Expert: Jason Grabill - 2/12/2012

Question
QUESTION: Hello sir, I believe I may have contacted you once already, but due to a bug on my laptop, I lost any emails/records showing that I did. So please forgive me if I already asked this question, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask again.

Right now, I'm 18 and ready to start my future. The USMC has always been my ultimate goal. I haven't been able to get a chance to talk to a recruiter, but plan to do so soon.

I have a few questions I'd like to get some clarity sir, first being the difference between a Warrant Officer and a Commissioned Officer. If I'm correct,a Warrant Officer trained in a specific field,while a Commissioned Officer is trained in many different fields, but not as deep. Please correct me if I'm wrong sir.

Another question I have is regarding what the dress uniform for a Warrant Officer is. I attached a picture of a Marine Officer's uniform. Would a Warrant Officer grade 1 (WO-1) wear that and the Mameluke sword, or would that be for Chief Warrant Officers?

I also would like to know about any site that would be able to provide me to a full list of current Marine Warrant Officer MOS's. I've looked all over and I really wasn't able to dig much up. (I'd like to know if there's any medical options for a Warrant Officer.)

Finally sir, I'm confused as to the combative vs non-combative Warrant Officer MOS's; as far as I know, the Marine Weapons Officer (Marine Gunner) was the only "combative" spot for Warrant Officers, yet I saw a Chief Warrant Officer grade 3 (Not a Marine Gunner) leading a group looking for local insurgents.

So is there other combat MOS's out there for Warrant Officers?


Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions sir. I'd like to make it FULLY clear that Becoming a Warrant Officer is not easy, and its a path thats down the line. However sir, I am striving to be the best Marine I can be and my goal is to become a Marine Warrant Officer someday.

Thank you for serving our country. With the sacrifices that you have given us, I truly know Freedom isn't Free. God bless.

~Tay

ANSWER: Taylor:

 I think you might be just slightly confused about Warrant officers.    First, not sure if you know or not, but WO's in any speciality ALL come from the enlisted ranks.  They are almost always senior Sergeants and SSgt's, with 6-10 years of service.    In other words, you can't just enlist and become a WO.   

  Realistically, you should be concentrating, at this point, on either getting a degree and then a commission, OR, how you are going to enlist into the Marine Corps and what job(s) you might be interested in.    There are far too many variables right now for you to be looking at the WO route.   

  There aren't any websites I'm familiar with that give a list of WO MOS's.

  WO's wear the same dress uniform that commissioned officers do.

  There are no WO MOS's in the medical field in the USMC, we get all our medical folks from the Navy.

 A WO is a 'duty expert' in their MOS, commissioned from the ranks for that specific purpose and to fill that specific job skill.   Unlike a regular commissioned officer who can be assigned to pretty much any billet after a certain time even though they have a job skill as well, a WO cannot, generally and is in their job field until they retire.

Of course, my last suggestion is to go and talk to a recruiter as soon as possible.  They'll be able to set you on the right course that is best for you.    Good luck!



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: 0h my bad sir! I do know that being a Warrant Officer requires MANY years to at least submit an application.

8 years and an E-5 (or E-6) for a Technical Officer, 16 years for a Marine Infantry Weapons Officer.

I heard you loud and clear sir. I was told I should try out for a ROTC or other Officer program and then go for Infantry Officer.

Thank you sir for helping me, I apologize fully for not making myself clear.

I've heard from other Marines who are Warrant Officers that becoming a Warrant Officer is a very hard thing to achieve, harder than becoming a Commissioned Officer. Is there any truth in that at all?

Thank you sir. God bless.

Answer
Taylor, no worries!  :)  I, too, suggest you try out for ROTC if that is really what you desire.   Seriously, it's actually quicker than the other route :)   

 Becoming a WO IS a very, very competitive process, and yes, in some ways it IS harder to do than the straight commissioning route.   

Take good care!

Jason