Warrant Officer Candidate School (U.S. Army)
Encyclopedia
The United States Army
's Warrant Officer Candidate School (WOCS), located at Fort Rucker
, Alabama
, provides training to become a commissioned warrant officer
in the U.S. Army. Warrant officer candidates are typically drawn from enlisted members (up to Master Sergeant
) and inter-service transfers. In this case, Inter-Service Transfer refers to enlisted members of the U.S. Air Force
, U.S. Navy
, or U.S. Marine Corps
transferring to the U.S. Army to attend WOCS, or civilian high school graduates who enlist for guaranteed attendance as aviation
(flight) candidates at WOCS after they complete Basic Combat Training
(BCT). Aviation candidates are referred to as high school to flight school recruits.
s for fifteen of the U.S. Army's sixteen basic branches (excluding Infantry
). The course is designed to provide a base to assist in the development of Army Warrant Officers into self–aware and adaptive technical experts, combat leaders, trainers, mentors, and advisors to both soldiers and commanders. Later, through progressive levels of expertise in assignments, training, and education, Warrant Officers administer, manage, maintain, operate, and integrate Army systems and equipment across the full-spectrum
of Army operations. Warrant officers in the Army are accessed with specific levels of technical ability. They refine their technical expertise and develop their leadership and management skills through tiered progressive assignments and education.
Soldiers who have attended leadership training, such as Warrior Leader Course
, or similar courses in other branches of the Armed Forces
, have the option to attend a four week course at Fort Rucker, after completing online prerequisites. Non-prior service candidates must attend the six week course.
WOCS focuses on Officer training
and candidates serve in various student leadership positions throughout the course. A week long Field Leadership Exercise (FLX) is a key part of the program, along with classroom instruction focusing on officership, military history, and other topics.
Graduation from WOCS is held at the United States Army Aviation Museum
on Fort Rucker, where a candidate is promoted to WO1 and moves to their respective branch schools to attend the Warrant Officer Basic Course
. For example, United States Army Signal Corps
branched Warrant Officers attend WOBC at Fort Gordon, where Aviation
branched Warrant Officers attend WOBC at Fort Rucker.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
's Warrant Officer Candidate School (WOCS), located at Fort Rucker
Fort Rucker
Fort Rucker is a U.S. Army post located mostly in Dale County, Alabama, United States. It was named for a Civil War officer, Confederate General Edmund Rucker. The post is the primary flight training base for Army Aviation and is home to the United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence and...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, provides training to become a commissioned warrant officer
Warrant Officer (United States)
In the United States military, the rank of warrant officer is rated as an officer above the senior-most enlisted ranks, as well as officer cadets and candidates, but below the officer grade of O-1...
in the U.S. Army. Warrant officer candidates are typically drawn from enlisted members (up to Master Sergeant
Master Sergeant
A master sergeant is the military rank for a senior non-commissioned officer in some armed forces.-Israel Defense Forces:Rav samal rishoninsignia IDF...
) and inter-service transfers. In this case, Inter-Service Transfer refers to enlisted members of the U.S. Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, U.S. Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, or U.S. Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
transferring to the U.S. Army to attend WOCS, or civilian high school graduates who enlist for guaranteed attendance as aviation
United States Army Aviation Branch
The Aviation Branch of the United States Army is the administrative organization within the Army responsible for doctrine, manning and configuration for all aviation units....
(flight) candidates at WOCS after they complete Basic Combat Training
United States Army Basic Training
United States Army Basic Training is the program of physical and mental training required in order for an individual to become a soldier in the United States Army, United States Army Reserve, or Army National Guard. It is carried out at several different Army posts around the United States...
(BCT). Aviation candidates are referred to as high school to flight school recruits.
Overview
WOCS is a rigorous six week course designed to train, assess, evaluate, and develop Warrant OfficerWarrant Officer (United States)
In the United States military, the rank of warrant officer is rated as an officer above the senior-most enlisted ranks, as well as officer cadets and candidates, but below the officer grade of O-1...
s for fifteen of the U.S. Army's sixteen basic branches (excluding Infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
). The course is designed to provide a base to assist in the development of Army Warrant Officers into self–aware and adaptive technical experts, combat leaders, trainers, mentors, and advisors to both soldiers and commanders. Later, through progressive levels of expertise in assignments, training, and education, Warrant Officers administer, manage, maintain, operate, and integrate Army systems and equipment across the full-spectrum
Full-spectrum dominance
Full-spectrum dominance is a military concept whereby a joint military structure achieves control over all elements of the battlespace using land, air, maritime and space based assets....
of Army operations. Warrant officers in the Army are accessed with specific levels of technical ability. They refine their technical expertise and develop their leadership and management skills through tiered progressive assignments and education.
Soldiers who have attended leadership training, such as Warrior Leader Course
Warrior Leader Course
The Warrior Leader Course , formerly the Primary Leadership Development Course , is the first course of study in the US Army Non-Commissioned Officer Education System . WLC is a 15-day course that trains Soldiers in the fundamentals of leadership. The course curriculum includes instruction in...
, or similar courses in other branches of the Armed Forces
United States armed forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
, have the option to attend a four week course at Fort Rucker, after completing online prerequisites. Non-prior service candidates must attend the six week course.
WOCS focuses on Officer training
Officer training
Officer training refers to the training that most military officers must complete before acquiring an officer rank. A potential recruit becomes an officer cadet, someone in training. An officer in training can either be trained in a military college like West Point, or taken from the enlisted ranks...
and candidates serve in various student leadership positions throughout the course. A week long Field Leadership Exercise (FLX) is a key part of the program, along with classroom instruction focusing on officership, military history, and other topics.
Graduation from WOCS is held at the United States Army Aviation Museum
United States Army Aviation Museum
The United States Army Aviation Museum is an aviation museum located on Fort Rucker near Ozark, Alabama. It has the largest collection of helicopters held by a museum in the world. The museum features some 50 aircraft on public display with aviation artifacts ranging from a replica of the Wright...
on Fort Rucker, where a candidate is promoted to WO1 and moves to their respective branch schools to attend the Warrant Officer Basic Course
Warrant Officer Basic Course
Warrant Officer Basic Course is the technical training program a newly commissioned U.S. Army Warrant Officer receives after attending Warrant Officer Candidate School. WOBC is designed to certify warrant officers as technically and tactically competent to serve in a designated military cccupation...
. For example, United States Army Signal Corps
United States Army Signal Corps
The United States Army Signal Corps develops, tests, provides, and manages communications and information systems support for the command and control of combined arms forces. It was established in 1860, the brainchild of United States Army Major Albert J. Myer, and has had an important role from...
branched Warrant Officers attend WOBC at Fort Gordon, where Aviation
United States Army Aviation Branch
The Aviation Branch of the United States Army is the administrative organization within the Army responsible for doctrine, manning and configuration for all aviation units....
branched Warrant Officers attend WOBC at Fort Rucker.
See also
- Military academyMilitary academyA military academy or service academy is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps of the army, the navy, air force or coast guard, which normally provides education in a service environment, the exact definition depending on the country concerned.Three...
- Officer Candidate SchoolOfficer Candidate SchoolOfficer Candidate School or Officer Cadet School are institutions which train civilians and enlisted personnel in order for them to gain a commission as officers in the armed forces of a country....
- Training and Doctrine Command
- Warrant Officer Career College
External links
- Warrant Officer Candidate School (Official website)
- Army Warrant Officer History since 1918 Warrant Officer Heritage Foundation