671:
897:
885:
909:
785:," and continued to wear that branch's insignia while assigned to aviation units, generally alternating between aviation assignments and "basic branch" assignments in successive tours of duty. Army Aviation warrant officers rated as Army Aviators wore the generic "Army Warrant Officer Branch" insignia (except for certain warrant officers assigned to "
627:
who is responsible for specific functions. The flight officer may function as the navigator, responsible for planning the journey, advising the pilot while en route, and ensuring that hazards or obstacles are avoided. The flight officer may also be responsible for operating aircraft mission/weapon
745:
The
Warrant Officer Flight Program began in 1949 and the first warrant officer Army Aviators graduated from it in 1951. The program was suspended in 1959 but reestablished in 1963, and as of January 2022 it has been in continuous operation ever since. Most of the warrant officers were initially
737:
strength levels prevented pilot expansion. The Army requested authority to establish the flight officer/warrant officer program. This proposal was rejected because the Army already had three groups of personnel â enlisted, warrant officer, and commissioned officer. As a fallback position, the
750:; the Army had begun a helicopter pilot training course for officers in 1948. Flight warrant officer candidates had to be between the ages of 18 and 28 when they began training, though they could begin training at age 17 if they were about to have their 18th birthday.
721:
and glider pilots. At the end of World War II, the Army Air Forces discontinued the use of the rank of flight officer. By then, all of the service's flight officers had either been promoted to commissioned officer ranks during the course of the war or discharged.
865:
in 1992. CAP officers between the ages of 18 and 20 are eligible for promotion to the ranks of flight officer, technical flight officer and senior flight officer. Requirements for promotion to each grade generally are the same as for promotion to CAP
840:
for the Army, (2) permit the Army unlimited use of helicopters, (3) limit the Army's weight limit on fixed-wing aircraft, (4) provide most Army fixed-wing tactical airlift support, and (5) relinquish claims to most types of tactical helicopters.
857:(CAP), in the mid-1980s, replacing the former ranks of warrant officer and chief warrant officer, new entrants for which had been eliminated by the Air Force in 1959 and discontinued with the retirement of the last Air Force
1057:
793:" units, were authorized to wear "cavalry" insignia, while assigned to cavalry units), but were administratively managed by the Army "Warrant Officer Aviation Branch" in the
945:
1072:
778:
678:
Flight
Officer Chronograph (1939), commissioned by Harry S Truman's senatorial staff for issue to flight officers and pilots of the US Army Air Forces during WWII.
1067:
878:, respectively, and those flight officers who choose to enter the commissioned ranks are promoted to these respective ranks when they reach the age of 21.
742:
decided that the grade of flight officer was in reality a warrant officer grade with a restriction to the warrant officer junior grade rank (WOJG).
578:
1082:
1077:
812:, tactical observation, scouting, and reconnaissance, and casualty evacuation roles, as well as battlefield troop lift, cargo transport, armed/
949:
762:
896:
1062:
739:
694:
pilots were commissioned as flight officers after the completion of their training. The new rank insignia was nicknamed "the blue pickle."
884:
833:
754:
21:
663:
908:
757:
in 1983, Army commissioned officers rated as "Army
Aviators" remained commissioned in their Army "basic branch," which included "
862:
698:
1034:
628:
systems, including mission planning, mission timing, threat reactions, aircraft communications, and hazard avoidance. In the
937:
683:
596:
571:
875:
644:. The title of flight officer is also used for police officers who serve as pilots in law enforcement aviation units.
953:
941:
633:
705:
trainees who successfully passed air qualification training were appointed as Flight
Officers and served as rated
1087:
637:
326:
393:
88:
929:
829:
817:
726:
604:
564:
794:
718:
297:
858:
774:
611:. The term flight officer is sometimes used today to describe job title positions as aircrew members.
985:
801:
782:
734:
641:
274:
83:
805:
501:
417:
640:, officer aircrew members responsible for operating airborne weapon and sensor systems are called
825:
821:
809:
730:
629:
496:
236:
155:
131:
126:
925:
867:
837:
813:
608:
491:
462:
352:
347:
307:
302:
265:
184:
117:
871:
854:
758:
670:
486:
316:
270:
194:
189:
170:
770:
714:
691:
422:
412:
402:
281:
241:
220:
165:
102:
97:
836:, the Army agreed with the Air Force that the Air Force would (1) provide all fixed-wing
675:
933:
849:
The rank of flight officer was re-instituted by the United States Air Force's civilian
702:
525:
515:
506:
481:
467:
407:
338:
333:
288:
251:
206:
1051:
690:, from 1942 to 1945; the rank being created on 10 September 1942. On 5 November 1942
535:
520:
448:
436:
381:
376:
367:
357:
227:
199:
150:
74:
1038:
800:
Army
Aviators, both commissioned and warrant officers, piloted Army aircraft (both
687:
607:
countries, where it was used for female officers and was equivalent to the rank of
600:
386:
260:
160:
136:
107:
65:
850:
786:
662:
550:
540:
141:
697:
The rank is equivalent to
Warrant Officer Junior Grade (WOJG) which is today's
747:
666:
U.S. Army Air Forces Flight officer rank insignia as used during World War II.
362:
321:
797:, and, as today, continued to serve in successive aviation assignment tours.
710:
246:
179:
766:
624:
472:
457:
441:
431:
965:
790:
706:
620:
215:
112:
78:
1007:
545:
530:
669:
661:
902:
Civil Air Patrol rank insignia of a technical flight officer.
1035:"History of Women Warrant Officers - WO Heritage Foundation"
890:
Civil Air Patrol rank insignia of a senior flight officer.
725:
In the late 1940s, following the creation of the separate
1022:
Project 9: The Birth of the Air
Commandos in World War II
924:
Flight officer was established as a rank equivalent to
733:
required more pilots. However, congressionally-imposed
789:" units, who like commissioned officers assigned to "
914:
Civil Air Patrol rank insignia of a flight officer.
512:
478:
454:
447:
428:
399:
392:
373:
344:
313:
294:
287:
257:
233:
212:
205:
176:
147:
123:
94:
71:
64:
31:
1008:"B-28373, September 10, 1942, 22 Comp. Gen. 216"
988:. United States Army Warrant Officer Association
946:Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service
948:(PMRAFNS) until 1980. It was also used in the
572:
8:
1058:Former military ranks of the Royal Air Force
579:
565:
28:
17:
1024:University of Missouri Press, 8 July 2014
1073:Military ranks of the United States Army
603:, and also an air force rank in several
977:
928:in the women's air services of several
880:
824:missions. Under the provisions of the
7:
932:countries. The rank was used by the
808:) and performed missions including:
740:United States Department of the Army
619:A flight officer is a member of the
834:Johnson-McConnell agreement of 1966
1068:Military ranks of the Commonwealth
950:Women's Royal Australian Air Force
755:United States Army Aviation Branch
14:
986:"History of the Warrant Officer"
952:before it was absorbed into the
907:
895:
883:
753:From 1947 until creation of the
701:(NATO grade: W-1). Enlisted and
595:was a military rank used by the
1020:pp. 92â93 Okerstrom, Dennis R.
863:United States Air Force Reserve
940:(WAAF) and its successor, the
1:
1083:United States Army Air Forces
1078:Military aviation occupations
684:United States Army Air Forces
597:United States Army Air Forces
289:Junior commissioned officers
207:Senior commissioned officers
1063:Military ranks of Australia
944:(WRAF), until 1968, and by
938:Women's Auxiliary Air Force
779:Military Intelligence Corps
1104:
954:Royal Australian Air Force
66:Flag commissioned officers
22:Comparative military ranks
638:United States Coast Guard
394:Non-commissioned officers
89:Marshal of the air force
942:Women's Royal Air Force
830:Pace-Finletter MOU 1952
818:electronic surveillance
727:United States Air Force
920:Commonwealth countries
679:
667:
859:chief warrant officer
820:, and communications/
795:Army Personnel Center
775:Medical Service Corps
682:Flight officer was a
673:
665:
642:naval flight officers
58:(Commonwealth system)
783:Transportation Corps
735:commissioned officer
84:Admiral of the fleet
502:Leading aircraftman
418:chief petty officer
826:Key West Agreement
822:electronic warfare
810:artillery spotting
763:Corps of Engineers
731:United States Army
680:
668:
658:United States Army
630:United States Navy
237:Lieutenant colonel
221:(Ship-of-the-line)
156:divisional general
132:army corps general
127:Lieutenant general
40:(non-Commonwealth)
926:flight lieutenant
868:second lieutenant
838:close air support
814:attack helicopter
686:rank used during
609:flight lieutenant
589:
588:
556:
555:
353:junior lieutenant
348:Second lieutenant
308:Flight lieutenant
185:brigadier general
118:Air chief marshal
1095:
1088:Warrant officers
1043:
1042:
1041:on 10 July 2004.
1037:. Archived from
1031:
1025:
1018:
1012:
1011:
1004:
998:
997:
995:
993:
982:
911:
899:
887:
872:first lieutenant
855:Civil Air Patrol
845:Civil Air Patrol
715:flight engineers
615:Aircrew function
581:
574:
567:
487:Lance bombardier
317:First lieutenant
271:Corvette captain
195:flotilla admiral
171:Air vice-marshal
60:
41:
29:
18:
1103:
1102:
1098:
1097:
1096:
1094:
1093:
1092:
1048:
1047:
1046:
1033:
1032:
1028:
1019:
1015:
1006:
1005:
1001:
991:
989:
984:
983:
979:
975:
962:
922:
915:
912:
903:
900:
891:
888:
847:
771:field artillery
746:trained to fly
699:Warrant Officer
692:military glider
660:
655:
650:
617:
585:
549:
544:
529:
524:
519:
505:
490:
485:
461:
423:Warrant officer
416:
413:Warrant officer
406:
403:Warrant officer
361:
351:
332:
328:
320:
282:Squadron leader
276:
264:
245:
242:Frigate captain
222:
193:
183:
166:Counter admiral
164:
154:
130:
106:
103:colonel general
101:
56:
55:
47:
39:
38:
36:
12:
11:
5:
1101:
1099:
1091:
1090:
1085:
1080:
1075:
1070:
1065:
1060:
1050:
1049:
1045:
1044:
1026:
1013:
999:
976:
974:
971:
970:
969:
961:
958:
934:United Kingdom
921:
918:
917:
916:
913:
906:
904:
901:
894:
892:
889:
882:
846:
843:
703:aviation cadet
659:
656:
654:
651:
649:
646:
616:
613:
593:flight officer
587:
586:
584:
583:
576:
569:
561:
558:
557:
554:
553:
538:
533:
513:
510:
509:
507:Air specialist
499:
494:
482:Lance corporal
479:
476:
475:
470:
468:Leading seaman
465:
455:
452:
451:
449:Enlisted ranks
445:
444:
439:
434:
429:
426:
425:
420:
410:
408:sergeant major
400:
397:
396:
390:
389:
384:
379:
374:
371:
370:
365:
355:
345:
342:
341:
339:Flying officer
336:
334:sub-lieutenant
324:
314:
311:
310:
305:
300:
295:
292:
291:
285:
284:
279:
268:
258:
255:
254:
252:Wing commander
249:
239:
234:
231:
230:
225:
218:
213:
210:
209:
203:
202:
197:
187:
177:
174:
173:
168:
158:
148:
145:
144:
139:
134:
124:
121:
120:
115:
110:
95:
92:
91:
86:
81:
72:
69:
68:
62:
61:
50:
43:
32:
25:
24:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1100:
1089:
1086:
1084:
1081:
1079:
1076:
1074:
1071:
1069:
1066:
1064:
1061:
1059:
1056:
1055:
1053:
1040:
1036:
1030:
1027:
1023:
1017:
1014:
1009:
1003:
1000:
987:
981:
978:
972:
968:(Flight crew)
967:
964:
963:
959:
957:
955:
951:
947:
943:
939:
935:
931:
927:
919:
910:
905:
898:
893:
886:
881:
879:
877:
873:
869:
864:
860:
856:
852:
844:
842:
839:
835:
831:
828:of 1948, the
827:
823:
819:
815:
811:
807:
803:
798:
796:
792:
788:
784:
780:
776:
772:
768:
764:
760:
756:
751:
749:
743:
741:
736:
732:
729:in 1947, the
728:
723:
720:
716:
712:
708:
704:
700:
695:
693:
689:
685:
677:
672:
664:
657:
653:United States
652:
648:Military rank
647:
645:
643:
639:
636:and formerly
635:
631:
626:
622:
614:
612:
610:
606:
602:
598:
594:
582:
577:
575:
570:
568:
563:
562:
560:
559:
552:
547:
542:
539:
537:
534:
532:
527:
522:
517:
514:
511:
508:
503:
500:
498:
495:
493:
488:
483:
480:
477:
474:
471:
469:
466:
464:
459:
456:
453:
450:
446:
443:
440:
438:
437:Petty officer
435:
433:
430:
427:
424:
421:
419:
414:
411:
409:
404:
401:
398:
395:
391:
388:
385:
383:
382:Officer cadet
380:
378:
377:Officer cadet
375:
372:
369:
368:Pilot officer
366:
364:
359:
356:
354:
349:
346:
343:
340:
337:
335:
330:
325:
323:
318:
315:
312:
309:
306:
304:
301:
299:
296:
293:
290:
286:
283:
280:
278:
272:
269:
267:
262:
259:
256:
253:
250:
248:
243:
240:
238:
235:
232:
229:
228:Group captain
226:
224:
219:
217:
214:
211:
208:
204:
201:
200:Air commodore
198:
196:
191:
188:
186:
181:
178:
175:
172:
169:
167:
162:
159:
157:
152:
151:Major general
149:
146:
143:
140:
138:
135:
133:
128:
125:
122:
119:
116:
114:
111:
109:
104:
99:
96:
93:
90:
87:
85:
82:
80:
76:
75:Field marshal
73:
70:
67:
63:
59:
54:
51:
49:
44:
42:
33:
30:
27:
26:
23:
20:
19:
16:
1039:the original
1029:
1021:
1016:
1002:
990:. Retrieved
980:
930:Commonwealth
923:
848:
799:
752:
744:
724:
696:
688:World War II
681:
634:Marine Corps
618:
605:Commonwealth
601:World War II
592:
590:
387:Flight cadet
329:junior grade
161:Rear admiral
137:Vice admiral
108:army general
57:
52:
48:coast guards
45:
34:
15:
802:rotary-wing
787:air cavalry
748:helicopters
719:bombardiers
541:Aircraftman
497:Able seaman
142:Air marshal
37:air forces
1052:Categories
973:References
832:, and the
806:fixed-wing
711:navigators
591:The title
492:Specialist
463:bombardier
363:midshipman
327:Lieutenant
322:lieutenant
303:Lieutenant
275:Lieutenant
266:commandant
53:Air forces
956:in 1977.
851:auxiliary
277:commander
247:Commander
190:Commodore
180:Brigadier
992:18 March
960:See also
781:," and "
767:infantry
625:aircraft
473:Corporal
458:Corporal
442:Sergeant
432:Sergeant
46:Navies,
966:Aircrew
876:captain
861:in the
791:cavalry
621:aircrew
599:during
551:aviator
526:trooper
516:Private
298:Captain
223:Captain
216:Colonel
113:Admiral
98:General
79:Marshal
35:Armies,
874:, and
853:, the
707:pilots
676:Gallet
623:of an
546:airman
536:Seaman
531:sapper
521:gunner
358:Ensign
759:armor
261:Major
994:2007
804:and
777:," "
773:," "
769:," "
765:," "
761:," "
674:The
632:and
936:âēs
331:or
273:or
77:or
1054::
870:,
816:,
717:,
713:,
709:,
548:or
543:or
528:or
523:or
518:or
504:or
489:or
484:or
460:or
415:or
405:or
360:or
350:or
319:or
263:or
244:or
192:or
182:or
163:or
153:or
129:or
105:or
100:or
1010:.
996:.
580:e
573:t
566:v
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