The Army National Guard wants to increase the number of warrant officers and chief warrant officers in the ranks, to make up a strength shortfall and ensure readiness. At present, the Guard’s warrant officer corps is manned at 80 percent. The effort will focus on meeting with leaders of the military intelligence warrant officer community in particular, to determine if policies should be changed in order to encourage more interest among Guard soldiers in becoming warrant officers. Chief Warrant Officer 5 Thomas "Gary" Ensminger, the Army Guard’s command chief warrant officer, outlined the plan during a June 10 speech before the military intelligence community at Fort Huachuca, Ariz. Ensminger said plans are also afoot to meet with each state’s warrant officer recruiter. "With the downsizing of active-duty [soldiers], there’s going to be a lot more people available. We can pick some of the best out of that group," Ensminger said.
