WTF? Navy Warrant Officer leading Marine platoon?

[Bigmack]

Is this kosher? The only squids in my platoon were Corpsmen. Are the Marines running out of troop commanders?
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Navy chief warrant officer leads Marine platoon in Iraq
Story by Cpl. William Skelton

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (March 6, 2006) -- Navy CWO3 Jeffrey D. Fishel’s mother should have listened to him 27 years ago when he was 17 and said he wanted to be a Marine.

These days, Fishel’s wearing the Marine Corps digital pattern uniform, serving as platoon commander for Mobile Assault Platoon 3, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment working with Regimental Combat Team 5.

He originally came to the Corps’ ranks as the naval gunfighter liaison officer. At the end of his second battalion deployment, he was given the position of a platoon commander in Weapons Company.

“After seeing my performance at Twentynine Palms during training exercises, they made me the platoon commander of one of the new MAP teams,” Fishel said.

“Fishel has taken part in 16 deployments and spent 6 years overseas during his time in the Navy. He doesn’t have to command the respect of his men after 26 years in the Navy. He’s earned it.

http://www.marines.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/lookupstoryref/200631272827

[Selatius]

1. He choose to transfer to active ground duty in Iraq.

Unless people are being forced into ground combat, I see no issue with this. I don't know how usual this is, but at this point, I think the Marines will accept anybody who is competent enough to be commanders. They need all the good men they can get if we're going to stay there until 2008 or later.

[ThomWV]

2. A Distinction Between "Commissioned" and "Warrant" Officers

As I understand the distinction it is that Warrant Officers have command of equipment (with immediate persons being incidental to the equipment command) whereas Commissioned Officers have command of persons. So the commander of a helocopter (and its occupants) would be a Warrant Officer but leading troops on the ground would require a Commission.

Has that changed since I served?

[Aviation Pro]

3. Warrants now have UCMJ authority....

...I believe, which would give them command authority. Any Chiefs out there who can back me up on this?

[ThomWV]

4. The Uniform Code of Military Justice Would Be Meaningless

It is a code of statutes, not a constituion. It is by appointment and Commission granted by the Congress that command of our citizens passes. It can not be done by fiat.

[LevelB]

5. I think they can just do what they want

My engineer detachment was commanded by a warrant officer in 1974.

B.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

6. Warrent Officers do have command authority

for that matter, certain enlisted rates and ratings do too, but this is rare.

[Spider Jerusalem]

7. Sounds like they may have a shortage of junior officers.

I'd guess that the number of Academy and NROTC students and OCS selectees commissioning into the Marines rather than the Navy is probably lower these days than in peacetime. Also, I haven't seeen a breakdown of casualties by service and grade...wonder what the casualty rate among USMC lieutenants is?