<P> Enlisted sailors in the grades E-5 through E-7 who had at least an associate degree and were not currently serving in the diver, master - at - arms, nuclear, SEAL, SWCC, or EOD communities were eligible to apply . Upon being commissioned as CWO2, selectees underwent warrant officer indoctrination and then flight school for 18 to 30 months . After completion of flight school, selectees were placed in one of four types of squadrons: Shipbased Helicopter Maritime Strike (HSM) or Helicopter Sea Combat (HSC) squadrons, and land - based fixed - wing maritime patrol and reconnaissance (VP) and fleet air reconnaissance (VQ). These pilots and NFOs were then trained to operate the P - 3 Orion, the EP - 3E Aries II, the E-6 Mercury, or variants of the MH - 60 Seahawk . Those in the VP community would also eventually qualify to fly the P - 8 Poseidon once that aircraft began replacing the P - 3 in 2012 . The Navy re-evaluated the program in 2011, when the last of the "flying" chief warrant officers reported to their operational fleet squadrons and opted to subsequently terminate the program . </P> <P> The United States Air Force no longer uses the warrant officer grade . The USAF inherited warrant officer ranks from the Army at its inception in 1947, but their place in the Air Force structure was never made clear . When Congress authorized the creation of two new senior enlisted ranks in each of the five services in 1958 (implementing them in 1959 - 60), Air Force officials privately concluded that these two new "super grades" of senior master sergeant and chief master sergeant (styling the incumbents as "superintendents" vice senior or staff NCOICs as does the USA and USMC) could fill all Air Force needs then performed at the warrant officer level . This was not publicly acknowledged until years later . The Air Force stopped appointing warrant officers in 1959, the same year the first promotions were made to the new top enlisted grade, chief master sergeant . Most of the existing air force warrant officers entered the commissioned officer ranks during the 1960s, but tiny numbers continued to exist for the next 21 years . </P> <P> The last active - duty air force chief warrant officer, CWO4 James H. Long, retired in 1980 . The last Air Force Reserve chief warrant officer, CWO4 Bob Barrow, retired in 1992 . Upon his retirement, Barrow was honorarily promoted to CWO5, the only person in the Air Force ever to hold this grade . Barrow died in April 2008 . Since Barrow's retirement, Air Force warrant officer ranks, while still authorized by law, are not used . </P> <P> Chief warrant officers in the Coast Guard may be found in command of larger small boat stations and patrol boats, as specialists and supervisors in other technical areas, and as special agents in the Coast Guard Investigative Service . They wear insignia essentially like that of their Navy counterparts, but with the USCG shield between the rank insignia and the specialty mark, as Coast Guard commissioned officers do with their rank insignia . Like their Navy counterparts, candidates for the rank of chief warrant officer must typically be serving in the chief petty officer grades (E-7 through E-9), however, the Coast Guard also permits selection of first class petty officers (E-6) who are chief petty officer selectees and who are in the top 50% on their advancement list to E-7 . Like the Navy, the Coast Guard does not use the rank of warrant officer (WO - 1). Although authorized in 1994, the Coast Guard does not currently use the CWO5 grade . </P>

What is a chief warrant officer in the marine corps