Warrant Officers
From Obsidian Fleet Database
Warrant officers are Starfleet or Starfleet Marine personnel who derive their authority through a warrant rather than a commission. They are highly experienced non commissioned officers.
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[edit] Purpose
Warrant officers are usually technical specialists who perform duties that
- require the expertise and commissioned officer authority to direct the most difficult and exacting technical operation in a given occupational area.
- are technically oriented, requiring skills directly related to previous enlisted service and specialized training.
- are not significantly effected by advancement in rank--allows successive tours of a repetitive nature.
[edit] Utilization Philosophy
The functional role of the Starfleet Warrant Officer is to provide officer technical expertise at a relatively constant grade level within the officer structure. That is, the occupational areas of Warrant Officers do not expand since their primary duties involve an application of technical and leadership skills versus primarily management functions. As a result, Stafleet Warrant Officer becomes more proficient and valuable with each succeeding assignment. Because warrant officers do not "promote away," they are able to remain close to their technical field. Assignment to duties of a repetitive nature ensure that they will continue to grow in experience, knowledge and value to Starfleet as they progress through the warrant officer ranks.
Starfleet expects its warrant officers to "hit the deck running," taking total charge of their area of expertise or responsibility as division officers, department heads, and officers-in-charge. For these reasons, only senior Starfleet Chief Petty Officers may apply for Starfleet's Warrant Officer program.
Starfleet Warrant Officers are a special category of officers. They are not considered "junior officers." Although techinically junior in rank, Starfleet warrants have a minimum of 13 and an average of 17 years enlisted service prior to commissioning. The wealth of technical and leadership experience they bring to the officer corps allows them to work closely with, and fully understand, the requirements of enlisted technicians in their charge. Warrant Officers "bridge the gap" between the enlisted technician and the non-technical, generalist commissioned officers, thereby improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the organization.
In space, Starfleet relies heavily on its warrant officers to supervise the maintenance and repair of all types of equipment, from the very old to state of the art electronic equipment during extended deployments.
In addition to providing technical and managerial skills, Warrant Officers perform a vital function in supporting communications at all levels within the chain of command. Many of Starfleet's war fighting platforms are extremely complex and operate independent of fleet or base support activities for extended periods of time. Drawing on their extensive technically oriented enlisted experience, warrant officers have proven most effective in providing advice to on-site non-technically oriented unit commanders, providing technical decision making information and, in many cases, direct mission support.
Once an enlisted crewman has attained the rate of Chief Petty Officer, s/he is eligible to apply for a Warrant from their Commanding Officer. If the Warrant is granted the crewman will receive the rank Warrant Officer upon their next promotion.
As a Warrant Officer you are eligible for Junior Officer positions in your department (ie. Assistant Chief Engineer, Flight Control Officer). Upon reaching Senior Warrant Officer you will be eligible for Senior Staff positions in your department (ie. Chief Engineer, Chief Tactical Officer). Master Chief Warrant Officers almost exclusively hold Senior Staff Positions.
Chief Warrant Officers cannot become the Executive Officer or Commanding Officer.
[edit] Starfleet Warrant Officer ranks
- Warrant Officer (WO) Warrant
- Senior Warrant Officer (SWO) Senior Warrant or Warrant
- Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) Chief Warrant or Chief
- Master Chief Warrant Officer (MCWO) Master Chief Warrant or Master Chief or Chief
[edit] Starfleet Marine Warrant Officer ranks
- Warrant Officer (WO) Warrant
- Chief Warrant Officer (WO1) Chief Warrant or Chief
- Senior Chief Warrant Officer (WO2) Chief Warrant or Chief
- Master Chief Warrant Officer (WO3) Chief Warrant or Chief
