Chief Warrant Officers
28 January, 2009 - 16:24
I just wanted to see what everyone's thoughts were on a IDC CWO program. Everyone I know talks about it, but it is still just talk. I want to know the thoughts from the IDC community. Years ago, the Hospital Corps, just like the other communities in the Navy, had a route to CWO as "Physician Assistants." When they made them MSC officers, we lost that path. The pre-requisite was that you had to be an IDC. The CWOs still represented the Medical Department and wore cadeceus' just like the Hospital Corps. CWOs are technical specialists that perform duties and demonstrate knowledge in a specific speciality (HM) that is at a level not normally expected of enlisted personnel in that specialty. Sounds like an IDC. So why shouldn't IDCs be CWOs or at least be offered the option? The thought is that they would be CWOs in the Hospital Corps, so essentially still a Corpsman and wear a cadeceus just like they did before. I personally have a lot of respect for CWOs (Robert Stanley, our first MoH recipient comes to mind). Just curious to hear everyones thoughts on this.
7 February, 2009 - 17:38
#2
I have also heard alot of talk about this. I have also been told that it had been brought up the chain and the reason it never happened was the Navy wouldn't let it for various reasons (i.g. funds, creating new "O" community).
I have also heard that enlisted members would feel much more comfortable speaking with other enlisted members. I however Have a great amount of respect for Warrant officers as do Commisioned Officers. In some units Warrants are treated with a very high regard. As IDC's I think we deserve that amount of respect and regard. Lets be honest; alot of times because of our enlisted status our decisions or actions go unnoticed or unnoted.
If we want a more effective IDC within a unit or aboard a ship...someone that some Col or Capt would be more apt to take advice from we need to be Warrant Officers. The status of a military member who has reached a level of knowledge far surpassing his peers at the enlisted level.
I would have to agree that there is a strong need for the IDC community to become Medical Warrant Officer. Many times, as the enlisted person, that all that is said and things that we are responsible for (FMF, SeaBees and shipboard) go unnoticed and unregarded. And as we all know, things roll down hill, and we shake our heads, say "I told you so".
There is a GREAT need for IDCs. If there wasnt, why the big push in 2005? There arent the "required" numbers of Doctors, PAs and NPs entering the Navy, so where do all the billets go?
SO, as an IDC, we are expected to fill the billets forward deployed. Notice would be an almost expected thing now.
Practically every rating has a "technical expert". Medical needs one too.
Thanks for allowing me to ramble, as this is the only place that it can happen.
Best regards to my brothers and sisters around the world.
-Dana