Marine Corps Warrant Officers: A Community in Turmoil

摘要

The Marine Corps restricted officer community (Warrant Officers and Limited DutyOfficers) has been repeatedly modified throughout its history. The most recent changes include a major restructuring conducted in 1989 and proposed legislation that will create the new grade of Chief Warrant Officer, W5 (CWO-5). This study uses the WARRANT model (A modification of the interactive computer model, FORCE developed at the Naval Postgraduate School) to analyze the effects of these changes. Accessions, promotion rates, and grade distributions are examined for two WO specialties: Personnel Officer (0170) and Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Officer (6004). Data from the 1988 through 1990 Headquarters Marine Corps Master Files were used to estimate model parameters that were utilized to forecast grade distributions for fiscal years 1992, 1996, and 2001. The results suggest that an initial increase in accessions may be required to meet force requirements. Additionally, it appears that promotion opportunities to the senior warrant officer grades may have to be vacancy driven in order to attain the desired pyramid shaped force structure and to meet CWO-5 grade constraints.