CHIEF WARRANT OFFICERS———————————————————————

Chief Warrant Officers (CWO) are highly specialized technical experts and leaders, typically selected from senior enlisted ranks (Chief Petty Officers) to fill roles requiring in-depth expertise in fields like personnel administration, engineering, marine inspection, aviation, and finance & supply. They are mid-level commissioned officers acting as senior advisors to superiors and mentors to junior personnel. Due to the relatively small size of the Coast Guard and its unique orginizational structure, CWOs often hold command positions at Stations and aboard smaller cutters.

Similar to the Navy, candidates for the rank of CWO must normally be serving in the Chief Petty Officer grades (E-7 through E-9); however, the Coast Guard also permits selection of First Class Petty Officers
(E-6) who are Chief Petty Officer selectees and who are in the top 50% on their advancement list to E-7. Unlike the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps, all of whom have CWO ranks ranging from W-1 to W-5, the Coast Guard utilizes only CWO ranks W-2 to W-4; though W-5 was approved and authorized in 1994.

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CWO4 Forrest R. Appleton
Retirement Coin
Active Duty Service:
8 July 1980 - 30 September 2011

Chief Warrant Officer
United States Coast Guard Reserve

Chief Warrant Officer
Professional Development Course

First Salute
Oath of Office

CHIEF WARRANT & WARRANT OFFICERS ASSOCIATION

Chief Warrant & Warrant Officers Association
Established 1929
50th Anniversary 1979

Baltimore Chapter
Baltimore, MD

Greater Boston Chapter
Boston, MA
(2-1/2” W x 2” H)

Great Lakes Chapter
Detroit, MI

Washington, DC Chapter
Washington, DC