Photo By Staff Sgt. Victor Everhart | Chief Warrant Officer 5 David Betancourt, center, the chief warrant officer of the...... read more read more
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"Continuous growth will always continue our legacy of improvement,” said Chief Warrant Officer 5 David Betancourt, the chief warrant officer of the Adjutant General Corps and guest speaker of the event. “Mentoring is the way to ensure that our corps sees another 98 years.”
The Warrant Officer Corps traces its heritage back to the British navy when senior enlisted members were appointed by a warrant.
The modern era for the warrant officer, however, owes its beginning to the National Defense Act of 1918 when Congress authorized the Army Mine Planter Service. From the original 40 mine planter warrant officers serving as part of the Coastal Artillery Corps, the role and number of the warrant officers quickly expanded.
By the end of World War II, warrant officers were serving in 40 different occupational specialties providing support in numerous clerical, administrative, band leading and aviation activities.
Korea, Vietnam and the Cold War further expanded the warrant officer role with warrant officers ultimately serving in 17 of the 20 branches of the Army.
During the celebration, Betancourt, gave his ideas and opinions on the best way ahead for the Warrant Officer Corps’ future and the mindset needed to continually improve the corps to ensure it stands the test of time.
“We have been trusted with the care of the Warrant Officer Corps,” said Betancourt. “So before we get out we must do the right thing and improve our foxholes for the generation behind us and mentoring is a huge piece of that. I stand here because of the great mentors I had as a young warrant officer and someday another Soldier will be in my place. We must prepare them better than we were to improve our standing and proficiency.”
“I felt like the guest speaker did a great job of informing us on his thoughts about how to improve the Warrant Officer Corps,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Robert Moody, a safety officer for U.S. Army Central. “His insight sparked some ideas in my head about mentoring and being a foundation for not just warrant officers but for Soldiers of all ranks.”
The youngest and oldest warrant officers joined Betancourt to cut the warrant officer birthday cake and the attending warrant officers brought their class t-shirts in and stated the meaning behind the color chosen by the class itself.
There were many shirts and varied reasons behind the colors such as red for patriotism and black for professionalism and valor.
“During the ceremony I experienced unity and fellowship,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Etta Sullivan. “I saw warrant officers coming together and meeting each other for the first time. Even though we have a total of 43 specialties over 17 branches in the cohort, we can all discuss why we became a warrant officer, our experience in the Warrant Officer Candidate School, and how we continue to love serving in the United States Army as warrant officers.”
| Date Taken: | 07.13.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 07.13.2016 13:53 |
| Story ID: | 203873 |
| Location: | SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 160 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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