MIneral County woman moves up in rank

Based on leadership, accomplishments and achievements in her 15 years of service in the United States Army, Sergeant First Class (SFC) Tomi J. Thompson was selected to join the United States Army Warrant Officer Corps, which comprises less than three percent of the total Army.

Based on leadership, accomplishments and achievements in her 15 years of service in the United States Army, Sergeant First Class (SFC) Tomi J. Thompson was selected to join the United States Army Warrant Officer Corps, which comprises less than three percent of the total Army.

In April 2010, SFC Thompson completed the Warrant Officer Candidate Course at Fort Rucker, Ala. and was appointed by the Secretary of the Army to the rank of Warrant Officer One (WO1).

The rank of Warrant Officer has a long history, with evidence suggesting that Napoleon used warrant officers as communications links between his commissioned officers and the soldiers. Today, the United States Army Warrant Officer is a technical expert, combat leader, trainer and advisor.

A Warrant Officer is ranked as an officer above the senior-most enlisted ranks, but below the traditional commissioned officers.

However, warrant officers remain single-specialty officers whose career track is oriented towards progressing within their career field rather than focusing on increased levels of command and staff duty positions.

The Warrant Officer's primary task as a leader is to serve as a technical expert, providing valuable skills, guidance, and expertise to commanders and organizations in their particular field. Their extensive professional experience and technical knowledge qualifies them as invaluable role models and mentors for junior officers and NCOs.

WO1 Thompson is currently attending the Warrant Officer Basic Course to refine skills in her technical specialty, Military Intelligence, before returning to Maryland for assignment.