Warrant officers are adult leaders who have received direct appointments into the USNSCC Officer Corps. Warrant Officers wear a modified navy warrant officer's (W-2) uniform appropriately marked with the NSCC Insignia. Warrant Officers normally serve a specific function or head a department within the unit and remain in the grade of Warrant Officer, however, may become an Ensign in the normal path of advancement after one year of service if they choose to do so. Candidates for Warrant Officer do not have to complete the Officer/Midshipman Study Guide prior to appointment, but have to have obtained the rank of E-6 or higher in any branch of the Armed Forces, serve 1 year as an instructor, and have a special skill, or speciality in the unit's operation.