How to Become a Warrant Officer in the Marine Corps

A Marine Warrant Officer is the title given to Enlisted Marines who achieve technical expertise in a particular area of specialization. Marine Warrant Officers can command units, missions, Military Vehicles and Vessels, and Air-crafts. They are also responsible for training, counseling, and commanding lower ranked Military Personnel. The Warrant Officer position allows Enlisted Marines to achieve the rank of Officer by following the steps listed below.

Instructions

1. Join the Marines as an Enlisted Member. U.S. Citizens who meet minimum education and health standards are eligible to join the marines as Enlisted Members on their eighteenth birthday. Only Enlisted Marines can become Warrant Officers. Those with 4 year college degrees generally enter the Marine Corps as officers and are thus not eligible to become Warrant Officers.

2. Achieve a minimum score on the AFQT. The AFQT is the Armed Forces Qualification Test. The score is based on 4 broad categories: Mathematical reasoning, knowledge of mathematics, reading comprehension and vocabulary.

3. Choose an area of specialization. There are 5 types of warrant officers. Regular Warrant Officers are Active Duty officers. Active Reserve Officers are members of the Marine Reserves. Selected Marine Corps Reserve are the largest group of marines and include men who belong to reserve units that have drills for 1 weekend a month and two weeks annually. Marine Gunners are Military Weapons Officers. Career Recruiters recruit others to join the Marines.

4. Fill out an application, located at MCO 1040.42A.

Tips & Warnings

• Warrant Officers are military grades W1-W5. They are ranked above all enlisted men and Officers-in-Training (Cadets and Candidates) but below Officers, who have a military grade of O-1 or higher. The Secretary of the Service appoints Warrant Officers to W-1. Chief warrant officers, with military grades W2-W5, are commissioned by the President of the United States. The primary function of a Warrant Officer is to provide technical expertise

References

• Department of Defense
• Congressional Budget Office
• The Pentagon