By Troy Turner
MONTGOMERY – Maxwell Air Force Base, already the hub for much of the U.S. Air Force’s most strategic educational and training programs as host to Air University, soon will welcome the first cohort of 78 Airmen to attend the newly created Warrant Officer Training School.
The initial class represents a return to the Air Force the warrant officer rank, which it eliminated in 1959, and it paves the way for new opportunities that Air Force personnel can take to combine technical expertise such as cyber skills, to service leadership training that comes with the rank.
Thus, graduates of the new school will be able to combine both; take a military leadership role with other airmen while exploring opportunities to grow their field of expertise. The program will place special emphasis on developing Air Force personnel with cyber skills.
Putting the new Warrant Officer Training School (WOTS) at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery is a natural fit, Major Tanner Allshouse, director of operations for WOTS, told AlaDefense.com.
“Maxwell is the central hub for all Air Force training,” Allshouse said. “Air University was tasked with the go-do of creating the warrant officer school. So essentially it makes sense to consolidate a lot of training here since it has the infrastructure and other needs already in place.”
He credited other elements and personnel on the base for support already being shown in the creation of WOTS. “Maxwell has gone leaps and bounds to help us get established,” he said.
Allshouse also praised a new partnership with the U.S. Army’s Fort Novosel, located in southeast Alabama’s Dale County and the home of Army aviation. The Army has maintained a warrant officer rank, and four of the future Air Force WOTS trainers were sent to Novosel for its warrant officer instructor course.
“We are looking for opportunities to continue that relationship,” he said of the Maxwell-Novosel connection.
Cutting-edge skills needed
The Air Force on July 29 announced news of the first cohort.
“These Airmen are poised to assume critical roles as technical experts, functional leaders, and advisors within their specialized domains,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin. “They possess the cutting-edge skills we need to address the multifaceted challenges of today’s dynamic security landscape.
“Their selection is not only a testament to their talents, but also to our commitment to rapidly reoptimize the U.S. Air Force for our strategic environment.”
The group consists of active duty, Reserve and Guard Airmen. Selected Airmen will learn foundational principles that complement their technical expertise, Air Force officials said.
“We are using all tools available to ensure we keep our competitive advantage and expand our force’s capabilities in the cyber domain,” said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force David Flosi. “Our investment in the Warrant Officer Program preserves and enhances our Airmen’s technical skills. We are committed to making these necessary changes quickly in a strategic environment defined by Great Power Competition.”
A new opportunity
Airmen in the first cohort will be divided into three classes with the first class starting in October. After graduation, the first warrant officers are expected to arrive at their duty stations in early 2025.
Senior Master Sgt. Jarvis Wilson, serving at Maxwell as the senior enlisted leader for WOTS, said the program already is creating a buzz among enlisted personnel.
“So far, there’s been a lot of positive feedback,” said Wilson, who has served for 18 years, “and the entire time… I’ve heard people talk about the potential benefit of a warrant officer program.”
The program will allow enlisted Air Force personnel with technical skills such as cyber to become more involved as leaders and managers in operational readiness of an entire unit, he said.
WOTS will be a 40-day, challenging, fast-paced and highly structured educational program that integrates classroom lecture, guided discussion, and experiential learning opportunities to reinforce educational understanding, the Air Force announced.
“Candidates should expect to be submerged in a dynamic training environment both indoors and outdoors,” it said. “The candidate must be motivated to understand and apply the foundation of the profession of arms, communication, leadership and followership taught at WOTS.”
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Troy Turner is the editor and senior consultant for AlaDefense.com. He can be contacted at [email protected].
Photo above: Instructor course graduates. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Evan Porter.
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