United States Army Warrant Officer Association

Background

The genesis of the current association for Army Warrant Officers was an idea generated in Indianapolis, Indiana in July 1972 when forty-two Adjutant General warrant officers met informally for fun, camaraderie and the opportunity to exchange professional concerns with each other. Out of this group was formed the United States Army Warrant Officers Association. The Association became incorporated as a non-profit association in Virginia on 7 November 1974.

 

The European Warrant Officers Association, a separate organization of concerned warrant officers was also formed during the same period as the USAWOA. After personal contact and review of similar objectives, the European Warrant Officers Association merged with the USAWOA and became the European Region. The European Region was the stabilizing force for the Association as USAWOA sought to build membership in the United States.

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Objectives

1. The United States Army Warrant Officers Association was Incorporated as a nonprofit Association in the Commonwealth of Virginia on 7 November 1974. As stated in the Articles of Incorporation, the USAWOA was established to:
2. Foster a spirit of patriotism and devotion to duty among members, commensurate with the high ideals of the Army and our position therein.
3. 1. Recommend programs for the improvement of the Army.
4. 2. Disseminate professional information among warrant officers.
5. 3. Promote the technical and social welfare of our members
6. 4. Promote a spirit of true comradeship among our members.
7. 5. Promote a spirit of true comradeship among our members.

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Organization

USAWOA is governed by a Board of Directors elected by the membership. A USAWOA Executive Committee is responsible for overall operation of the Association Office. USAWOA By-Laws approved by the membership guide the organization of our Association. Other operational manuals detail the operation of the Board of Directors, Council of Presidents, finances and other administrative matters of our Association. View the listing of USAWOA Officials, Directors, and Committee Members.

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Philosophy

Our basic philosophy is to work within the system to present knowledgeable, professional concerns that affect policy. (USAWOA does not involve itself in personal matters of warrant officers for accessions, assignments, promotions or retirement.) Our current method for meeting our objectives involves a two-pronged approach. First, we acquire professional information for circulation to warrant officers from our official and unofficial contacts with Department of the Army, Department of Defense, Congress and other associations.

 

Second, and just as important, our Association acts as a focal point to receive professional recommendations, suggestions, concerns and general comments from warrant officers in the field and, after analysis, review, study and approval, present these view to the appropriate offices with the support of the USAWOA.

 

One of the issues we addressed in the early years was the formation of a centralized warrant officer management system to replace the fragmented branch management system. The Department of the Army's Warrant Officer Division was formed in 1975. Another major issue was the equalization of flight pay which was approved after a long struggle. Military and civilian educational goals including establishment of a Warrant Officer Senior Course and advance courses were advocated. Improvements have subsequently come to pass. Assignment of warrant officers to positions of responsibility on the Army Staff was continually recommended and today we have warrant officers in key positions throughout the Army. Modifications in the Officer Evaluation Report system for warrant officers were sought and approved. Appointment of warrant officers to promotion boards, field grade quarters for senior warrant officers, defined additional duties for senior warrant officers and other issues raised by our members were eventually approved.

 

In more recent years the Association provided valuable warrant officer research information to the Total Warrant Officer Study (TWOS) and served as a sounding board for many TWOS issues. The Association also lobbied Congress for passage of the Warrant Officer Management Act and succeeded in having the legislation introduced in the House of Representatives where it was subsequently included in other legislation and passed.

 

In short, our Association from its inception has tackled the issues that our members believed were necessary to improve the Corps. Our logo of "Professionalism, Representation and Recognition" served us well in the early days and continues to be a driving force behind our current actions.

 

A major activity in recent years has been the hosting of professional development seminars in which members of the Army staff, including the reserve components, brief warrant officers on the myriad of changes affecting warrant officers today and in the future. This information is presented by those who are instrumental in developing policies which will shape the future of the Corps.

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Worldwide Chapters

 

USAWOA is not a select few at the home office level. The Association is comprised of Army Warrant Officers from around the world. To provide social and professional opportunities for its members the Association has organized local chapters. The primary purpose of the chapters is to act as a focal point for warrant officers at the local level to disseminate and pass on to USAWOA officials the professional concerns of their members. Another function of the chapters is to provide social outlets to their members and spouses as the local situation dictates.

View our listing of world-wide Chapters.

 

A Non-Affiliated category of membership also exists for many members who are not in close proximity to a chapter or who do not desire to be affiliated with a chapter. To facilitate these chapters, geographic regions have also been established.

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USAWOA Worldwide Regions

 

USAWOA is organized into six Regions: European, and five based in the continental US; Mid-Northern, Mid-Southern, North Eastern, South Eastern, and Western. With the exception of European Region, each region has an elected Director who serves on the USAWOA Board of Directors. Region Directors also represent the Chapters and Members-at-Large within their geographic area of responsibility. European Region elects its own Region Officers who are President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The European Region President performs Director functions and executes the European vote on the USAWOA Board of Directors.

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USAWOA Legislative Efforts

USAWOA's legislative activities are conducted primarily through The Military Coalition (TMC), which we joined when it formed in 1985. TMC is comprised of 30 military and veteran's associations representing over 5 million members or former members of the active, guard, reserve, and retired members of the seven uniformed services plus their families and survivors.

 

Our affiliation with The Military Coalition has broadened our understanding of the big picture while still maintaining the Association's focus on Army warrant officers. Through our proactive participation we have contributed to a unified voice on legislative issues pertaining to the entire military community while simultaneously drawing support for warrant officer issues from other associations.

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NEWSLINER

The NEWSLINER is the official publication of the Association. It has been published monthly since April 1976. It provides professional information to our members. In addition to our members, it is circulated to officials in key positions in Congress, the Department Defense, and the Department of the Army. This publication reflects not only professional information about the Corps but also what our chapters, regions and USAWOA officials are doing to carry our the dictates of our members. Your articles, letters, and comments are solicited. To submit an article directly, mail it to: USAWOA, 462 Herndon Parkway, Suite 207, Herndon, VA 20170-5235. Articles may also be faxed to 703-742-7728 or forwarded to usawoa@erols.com by e-mail.

 

Articles appearing in the NEWSLINER do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the USAWOA Board of Directors or the Editor, nor are they necessarily to be interpreted as official policy of the Department of Defense or the U.S. Army.

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The Future

Because of demonstrated professionalism by our Association, we are recognized by the military and civilian leaders and our sister associations as the advocate for Army Warrant Officers. We pledge to continue to speak out on issues of importance to the Army, USAWOA and its members to better utilize the tremendous potential of talent consolidated within the some 25,000 member Army Warrant Officer Corps.

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 How to Become a Member

Regular membership is open to all warrant officers who hold or have held a warrant issued by the Secretary of the Army. Associate members (not an Army Warrant Officer) receive all rights of membership other than the privilege of voting or holding elected office. The membership dues are $24.00 per year for retirees and $36.00 for all others. Dues include receipt of 11 editions of the NEWSLINER each year. USAWOA also offers discounted 3 and 5 year dues for both new and renewing members. WO1s may receive their first year's membership at "No Cost." Life Memberships are also available. A graduated Life Member fee scale was instituted in January 1998.

 

Applicants may contact USAWOA by calling toll free 1-800-5-USAWOA to request a membership application by mail. You may join "over the phone" 1-800-5-USAWOA or by fax at 703-742-7728 if paying the membership fee with a Visa or MasterCard credit card. View our membership application which you may either print or download. Of course, any applicant can ask any present member for assistance.

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Reference:U.S. Army Warrany Officer Association Website