Navy Warrant Officer and Limited Duty Officer Classification System

Warrant officers are technical officer specialists who perform duties that are technically oriented and acquired through experience and training and that are limited in scope in relation to other officer categories.

Limited duty officers (LDOs) are technically oriented officers who perform duties that are limited to specific occupational fields, that require authority greater than that normally expected of a warrant officer, and that require strong managerial skills.

Warrant officer and LDO specialties are normally identified by four digits, with each successively providing more precise identification of the individual holder.

A warrant officer can be identified by a "7" in the first digit, and an LDO by a "6."

Only the first three characters are evaluated by ACE; the fourth digit, representing naval status, appears in the exhibits as an "X."

There are four grades of warrant officers: Warrant Officer, W-1 (WO1) (discontinued in 1975); Chief Warrant Officer, W-2 (CWO-2); Chief Warrant Officer, W-3 (CWO-3); and Chief Warrant Officer, W-4 (CWO-4). The grades reflect salary increases and are normally indicative of the length of time a person has served as a warrant officer. The grades do not signify differences in job duties. A position requiring a warrant officer may be filled by any qualified warrant from CWO-2 to CWO-4.

LDOs are commissioned officers in the ranks of ensign (O-1) through captain (O-6).

Selection and Evaluation

The warrant officer program provides an opportunity for appointment to commissioned warrant officer status for select senior enlisted personnel. The LDO program provides an opportunity for appointment to regular commissioned status for selected warrant officers and senior enlisted personnel. Potential candidates normally improve their skills through on-the-job training and specialized training through schools and correspondence courses.

Selection boards, composed of senior officers of experience, maturity, and varied backgrounds, are convened by the Secretary of the Navy annually. Each candidate's qualifications are evaluated, and the board recommends those deemed best qualified.

Selection boards also meet annually to recommend those qualified for promotion. Performance is the major key to promotion. The Navy's selection procedure for promotion has always recognized the outstanding performer; mediocre performers are judged not to be competitive enough. Evaluations are recorded on Fitness Reports, an objective appraisal of performance by the senior reporting officer.

Time-in-grade is another criterion for promotion. Until 1975, the time-in-grade requirements were:

After 1975, grade W-1 was discontinued; time-in-grade requirements are now:

top