–_____–For a warrant officer and spouse see Couple, Military

How to Address a USN or USCG Warrant Officer

—-Envelope or address block on an official letter or email:
—-—-Warrant Officer (Full Name). USN/USCG
—-—-(Address)

—-Salutation:
—-—-Dear Warrant Officer (Surname)
—-—-Dear Mr. (Surname): *
How to Addrerss a Warrant Officer

How to Address a USA or USMC Warrant Officer

—-Envelope or address block on an officiail letter or email:
—-—-Warrant Officer (Full Name). USA/USMC
—-—-(Address)

—-Salutation:
—-—-Dear Warrant Officer (Surname)
—-—-Dear Mr. (Surname): *

* See post below ‘Is A Warrant Officer Addressed as Mr.?’ about which salutation to use.
NOTE: There are no warrant officers in the United States Air Force.

How to Addrerss a Warrant Officer

How to Write to a Chief Warrant Officer?

I volunteer for our local Habitat for Humanity office. One of my tasks is writing thank you letters. I have a donation to acknowledge and all I have for names is what’s on the check itself:
—-—-CW2 STEVEN W. ARMSTRONG, USA, RET.
—-—-LESLEY M. ARMSTRONG

Can you advise me on the correct form of address and the correct salutation? It’s probably a small thing but I’d like to get it right. Thanks so much!
————–—-– Wanda

Dear Wanda:
When a donor gets a letter of thanks … getting their name right is not a small thing … it is huge!

Looks like a married couple using the same last name. He is retired United States Army Chief Warrant Officer.

Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”

—-They’ve used a service-specific abbreviation for his rank on the check:
—-—-CW5 – CW4 – CW3 – CW2 – and CW1
—-These are the abbreviations used in the U.S. Army for the five types of warrant officers. Although there are five – all are addressed orally and in a salutation as Chief Warrant Officer (Name)  These abbreviations can be used by those outside the armed services. So, use CW2 in the reply.

You have his wife Lesley’s name. The traditional formal form does not include her given name. If you find she prefers something else, change it to match her preference.

—On an official envelope include his branch of service and retired status:
—-—-CW2 Steven W. Armstrong, USA, Ret.
—-—-(Address)

—-On a social envelope don’t include branch or service or retired status:
—-—-CW2 Steven W. Armstrong
—-—-and Mrs. Armstrong
—-—-(Address)

—-Salutation: How to Addrerss a Warrant Officer
—-—-Dear Chief Warrant Officer and Mrs. Armstrong:

– Robert Hickey How to Addrerss a Warrant Officer

Is a Warrant Officer Called ‘Mr.’?

What is the proper way to address a Chief Warrant Officer? My understanding from several CW4s and 5s is that they are to be orally (in conversation)  addressed as ‘Mr./Ms. (Surname)’.   Please advise.
——————-– Assistant Service Desk Manager @ The Pentagon

Dear ASDM@TP:

This is an interesting question.

—-DOD documents for U.S. Navy, Army & Coast Guard suggest in oral address ‘Mr.’:
—-—-Mr./Ms. (Surname)

—And written address in a salutation –  by rank:
—-—-Chief Warrant Officer (Surname)

Army protocol officers explain in oral address – use of Mr./Ms. (Name) is correct – but it is an internal practice within the Department of Defense (DoD). Those of us outside the DoD should address Warrant Officers:
—-—-(Rank)+(Name)
—-—-Chief Warrant Officer (Surname)
—-—-Warrant Officer (Surname)

There is a similar practice with the address of junior Naval officers who are orally addressed as Mr./Ms. (Name) aboard ship – another internal practice – in this case – just for fellow Naval personnel aboard ship.

– Robert Hickey

See These Related Posts:
—––—How to Address Active Duty Personnel
———How to Address Retired Personnel
—––—How to Address Reservists
—––—Use of Rank by Retired Personnel
—––—Use of Rank by a Reservist
—––—Use of Rank by a Veteran
—––—How to Address a Military Doctor
—––—How to Address a Military Chaplain
—––—How to Address a Military Couple
—––—How to Abbreviate Ranks

Related Posts:
——–—Couples: Private Citizens
——–—Couples: Christian Clergy
——–—Couples: Rabbis
——–—Couples: Military
——–—Couples: U.S. Officials
——–—Couples: Same Sex

Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”

When Should You Use the Forms on this Page?

You can use these forms of address for any mode of communication: addressing a letter, invitation, card or Email. (If there are differences between the official and social forms of address, I will have mentioned the different forms.)  The form noted in the salutation is the same form you say when you say their name in conversation or when you greet them.
___What I don’t cover on this site are many things I do cover in my book: all the rules of forms of address, about names, international titles, precedence, complimentary closes, details on invitations, place cards, all sorts of introductions, etc. I hope you’ll get a copy of the book if you’d like the further detail.

Not Finding Your Answer?

—-#1)  At right on desktops, at the bottom of every page on tablets and phones, is a list of all the offices, officials & topics covered on the site.

—-#2)  If you don’t see the official you seek included or your question answered send me an e-mail. I am pretty fast at sending a reply: usually the next day or so (unless I am traveling.)  Note: I don’t have mailing or Email addresses for any of the officials and I don’t keep track of offices that exist only in history books.

—-#3)  If I think your question is of interest to others, Sometimes I post the question  – but always change all the specifics.

— Robert Hickey 

Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”

Recommended Resources:  The Protocol School of Washington (PSOW) and Protocol and Diplomacy International – Protocol Officers Association (PDI-POA)    For more information see the Protocol Resources page.