commissioning question

[Fezz CB]

I was curious...Are CWOs commissioned officers? My dad retired as a CWO4 and I would really like him to commission me come August. But I was told only commissioned officers can swear you in. I was just a little confused because with the whole rank structure and 0-1s technically outranking warrants. If anyone can shed some light on this or any thoughts, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

Fezz

 

[Fmr1833]

He's not a commissioned officer so he can't do the swearing in but he can do the traditional first salute. The CWO ranks are designed pretty much to elevate outstanding enlisted guys (and gals) and make them specialists in their field. Hope this helps.

 

[Fly Navy]

0-1s technically outranking warrants.

There is no technicality to it. O-1 outranks a CWO. Period. Even if they are gods in their field.

Sorry but a CWO is not a commissioned officer. Have him do the first salute though, like said already. That will be very cool in its own right.

 

[Sundown]

According to this your dad can mint you:

Warrant officers hold warrants from their service secretary and are specialists and experts in certain military technologies or capabilities. The lowest ranking warrant officers serve under a warrant, but they receive commissions from the president upon promotion to chief warrant officer 2. These commissioned warrant officers are direct representatives of the president of the United States. They derive their authority from the same source as commissioned officers but remain specialists, in contrast to commissioned officers, who are generalists. There are no warrant officers in the Air Force.

From URL: http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/insignias/officers.html

 

[Fly Navy]

Warrant officers hold warrants from their service secretary and are specialists and experts in certain military technologies or capabilities. The lowest ranking warrant officers serve under a warrant, but they receive commissions from the president upon promotion to chief warrant officer 2. These commissioned warrant officers are direct representatives of the president of the United States. They derive their authority from the same source as commissioned officers but remain specialists, in contrast to commissioned officers, who are generalists. There are no warrant officers in the Air Force.

From URL: http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/insignias/officers.html

Hmm ok did not know that. THanks!

 

[Fmr1833]

My Worst Post Ever has now been officially edited away.

 

[A4sForever]

I was curious...Are CWOs commissioned officers? My dad retired as a CWO4 and I would really like him to commission me come August. But I was told only commissioned officers can swear you in.

Fezz: You were told by whom ??? Someone who knows .... ???

In my NROTC unit, your CWO4 Dad could have sworn you in -- I called them a few months ago on behalf of someone else and that is still the policy 35 years after I graduated ..... The only thing that matters "technically" -- according to the Admin CPO I spoke with -- was who signs the paperwork. If you haven't checked with Admin @ your unit --- I would do so ASAP.

 

[Brett327]

Fezz: You were told by whom ??? Someone who knows .... ???

In my NROTC unit, your CWO4 Dad could have sworn you in -- I called them a few months ago on behalf of someone else and that is still the policy 35 years after I graduated ..... The only thing that matters "technically" -- according to the Admin CPO I spoke with -- was who signs the paperwork. If you haven't checked with Admin @ your unit --- I would do so ASAP.

Concur - I've seen people get sworn in by CPOs and CWOs.

Brett

 

[HAL Pilot]

I don't want to turn this into some weird bash-CWO's thread but I do want to clarify some things....You cannot be commissioned by someone who is of a lesser rank than you will be...they are, however, they are still a class of officers that falls between Enlisted and Commissioned Officers. Hope this helps.

Wrong! Any commissioned officer can swear you in regardless of rank. Plus, the guy getting commissioned is not an officer until he is sworn in but is an officer candidate. Until the swearing in is complete, the CWO outranks him.

BTW, as previously mentioned, WO1s are Warrent Officers, WO2 through WO5 are commissioned officers. This is why the Navy does not use the WO1 rank.

 

[Fmr1833]

Consider me schooled... :icon_drin

 

[Crowbar]

The only thing that matters "technically" -- according to the Admin CPO I spoke with -- was who signs the paperwork.

I got commissioned in December and that's the way it was for me. We had an Ensign get sworn in by his dad (a retired Master Chief) but the CO signed his papers. I was sworn in by my uncle, a LtCol in the LA National Guard. There was some confusion about whether a state officer could sign my commission, so he swore me in and the MOI signed everything.

Side note: Does the Navy believe in the One Bar Club?

 

[Fezz CB]

Thank you guys. The information you guys provided is great. My unit XO is double checking to make sure that my pops can swear me in. He was the one who suggested that my dad commission me since you really only get to commission ONCE. Anyways, thank you guys again!

 

[Brett327]

Side note: Does the Navy believe in the One Bar Club?

Depends on where you go. True O Clubs are kind of a dying breed, especially within CONUS. I can't speak for the Marine side of the house, but I'm pretty sure Whidbey and Fallon are the only O Clubs on the west coast. What's the situation elsewhere?

Brett

 

[Fezz CB]

It's final! My CO gave me the green light CWO2-CWO5 are commissioned officers. My dad swearing me in is gonna be something I will remember for a very long time. Thanks again for the replies.

 

[Fmr1833]

Congrats!!!