Regimental Chief Warrant Officer

By CW5 Mark W. Arnold

January 1, 2023 | Military Police, 2023 Edition

Read Time: < 4 mins

Greetings to all. It is with mixed emotions that I write my last message to the field as the 6th Regimental Chief Warrant Officer. I have had the privilege of serving in this position for nearly 4 years, and I have counted each moment as a true honor. This has been an extraordinary experience and one that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I’ve had the opportunity to travel around the Regiment and meet the Soldiers and civilians who have dedicated themselves to the often thankless work of assisting, protecting, and defending our Army and military communities around the world. I have been awed by your accomplishments and inspired by your commitment. I knew this assignment was going to be a challenge, and it did not disappoint. These last couple of years were full of challenges and uncertainties.

The Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) made all of us think about how we do business, adapt to a new environment, and continue to accomplish the mission. Like true professionals, the members of our Regiment reacted and responded admirably across all disciplines and in multiple domains. Here at the Home of the Regiment, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, the U.S. Army Military Police School (USAMPS) Commandant refocused and prioritized our efforts to ensure that we provided a safe, healthy, and low-risk work environment; continued to train and educate our students/Soldiers within the guidelines established by health protection conditions and in compliance with guidance provided by the Department of the Army, the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, and the U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence; and set the conditions necessary to reestablish full mission support operations/ conditions as quickly, efficiently, and safely as possible. Everyone pulled together and executed the commandant’s guidance and directives to the letter. It was truly a sight to see, and I am extremely proud to be associated with such professionals.

The “Report of the Fort Hood Independent Review Committee”1set the tone for a U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) transformation. The ongoing CID transformation will continue throughout this year and well beyond. The current model calls for CID to move toward a 60 percent civilian/40 percent military agent ratio; however, the agency may go beyond that and move toward an all-civilian agent organization. CID will continue to meet the challenges of the present while shaping for the future and will always be ready to provide superior criminal investigative support to the total force across all domains and in all locations in order to enhance Army operational readiness. The Regiment is committed to CID and stands ready to assist and support the agency as it continues to transform as a premier criminal investigative organization.

As a part of the Army modernization effort, we examined and redesigned our Warrant Officer Professional Military Education System. This effort involved developing knowledge, skills, and behaviors; instituting career-long assessments; and adding two additional courses to the Professional Military Education continuum. We are in the final stages of staffing the course additions, and the courses will be set to commence by Fiscal Year 2026. This modernized Professional Military Education model will ensure that we develop leaders who possess the character, competence, and commitment necessary to serve in the Army profession; will win in large-scale combat operations/multidomain operations; possess the knowledge, skills, and behaviors required to provide our Soldiers with war-winning leadership; meet the requirements of the operational force; and can develop others.

As I move on to my next chapter, I pass the reins to Chief Warrant Officer Four Angela J. Rulewich, who is incredibly capable and wholly committed to continuing the forward momentum that we’ve started. I encourage you to continue the hard work of moving our Regiment into the future. The process will be frustrating at times, but it is necessary.

Again, it has been an honor and privilege to serve as your 6th Regimental Chief Warrant Officer.

Assist, Protect, Defend!

Endnotes