ARMY HOPING CHANGE TO WARRANT OFFICER RECRUITING FIXES ISSUES

U.S. Army Warrant Officer Recruiting, or Army Recruiting Command (USAREC), is responsible for a very important role—finding volunteers to become Soldiers. Since becoming an All-Volunteer Force in 1973, recruitment has been a major part of making sure our Army has enough Soldiers within the ranks. While far from an Army problem exclusively, there have been several challenges facing the branch in recent years. Recruitment has been a struggle to attract Gen Zers with everything from compensation, politics, personal beliefs, and culture clash causing resistance. In the latest of several attempts to rectify this issue, the Warrant Officer Recruiting role is changing in 2024.

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Changes to Warrant Officer Recruiting May Help Attract More Soldiers

The Army needs more Soldiers as recruitment woes continue to mount. Now, changes are coming to the Warrant Officer Recruiting role that the branch is hoping will assist in finding recruits. If you’re looking to get involved in the new Army Warrant Officer recruiting efforts, the deadline for the first cohort is February 2, 2024.

Three selection boards are looking to gather 225 Soldiers to create a new military occupational specialty (MOS) known as 420T Talent Acquisition Technicians. For this role within the world of Warrant Officer Recruiting, the Army is aiming to get a bit more in-depth than traditional methods.

Those selected for the 420T Talent Acquisition Technician position will be tasked with many different objectives USAREC is hoping will boost recruitment. These include looking at the overall strategy, planning out methods of retaining talent, labor market analysis, developing teams, marketing, and more.

Besides helping with the recruitment of new Soldiers, the new MOS is aiming to also help those who are currently serving. Many active-duty Soldiers in the role of Warrant Officer Recruiter have been hit with involuntary recruiting tours over recent years.

This stems from the lack of success that recruiting has dealt with. The idea is that the current approach of keeping Soldiers on the task hasn’t quite worked out so far. Now, they can continue serving in other capacities rather than going all over the U.S.

How To Become a Warrant Officer Recruiter

Becoming a Warrant Officer Recruiter is pretty clear-cut. Several qualifications are necessary to join the Warrant Officer Program. Below, we’re breaking down the steps you’ll need to take if you’re interested in the new 420T Talent Acquisition Technician position:

Step 1: Attend an Assessment at Fort Knox

Everyone must head to Fort Knox, Kentucky to be evaluated in person. This is where selection begins. There are three different selection courses, with each course having a maximum capacity of 75 persons.

Step 2: Score a 110 on the General Technical Line Portion of the ASVAB

Soldiers wishing to join U.S. Army Warrant Officer Recruiting are required to achieve a minimum score of 110 for the general technical line portion of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB).

Step 3: Pass a Background Check and Meet Physical and Security Clearance Requirements

Finally, you have to pass a physical and background check that is based on the specific requirements for recruiting. This means maintaining at least a Secret Security Clearance and being able to meet physical requirements.

You also must pass the standard 6-event Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT). Soldiers who are non-warrants can be selected; however, they must finish Warrant Officer Candidate School afterward.

Eligibility for Different Groups

Joining the new 420T role is available in different ways depending on how you qualify. For example, the first group aims to gather Soldiers who are mid-career Warrant Officers in different areas. Also, if you have a degree involving marketing, psychology, HR, or data analytics, you too will receive preference.

If you are a permanent Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) with a 79R Recruiting Occupational Specialty and ranked between Staff Sergeant and Master Sergeant with experience in leading a recruitment station, the second cohort, beginning March 4, 2024, is for you. You’ll also need an associate’s degree to qualify.

Finally, if you are an NCO holding an associate’s degree or 60 hours of college, hold a rank between Staff Sergeant and Master Sergeant, and have completed the Advanced Leader Course, you can qualify for the third cohort. Applications are due by April 1, 2024.

At this time, the Army is looking to open the opportunity to those in the Reserves; however, the timeline has yet to be determined. Furthermore, the overall timeline for the new MOS role is still being worked on by the force.

What Happens if You’re Selected for Warrant Officer Recruiting

Those selected to join Warrant Officer Recruiting as a 420T Talent Acquisition Technician, will receive training at Fort Jackson in South Carolina and Fort Knox. From there, additional training is expected but the location is still in the works. Partnerships throughout schools and industries are expected to play a role with both established and new opportunities available.

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