The Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division has experienced a lot of "firsts" recently including being the first to field the new Apache Block III helicopter and the first aviation brigade to have extended dwell time.
Recently the "Demon" brigade experienced another first. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Nate Blackford, the executive officer of 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, CAB, 1 ID, was promoted to Chief Warrant Officer 4 on Feb. 1 at the 1-1 ARB headquarters building. Then he was promoted to Captian through direct commission.
Although direct commissions from the warrant officer corps do happen, it is usually only seen in the legal and medical fields. Blackford, an AH-64 Apache helicopter pilot, is the first warrant officer in his field to receive a direct commission to captain since the Demon brigade stood up in 2006.
"I'm not one to know the exact stats for warrant officer to captain promotions, but it is extraordinarily rare," said Lt. Col. Eddie Vedder, the commander of 1-1 ARB. "I haven't seen it in my 23 years in uniform."
The move to become an officer was a plan that Blackford considered throughout his career, including during his time as the aide to the commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division, then Maj. Gen. Vincent Brooks.
After almost two years serving as an aide, Blackford informed Brooks of his plan to attend Officer Candidate School and enter the commissioned officer ranks. Brooks researched what programs were available to promote warrant officers to commissioned officers. He then informed Blackford of the possibility of a direct commission.
The direct commission route appealed to Blackford because, after many years in the Army, he feels he has more to offer to his fellow Soldiers.
"I care about people. I want to make a bigger difference in their lives personally and professionally," he said.
Blackford said that it took a lot of support from others in order to complete the process. He received help from former leaders, colleagues, and a human resources clerk who came in after hours to help him put his packet together.
Eventually, Blackford received word that he would be commissioned on the same day that he would be promoted to Chief Warrant Officer 4. During his promotion ceremony he said he knew the commission to captain was a big step and a big responsibility and that he would never take his rank or position for granted.
"I fully acknowledge that this is a rare experience, a rare opportunity for me," Blackford said.
Blackford is now the maintenance platoon leader for C Company, 601st Aviation Support Battalion, CAB, 1ID.
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