Chief Warrant Officer 5 Troy Bittner, Wisconsin’s command chief warrant officer, congratulates the latest Officer Candidate School and Warrant Officer Candidate School graduates Oct. 17 at the Wisconsin National Guard’s 426th Regiment (Regional Training Institute), Fort McCoy, Wis. Wisconsin National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Katie Theusch

Chief Warrant Officer 5 Troy Bittner, the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s new command chief warrant officer, hopes to give back in his new role following a 30 year career in aviation encompassed by opportunity and good fortune.

Bittner’s passion is aviation. He began his military career as a member of the Illinois Air National Guard in 1986, serving as an aircraft armament systems specialist with hopes of going to flight school.

When it became apparent he wouldn’t get to go to flight school with the Air Guard, he met a first sergeant with an Army Guard combat aviation brigade. On a handshake, Bittner committed to going to flight school for the Iowa Army National Guard, which he graduated from in 1991 as an AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter pilot.

Members of Det. 5, 641st Aviation (Army), receive the Unit of the Year award, in the category of large aircraft at the Army Aviation Support Facility #2, Madison, Wisconsin, Jan. 4, 2018. Members shown left to right are Steve Johnson, chief warrant officer three Billy Dart, chief warrant officer four Joe Zewiske, chief warrant officer five Arthur Hebblewhite, Lt. Col. Matthew Strub, chief warrant officer four Troy Bittner, and Don Hover. Members not shown who are currently deployed are Sgt. Emily Cash, chief warrant officer four Paul Phelps, and chief warrant officer four John Tomblin. Sgt. First Class Elliott Day not present.

“That was the best thing that ever happened to me, because the opportunities that I’ve had since then have been amazing - in aviation and outside of aviation,” Bittner said. “I never in my wildest dreams expected to be in this position until just a few months ago, and I consider myself very fortunate that I got this opportunity.”

Bittner transferred to the Wisconsin Army National Guard in 1993 after marrying his wife, Becky, and moving to the Badger State. He said he couldn’t have been successful in his career without the support and sacrifices of his wife and their two children.

“She’s been remarkably supportive,” Bittner said. “I’ve deployed five different times, along with different schools and things I’ve gone to. She has served as well.”

When Bittner first deployed more than 20 years ago, he said it was a big deal to get the chance to deploy.

“Now it’s the norm and a different time, but I’ve got to see a lot of the world,” Bittner said. He added that on his deployments he has had the opportunity to fly attack helicopters, Blackhawks, and the fixed-wing C-26 Metroliner.

Chief Warrant Officer 5 Troy Bittner, Wisconsin’s command chief warrant officer, speaks at a retirement celebration for outgoing Command Chief Warrant Officer 5 William Krueck at Joint Force Headquarters in Madison, Wis., Oct. 1. Wisconsin National Guard photo by Sgt. Alex Baum

“Not too many people can look back and say I’ve had all these different opportunities in different airframes and different deployments, so I feel very fortunate.”

In his new role, Bittner hopes to extend opportunities and encourage Soldiers to get outside of their comfort zone and take chances.

“Becoming a warrant is a great opportunity for folks who have a passion, whether it be aviation, cyber, field artillery, vehicle maintenance is a big one,” Bittner said. “It gives you an opportunity to move up in that career field to become a manager so to speak or a shop supervisor.”

The Wisconsin Army National Guard has approximately 7,700 Soldiers. Of those, about 180 are warrant officers, serving as technical experts in their respective fields.

“I think the most important thing I do in this position is to represent that small cohort, make sure that their voice is heard, that we consider their issues on the same playing field, the same level with the enlisted and [officer] grade positions,” Bittner said.

He added that even though it’s a small group of individuals, warrant officers add value to the Wisconsin Army National Guard because of their technical expertise and the guidance they provide to decision makers within the organization.

Bittner also hopes to pass on the knowledge and perspective he has gained over his career to the next generation of Guardsmen.

“I hope to leave the organization a better place than when I showed up and just make sure that people are in the right position doing what they enjoy doing, getting personal satisfaction from it, and if there’s other opportunities out there for them, help them find those opportunities while they continue to serve,” Bittner said.

Bittner began his new role in October, replacing Command Chief Warrant Officer 5 William Krueck who retired after serving 40 years in the Wisconsin Army National Guard. Krueck became the command chief warrant officer in 2017.

 

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