My Role As A Warrant Officer

The difference between leadership from being a former NCO to my current role as a Warrant Officer has some differences and also some similarities. As an NCO, leadership was more of a direct interaction role. More of the “I say you do” style. Any good leader provides direction and purpose to motivate their subordinates to want to do the task at hand even when the soldier may not really want to do the task. NCO’s provide direction in the form of verbal orders and create a very structured atmosphere for the junior enlisted. Such as when to show, in what uniform, and where. I feel that NCO’s aren’t that strong as a community in letting their subordinates know the purpose. This lack of purpose sometimes would make motivating soldiers hard.
This all started from the first day I showed up. As an NCO, I would have expected guidance and someone would have shown up and provided that. As a Warrant, I had no one show up, no guidance and when I went around asking what I should do, I was never set on a path. I just had to figure it out. This type of structure or lack of, continued when being assigned additional duties. As an NCO, I would get training and a proper hand off. As a Warrant, not only did you not get training but you had to figure out what training was required and the person you replaced PCS’d a year ago. Oh, and by the way the ARMS inspection is on Friday! Now as a leader, I use the lead by example method and motivate by conducting on the spot counseling’s. If subordinate is not performing it is better to remind them that they are professionals and have a duty. At this stage in their careers it is a more “grown up” approach to
The impression I get from all the briefings, is that they are telling us that Warrant Officers are undisciplined and do not follow the rules of the Army. This annoys me because those senior Warrants are the ones that created this atmosphere. Prior to their current positions they were the ones going through the ranks and fostering this environment. I don’t know if this was because the quality of Warrants as they went through maintained a low standard. That was caused by every Warrant picking up rank due to the surge. This could have been what prevented a higher standard of Warrant Officer. When I became a Warrant, I had thought I was going into a more professional environment then what I left. I was disappointed and continue to be. Not only am I being told that Warrant Officers are unprofessional but now it is all my fault. Kind of reminds me of the Millennials Generation. I guess that is what you get when the parents don’t instill discipline and take the time to mentor and guide the young and just expect someone else to do it or for them or have them do it on their