Warrant Officer MOS 131A increasing dramatically.

In 1991, the FA Warrant Officer Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) 131A Radar Technicians assumed the duty title of "Field Artillery Targeting Technician" in its first transformation. The career field increased from 134 to 202 positions in the active Army, reaching 216 positions last year.

This year MOS 131A is experiencing unprecedented growth, beginning its increase by 57 percent to 352 positions by FY07 (most probably more).

In the 131 As' first transformation, the Army took officers out of several positions and moved 131A warrant officers into them. These positions are targeting officers (TOs) at the battalion, brigade, division and corps levels; counterfire officers (CFOs) in the Field Artillery brigades and division artilleries; and Field Artillery intelligence officers (FAIO) at the division and corps levels.

The Future of MOS 131As. As the Army transforms into Stryker brigade combat teams (SBCTs), units of action (UAs) and units of employment (UEs), 131 As truly are becoming the Army's targeting experts. The 131A radar and targeting positions from the previous transformation will remain with many positions being created in non-FA tables of organization and equipment (TOE) units that never have had FA 131As before. For example, radar section leaders will be in infantry UAs. Targeting officers will be in reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition (RSTA) UAs; maneuver enhancement UAs; and aviation UAs. 131As will be TOs and FAIOs in the "division level" UEs and Army service component commands (ASCCs).

Doctrine and tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) do not exist for the positions in most of these new organizations. 131A warrant officers will be the architects of many of the TTPs and future doctrine for their positions and the organizations' targeting processes.

Transformation of the Army is a juggernaut that seems to have a life and pace of its own. The 131A MOS conversion from Radar Technician to Targeting Technician took 36 months to accomplish. The "top-down" changes occurring now are happening so fast that the Army can't grow all the new 131As it needs as fast as it needs them. The MOS' growth is exceeding the Army's ability to supply the Soldiers to fill all the positions.

During the next four years, the number of 131A positions increases to 352 (see the figure). The Army needs to access and train a minimum of 45 new warrant officers per year for FY05, FY06, FY07 and FY08 in order to meet the needs of the future force.

Because 352 represents the initial estimation of the 131As the Army will require for its future organizations, there is a probability of a greater increase as the transformation continues. In addition, the Army will have to access and train more than just the shortfall because of personnel turnover.

Opportunities Abound. The FA needs 131As to stay in the ranks. Warrant officers usually retire at or around 22 to 24 years of active federal service (AFS), which includes enlisted service. Fifty-one 131As are eligible to retire this year.

Some will continue service until they reach mandatory retirement. A chief warrant officer four (CW4) only can stay for 30 years AFS or 24 years warrant officer service, whichever comes first. A warrant officer can stay 30 years AFS as a warrant officer (not including enlisted service) if he is in the grade of CW5 or is a CW4 on the promotion list to CW5.

MOS 131A has been short CW4s and CW5s since making the transition to Targeting Officers in 1991. So the increased potential for promotion to the next higher grade (and increase in pay) is an incentive to stay in if the warrant officer is willing to accept the increased responsibility.

In addition, the Department of the Army G1 is considering providing a "retention" bonus at the 22-year mark for shortage MOSs.

In order to fill the active force with quality Soldiers and maintain a viable senior Soldier base (CW3/ CW4 and CW5) for the future, we need to access younger Soldiers into 131A. While the NCO corps is called the "Backbone of the Army," NCOs are also the lifeblood of the warrant officer corps. 131A accesses all new warrant officers from the FA NCO corps.

The expansion of the FA Targeting Technician into all levels of Army organizations from radar sections all the way to Army service component commands is a testament to the success of the FA Targeting Technician Program. The future holds many exciting changes that, while challenging, will make the 131A's business more interesting and rewarding, both personally and professionally.

Commanders, command sergeants major and warrant officers of the Field Artillery have to work to help recruit new warrant officers to keep the MOS viable. For more information on Warrant officer recruiting, readers can go to www.usarec.army.mil and click on the "Warrant Officer Recruiting" link.

By working together to recruit new warrant officers, the FA can meet the needs of the branch and Army and ensure the continued success of the FA Targeting Technician Program for the future.

Year  W2   W3   W4  W5  Total

FY04  131   77  44  7   259
FY05  147   87  51  8   293
FY06  154   98  62  8   322
FY07  166  107  71  8   352

FA Warrant Officer MOS 131A 57 Percent Increase by FY07

CW5 Rodger I. Padgett, CWO of the FA

FA Proponency Office, FA School

Fort Sill, OK