CAMP MURRAY, Washington – The 194th Wing’s warrant officers are not only breaking new ground — they’re laying the foundation for generations to come.
For the first time in more than 65 years, the Air Force reintroduced warrant officers (WOs) into its ranks on Dec. 6, 2024. Members of Warrant Officer Training School’s (WOTS) inaugural graduating class include Warrant Officer Nicholas Legget, 143rd Cyber Operations Squadron; Warrant Officer Jason Oakes, 194th Communications Squadron; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Robert Peck, 242nd Combat Communications Squadron; and Warrant Officer Andre Roberge, 262nd Cyber Operations Squadron.
“It’s [kind of] surreal,” Roberge said. “Everywhere I go, someone is like, ‘Hey, you’re a warrant officer in the Air Force? I’ve never seen that before.’”
The eight-week training course, conducted at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, was described by 194th Wing WOs as a blend of Basic Military Training and Officer Training School.
Each day was highly structured, starting with a 6 a.m. wakeup and 6:07 a.m. formation. Candidates recited the Air Force Song and Airman’s Creed, then marched to the dining facility using proper reporting procedures. The daily schedule consisted of classroom instruction followed by physical training. In the evenings, candidates cleaned their dormitory and studied until lights out at 9:30 p.m.
WOs with the 194th Wing emphasized the deep camaraderie and strong professional network formed within their inaugural cohort as the most rewarding aspect of WOTS.
“The relationships that we made there — I now know people in active duty that do the same job as me,” Roberge said. “Bonding with all the people that are going to be doing the same job as me throughout the Air Force, I think that was the most beneficial part. We keep in contact and chat every day.”
Oakes echoed that sentiment, highlighting the unique and enduring network fostered through those relationships.
“The warrant officer cohort is one of the biggest strengths that we’re going to bring to the Air Force,” Oakes said. “There are smart [people] all over the place. There are smart enlisted people and officers. That’s not a unique facet to being a warrant officer. What is unique is the network that we have.”
What is a warrant officer?
“As warrant officers, my job 100% of the time is making sure I understand equipment and the technology that goes into it,” Peck said.
The return of WOs to the Air Force allows technical experts to remain embedded in their specialty. Unlike traditional career progression that shifts personnel away from hands-on work to administrative and managerial duties, the WO track preserves and leverages that technical depth.
“What happens to tech sergeants?” Oakes asked. “They become master sergeants, right? And then eventually, if they haven’t already at that level, they’re moving away from their field skills. [Warrant officers] won’t.”
Peck likened the position to a component of a “three-headed monster” at the squadron level. The commander leads overall, the senior enlisted leader manages personnel and the WO oversees technical systems.
“Being a warrant officer, at the squadron level at least, I don’t have a chain of command,” Peck said. “Essentially, I report directly to the commander. I don’t have anybody else underneath me in the official documentation and chain of command. That frees me up to get after projects that need to be completed.”
Absent the chain of command and responsibilities regularly assigned to noncommissioned officers and senior noncommissioned officers, WOs also fill liaison and advisory roles for enlisted and officers.
“With the enlisted, our job will be to train and mentor NCOs and senior NCOs, help them form their teams, and train the Airmen they have as well,” Oakes said. “And then on the officer side of the house, I can interface with my commander and advise them on the systems that they have.”
WOs with the 194th Wing are shaping the foundation for the new program and setting standards for future generations.
“Being a warrant officer is great,” Oakes said. “But being in this initial class means so much more because I get to form what it should look like. I get to be a part of that team that makes this thing become reality.”
Despite the weight of their responsibility, 194th Wing WOs remain optimistic and are invigorated to undertake the task at hand.
“We’re looking at a force of 500 over five years,” Oakes said. “So, we have a lot of work to do for the next 440 folks that are coming in over the next five years. We got a lot to do, and I’m looking forward to it.”