U.S. Army Reconsiders W-5 Program

During this same period, the U.S. Army once again examined the possibility of establishing a W-5 warrant officer rank. Along with this proposal, the Army considered implementing stricter controls on selective retention for warrant officers serving beyond 20 years.

The intent was to create a more progressive professional development system, with clearly defined billets and responsibilities tied directly to rank. Under this structure, W-1s and W-2s would carry less responsibility than W-4s or the proposed W-5s. The Army anticipated that W-5s would have at least 20 years of warrant officer service.
When asked about the possibility of the Coast Guard adopting a similar program, RADM Bell from the Office of Personnel made the service’s position clear. Speaking at a CWOA meeting on September 19, 1985, he dismissed the idea outright.
He stated that the Coast Guard did not face the same challenges as the Army and had no intention of mirroring other services simply for the sake of alignment. He emphasized that each service has different responsibilities and utilizes warrant officers differently. Unless a clear operational need could be demonstrated, he saw no justification for creating a W-5 grade within the Coast Guard.