FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — Fort Leonard Wood celebrated the 106th Army Warrant Officer Corps birthday with a number of events July 9, including a professional development discussion at the John B. Mahaffey Museum Complex, a traditional Army cake-cutting ceremony in Hoge Hall, and a luncheon in an Army Warrior Restaurant.
Speaking at the cake cutting was Maj. Gen. Christopher Beck, Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood commanding general, who asked the warrant officers in attendance to reflect on the role they play to better understand, “what’s implied with that rank.”
“Take some time to think about what it is our Army needs and expects, because I will tell you very truthfully, when a warrant officer enters a conversation with me, I do have a level of confidence — but with that level of confidence comes a level of expectation,” Beck said.
Noting the addition, in August 2023, of the MSCoE Command Chief Warrant Officer position, Beck said the Army needs a warrant officer at every level.
“(MSCoE Command Chief Warrant Officer 5 Dean Registe) made a big difference for the center and all of the regiments and schools that we represent,” Beck said.
Registe, who served as the U.S. Army Engineer School’s senior warrant officer prior to taking the CCWO role, said the new position brings more synchronization between the three schools here regarding all things warrant officer-related — besides USAES, Fort Leonard Wood is home to the U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear School and the U.S. Army Military Police School.
“There are a lot of things, warrant officer-wise, that we look at across Army policy, and it’s different for an engineer and the CBRN and the MP tech,” Registe said shortly after taking the position. “That’s kind of the genesis of this position, to build something that can be the ultimate arbitrator of all three schools.”
Warrant officers serve in 17 Army branches, at all echelons and levels of command, it was noted during the cake cutting, and their origin was as subject matter experts in mine-laying operations aboard watercraft. The Army concluded Soldiers with expertise in a particular field were valuable and, in 1920, expanded the Warrant Officer Corps to other positions.
More information on the warrant officer role in the Army, along with how to become a warrant officer, can be found here.
Social Sharing