Warrant officer (United Kingdom)
Warrant officers are not saluted, because they do not hold the King's Commission, but are addressed as "Sir" or "Ma'am" by subordinates.
[1] Use of the term "warrant officer" dates from the beginnings of the Royal Navy, a time when ships were commanded by noblemen who depended on others with specialist skills to oversee the practicalities of life on board.
Specialists such as a ship's carpenter, boatswain and gunner were vital to the safety of all on board, and were accordingly ranked as officers – though by warrant rather than by commission.
The WO2 replaced the non-substantive appointment of charge chief petty officer (CCPO) in the technical branches.
In 2005, the Royal Navy introduced the appointment of executive warrant officer (EWO) in all ships and shore establishments.
[13][14] Shortly after the Army introduced the ranks of warrant officer classes I and II in 1915, the Royal Marines did the same.
WO1s wear a royal coat of arms on the lower sleeve, except for the regimental sergeant majors 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.
[34] In 1950, it renamed warrant officers in technical trades master technicians, a designation that only survived until 1964.
[37] Their rank insignia is the similar to that as worn by Army warrant officers, but with the addition of the letters ACF or CCF.
Their rank insignia is similar to that worn by Army warrant officers but with the addition of the word "CADET" in red.
The number of CWOs on a section depends on the size of the section/contingent and some smaller units are not permitted a CWO, although that rule can be waived for exceptional cadets.
Their role will vary between squadrons/sections, but they are generally responsible for leading the cadet NCO team, managing training and liaising with the adult staff.
In the Air Training Corps, cadets must be at least 17 years of age to become a CWO; this requirement does not apply to CCF (RAF).
[47] ATC or CCF (RAF) adult staff who are promoted to warrant officer are known as warrant officers RAFAC, and, as with other RAFAC NCO ranks, they are civilian members of the ATC or CCF (RAF), not members of the Royal Air Force and have no obligation or commitment to duties within the regular or reserve Royal Air Force.
Prior to October 2020, the CACWO was one of the twelve nominated warrant officers within the RAFAC who were always entitled to wear the Royal Coat of Arms.
From October 2020, all RAFAC warrant officers were authorised to wear the Royal Coat of Arms instead of the crown that they had worn since the 1980s.
Adult warrant officers serving as aircrew in air experience flights or volunteer gliding schools wear a unique rank slide; those who were former master aircrew in the RAF wear the standard MAcr rank slides.
