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January 5, 2001
Honorable Bernard Rostker
Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness)
4000 Defense – Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301-4000
Dear Mr. Rostker,
On behalf of Army warrant officers, I wish to thank you for your words regarding "promotion opportunities among warrant officers;" and the words of Mr. Maldon concerning "pay compression" as quoted in the Army Times of January 8th.
Today's warrant officers are far removed of those of the past years, when a "super sergeant" was rewarded by appointment to warrant. Today, throughout most of the Armed Services and the Coast Guard, warrant officers are employed in demanding positions of great technical responsibility and functional area leadership.
Through such initiatives as enhanced promotion opportunities, increased pay, and defined career development programs, the warrant officer career field must be made attractive to potential candidates.
The situation with pay compression must be reversed. Over the years, the well-deserved raises targeting the noncommissioned officer force have brought the pay of the NCO ever closer to that of the warrant officer. Today, the resulting "pay compression" adversely affects warrant officer recruiting. Such compression also affects retention of senior-grade, highly-skilled warrant officers.
Thank you for expressing your awareness of these concerns.
Sincerely,
/original signed/
RAYMOND A. BELL, CW5 USA (Retired)
Executive Director
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