New Virginia Guard warrant officers recognized - Oct. 25, 2014

Seven newly-appointed Virginia National Guard warrant officers assemble in front of friends, family members and Virginia National Guard senior leaders at a Warrant Officer Appointment Recognition Ceremony at the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute Oct. 25, 2014, at Fort Pickett, Va. Six of the seven new warrant officers completed the reserve component Warrant Officer Candidate School and graduated from the third and final phase of the course in September at Camp Atterbury, Ind., while the seventh new warrant officer recently graduated from Fort Rucker’s WOCS.

Chief Warrant Officer 5 William Lyles, the Virginia Guard's Command Chief Warrant Officer, spoke first, welcoming the new warrant officers to the warrant officers corps and highlighting the class average Army Physical Fitness Test score of 280, out of a possible 300 points.

Brig. Gen. Walter L. Mercer, the Virginia National Guard’s Land Component Commander, spoke next, talking about the improvements to the warrant officer corps over the past few years. Mercer told the new warrant officers that they will be advisors to their commanders and talked of his experience working with warrant officers at various level of command and his dependance on their technical expertise. “We need you,” Mercer said. “You will be a huge part of our success.”

Chief Warrant Officer 5 Thomas Ensminger, the Command Chief Warrant Officer for the Army National Guard spoke last, highlighting the importance of mentorship among warrant officers and stresses the reliance that commanders place on warrant officers. He also stressed the importance of taking care of their subordinates, saying, “As leaders, you all need to take care of the people around you.”

Following the remarks, the new warrant officers took their Oath of Office, administered by Col. Thomas Morgan, the 183rd RTI commander, and were then presented with a certificate highlighting their completion from the program.