History of the Army
Warrant Officer Corps

History of the Warrant Officer Corps.

a. Inception (1916-1940) The predecessor of the warrant officer was the Army Field Clerk (formerly Headquarters Clerk) and the Field Clerk, Quartermaster Corps (formerly Pay Clerk). Both were authorized by the Act of August, 1916. Although these personnel were initially considered civilians, the Judge Advocate General eventually determined that they held military status. The rank and grade of warrant officer was introduced in the Act of July 1918, which established the Army Mine Planter Service in the Costal Artillery Corps and directed that warrant officers serve as masters, mates, chief engineers, and assistant engineers of each vessel. Three varying levels of pay were authorized.

Some of the original mine planters.

The use of warrant officers was expanded by the Act of 1920, which authorized appointment of warrant officers in clerical, administrative, and band leading activities. The Act of 1920 authorized 1,120 warrant officers, provided for appointments in the Army-at-large rather than in specific branches and established warrant officer assignments in various headquarters and tactical units. Perhaps the most significant motive for the expansion was "a desire to reward enlisted men of long service and also to reward former commissioned officers of World War I who lacked either the educational or other eligibility requirements necessary for continuance in the commissioned status."

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Information Courtesy of U.S. Army