Although the Navy abolished the grade of Warrant Officer 1 in 1978, we continue to carry various items related to the grade, including this Combination Cap, in response to high demand from veterans, collectors, and other organizations.
The design of the Warrant Officer 1 White Combination Cap reflects the grade’s somewhat murky status between Noncommissioned and Commissioned; Warrant Officers 1 were appointed by the Secretary of the Navy rather than commissioned by the President. In almost every other way, however, Warrant Officers 1 were regarded as Officers, rating salutes and courtesies and wearing Officer-style uniforms. For example, the decorative chin strap on the Warrant Officer’s Combination Cap is synthetic gold, setting the wearer above Chief Petty Officers whose chin straps are black.
A glance at Warrant Officer cap device reveals a design that embodies the Warrant Officer’s unique position in the rank structure: its two gold crossed and fouled anchors make up the foundation of the cap device worn by Commissioned and Chief Warrant Officers. Their cap device, on the other hand, adds a silver Navy Eagle perched upon a silver shield to the design; not only to do the additional components reflect greater responsibility, but silver is also a sign of higher rank than gold.