Warrant Officer (United Kingdom)
Encyclopedia
In the British Armed Forces
, a warrant officer is the highest non-commissioned rank, holding the Queen's (or King's)
warrant, which is signed by the Secretary of State for Defence
. Warrant officers are not saluted, but are to be addressed as 'Sir/Ma'am' by subordinates. Their seniors may address warrant officers either by their appointment (e.g. QMSI, RSM or sergeant major) or as "Mister", "Mrs", or "Ms" and then their last name, e.g. "Mr Smith". Warrant officers have all been promoted from lower ranks.
s (FCPOs), but were renamed Warrant Officers in the 1980s. They always ranked with Warrant Officers Class I in the British Army and Royal Marines and with Warrant Officers in the Royal Air Force.
In April 2004, the RN renamed the top rate Warrant Officer Class 1 (WO1) and created the new rate of Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2) immediately below it, to replace the appointment of Charge Chief Petty Officer. The latter was a senior Chief Petty Officer
, but not a substantive rank in its own right. Only those who held the specific appointment of Charge Chief Artificer (a CCPO in a skilled technical trade) gained partial recognition as NATO OR-8 equivalent, as with WO2s. In the Fleet Air Arm, the Charge Chief Artificer was commonly referred to as the Senior Maintenance Rating (SMR) but continued to wear the traditional badges of the CPO which made it difficult to distinguish his seniority from the others on a Squadron or ship. With the advent of the WO2 the SMR is now referred to as the Warrant Officer Engineering in most Naval Squadrons.
Royal Navy warrant rates are thus now the same as those in the Army and Royal Marines, and wear the same rank insignia. Like RM WO2s (but unlike Army WO2s), all RN WO2s wear the crown-in-wreath variation of the rank insignia.
In 2005, the Royal Navy introduced the appointment of Executive Warrant Officer (EWO) broadly equivalent to that of the US Navy's Command Master Chief Petty Officer (CMCPO). The position of EWO is potentially filled by an established WO1 however significant numbers of 'first appointment' WO1s have taken up these posts. This fact is at odds with the relative comparison with other military forces and their "senior" cadres. The appointment as EWO on a non-capital ship will automatically mean that the incumbent is the senior non-commissioned Rank of the ship as there are no other WO1s borne in the ship's company. This is not the case on ships such as aircraft carriers where up to nine WO1s are borne during non-Operational deployments. Equally, the same situation applies to RN Dockyards, shore based establishments and Royal Naval Air Stations where the majority of WO1s are borne. Unlike its US Navy and Canadian Forces counterparts, the Royal Navy EWO does not wear a different or modified rate badge to that of a normal WO1. Every Royal Navy establishment and ship has an EWO.
The Marines had introduced Warrant Officers equivalent in status to the Royal Navy's from 1910 with the Royal Marines Gunner (originally titled Gunnery Sergeant-Major), equivalent to the Navy's warrant rank of Gunner. Development of these ranks closedly paralleled that of their naval counterparts: as in the RN, by the Second World War there were Warrant Officers and Commissioned Warrant Officers, e.g. Staff Sergeant Major
s, Commissioned Staff Sergeant Majors, Royal Marines Gunners, Commissioned Royal Marines Gunners, etc. As officers they were saluted by junior ranks in the Royal Marines and the Army. These all became (commissioned) Branch officer ranks in 1949, and Special Duties officer ranks in 1956.
The Royal Marines now has the same warrant ranks as the Army, Warrant Officer Class 1 and Warrant Officer Class 2. The insignia are the same, but all RM WO2s wear the crown-in-wreath variation. As in the Army, all Warrant Officers have appointments by which they are known, referred to and addressed.
WO2 appointments are:
WO1 appointments are:
The rank below WO2 is Colour Sergeant
, the RM equivalent of Staff Sergeant
.
In the British Army
, there are two warrant ranks, Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2) and Warrant Officer Class 1 (WO1), the latter being the senior of the two. It used to be more common to refer to these ranks as WOII and WOI (using Roman instead of Arabic numerals). Warrant Officer 1st Class or 2nd Class is incorrect. The rank immediately below WO2 is Staff Sergeant
(or Colour Sergeant
).
WO1s wear a royal coat of arms on the lower sleeve, except for the Regimental Sergeants Major of Foot Guards Regiments who wear a larger version of the same coat of arms on the upper sleeve. The insignia of those holding the most senior WO1 appointment of Conductor
is the coat of arms surrounded by a wreath.
The four most senior Warrant Officer appointments in the British Army according to Queen's Regulations
are, in descending order of seniority:
WO2s wear a crown on the lower sleeve, surrounded by a wreath for Quartermaster Sergeants and all WO2s in the Royal Army Medical Corps
and the 9th/12th Royal Lancers
(The wreath was used for all WOIIs from 1938 to 1947). Appointments held by WO2s include:
From 1938, there was also a rank of Warrant Officer Class III (WOIII). The only appointments held by this rank were Platoon Sergeant Major
, Troop Sergeant Major
and Section Sergeant Major. The WOIII wore a crown on his lower sleeve (which is why all WOIIs switched to a crown in a wreath during this period). The rank was placed in suspension in 1940 and no new appointments were made, but it was never officially abolished.
inherited the ranks of Warrant Officer Class I and II from the Royal Flying Corps
, part of the Army, in 1918. It also inherited the rank badges of the Royal Arms and a crown respectively. Until the 1930s, these ranks were often known as Sergeant Major 1st and 2nd Class. In 1939, the RAF abolished the rank of WOII and retained WOI as simple Warrant Officer, which it remains to this day. The RAF has no equivalent to WO2 (NATO OR-8), WO being equivalent to WO1 (NATO OR-9) and wearing the Royal Arms. Warrant officers are addressed as Warrant Officer or sometimes this is abbreviated down to just "Warrant". The correct way to address a Warrant Officer is "sir" or "ma'am" by the airmen and "Mr or Warrant Officer -Name-" by the officers. They do not have appointments as in the Army or Royal Marines. They rank above Flight Sergeant
s.
In 1946 the RAF renamed its aircrew
Warrant Officers Master Aircrew
, a designation which still survives. In 1950, it renamed Warrant Officers in technical trades Master Technicians, a designation which only survived until 1964.
and CCF
(Army) - it is often misused by those holding appointments as Sergeants Major or Sergeants Major Instructor (either Cadets or AIs) in the CCF (Army) and ACF who are not holders of Warrants and thus not Warrant Officers.
has a single Cadet Warrant Officer rank in the same way as the RAF - they are always addressed as "Warrant Officer", "Warrant", "CWO" or "Cadet Warrant Officer" (Warrant Officer is the correct form of address),, not "sir / ma'am". ATC Adult staff promoted to Warrant Officer have the title WO (ATC), and are addressed in the same way as regular RAF Warrant Officers - i.e. as "sir / ma'am" by subordinates and as Mr / Mrs / Miss by Officers. Officers may choose to call them by their rank, e.g. Warrant Officer Bloggs (or Warrant Bloggs). Both types wear a crown as insignia, rather than the royal coat of arms — the insignia for a Cadet WO has a laurel wreath to distinguish it from WO (ATC). Some WOs (ATC) are authorised to wear the coat of arms insignia (referred to colloquially as "Tate & Lyle
s": as is the insignia for regular RAF WOs), either as ex-regular WOs or, in the past, for time served.
British Armed Forces
The British Armed Forces are the armed forces of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.Also known as Her Majesty's Armed Forces and sometimes legally the Armed Forces of the Crown, the British Armed Forces encompasses three professional uniformed services, the Royal Navy, the...
, a warrant officer is the highest non-commissioned rank, holding the Queen's (or King's)
British monarchy
The monarchy of the United Kingdom is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. The present monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, has reigned since 6 February 1952. She and her immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial and representational duties...
warrant, which is signed by the Secretary of State for Defence
Secretary of State for Defence
The Secretary of State for Defence, popularly known as the Defence Secretary, is the senior Government of the United Kingdom minister in charge of the Ministry of Defence, chairing the Defence Council. It is a Cabinet position...
. Warrant officers are not saluted, but are to be addressed as 'Sir/Ma'am' by subordinates. Their seniors may address warrant officers either by their appointment (e.g. QMSI, RSM or sergeant major) or as "Mister", "Mrs", or "Ms" and then their last name, e.g. "Mr Smith". Warrant officers have all been promoted from lower ranks.
Royal Navy
In 1973, Warrant Officers reappeared in the Royal Navy, but these appointments followed the Army model, with the new Warrant Officers being ratings rather than officers. They were initially known as Fleet Chief Petty OfficerFleet Chief Petty Officer
Fleet chief petty officer is a non-commissioned naval rank, typically senior to chief petty officer and ranking with army warrant officers.-Pakistan:...
s (FCPOs), but were renamed Warrant Officers in the 1980s. They always ranked with Warrant Officers Class I in the British Army and Royal Marines and with Warrant Officers in the Royal Air Force.
In April 2004, the RN renamed the top rate Warrant Officer Class 1 (WO1) and created the new rate of Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2) immediately below it, to replace the appointment of Charge Chief Petty Officer. The latter was a senior Chief Petty Officer
Chief Petty Officer
A chief petty officer is a senior non-commissioned officer in many navies and coast guards.-Canada:"Chief Petty Officer" refers to two ranks in the Canadian Navy...
, but not a substantive rank in its own right. Only those who held the specific appointment of Charge Chief Artificer (a CCPO in a skilled technical trade) gained partial recognition as NATO OR-8 equivalent, as with WO2s. In the Fleet Air Arm, the Charge Chief Artificer was commonly referred to as the Senior Maintenance Rating (SMR) but continued to wear the traditional badges of the CPO which made it difficult to distinguish his seniority from the others on a Squadron or ship. With the advent of the WO2 the SMR is now referred to as the Warrant Officer Engineering in most Naval Squadrons.
Royal Navy warrant rates are thus now the same as those in the Army and Royal Marines, and wear the same rank insignia. Like RM WO2s (but unlike Army WO2s), all RN WO2s wear the crown-in-wreath variation of the rank insignia.
In 2005, the Royal Navy introduced the appointment of Executive Warrant Officer (EWO) broadly equivalent to that of the US Navy's Command Master Chief Petty Officer (CMCPO). The position of EWO is potentially filled by an established WO1 however significant numbers of 'first appointment' WO1s have taken up these posts. This fact is at odds with the relative comparison with other military forces and their "senior" cadres. The appointment as EWO on a non-capital ship will automatically mean that the incumbent is the senior non-commissioned Rank of the ship as there are no other WO1s borne in the ship's company. This is not the case on ships such as aircraft carriers where up to nine WO1s are borne during non-Operational deployments. Equally, the same situation applies to RN Dockyards, shore based establishments and Royal Naval Air Stations where the majority of WO1s are borne. Unlike its US Navy and Canadian Forces counterparts, the Royal Navy EWO does not wear a different or modified rate badge to that of a normal WO1. Every Royal Navy establishment and ship has an EWO.
Royal Marines
Before 1879, the Royal Marines had no Warrant Officers: by the end of 1881, the Royal Marines had given warrant rank to their sergeants-major and some other senior NCOs, in a similar fashion to the Army. When the Army introduced the ranks of Warrant Officer Class I and Class II in 1915, the Royal Marines did the same shortly after. From February 1920, Royal Marines Warrant Officer Class Is were given the same status as Royal Navy Warrant Officers and the rank of Warrant Officer Class II was abolished in the Royal Marines, with no further promotions to this rank.The Marines had introduced Warrant Officers equivalent in status to the Royal Navy's from 1910 with the Royal Marines Gunner (originally titled Gunnery Sergeant-Major), equivalent to the Navy's warrant rank of Gunner. Development of these ranks closedly paralleled that of their naval counterparts: as in the RN, by the Second World War there were Warrant Officers and Commissioned Warrant Officers, e.g. Staff Sergeant Major
Staff Sergeant Major
-Canada:Staff Sergeant Major is a Royal Canadian Mounted Police rank above Staff Sergeant but junior to Sergeant Major. It is roughly equivalent to a Canadian army Master Warrant Officer or a British army Warrant Officer Class 2.-Britain:...
s, Commissioned Staff Sergeant Majors, Royal Marines Gunners, Commissioned Royal Marines Gunners, etc. As officers they were saluted by junior ranks in the Royal Marines and the Army. These all became (commissioned) Branch officer ranks in 1949, and Special Duties officer ranks in 1956.
The Royal Marines now has the same warrant ranks as the Army, Warrant Officer Class 1 and Warrant Officer Class 2. The insignia are the same, but all RM WO2s wear the crown-in-wreath variation. As in the Army, all Warrant Officers have appointments by which they are known, referred to and addressed.
WO2 appointments are:
- Company Sergeant MajorCompany Sergeant MajorA company sergeant major is the senior non-commissioned soldier of a company in the armies of many Commonwealth countries, responsible for standards and discipline. In combat, his prime responsibility is the supply of ammunition to the company...
- Regimental Quartermaster SergeantRegimental Quartermaster SergeantRegimental Quartermaster Sergeant is a military rank in some militaries, and an appointment in others.-Irish Defence Forces:Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant is a rank in the Irish Army and Irish Air Corps equivalent to Warrant Officer Class 2 in the British Army...
- BandmasterBandmasterA bandmaster is the leader and conductor of a band, usually a military band, brass band or a marching band.-British Armed Forces:In the British Armed Forces, a Bandmaster is always a Warrant Officer Class 1 . A commissioned officer who leads a band is known as the Director of Music...
- Corps Drum Major
WO1 appointments are:
- Regimental Sergeant MajorRegimental Sergeant MajorRegimental Sergeant Major is an appointment held by warrant officers class 1 in the British Army, the British Royal Marines and in the armies of many Commonwealth nations, including Australia and New Zealand; and by chief warrant officers in the Canadian Forces...
- BandmasterBandmasterA bandmaster is the leader and conductor of a band, usually a military band, brass band or a marching band.-British Armed Forces:In the British Armed Forces, a Bandmaster is always a Warrant Officer Class 1 . A commissioned officer who leads a band is known as the Director of Music...
- Corps Bandmaster
- Corps Bugle Major
The rank below WO2 is Colour Sergeant
Colour Sergeant
Colour sergeant or colour serjeant is a non-commissioned title in the Royal Marines and infantry regiments of the British Army, ranking above sergeant and below warrant officer class 2....
, the RM equivalent of Staff Sergeant
Staff Sergeant
Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in several countries.The origin of the name is that they were part of the staff of a British army regiment and paid at that level rather than as a member of a battalion or company.-Australia:...
.
British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, there are two warrant ranks, Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2) and Warrant Officer Class 1 (WO1), the latter being the senior of the two. It used to be more common to refer to these ranks as WOII and WOI (using Roman instead of Arabic numerals). Warrant Officer 1st Class or 2nd Class is incorrect. The rank immediately below WO2 is Staff Sergeant
Staff Sergeant
Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in several countries.The origin of the name is that they were part of the staff of a British army regiment and paid at that level rather than as a member of a battalion or company.-Australia:...
(or Colour Sergeant
Colour Sergeant
Colour sergeant or colour serjeant is a non-commissioned title in the Royal Marines and infantry regiments of the British Army, ranking above sergeant and below warrant officer class 2....
).
WO1s wear a royal coat of arms on the lower sleeve, except for the Regimental Sergeants Major of Foot Guards Regiments who wear a larger version of the same coat of arms on the upper sleeve. The insignia of those holding the most senior WO1 appointment of Conductor
Conductor (British Army)
Conductor is an appointment held by a few selected Warrant Officers Class 1 in the Royal Logistic Corps and is the most senior appointment that can be held by a warrant officer in the British Army...
is the coat of arms surrounded by a wreath.
The four most senior Warrant Officer appointments in the British Army according to Queen's Regulations
Queen's Regulations
Queen's Regulations are a collection of orders and regulations in force in the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force, forming guidance for officers of these armed services in all matters of discipline and personal conduct...
are, in descending order of seniority:
- ConductorConductor (British Army)Conductor is an appointment held by a few selected Warrant Officers Class 1 in the Royal Logistic Corps and is the most senior appointment that can be held by a warrant officer in the British Army...
, Royal Logistic CorpsRoyal Logistic CorpsThe Royal Logistic Corps provides logistic support functions to the British Army. It is the largest Corps in the Army, comprising around 17% of its strength... - Royal Artillery Sergeant Major, Royal ArtilleryRoyal ArtilleryThe Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
- Academy Sergeant MajorAcademy Sergeant MajorThe Academy Sergeant Major is the senior non-commissioned officer instructor at a military academy.At the British Army's Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, the AcSM holds the rank of Warrant Officer Class 1...
, Royal Military Academy SandhurstRoyal Military Academy SandhurstThe Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England... - Garrison Sergeant MajorGarrison Sergeant MajorA Garrison Sergeant Major in the British Army is the senior warrant officer of a garrison and holds the rank of Warrant Officer Class 1. The GSM London District, always a guardsman, holds one of the four most senior WO1 appointments in the British Army, and has military ceremonial responsibility...
, London District
Appointments
Most Warrant Officers have an appointment, and is usually referred to by his/her appointment rather than by his rank. Appointments held by WO1s include:- Academy Sergeant MajorAcademy Sergeant MajorThe Academy Sergeant Major is the senior non-commissioned officer instructor at a military academy.At the British Army's Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, the AcSM holds the rank of Warrant Officer Class 1...
(AcSM) - Accountant Sergeant Major (obsolete)
- Armament Sergeant Major
- Armourer Sergeant Major
- Artificer Sergeant MajorArtificer Sergeant MajorArtificer Sergeant Major is an appointment held by a Warrant Officer Class 1 in the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers , the corps of the British Army whose function is the repair and recovery of all mechanical and electrical equipments.The ASM is normally the senior tradesman in...
(ASM) - BandmasterBandmasterA bandmaster is the leader and conductor of a band, usually a military band, brass band or a marching band.-British Armed Forces:In the British Armed Forces, a Bandmaster is always a Warrant Officer Class 1 . A commissioned officer who leads a band is known as the Director of Music...
(BM) - Clerk of Works Sergeant MajorClerk of WorksClerks of Works are the most highly qualified non-commissioned tradesmen in the Royal Engineers. The qualification can be held in three specialisations: Electrical, Mechanical and Construction. The clerk of works , often abbreviated CoW, is employed by the architect or client on a construction site...
- ConductorConductor (British Army)Conductor is an appointment held by a few selected Warrant Officers Class 1 in the Royal Logistic Corps and is the most senior appointment that can be held by a warrant officer in the British Army...
(Cdr) - Draughtsman Sergeant Major (obsolete)
- Farrier Corporal Major
- Farrier Sergeant Major
- Foreman of Signals (Information Systems)Foreman of Signals (Information Systems)Foreman of Signals A soldier selected for Foreman of Signals training must hold a minimum qualification of ECDL. Students currently undertake a foundation course in Military CIS. On completion of the course, the soldier is promoted to Staff Sergeant if the rank is not already held, and assumes...
(FofS IS) - Foreman of SignalsForeman of SignalsForemen of Signals are the most highly qualified non-commissioned Engineering managers and Incorporated Engineers in the Royal Corps of Signals....
(FofS) - Foreman of Signals Sergeant Major (obsolete)
- Foreman of Works Sergeant Major (obsolete)
- Garrison Sergeant MajorGarrison Sergeant MajorA Garrison Sergeant Major in the British Army is the senior warrant officer of a garrison and holds the rank of Warrant Officer Class 1. The GSM London District, always a guardsman, holds one of the four most senior WO1 appointments in the British Army, and has military ceremonial responsibility...
(GSM) - Lithographer Sergeant Major (obsolete)
- Master Gunner 1st ClassMaster GunnerMaster Gunner is an appointment of Warrant Officer in the British Army's Royal Artillery. Master Gunners are experts in the technical aspects of gunnery. They fill advisory rather than command posts. The appointment is split into two classes: Master Gunners 2nd and 1st Class are Warrant Officers...
- Master Gunner 2nd ClassMaster GunnerMaster Gunner is an appointment of Warrant Officer in the British Army's Royal Artillery. Master Gunners are experts in the technical aspects of gunnery. They fill advisory rather than command posts. The appointment is split into two classes: Master Gunners 2nd and 1st Class are Warrant Officers...
- Orderly Room Sergeant Major (ORSM)
- Pipe MajorPipe MajorThe Pipe Major is the director of bagpipe music in a Scottish or Irish pipe band. Like Drum Major, the position of Pipe Major is derived from British Army traditions. During the early twentieth century, the term Sergeant Piper was used for the role in place of "Pipe Major".Civillian and military...
- Regimental Corporal MajorRegimental Sergeant MajorRegimental Sergeant Major is an appointment held by warrant officers class 1 in the British Army, the British Royal Marines and in the armies of many Commonwealth nations, including Australia and New Zealand; and by chief warrant officers in the Canadian Forces...
(RCM) - Regimental Sergeant MajorRegimental Sergeant MajorRegimental Sergeant Major is an appointment held by warrant officers class 1 in the British Army, the British Royal Marines and in the armies of many Commonwealth nations, including Australia and New Zealand; and by chief warrant officers in the Canadian Forces...
(RSM) - Royal Artillery Sergeant Major
- Saddler Sergeant Major
- Schoolmaster 1st Class (obsolete)
- Sergeant MajorSergeant MajorSergeants major is a senior non-commissioned rank or appointment in many militaries around the world. In Commonwealth countries, Sergeants Major are usually appointments held by senior non-commissioned officers or warrant officers...
(obsolete) - Sergeant Major InstructorSergeant Major InstructorSergeant Major Instructor is a British Army appointment held by Warrant Officers Class 1 in the Small Arms School Corps and the Army Physical Training Corps and by some WO1s in the Royal Engineers.- Cadet forces :...
(SMI) - Staff Sergeant MajorStaff Sergeant Major-Canada:Staff Sergeant Major is a Royal Canadian Mounted Police rank above Staff Sergeant but junior to Sergeant Major. It is roughly equivalent to a Canadian army Master Warrant Officer or a British army Warrant Officer Class 2.-Britain:...
(SSM) - Staff Sergeant Major 1st ClassStaff Sergeant Major-Canada:Staff Sergeant Major is a Royal Canadian Mounted Police rank above Staff Sergeant but junior to Sergeant Major. It is roughly equivalent to a Canadian army Master Warrant Officer or a British army Warrant Officer Class 2.-Britain:...
(obsolete) - Supervisor (Information Systems) (Supvr (IS)) (obsolete)
- Supervisor (Radio) (Supvr (R)) (obsolete)
- Sub-ConductorConductor (British Army)Conductor is an appointment held by a few selected Warrant Officers Class 1 in the Royal Logistic Corps and is the most senior appointment that can be held by a warrant officer in the British Army...
(obsolete) - Superintending Clerk
- Surveyor Sergeant Major
- Yeoman of Signals (YofS)
- Yeoman of Signals (Electronic Warfare) (YofS (EW))
WO2s wear a crown on the lower sleeve, surrounded by a wreath for Quartermaster Sergeants and all WO2s in the Royal Army Medical Corps
Royal Army Medical Corps
The Royal Army Medical Corps is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace...
and the 9th/12th Royal Lancers
9th/12th Royal Lancers
The 9th/12th Royal Lancers is a cavalry regiment of the British Army, formed in 1960 by the amalgamation of the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers and the 12th Royal Lancers. It is currently a formation reconnaissance regiment, equipped with the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance family of vehicles and...
(The wreath was used for all WOIIs from 1938 to 1947). Appointments held by WO2s include:
- Accountant Quartermaster Sergeant (obsolete)
- Armament Quartermaster Sergeant
- Armourer Quartermaster Sergeant
- Artificer Quartermaster Sergeant (AQMS)
- Band Corporal MajorBand Sergeant MajorBand Sergeant Major is the appointment held by the senior playing musician in a British Army or Royal Marines band, who holds the rank of Warrant Officer Class 2. The BSM also functions as the band's second senior non-commissioned officer after the Bandmaster and has various administrative duties...
(BCM) - Band Sergeant MajorBand Sergeant MajorBand Sergeant Major is the appointment held by the senior playing musician in a British Army or Royal Marines band, who holds the rank of Warrant Officer Class 2. The BSM also functions as the band's second senior non-commissioned officer after the Bandmaster and has various administrative duties...
(BSM) - Battery Sergeant Major (BSM)
- Bugle Major
- Clerk of Works Quartermaster SergeantClerk of WorksClerks of Works are the most highly qualified non-commissioned tradesmen in the Royal Engineers. The qualification can be held in three specialisations: Electrical, Mechanical and Construction. The clerk of works , often abbreviated CoW, is employed by the architect or client on a construction site...
- Company Sergeant MajorCompany Sergeant MajorA company sergeant major is the senior non-commissioned soldier of a company in the armies of many Commonwealth countries, responsible for standards and discipline. In combat, his prime responsibility is the supply of ammunition to the company...
(CSM) - Draughtsman Quartermaster Sergeant
- Drill sergeant
- Drum MajorDrum MajorA drum major is the leader of a marching band, drum and bugle corps, or pipe band, usually positioned at the head of the band or corps. The drum major, who is often dressed in more ornate clothing than the rest of the band or corps, is responsible for providing commands to the ensemble regarding...
- Engineer Clerk Quartermaster Sergeant
- Farrier Quartermaster Sergeant
- Foreman of Signals (Information Systems)Foreman of Signals (Information Systems)Foreman of Signals A soldier selected for Foreman of Signals training must hold a minimum qualification of ECDL. Students currently undertake a foundation course in Military CIS. On completion of the course, the soldier is promoted to Staff Sergeant if the rank is not already held, and assumes...
(FofS IS) - Foreman of SignalsForeman of SignalsForemen of Signals are the most highly qualified non-commissioned Engineering managers and Incorporated Engineers in the Royal Corps of Signals....
(FofS) - Foreman of Signals Quartermaster Sergeant (obsolete)
- Foreman of Works Quartermaster Sergeant (obsolete)
- Garrison Quartermaster Sergeant
- Lithographer Quartermaster Sergeant (obsolete)
- Master Gunner 3rd ClassMaster GunnerMaster Gunner is an appointment of Warrant Officer in the British Army's Royal Artillery. Master Gunners are experts in the technical aspects of gunnery. They fill advisory rather than command posts. The appointment is split into two classes: Master Gunners 2nd and 1st Class are Warrant Officers...
- Orderly Room Quartermaster Sergeant (ORQMS)
- Pipe MajorPipe MajorThe Pipe Major is the director of bagpipe music in a Scottish or Irish pipe band. Like Drum Major, the position of Pipe Major is derived from British Army traditions. During the early twentieth century, the term Sergeant Piper was used for the role in place of "Pipe Major".Civillian and military...
- Quartermaster Sergeant InstructorQuartermaster Sergeant InstructorQuartermaster Sergeant Instructor is an appointment held by Warrant Officers Class 2 in the British Army's Small Arms School Corps and Army Physical Training Corps and by some in the Royal Engineers....
(QMSI) - Regimental Quartermaster CorporalRegimental Quartermaster SergeantRegimental Quartermaster Sergeant is a military rank in some militaries, and an appointment in others.-Irish Defence Forces:Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant is a rank in the Irish Army and Irish Air Corps equivalent to Warrant Officer Class 2 in the British Army...
(RQMC) - Regimental Quartermaster SergeantRegimental Quartermaster SergeantRegimental Quartermaster Sergeant is a military rank in some militaries, and an appointment in others.-Irish Defence Forces:Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant is a rank in the Irish Army and Irish Air Corps equivalent to Warrant Officer Class 2 in the British Army...
(RQMS) - Saddler Quartermaster Sergeant
- Sergeant Major SignalsSergeant Major SignalsSergeant Major Signals is abbreviated to SMS and was formerly known as Sergeant Major Instructor Signals . Normally a Warrant Officer Class 2 in the British Army, selection for this post was the culmination of many years of experience with modern radio communications systems...
(SMS) - Squadron Corporal Major (SCM)
- Squadron Sergeant Major (SSM)
- Staff Quartermaster Sergeant
- Supervisor (Information Systems) (Supvr (IS))
- Supervisor (Radio) (Supvr (R))
- Surveyor Quartermaster Sergeant
- Technical Quartermaster Sergeant (TQMS)
- Troop Sergeant MajorTroop Sergeant MajorIn the British Army, the Troop Sergeant Major is the senior NCO in a Royal Artillery troop, usually a Warrant Officer Class 2.This differs from a cavalry troop or infantry platoon, in which the highest-ranking NCO is usually a sergeant....
(TSM) - Trumpet MajorTrumpet MajorTrumpet Major is an appointment in British Army cavalry regiments or the Royal Horse Artillery, held by a Sergeant or a more senior non-commissioned officer or Warrant Officer. His job is to supervise the training and deployment of trumpeters who blow daily duty and ceremonial calls...
- Yeoman of Signals (YofS)
From 1938, there was also a rank of Warrant Officer Class III (WOIII). The only appointments held by this rank were Platoon Sergeant Major
Platoon Sergeant Major
Platoon Sergeant Major was an appointment in the British Army in the short-lived rank of Warrant Officer Class III , created in 1938. The Platoon Sergeant Major, and his cavalry counterpart, the Troop Sergeant Major, were part of an experiment in giving experienced NCOs command of units formerly...
, Troop Sergeant Major
Troop Sergeant Major
In the British Army, the Troop Sergeant Major is the senior NCO in a Royal Artillery troop, usually a Warrant Officer Class 2.This differs from a cavalry troop or infantry platoon, in which the highest-ranking NCO is usually a sergeant....
and Section Sergeant Major. The WOIII wore a crown on his lower sleeve (which is why all WOIIs switched to a crown in a wreath during this period). The rank was placed in suspension in 1940 and no new appointments were made, but it was never officially abolished.
Forms of Address
How Warrant Officers are addressed depends, as does much else in the British Army, on the traditions of their regiment or corps. However, there are some general rules of thumb:- WO1s are usually addressed as "Mr. surnameSurnameA surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
" by officers and by their peers, and as "sir" or "Mr. surnameSurnameA surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
, sir" by their subordinates (for female WO1s, "Mrs., Ms. or Miss surnameSurnameA surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
", "ma'am", and "Mrs., Ms. or Miss surnameSurnameA surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
, ma'am", respectively);
- WO2s are commonly addressed by their appointment, for example "Sergeant Major", "Corporal Major", "Q" for Quartermaster Sergeants or "RQ" for the Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant by their peers and superiors. They are addressed as "sir" or "ma'am" by subordinates.
- A notable exception to the above is the Foot GuardsFoot Guards-British Army:The Foot Guards are the Regular Infantry regiments of the Household Division of the British Army. There have been six regiments of foot guards, five of which still exist. The Royal Guards Reserve Regiment was a reserve formation of the Household Brigade in existence from 1900-1901...
and Honourable Artillery CompanyHonourable Artillery CompanyThe Honourable Artillery Company was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1537 by King Henry VIII. Today it is a Registered Charity whose purpose is to attend to the “better defence of the realm"...
where the Regimental Sergant Major is known as, and addressed by officers as, the Sergeant Major and the Company (HAC Squadron) Sergeants Major are addressed as Company (Squadron) Sergeant Major.
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air ForceRoyal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
inherited the ranks of Warrant Officer Class I and II from the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
, part of the Army, in 1918. It also inherited the rank badges of the Royal Arms and a crown respectively. Until the 1930s, these ranks were often known as Sergeant Major 1st and 2nd Class. In 1939, the RAF abolished the rank of WOII and retained WOI as simple Warrant Officer, which it remains to this day. The RAF has no equivalent to WO2 (NATO OR-8), WO being equivalent to WO1 (NATO OR-9) and wearing the Royal Arms. Warrant officers are addressed as Warrant Officer or sometimes this is abbreviated down to just "Warrant". The correct way to address a Warrant Officer is "sir" or "ma'am" by the airmen and "Mr or Warrant Officer -Name-" by the officers. They do not have appointments as in the Army or Royal Marines. They rank above Flight Sergeant
Flight Sergeant
Flight sergeant is a senior non-commissioned rank in the British Royal Air Force and several other air forces which have adopted all or part of the RAF rank structure...
s.
In 1946 the RAF renamed its aircrew
Aircrew
Aircrew are the personnel who operate an aircraft while in flight. The composition of the crew depends on the type of aircraft as well as the purpose of the flight.-Civilian:*Aviator** Pilot-in-command** First officer** Second officer** Third officer...
Warrant Officers Master Aircrew
Master Aircrew
Master aircrew is the warrant-officer rank held by aircrew in the Royal Air Force. It is equivalent to warrant officer in other trades, and is effectively the highest non-commissioned aircrew rank...
, a designation which still survives. In 1950, it renamed Warrant Officers in technical trades Master Technicians, a designation which only survived until 1964.
Sea Cadet Corps (Navy)
An eligible CPO(SCC) or C/Sgt(SCC) may apply for a Warrant Officer's Selection Board (WOSB) at national level, providing he or she meet the necessary requirements. Upon successful completion of this board, a CPO(SCC) will be rated WO2(SCC)RNR, or a C/Sgt(SCC) will be promoted to WO2(SCC)RMR. SCC WOs are permitted to use the postnominals RNR / RMR. Each area may select one WO from its pool of WO2(SCC)RNR/RMRs, to undertake the role of Area Executive Warrant Officer (AEWO), and with that responsibility be rated WO1(SCC)RNR/RMR. In addition the Marine Cadet Section was an RSM, who is also a WO1(SCC)RMR.Army Cadet Force and Combined Cadet Force
The rank of Warrant Officer does not exist in the ACFArmy Cadet Force
The Army Cadet Force is a British youth organisation that offers progressive training in a multitude of the subjects from military training to adventurous training and first aid, at the same time as promoting achievement, discipline, and good citizenship, to boys and girls aged 12 to 18 and 9...
and CCF
Combined Cadet Force
The Combined Cadet Force is a Ministry of Defence sponsored youth organisation in the United Kingdom. Its aim is to "provide a disciplined organisation in a school so that pupils may develop powers of leadership by means of training to promote the qualities of responsibility, self reliance,...
(Army) - it is often misused by those holding appointments as Sergeants Major or Sergeants Major Instructor (either Cadets or AIs) in the CCF (Army) and ACF who are not holders of Warrants and thus not Warrant Officers.
Air Training Corps and Combined Cadet Force (RAF)
The Air Cadet OrganisationAir Cadet Organisation
The Air Cadet Organisation is the collective name for the UK cadet forces sponsored by the Royal Air Force. The organisation is subordinate to No. 22 Group RAF, with a serving RAF officer as Commandant Air Cadets. The current Commandant is Air Commodore Barbara Cooper CBE...
has a single Cadet Warrant Officer rank in the same way as the RAF - they are always addressed as "Warrant Officer", "Warrant", "CWO" or "Cadet Warrant Officer" (Warrant Officer is the correct form of address),, not "sir / ma'am". ATC Adult staff promoted to Warrant Officer have the title WO (ATC), and are addressed in the same way as regular RAF Warrant Officers - i.e. as "sir / ma'am" by subordinates and as Mr / Mrs / Miss by Officers. Officers may choose to call them by their rank, e.g. Warrant Officer Bloggs (or Warrant Bloggs). Both types wear a crown as insignia, rather than the royal coat of arms — the insignia for a Cadet WO has a laurel wreath to distinguish it from WO (ATC). Some WOs (ATC) are authorised to wear the coat of arms insignia (referred to colloquially as "Tate & Lyle
Tate & Lyle
Tate & Lyle plc is a British-based multinational agribusiness. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index as of 20 June 2011...
s": as is the insignia for regular RAF WOs), either as ex-regular WOs or, in the past, for time served.
See also
- Warrant Officer (United States)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...
- Ranks and insignia of NATORanks and insignia of NATORanks and insignia of NATO are combined military insignia used by the member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.The rank scale is used for specifying posts within NATO.-Definitions:...
- Comparative military ranksComparative military ranksThis article is a list of various states' armed forces ranking designations. Comparisons are made between the different systems used by nations to categorize the hierarchy of an armed force compared to another. Several of these lists mention NATO reference codes. These are the NATO rank reference...
- British ArmyBritish ArmyThe British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...