Warrant officer candidates strive to be the best

Photo By Jill Swank | Warrant officer candidates walk the last leg of a 6.2 mile road march during Phase Three of the Warrant Officer Candidate School at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center, Ind., July 28. The candidates finished the march in less than two hours.  

CAMP ATTERBURY JOINT MANEUVER TRAINING CENTER, IN, UNITED STATES

07.28.2011

Story by Jill Swank 

Camp Atterbury Indiana

CAMP ATTERBURY JOINT MANEUVER TRAINING CENTER, IND. -- Warrant Officer Candidates from 19 states had their knowledge and leadership skills tested during five days of academic training and six days of field training July 15-30.

A warrant officer’s primary job is to serve as a technical expert in their specific area, providing valuable skills and guidance to others.

Warrant Officer Candidate Leslie Campbell said he applied to be a warrant officer because he wanted to be part of an elite core of professionals.

“When I joined the Indiana National Guard in 1999, I met a sharp soldier that stood out to me. It turned out that he was a warrant officer,” said Campbell.

First, a soldier needs to have a one of the few specific Military Occupational Specialties that are accepted by the school. A letter of recommendation from a warrant officer in your branch is the next step.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Paul Pishnak said candidates can bridge the gap between a noncommissioned officer and officer, but need to have the desire to become a warrant officer to be selected. Pishnak added that there can be some difficulties for candidates when making the transition to warrant officer.

“The most difficult transition for a warrant officer candidate, is switching the mindset from noncommissioned officer to officer. You don’t want to forget where you came from, so use that to your advantage where you are going,” said Pishnak.

The process of becoming a warrant officer is comprised of three phases. Phase One consists of an Army Physical Fitness Test and an 80-hour distance learning course. The majority of Phase Two and Phase Three are made up of classroom lessons. Phase Three is 15 days of continuous training. It also includes field training exercises, maneuvering through the Leadership Reaction Course and a six-mile road march.

The field exercises are a way for officers to test the candidate’s leadership skills and capabilities, explains Chief Warrant Officer 5 Frank Vaughn, deputy commandant for the Warrant Officer Candidate School and Command Chief Warrant Officer for the Indiana Army National Guard.

“The exercises are a means to test their capabilities, stretch them as noncommissioned officers and cross them into officer leadership role. We want to see how they adapt and handle what is thrust at them. There is not necessarily a right or wrong answer, but how they use their skills and time to create a positive result,” said Vaughn.

A few candidates expressed that effectively managing their time was the biggest challenge of Phase Three.

“We were given very little time between events, classes and movements. There wasn’t any room for error. That in itself was structured to help build on our leadership skills,” said Campbell.

The first Warrant Officer Candidate School was started in 1987, in Fort McCoy, Wis., and Fort Rucker, Ala. In the 1990’s the school was consolidated to Fort Rucker. Then in 2005, the National Guard worked with Fort Rucker to start a school at Camp Atterbury. The school was approved and began in 2006. With only six years under their belts, the Warrant Officer Candidate School at Indiana National Guard’s Regional Training Institute is growing and changing for the better, according to Vaughn.

Graduation for the 73 candidates is scheduled for July 30 in Indianapolis. Campbell said after graduation he plans to take his new skills to help build stronger units.

“If I can go into a unit and help by teaching, mentoring and counseling soldiers; I know I’ve done what I set out to lean by becoming a warrant officer,” he said.

• Date Taken: 07.28.2011
• Date Posted: 07.29.2011 15:28
• Story ID: 74540
• Location: CAMP ATTERBURY JOINT MANEUVER TRAINING CENTER, IN, US