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    Rhode Island celebrates 97th birthday of the US Army Warrant Officer Corps

    Rhode Island warrant officers celebrate 97th birthday

    Photo By 1st Lt. Megan Burmeister | Warrant officers from the Rhode Island National Guard gathered on July 9, 2015, in...... read more read more

    CRANSTON, R.I. - Soldiers from Rhode Island gathered on July 9, 2015, at the United States Fiscal and Property Office building in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, to celebrate the 97th birthday of the U.S. Army Warrant Officer Corps.

    The Army warrant officer traces lineage to 1896 with the War Department's creation of civilian Headquarters Clerks and Pay Clerks. In 1916 an Army Judge Advocate General review determined that field clerks should be members of the military. Legislation in 1916 authorized those positions as military rather than civilian and created the ranks of Army Field Clerk and Quarter Master Corps Field Clerk. In July, 1917 all Field Clerks were considered Enlisted and were assigned an enlisted uniform. Their Branch insignia was two crossed quill pens.

    In Dec.19, 1917, Special Regulation 41 stated that the Army Field Clerk and Quarter-Master Corps Field Clerk ranks were authorized the same uniform as an officer.

    Officially, the birth date of the Army Warrant Officer Corps is July 9, 1918, when Congress established the Army Mine Planter Service as part of the Coast Artillery. This action assured that exclusively Army personnel manned the vessels. Warrant officers were to serve as masters, mates, chief engineers, and assistant engineers of each vessel.

    Through the years since, warrant officers were authorized to serve in 17 branches of service.

    In Rhode Island, more than 70 warrant officers serve in several branches including Adjutant General, Aviation, Logistics, Signal, Ordnance, Judge Advocate General and Engineers.

    Army warrant officers tend to remain in duty assignments longer than traditional officers and are widely regarded as subject matter experts in their career fields.

    “The Army Warrant Officer is a technical expert that provides stability and sound technical advice to the Command,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Daniel Curran, Rhode Island command chief warrant officer. “We are charged with administering, maintaining, operating and integrating Army systems and equipment.”

    By the end of 2015, two warrant officer candidates are scheduled to be added to the warrant officer ranks.

    When asked his advice for young and aspiring warrant officers moving through the ranks, Curran said, “First and foremost you must acquire the highest level of expertise in your chosen profession. Prove yourself to be the 'go to' Soldier, NCO, or leader. Maintain a high level of physical fitness, as the Warrant Officer Candidate School and program is physically demanding. Lastly, seek out a warrant officer as a mentor and have him or her aid and develop you into the program.”

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 07.09.2015
    Date Posted: 07.24.2015 15:09
    Story ID: 171054
    Location: CRANSTON, RI, US

    Web Views: 132
    Downloads: 0

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