DVIDS – News – Oklahoma National Guard Promotes Newest CW5

OKLAHOMA CITY – Family, associates and fellow service members gathered to rejoice the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s latest Chief Warrant Officer 5, the very best warrant officer rank one can obtain. 

Chief Warrant Officer 5 Dustin McNeely, an aviator with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 245th  Aviation Regiment, ninetieth Troop Command, was pinned Thursday in Oklahoma City by his spouse, Chasity, and their two daughters, Vivian and Elsie. 

“I joined the Guard because I always had an interest in the military, as well as in aviation, and specifically in becoming an aviator,” McNeely stated. “I never thought I would attain this goal of reaching CW5, but it is humbling to have achieved it.” 

McNeely is educated to fly the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and stuck-wing plane, together with the C-23 Sherpa and C-12 Huron. Throughout his a number of deployments and coaching at dwelling and abroad, McNeely has flown each rotor and stuck wing belongings a complete of 4,600 hours, and practically 5,000 hours together with civilian flight time. 

Warrant officers are identified for being technical specialists and specialised trainers inside their discipline. The warrant officer pool makes up lower than three p.c of the military, making these positions extremely aggressive and uncommon, much more so when reaching the very best rank throughout the warrant officer corps. 

For the Oklahoma Army National Guard, there are solely 10 chief warrant officer 5 slots, all of that are unfold all through the state in varied navy occupational specialties. 

“Chief Warrant Officer 5s are limited in force structure to no more than five percent of the entire warrant officer cohort,” stated Chief Warrant Officer 5 Christopher Rau, command chief warrant officer for the OKARNG. “Less than one percent of warrant officers that graduate Warrant Officer Candidate School make CW5, so it is very rare.” 

For McNeely, the trail to CW5 wasn’t one taken alone. 

“There are many Soldiers who have helped me along in my career, but I think most importantly I would like to thank my mother and my wife,” McNeely stated. “I’d like to thank my mother for giving me the confidence, as well as the vision to look beyond and see what was possible. To my wife, I would like to thank her for her patience, continuous drive and advice, and the constant help over the last 20 years. I would undoubtedly have had a much more difficult time without her help.” 

McNeely and his spouse, Chasity, who serves as a significant within the OKARNG, have endured seven deployments and state mobilizations, all whereas attempting to steadiness life as dad and mom. 

“I bear in mind being considerably overwhelmed coming dwelling from my second deployment to our two younger daughters as my spouse was leaving for her deployment,” McNeely stated. “I realized the strain my wife had been under to provide them with a good life, run the home, and be a full-time Guardsman, and I then had to navigate the same experience myself.” 

The McNeely’s expertise is exclusive in that each serve throughout the OKARNG as full-time Soldiers versus the normal Guardsman who serves one weekend monthly and two weeks per 12 months. With that accountability, a whole lot of time away from household has occurred, however a powerful household core and bond has remained. 

“It’s not for the faint of heart–you’ve got to have commitment to your family, commitment to your career, while trying not to lose either one,” Chasity stated. “It takes a strong family core, with mutual respect from all. Our military careers could not be possible without each other, our girls’ gracious understanding, and support from the village of family and friends that have helped us along the way.” 

According to McNeely, the accountability to keep up the extent of professionalism and experience that warrant officers are identified for is one thing he doesn’t take calmly, and is an important lesson for future warrant officers.

“For anyone who is considering going warrant officer, be sure to make good decisions, be disciplined, work hard, and attend Warrant Officer Candidate School as soon as possible,” McNeely stated. “The Oklahoma Army National Guard and the warrant officer corps has been extremely helpful to me over my career. I have flown helicopters and airplanes around the world in multiple different mission sets, and I get to do what I love every day.  Becoming a warrant officer has made that possible for me.”