I am currently a HS1 and this May will be my first attempt at the HSC SWE. I know I'm a little early, but I was curious if anybody out there knew some tips, pointers on being competitive for warrant one day. It is my goal to apply for warrant at my 10 to 12 year mark and I could use some pointers from you guys that have been around a little longer than I. I am currently independent duty; so it’s pretty hard to get career corpsman questions answered from Airsta folks. I appreciate the help.

Thats funny I was talking about this subject today with a CG pilot, the pilot I was talking to is a LCDR and he told me to volunteer for jobs outside your rate i.e CDAR, MAA duties, Morale rep. Good leadership skills, developing your junior personnel. Having a degree in the field helps out as well. Let your command know that you want to go warrant, so that they can work with you. If you haven't been underway as an IDC, I will highly reccomend it. The CWO board looks for job diversity.Hope this helps
Good luck

Thanks for the info. Our aviation warrant here gave me that very advise concerning collateral duties. I'm hoping out of my next duty station (I am due to transfer in 08) to have my degree in Health Care Business management complete.

HS1,
Having been through that circus last year and getting ready to go through it agian this year, here is what I can tell you. First hurdle for CWO is getting past the points for preboard score, if you don't meet the alternate points at a minimum the board will never see your package and it doesn't matter what quals you have. The points are mostly made up from time as an E6/E7 and evauls. If you have normal marks (mostly 5/6s and a few 7s), you don't have a chance unless you have a LOT of time as an E7 or above. Marks are SUPER inflated for people applying for CWO, in a lot of cases.

Now, once you make it to the board, it all depends on what they are lookng for that year. Getting your degree in Med Admin will definetly help as will having a well rounded career. Try and get clinc supervisor and/or administrator experiance as well as shipboard IDHS experiance. Being active in your community can't hurt either. Try and get a copy of someone's package who have made it to get an idea of what an accepted one looks like. That's what I've experianced and been told.
Good Luck,
HSC Fly

Thanks Chief, I appreciate your insight. Good idea on finding someone that has been accepted packet. I am applying for two billets next year that would put me in clinic supervisor roles to gain those supervisory skills (finding hiding corpsmen, doing marks, etc). I am at an Airsta with just one other 1st class, so I definitely need the supervisor skills sharpened. Thanks again.

Patrick! where are you going?? do you know yet??

Whats happening Cassey. No word yet, I'm not sure when we will be hearing but I'm hoping for the best. How about you? Are you excited about the Northland? I have heard good things about that boat. Drop me a line sometime. Later

Those who can, reach for the star.
Those who cant, bend over and grab the bar.
Warrant is a waste of a perfectly good enlisted man.
Cheers!

quote:

Originally posted by akwaman:
Those who can, reach for the star.
Those who cant, bend over and grab the bar.
Warrant is a waste of a perfectly good enlisted man.
Cheers!

Are you saying going E-8 is better?

quote:

Originally posted by LCOOL:
Are you saying going E-8 is better?

As a matter of fact yes I am. Senior Chiefs and Master Chiefs actually are experts in their career fields. I've seen too many warants who werent technically savy enough to make Senior and had the leadership skills of a turnip. So at that dismal point in life when they realize they'll never be good enough to be an Senior or Master Chief shey sucum to their mediocrity and apply for warrant. Hope that clears up my opinion on the issue sufficiently.
Cheers!

quote:

Originally posted by akwaman:

quote:

Originally posted by LCOOL:
Are you saying going E-8 is better?

As a matter of fact yes I am. Senior Chiefs and Master Chiefs actually are experts in their career fields. I've seen too many warants who werent technically savy enough to make Senior and had the leadership skills of a turnip. So at that dismal point in life when they realize they'll never be good enough to be an Senior or Master Chief shey sucum to their mediocrity and apply for warrant. Hope that clears up my opinion on the issue sufficiently.
Cheers!

I would like to add something here. For you to make E-8 you have to go to the CPO academy and some people dont wont to go. I Here some people say that you make more money in retirement as a warrant. You will make more money as an E-8 or E-9 also and it will depend on how long you stay in. i.e. an E-8 with 30 years will make more than a W-3 with 28 years. For me it is not about money , if I dont get picked up for warrant life will go on. As long as I can retire at least an E-8 that will be great. There is game that you have to play to make warrant, but to make E-8 or E-9 there is no game involved.The key is to advance, get your degree and invest your money in good quality no-load mutual funds. When you apply for a job on the outside they will not look at your rank, just your management experience. The road less traveled is E-8 and E-9.

Best wishes to you in becoming a Warrant. You hit the nail on the head, going warrant is about games (nolonger a chief and not really embraced by the officer corps) whereas making Senior and Master is about being an expert in you field and testing well in it. Good luck with the games I hope they serve you well. I have my signts set on the goal and will aspire to be nothing less than a Master Chief before I'm done

Akwaman,
I don't normally post online, but in light of your boldly negative opinions towards Med Warrants and those that aspire that title, I thought it prudent.
Yes, there are cases of individuals who have made warrant that may not have towed the line (so to speak). But, I can tell you that the same can be said accross the board. I have nothing but respect for Chief's, Senior Chief's, and Master Chief's. In fact, I am currently a Chief, on the Warrant list above the cut for promotion to MED2 hopefully in June. Unlike your sweeping generalization, I am "technically savy enough" to make Senior, but turned it down in lieu of Warrant. As far as my leadership skills are concerned; I was honored to have been selected to serve my last two commands and crews as their Command Chief, in addition to their HSC. This position of leadership will probably always be the pinnacle of my career.
Reasons for choosing the Warrant route vary greatly and have much less to do with difficulties advancing than you have implied. Needless to say, I take exception to the way you have categorized Warrants. I believe that the barriers created by attitudes such as yours merely create road blocks and keep us all from continuing to improve and refine our main objective, which is to provide quality healthcare to our fellow CG men and women.
I am extremely proud of my accomplishments as an enlisted person and will ALWAYS think of myself as a Chief. I wish you well on your journey towards the lofty goal of Master Chief and I sincerely hope you reevaluate your views regarding our Warrant Officer Corps.
Best of luck shipmate!

Thanks John,
You beat me to the reply. While I'm not yet fortunate enough to be above the points for CWO, I just did my stuff to start the ball rolling this year. I also take offense to Akwaman's comments and think they could be taken very negativly by our younger Petty Officers. We, as Chiefs, have to set the bar for our younger HS. While I think becoming a Master Chief would be one the ultimate accomplishments, I also think becoming a W4 would be just as awesome.

My only beef with the CWO system is the process. Mainly it's not even the CWO process, but the marks process that feeds a huge part of the CWO process. of course, that marks process also feeds the final multiple for HSCS and HSCM. People who advance in either track will always have thier competance questioned by some until we get a proper evaul system that isn't all jacked around (inflated).
My .02,
Chris

Dont be so thin skinned fellas, I thought this was a forum for opinions and engaging dialogue. If it is, put your man hat on and follow your career aspirations. My opinion should matter little to you if you truly know where you are steering your career. You gotta do what's right for you. Good luck!
Cheers!

I spoke with a MCPO recently and asked which is the better path of advancement, and he told me take the swe for E-8 and apply to the warrant program. It all comes down to personal choice and its best to put in God's hand's.

Thats some very wise advice courtesy of your 2 star network. Ensure you continue to ask questions and use that info to make the best descision for you and your career goals. Best of luck to you Shipmate!
Cheers!

WOW! I love the discussion. This is what is so great about this forum.

Bob

Bob-
And its suprisingly easy to set the hook and reel em in. Think some fellas need a side of French Cries to go with their WaaaBurger.
Cheers!
Phil

nice example for our younger enlisted, way to represent....