United States Army Warrant Officers Association
USAWOA ONLINE
USAWOA Legislative
Activities
USAWOA is actively involved with current legislative actions as
a charter member of The Military Coalition (TMC).
TMC is a pro-active organization made up of more than 35 military
organizations with combined membership strength of more than 3.5 million
members. Through TMC, USAWOA participates in areas of legislative concern that
affect all military personnel, families, retirees, and veterans. The USAWOA is
a member of the Coalition's Military and Personnel Compensation Committee.
Factually, there is little
legislation that deals specifically and exclusively with warrant officers.
Therefore, USAWOA is most effective when we focus our attention on the
military policies and programs that directly affect Army warrant officers. As
a result, we have frequent and significant interchange with action officers
and decision makers at Headquarters, Department of the Army, the Department of
Defense, and other comparable levels. Experience proves this is where we
achieve results.
Warrant Officer Management Act
(WOMA): USAWOA was instrumental in achieving
this significant legislation, with the cooperation of Congressman Bennett from
Florida. The Army proposal for WOMA was blocked by the Office of Management
and Budget and not scheduled for action by Congress. However, Congressman
Bennett introduced a separate WOMA bill that was incorporated into the Defense
Management Act and later passed into law. The USAWOA spearheaded the passage
of WOMA and The Military Coalition supported its provisions and provided the
combined support that the USAWOA could not muster on its own.
Basic Pay and Special Pay:
Since founding, USAWOA has fought for increased
pay for warrant officers. In the 1970's and 1980's, USAWOA led the fight for
increases to, and equalization of, flight pay. More recently, USAWOA fought
for amendments to the law to permanently codify specialty pay entitlements for
Army Aviation Warrant Officers.
USAWOA continues to lead the
drive to further increase basic pay and the elimination of "Pay Compression;"
the situation in which the pay of the enlisted force is drawing ever closer to
the pay of warrant officers. Future Legislative
Efforts: The voice of the USAWOA and The Military Coalition speaks strongly in
today's environment of demanding Operational Tempo (OPTEMPO). Military men and
women are being asked to do too much with too few resources. Health care
programs need significant improvement to provide the quality care deserved by
military families, retirees and veterans. Many quality of life concerns lead
USAWOA's and TMC's legislative agenda. Throughout all, USAWOA weighs in
vigorously on the issues that uniquely affect the Army warrant officer.
USAWOA
is the only professional military association that day in and day out,
exclusively represents the Army warrant officer; not only at Army and DOD
levels but also in the big-picture legislative arena.
USAWOA is the professional
association for Army Warrant Officers.
Other Resources:
Keeping Our Legislative Focus, a timely article by CW4 (Ret) Don Hess, March 1997 -see article.
Letters to Congress "How to Contact Your Legislators" - see article.
"How Bills Become
Laws . . . or Not"
-
see
Legislative
Process.
-
Warrant Officer Pay Compression - see
Chronology.
(Many
files throughout this site are a
PDF files. A
free reader is available for download.)
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USAWOA
Online
10/9/2008