FORT LEE, Va. - Army National Guard command chief warrant officers representing each of the 54 states and territories gathered here in July to discuss policies and regulations and to celebrate the 95th anniversary of the Army's warrant officer corps.
The gathering of the Warrant Officer Senior Advisory Council July 30 enabled these technical experts to share information from each of their states amid hopes to ultimately provide answers to questions the warrant officer program is facing.
"Our focus is on readiness," said Command Chief Warrant Officer 5 Thomas "Gary" Ensminger, the command chief warrant officer of the Army National Guard. "Everything we do is for the needs of the Army National Guard."
The council participants discussed numerous topics important to the future and readiness of the force including the promotion system, noncommissioned officer evaluation reports, mentoring and leadership.
"Our roles as warrant officers are expanding," Ensminger said. "As we are asked to take on duties outside of our traditional boundaries, we are also evaluating our military and civilian education to ensure we are prepared for whatever the Army National Guard requires of us."
While many of the chiefs know there is a need to expand the warrant officer corps, there was also universal acknowledgement the growth had to be done methodically and intelligently starting with Informing and educating the force about the program.
"We need to start mentoring the junior enlisted soldier who is not even eligible yet," he said "We can educate, prepare and motivate young Soldiers who have what it takes into making that decision earlier in their career and on their own - so they are prepared to become a warrant officer when they do meet the time-in-grade requirements."
"Being the technical expert, that's our role in life," he said, adding that commanders look to warrant officers for specific technical issues to make large-scale decisions.
The Director of the Army National Guard, Lt. Gen William Ingram, reiterated the importance of seeking education and experiences beyond their branch.
"Chief Ensminger has been invaluable to me in helping me understand the warrant officer corps and many of the concerns that you have," Ingram said. "As we go forward, I would encourage you to seek ways to broaden your understanding of issues at the strategic level - beyond the immediate impact on the warrant officer corps in your state."