Fort Sill warrants celebrate their corps' 97th birthday

FORT SILL, Okla. (July 16, 2015) -- The Army Warrant Officer Corps turned 97 years old and Fort Sill's technical experts gathered in Snow Hall July 9, to celebrate.

"You would have to agree these are some good looking guys for 97 years old," said Warrant Officer 5 Robert Whigham, Fort Sill Field Artillery chief.

The warrant officer corps traces its heritage back to the Navy when senior enlisted members were appointed by "warrant."

The modern era for the cohort, however, owes its beginning to the National Defense Act of 1918 when Congress authorized the Army Mine Planter Service. From the original 40 mine planter warrant officers serving as part of the Coastal Artillery Corps, the role and numbers of the warrant officers quickly expanded.

By the end of World War II, warrant officers were serving in 40 different occupational specialties providing support in numerous clerical, administrative, band leading and aviation activities.

Korea, Vietnam, and Cold War further expanded the cohort role with warrant officers ultimately serving in 17 of the 20 branches of the Army.

"We have come a long way from a small group of mine planters in 1918 to over 26,000 warrant officers in 2015," said Chief Warrant Officer 5 David Williams, who is serving as the first Army staff senior warrant officer.

Today warrant officers make up approximately three percent of the Army, 15 percent of the officer corps and serve in more than 60 specialties across 17 branches including air defense artillery, field artillery and what Williams said is "the best branch," Army aviation.

"Army aviation is flying low --flying at 2 o'clock in the morning; it's nasty, you're tired. But it's still rewarding because you know you have the purpose of saving lives, with a medevac delivering foods, delivering goods, keeping people off the roads if you're a transport helicopter. So it's one of those MOS's you have a real sense of purpose. And the Army can't survive without Army aviation it just can't."

He began his career in 1977 as an enlisted personnel administrative specialist, medical specialist and then a counterintelligence special agent. Then he turned his eyes to the sky.

"I wanted to be a pilot. I wanted to fly. When I was enlisted I used to see helicopters in the field. I was a private and I was like it'd be cool to do that," said Williams. "I didn't know the process; someone talked me through it when I was an NCO years later and bam."

He is in his 28th year as a warrant officer and almost 40th year in the Army.

"To me personally, what it means to be a warrant officer: it's an honor and a privilege. I've had a great career. I wouldn't change anything I've done in the military at all."