Photo By Sgt. Jarod Dye | Warrant Officers from the Maine Army National Guard and the National Guard Bureau came...... read more read more
Warrant officers from the Maine Army National Guard and the National Guard Bureau came together at the Augusta Armory August 11, 2017 to celebrate the 99th birthday of the Warrant Officer Cohort which passed about a month earlier on July 10, 2017.
The ceremony included a history of the Warrant Officer Cohort, a cake cutting by the oldest and youngest warrant officers present, and speeches by state and National Guard Bureau military leadership.
The Warrant Officer Cohort is a group of technical experts whose role is to teach, train and develop other Soldiers.
The term warrant officer has been used for centuries. It was originally coined by the British Royal Navy in the 1400’s for expertly skilled senior enlisted sailors who trained noblemen on the intricacies of naval service, according to Warrant Officer Candidate Peter Houghton Jr.
Chief Warrant Officer 5 Kevin Doody, the deputy director of personnel offered more information about the cohort’s role.
“There are two different kinds of warrant officers, there are technical experts and there are aviators,” he said.
Doody, who works as a human resources expert, knows about the strength warrant officers can bring to the Army, “On the technical side warrant officers take all of the experience they had from years as an enlisted Soldier, and they turn that into an appointment to further their career and the National Guard.”
Warrant officers are also tasked with filling the role of system administrators, legal experts, band masters, and much more.
“Warrant officers fill that needed gap whether it be automation systems or logistic systems. They can do that very well because of their prior enlisted service,” said Doody.
Whatever trade they are in, they must complete warrant officer candidate school as well as a basic warrant officer course tailored to their specific field.
Houghton, who is completing Warrant Officer Candidate School this year is glad he chose this path, and made it thought the selection process.
“I’m proud to be chosen as a candidate, and it feels extremely honorable,” said Houghton, “I’ll be able to better serve my unit after I do this.”
Although he just began the process of becoming a warrant officer he clearly recognized the importance of this celebration.
“It’s important to have celebrations like this to recognize those who have served in the past like some of the retirees that where here but also to hear some words of wisdom about what the cohort is going to do moving forward,” said Houghton.
Doody pointed out the importance of having non warrant officers at the event.
“I think it’s good we have some of the junior, senior, and National Guard Bureau leadership here because it’s good for all Soldiers to at least become familiar with what it is we do and also our history.”
Doody is proud of his warrant officer title and plans on continuing to serve both officers and enlisted as their technical expert and advisor.
“It feels great to be a warrant officer. It’s a great privilege, when I retire next year I will have been a warrant officer for 19 years and enlisted for 19 years. The rewards are very robust and I think you definitely get back tenfold what you have.” said Doody.
| Date Taken: | 08.11.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 08.21.2017 13:24 |
| Story ID: | 245479 |
| Location: | AUGUSTA, MAINE, US |
| Web Views: | 113 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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