US Army enlisted ranks and Warrant Officers.

[Abbott Shaull]

Okay with the influx of Airmen and Sailors back in to the US Army in order to reinforce combat units. Would the senior enlist Air Force and Naval personnel keep their old branch ranks or would they accept new Army ranks in order to avoid confusion.

If they took Army ranks, would the Army even at certain locales reinstate the ranks of Specialist 5, Specialist 6, Specialist 7, and maybe Specialist 8 for senior personnel. While this would be technically it could be considered a demotion in some regards. In some cases like now it not uncommon for a Corporals to transfer to another base/unit would be place back to Specialist 4 until they prove themselves in their new unit if Corporal were even allowed in the unit.

Also while we are on this subject. Would there be many more Warrant Officers acting as Platoon Leaders in the US Army. I know in the Marine Corps there are cases where Warrant Officers do fill in as Platoon Leaders when there isn't enough Officers to go around, but the US Army in general avoid this except for certain fields/MOS. Namely Intelligence, Medical, and Special Forces where they have Warrant Officers in slots that in other branches would be filled by traditional Commission Officers.

Again this could be way to help integrate officers from the Air Force and Navy into the US Army and to train them. One of the ways to maybe taking a O-3 or O-4 placing them in Platoon, and having them learn from a mean old Platoon Sergeant. So they place Warrant Officer or Chief Warrant Office in charge of the platoon, while they both train new officer from elsewhere in how the platoon operates and to lead one effectively. Also as the new officers move from Platoon to Company they probably be under the command of 2nd Lt or 1st Lt until they could lead Company and then move on to Battalion Staff and learn jobs there too.

Especially considering that in many cases, by 1999 field commission would at best be considered locally if said Officer change units might have to revert back to their last enlisted ranks. At least if they are Warrant Officer serving in their same field, they may still have a chance retain their rank.

Just some thoughts.