By Maj. Gen. Kent Savre and
Command Sgt. Maj. Jon Stanley

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (July 5, 2018) — On Monday, we will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the U.S. Army Warrant Officer Corps. Although Army clerks in World War I are considered to be predecessors of the military warrant officer, the official birthday of the Warrant Officer Corps is July 9th, 1918.

On this date, Congress passed an act that established the Army Mine Planter Service as part of the Coast Artillery Corps and directed that warrant officers serve as masters, mates, chief engineers and assistant engineers of each vessel. In the following years, warrant officers became authorized in other areas of the Army, such as in clerical, administrative and band-leader positions, as well as pilots in the Army Air Corps. Today, warrant officers serve in all Army branches and at all levels.

Warrant officers possess a high degree of specialization in a particular field, and they provide quality advice, counsel and solutions to support their unit or organization. They have extensive professional experience and technical knowledge, making them role models and mentors for junior officers and noncommissioned officers.

Here on Fort Leonard Wood, our warrant officers not only provide their technical expertise to our organizations, but they also ensure the Warrant Officer Corps remains strong by educating and mentoring the warrant officers who train and serve here in the heart of America.

Warrant officers are a huge asset to our Team of Teams, and we thank them for their continued service and support not only to Fort Leonard Wood but to the entire Army. We are proud to serve with you!

Victory Starts Here…Victory Through Skill!

(Editor’s note: Savre is the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood commanding general. Stanley is the MSCoE and Fort Leonard Wood command sergeant major.)