FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
The U.S. Army warrant
officers celebrated their 97th birthday July 9 and after nearly 100 years of
warrant officers’ dedicated service to the nation, the Chief of Staff of the
Army appointed Chief Warrant Officer 5 David Williams as the first Army senior
chief warrant officer advisor “single voice” to the Army staff.
The advisory position strictly focuses on warrant officers
professional military education, life cycle management of warrant officers,
technical training and proper leader development for nearly 27,000 warrant
officers across the Army, Army National Guard and Army Reserve.
Williams had the opportunity to visit senior leaders from
the major Army commands on Fort Sam Houston Nov. 19, including U.S. Army South.
His strategic message to the senior leaders was to tell the story on where the
Army warrant officer’s cohort is heading.
During his meeting with Army South warrant officers and
senior leaders, Williams stressed the importance of a strong relationship
between warrant officers and their counterparts, noncommissioned officers and
officers.
“Warrant officers are highly specialized officers,” Williams
said. “They are self-aware and adaptive combat leaders, trainers, staff
officers and advisors. Warrant officers are competent and confident warriors,
innovative integrators of emerging technologies, dynamic teachers and
developers of specialized teams of Soldiers.”
Williams also discussed the benefits of creating a senior
chief warrant officer position at the command level to look after all warrant
officers in the command.
“As long as the right person is selected for the position, I
believe it will add value to your commander,” Williams said.
According to Chief Warrant Officer 5 Kelly Bonds, Army South
logistics planner, the benefit of the update to warrant officers and senior
leaders was priceless. As a result, Maj. Gen. K.K. Chinn, Army South commanding
general, has decided to establish his own command/senior warrant officer
advisory position in the near future.
“The position will have instant impact for Army South to
have a single voice, warrant officer management, professional development,
senior mentorship, warrant officer integration and a champion leading the way
for the Strategic Plan 2025,” said Bonds.
Williams’ visit and his message was clear that the warrant
officer cohort has come a long way, however, there is still much work to be
done to achieve the strategic vision of 2025.