Black Hawk battalion staffs command warrant chief

TAJI, IRAQ

10.09.2008

Courtesy Story

1st Armored Division Combat Aviation Brigade

By Capt. Kathryn Briney
Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – The 3rd Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, added a new position to their leadership staff, command warrant chief, Oct. 1, 2008.

Chief Warrant Officer 5 Michael Scheller, a 28-year Army veteran from Medaryville, Ind., is the first to hold the position at the Comanche battalion.

"With the inception of the command chief warrant program within our battalion the commander now has an expert on warrant officer affairs and on the training, development and utilization of warrant officers," said Scheller. "In the past, these functions were always accomplished by the senior warrant officer but in an unofficial capacity. To add a title to that position not only adds legitimacy, but also an emphasis on the importance of warrant officer development and expertise."

Scheller was named to the command warrant position by his battalion commander because of his experience, capability to advise and potential to influence the entire population of warrant officers.
He also has a plethora of aviation experience to bring to the new position. Scheller served for six years as an enlisted Soldier repairing Huey helicopters before graduating as the honor graduate of the Warrant Officer Entry Course. Scheller has served in numerous duty stations throughout his career to include Fort Bragg, N.C., Seoul Airbase, South Korea and Landstuhl, Germany. His experience also includes deployed tours to Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Iraq.

Scheller is the highest ranking warrant officer in the battalion with the most flight experience. As the command chief warrant, Scheller is responsible for the development, professional advancement and training of the battalion standardization officer, three company standardization officers, eight instructor pilots, 10 enlisted flight instructors and advises the battalion commander on the assignment and professional development of all assigned warrant officers and crew members.

"The battalion commander is responsible for all happenings within the battalion and the command sergeant major is in the business of taking care of and leading Soldiers," said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Aaron Hagist, Black Hawk helicopter pilot from Pauls Valley, Okla. "Being in an aviation unit, the situation is slightly different than the norm. The command chief warrant officer serves as the continuity between leaders and provides an unbiased view of what needs to happen on the aviation side of the house. He is the subject matter expertise to the command on all aviation operations."

Scheller has trained the battalion to a high level of proficiency as evident in its successful completion of two operational deployments and mentored the next rank of aviation leaders including a battalion staff, company commanders, platoon leaders and assigned warrant officers.

"The warrants of the Comanche battalion know I'm the guy who looks out for their interests; who will pat them on the back or kick them in the rear; but either way is directly involved in their performance," Scheller said.

Scheller's battalion commander also feels his battalion needs this type of leadership and that is why he created the position.

"This officer is the epitome of a warrant officer trainer, an officer trainer and an enlisted trainer," said Lt. Col. Steven Palmer, commander of the battalion from Las Vegas. "I have met no one more professional in his care for Soldiers, concern for their training and respect as a mentor than Mike Scheller.

"He has responded with pride to this decision and the results of his impact on the team far exceed my expectations," he added. "The product of his service to the battalion is manifested in the professionalism of warrant officers to the highest standards of mission execution and a team based network that surpasses anything previously experienced."

• Date Taken: 10.09.2008
• Date Posted: 10.09.2008 12:41
• Story ID: 24747
• Location: TAJI, IQ