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From the Command Chief Warrant Officer Eagle Migration to Support the Force of 2025

By Chief Warrant Officer Karen Kay

Command Chief Warrant Officer 108th Training Command (IET)

This edition marks the two-year anniversary of writing articles for the Griffon. My first article was entitled, “Eagles Rising – Poised for “Not all eagles migrate; those that do have complex migratory patterns. While migrating, eagles ride columns of rising air called thermals and can average speeds of 30 mph. Effortlessly, an eagle can circle in a strong thermal to a high altitude, and then glide long distances in the direction of its migration until it finds the next column of rising air.” “Eagles Masters of the Sky” Rebecca L. Grambo – Editor 1997 Published by Voyageur Press, Inc.

Transition.” The Warrant Officer Continuum of Learning Study had been completed and the study with recommendations had been published. A paradigm shift of WO education, training and leader development was on the horizon. To support these changes, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Phyllis Wilson, USAR Command Chief Warrant Officer, set in place four cornerstones for enhanced WO life-cycle management.

Focused recruiting. This initiative linked recruiting efforts to warrant officer Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) shortages. Additionally, WO accession quotas were increased and accession bonuses were offered for low density WO MOSs.

Renewed emphasis on

mentorship. The Warrant Officer Candidate Program Guidance was revised to include appointment of a Warrant Office Mentor to each WOC. Furthermore, Wilson took the lead and established a highly successful WO Mentor, Educate, Train (WOMET) program.

Expanded warrant officer

promotion opportunities. Time in Grade (TIG) requirements for promotion to Chief Warrant Officer 3, Chief Warrant Officer 4, and Chief Warrant Officer 5 were extended and Chief Warrant Officer 4’s slotted in branch immaterial positions could compete for promotion outside their WOMOS.

Reinstatement of Two-time

Non-select. While expanding promotion opportunities was important, it was equally important to ensure that those promoted were expressly competent, committed and professional leaders of character. Those who have kept pace with training, education and leader development opportunities.

Once poised, we are now prepared and ready for migration. Wilson has drafted The Army Warrant Officer Strategy 2025 that will be published later this year. The strategy is a planning tool that provides insight and outlines a forward course for warrant officers to maintain relevance and to excel as technically agile, adaptive and innovative leaders who have the capabilities to support the Army’s future force objectives.

Surely, the future is wrought with changes and challenges. These can be likened to the atmospheric conditions that create thermals. (Thermals are columns of rising air in the lower altitudes of the earth’s atmosphere that are caused by unstable air generated by the uneven heating of the earth’s surface.) Therefore, I encourage you not to view change and challenge as obstacles; rather, see them as opportunities and use them like the migrating eagle uses the thermals to rise to a high altitude and glide the long distance in the direction of the migration.

As I write this article, Wilson’s tenure as the USAR CCWO is near completion. Her accomplishments as the USAR CCWO are numerous. She has been both builder and architect for the Corps. Wilson will continue to serve as a Military Fellow in the Strategic Studies Group for the Chief of Staff of the Army. Wilson left it better than she found it – as should each of us.

CAROLINA CAT AND LIFTONE

are thankful for all of the men and women who have served our country!

We are continuously seeking the best and brightest to join our team! We have locations in NC, SC, GA, AL, and TN, and have needs in such areas as:

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STAND-TO! Army Instructors

What is it?

Army instructors have a challenging and rewarding responsibility -- to prepare today’s Soldiers and future leaders. U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command instructors train and educate about 500,000 Soldiers and leaders annually. These Soldiers, leaders and instructors carry with them skills, knowledge and attributes to better serve the Army at operational assignments around the world.

Why is this important to the Army?

Through the application of the Army Learning Concept 2015 principles, Army instructors provide a rigorous and relevant training environment to develop agile and adaptive Soldiers and leaders. Those instructors also create a lifelong learning culture that enables students to conduct research, think critically and solve problems. Finally, they provide future leaders with a learning environment focused on the student that comprises collaborative, problem-based instructional approaches.

What has the Army done?

Through the use of updated curriculum and state-of-the-art classrooms, instructors help Soldiers take a learner-centric mindset to units in the operational environment. Upon completion of required TRADOC training and certification from their respective schools, instructors earn an additional skill identifier, which enhances promotion potential and career progression. In addition, TRADOC recognizes outstanding instructors and promotes excellence in instruction through the Instructor and Educator of the Year Program.

Award recipients are personally recognized by the TRADOC commanding general. Finally, TRADOC has implemented the Noncommissioned Officer Education System Instructor Development and Recognition Program, which awards the Army Instructor Badge, the Army Senior Instructor Badge and the Army Master Instructor Badge, to instructors who meet requirements and levels of expertise.

What does the Army have planned for the future?

The Army will continue to recognize instructors by improving and maintaining recognition and development programs that highlight their contributions and outstanding performance.

Well-trained instructors will continue to play a pivotal role in support of the Army’s goals for individual training through optimizing learner experiences in the classroom. Instructor recognition and development programs will emphasize the importance of instructors, making it a coveted assignment for top-quality officers and noncommissioned officers.