An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

NEWS | April 29, 2021

U.S. Army North hosts Warrant Officer Working Group Seminar

By Spc. Ashlind House U.S. Army North

The U.S. Army is filled with leaders throughout its ranks that work to change the U.S. Army’s culture for the better. Recently, U.S. Army North held the Warrant Officer Working Group Seminar at Joint Base San Antonio - Fort Sam Houston, Texas, April 29-30, 2021. Over 40 warrant officers from across the U.S. Army came together, in person and virtually, to establish cohesive teams that will help build trust across the formation, promote civility, equality, respect and dignity among team members.

According to Chief Warrant Officer 5 Samuel Ngaropo, the Command Chief Warrant Officer of U.S. Army North, three months of hard planning, coordination and rehearsals went into the planning of the seminar.

“The ultimate goal was to leave here as a more cohesive, and well respected, senior Warrant Officer team,” stated Ngaropo. “To also know who is on our left and right and to support each other as we go forward!”

The seminar happened over a span of two days, and warrant officers were given the chance to conduct junior warrant officer mentorship, provide knowledge sharing on warrant officer empowerment, insight, challenges, lessons learned and warrant officer support to the fight against COVID.

Lt. Gen. Laura J. Richardson, commanding general of U.S. Army North, Command Sgt. Maj. Phil Barretto, senior enlisted leader of U.S. Army North, and Retired U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Frank M. Leota also attended the seminar to give speeches on how warrant officers are incorporated into the leadership chain of command.

“The seminar was a chance for warrant officers to bring issues, ideas and mentorship to the cohort,” stated Chief Warrant Officer 2 Juan Herrera, U.S Army Medical Command’s Asset Management Chief.

Coming together gave the warrant officer community a chance to learn from each other and figure out how they can rely more on their surrounding units to better complete the missions they are tasked with.

The U.S. Army Warrant Officer Corps is composed of over 25,000 men and women of the active Army and Reserve components. Warrant officers are technical experts that manage and maintain everything within each job of the U.S. Army. They enhance the Army's ability to defend our national interests, and to fight and win our nation's wars.

At the end of the week, the warrant officers in attendance were able to build a better support system with other warrant officers. This seminar helped the warrant officers learn how the other warrant officers throughout the U.S. Army can better support the missions they may be tasked with throughout the rest of their careers.