budden@trout.nosc.mil (Rex A. Buddenberg) (02/18/91)
From: budden@trout.nosc.mil (Rex A. Buddenberg) Warrant Officers, as noted in previous postings, are specialties. Usage in the Coast Guard differs a bit from the Army though ... we have no route to CWO other than from enlisted; must be at least PO1 to compete. A boot warrant officer is offered a WO1 warrant and a temporary CWO-2 at the same time. At next promotion, the -2 becomes permanent and a CWO-3 is offered. CWO-4s can compete for a limited number of promotions to Lt (O-3 for you sand pounders). The Coast Guard has no command restrictions on ranks -- warrant officers can be commanding officers, and like commissioned officers are called commanding officers. CPOs or POs in charge of units are referred to as Officers in Charge ... the difference is namecalling only. Overseas Loran stations generally have crews of a couple dozen (less if they don't have to make their own watts). Ltjg or Lt as CO; CWO2(ELC) [electronics specialty] as XO. Usually a brand new commissioning. Reason one: if they guy makes it as an XO, he's in line to command a smaller stateside station. Reason two: take the restricted tour if you want your warrant. Rex Buddenberg