer 1 Commissioning. The ALDP is now the Army's process for moving forward leader development initiatives across all components, cohorts, and domains -
see briefing.
On June 15, 2009, Major General James E. Chambers, Commanding General U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command and Fort Lee Sustainment Center of Excellence, presided at a Change of Responsibility ceremony from Chief Warrant Officer Five Jeffie L. Moore to Chief Warrant Officer Five Michael J. Wichterman at The Logistics Memorial SCoE Headquarters Fort Lee, Virginia
On 18 June 2009, Chief Warrant Officer Five Scott B. Hagar assumed the position of Chief Warrant Officer of the Adjutant General’s Corps from Chief Warrant Five Ronald Galloway in the Change of Responsibility ceremony conducted by the AG School Commandant Colonel Robert Manning. Pictured from left to right are the four Chief Warrant Officers of the Adjutant General’s Corps, CW5 Charlie Wigglesworth 2003-2005, CW5 (Ret) Gerald Sims 2005-2007, CW5 Ron Galloway 2007-2009, and CW5 Scott B. Hagar 2009-present.
On June 19, 2009, the U.S. Army Combined Arms Command (CAC) and Fort Leavenworth celebrated the achievements and legacy of Chief Warrant Officer (Retired) Harry Hollowell with a road dedication. CWO Hollowell began his career at Fort Leavenworth in the 1930s as an enlisted Buffalo Soldier and during his 30-year career became the first African-American bandmaster and reached the rank of Chief Warrant Office 4. The site of the new Hollowell Drive is one block west of Hancock Ave. off of Hunt Road (the housing road nearest the Hancock Gate).
Also on June 15, 2009, Weeks of planning and hard work came to fruition as the Basra Education Center officially opened here June 15. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Robert L. Meeks, left, discusses education center programs with soldiers at Contingency Operating Base Basra, Iraq - see complete story. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Derek M. Smith)
July 9, 2009 - 91st Birthday of the Army Warrant Officer Corps
On July 9, 2009, the Adjutant General's School commemorated the Army Warrant Officer Corps' 91st Birthday at the Soldier Support Institute, Fort Jackson, SC. Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jeanne Pace (left) and Warrant Officer 1 Nandi Branford had the honor of cutting the cake. Colonel Robert Manning, Commandant, Adjutant General's School and Chief Warrant Officer 5 Scott Hagar provided opening remarks and toasted the momentous occasion. The birthday commemoration was attended by over fifty active duty and retired Adjutant General warrant officers and other personnel from throughout the Soldier Support Institute.
On 9 July 2009, at Camp Phoenix, Kabul, Afghanistan, left to right, Warrant Officer 1 Charles Preble, SCARNG attached to 48th IBCT; Chief Warrant Officer 5 Paul Huber, Deputy J1, CJTF-Phoenix IX; and Warrant Officer 1 Gary Smith, HHC 148th BSB, 48th IBCT. Twenty-one Warrant Officers assembled and agreed to start the Phoenix Chapter of the U.S. Army Warrant Officers Association. Pictured is the cake cutting at their Warrant Officer meeting.
From September 15 - 17, 2009, Army's Senior Warrant Officer Advisory Council (SWOAC) met at Fort Huachuca, AZ to serve as a continuing body to introduce, review and address potential issues concerning Army systems, policies, and programs designed to produce ready and relevant warrant officers who are capable of supporting the Army mission in their roles as Soldiers, officers, leaders, and technicians across the full spectrum of operational environments. - see After Action Report.
On September 17, 2009, the Army Reserve G-1 issued a Memorandum issuing guidance for appointing Army Reserve commissioned officers approaching mandatory removal or removed from the active status for maximum years of commissioned service to be eligible to become Army Reserve warrant officers as an exception to Army Regulation (AR) 135-100. Authority for this exception was granted by the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs on July 28, 2009- see memos.
On September 24, 2009, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Richard Myers, Chief of Warrant Officer Proponency, Warrant Officer Career College provided an overview of the Warrant Officer Staff Course and Warrant Officer Senior Staff Course redesign - see overview.
On September 26, 2009, newly appointed Warrant Officer 1 Mickey Dickerson (center) receives a decorative saber from CW5 Paul Parker (left), president of the Rising Eagle Chapter of the Warrant Officer Association in Alabama, and Chief Warrant Officer 5 Tommy Gilbert (right), Command Chief Warrant Officer for Alabama, during a graduation ceremony held in Anniston, AL. Dickerson was awarded the saber for receiving the Distinguished Honor Graduate Award at the Alabama Army National Guard's Warrant Officer Candidate School, Fort McClellan, AL. Dickerson is the first female candidate to receive a top leadership award at the school. She received both the Distinguished Honor Graduate Award and the Leadership Award. The Leadership Award recipient is chosen by vote from the entire class, a true honor to receive such an award from one's peers.
Additionally in September 2009, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Thomas J Wilson replaced Chief Warrant Officer 5 Michael Wichterman as the Transportation Corps Warrant Officer Proponent - see CW4 Wilson's biography.
WARRANT The Legacy of Leadership as a Warrant Officer continues at the links below:
Donate to the Warrant Officers Heritage Foundation efforts to construct of a Historical Exhibit in honor of the 100th Birthday of the establishment of Army Warrant Officer Corps on July 9, 1918 in the Army Mine Planter Service of the Coast Artillery. sending a donation to the Foundation by Check.No donation is too small!
All Donations, Grants, and Bequests are Tax Deductible within the limits prescribed by law.
Copyright © 2003 - 2010, All rights reserved
| Top | Home | Site Map |
WO Heritage Net 7/6/2010 |
Warrant Officers Heritage Foundation
On January 28, 2008
On June 6, 2008,
On July 11, 2008,
Chief Warrant Officer 5 David F. Cooper
was presented the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) from
Admiral Eric T. Olson, commander of United States Special Operations Command, during a ceremony at Fort Campbell, Ky., on July 11, 2008.
He acted with complete disregard for his own safety as he single handedly
took aerial action against an armed and numerically superior enemy during a
combat engagement in central Iraq in 2006. The DSC is the Army's second
highest award for combat valor and is awarded for gallantry in action
against an enemy of the United States during military operations. This is
the eleventh DSC to be awarded for actions in Iraq since the beginning of
Operation Iraqi Freedom. To date, Cooper is the only aviator to
receive the DSC non-posthumously for actions in support of the War on Terror
- 
On January 20, 2009 the 257th Army Band, "The Band of the Nation's Capital", commanded by
Chief Warrant
Officer 3 Sheila Klotz, took the stage one of the Inaugural Balls, marking the first time a National Guard band had the honor.
Also on January 20, 2009,
February 19, 2009 -
CAMP STRIKER, Iraq, Two deployed soldiers who served in the Vietnam War are serve again -- this time in Iraq.
Staff Sgt. Louis J. Swift (pictured left) and Chief Warrant Officer 5 Steven M. Derry (pictured right) serve here with the 3-142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion, a National Guard unit from Ronkonkoma, N.Y. "I enlisted for Vietnam from 1967 to 1973," Swift, a Detroit native, said. "Then, I enlisted for a one-year term for Desert Storm in 1991." Swift serves as a crew chief and door gunner, jobs he has performed for the past 24 years. This is Derry's second tour in Iraq. He serves as the officer in charge of the battalion's air movement request section. His job includes viewing flight schedules for battalion soldiers and ensuring they have adequate fuel and time to execute missions.
In June,
-Harry-Hollowell-1930s.jpg)
On June 22, 2009, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Dennis Oglesby
(pictured left) and former Army Master Sgt. Martin Griffith (pictured right) didn’t realize right away that a Metrorail train had smashed into the rear of the train they had just boarded. “I heard a loud noise from the rear of the car ... what the [expletive] was that?” Griffith recalled saying. No one was hurt in their car, the fifth on the six-car train, so Oglesby said “let’s go.” Griffith followed. “We took off and ran for the rear of our car and opened up the emergency doors between that car and our car,” Griffith said. “The people in that car were all lying on the floor in various states of picking themselves up.” Griffith and Oglesby, who both work at the Pentagon in the Army’s Personnel Recovery Branch, had no way of knowing it at the time, but they were in the middle of the worst Metrorail train crash in the Washington, D.C., subway system’s 33-year history. When it was over, nine people would be dead and more than 70 injured.
Also in June 2009,
On July 9, 2009, the Kandahar Provisional Chapter
of USAWOA commemorated the 91st Birthday of the Army Warrant Officer with
Warrant Officer Professional Development Seminar, a BBQ, a Chapter Meeting, and Group photo (see below). Pictured right
are Chief Warrant
Officer 4 Randy Galbraith (Retiree recall), Chief Warrant Officer 5 David N. Conrad 33 years and
Chief Warrant
Officer 4 James Carr (Retiree recall) celebrate
"Over 100 years of Warrant Officer service!" Conrad is the Chapter President and Command Chief Warrant Officer of
143rd ESC MRB.
In September 2009,
