LDO vs. CWO

[skim]

I am ignorant on this, but what are the differences between LDO and CWO in the Navy? Both sound similiar to me, such as both are brought up from senior enlisted ranks and are specialized in a field and can conduct watches. Can anyone clue me in? Thanks.

 

[phrogpilot73]

I am ignorant on this, but what are the differences between LDO and CWO in the Navy? Both sound similiar to me, such as both are brought up from senior enlisted ranks and are specialized in a field and can conduct watches. Can anyone clue me in? Thanks.

From Wikipedia:

"LDOs are technical officer managers; CWOs are technical officer specialists. While the scope of a CWO's authority doesn't change much as one advances from CWO2-CWO5. An LDO's scope of authority broadens and increases as one promotes to lieutenant junior grade, lieutenant, lieutenant commander, commander.....etc."

While I normally hate Wikipedia, it's a pretty good description of the difference.

 

[haubby]

CWO's are only selected from the Chief ranks (with the exception of the FWO's) while an LDO can be selected as an E-6.

 

[BACONATOR]

to shorten the above post:

LDO = Technical Manager.

CWO = Technical expert.

LDO uses enlisted experience to oversee a task/service needed to be done in the Navy.

CWO typically uses his expertise to complete a very specific specialized task in the Navy that few else can do.

 

[Harrier Dude]

Although the definitions are still valid, we do this much differently in the Marines. Our WOs and CWOs come from the enlisted side, not sure of the minimum grade, but normally Staff Sergeants and Gunnery Sergeants, and our LDOs come from our CWOs. The minimum rank for a Marine LDO is Captain. It's quite normal to see one of your CWO3s become a Captain and move on to a higher level billet. We also have CWOs serving as high as MARFOR staffs, so it's not all specialization.

It's always amazed me to meet LDO Ensigns and JGs on the boat. Most of them would tell me that they used to be Senior Chiefs or Master Chiefs.

I cannot imagine a single Master Sergeant/First Sergeant or Master Gunnery Sergeant/Sergeant Major becoming a 2ndLt under anything but the most dire circumstances (battlefeild promotion type stuff). The most senior enlisted turned officer (2ndLt) I ever met was a Gunny. It seems like most Marines wouldn't trade the prestige of the senior enlisted billets for the relative obscurity of being a Lieutenant.

Not good or bad here, it's just totally different.

 

[skim]

Ok, so a CWO still uses a rate, while a LDO is an Officers. Ok. Thanks all for clearing that up. Since both are commissioned, I thought they (CWO) were more of a manager position (like an 0-1 or higher).

 

[Tom]

CWO are officers too. They wear a rate pin on their left collar of khaki's and their CWO rank on the right collar.

 

[The Chief]

... I cannot imagine a single Master Sergeant/First Sergeant or Master Gunnery Sergeant/Sergeant Major becoming a 2ndLt ...

And a kajillion rep points to you Sir.

 

[Lawman]

I cannot imagine a single Master Sergeant/First Sergeant or Master Gunnery Sergeant/Sergeant Major becoming a 2ndLt under anything but the most dire circumstances (battlefeild promotion type stuff). The most senior enlisted turned officer (2ndLt) I ever met was a Gunny. It seems like most Marines wouldn't trade the prestige of the senior enlisted billets for the relative obscurity of being a Lieutenant.

Not to mention the pay cut.

 

[McLovin]

Not to mention the pay cut.

How do you figure a pay cut? Look at the O1E chart with the same time in service...makes more and quite a bit more in two years when he/she puts on 0-2E

 

[BourneID]

Not to mention the pay cut.

Now If a senior enlisted goes LDO/CWO and for some reason ends up with a pay cut at the end of the day, they will then recieve Save Pay to match what they were making before, until they advance to the point that they make more.

 

[Lawman]

Now If a senior enlisted goes LDO/CWO and for some reason ends up with a pay cut at the end of the day, they will then recieve Save Pay to match what they were making before, until they advance to the point that they make more.

Thats what I was thinking (figure E-6+ with >10 years) and I did not know that.

 

[MasterBates]

Now If a senior enlisted goes LDO/CWO and for some reason ends up with a pay cut at the end of the day, they will then recieve Save Pay to match what they were making before, until they advance to the point that they make more.

I never knew that. My knowledges have increased.

 

[Flying Low]

Not all rates have CWO's. In some jobs the only way you can get their designator is to be an LDO. PH's had both CWO's and LDO's. They stopped making CWO's in the mid 90's. The only way to be a Photo Officer was to be an LDO. Technically I think you can apply for other rates as an LDO. But you would be competing against those already in that rate. Note: I'm positive about applying for other rates as an LDO.


For pay purposes they also get a promotion on the E pay scale. I remember my DivO (O-2) saying he just got permanently promoted to E-8.

 

[bb1125]

Now If a senior enlisted goes LDO/CWO and for some reason ends up with a pay cut at the end of the day, they will then recieve Save Pay to match what they were making before, until they advance to the point that they make more.

Do you have a reference for that statement? I've never heard of such a thing and actually heard first hand info to the contrary.