[quote=@kingkonrad]
Doesn't entirely surprise me, you don't want too many officers in the pot, hence why even with Merlin as a Warrant-Officer type, he holds the 2IC position close to JB, yet gets the chance to go a bit mental. I'm really looking forward to playing him, he'll be plenty frightening enough, which I don't really get the chance to really bring out into some of my characters, military or otherwise. The kind of person who yelling sounds like a fucking foghorn.
[/quote]
Please do not confuse the American version of a Warrant Officer with the British version of a Warrant Officer. They are two very different roles. American Warrant Officers have no leadership responsibilities, except at the lowest levels and are considered subject matter experts in whatever their field of training  is. British Warrant officers are senior Non-Commissioned Officers and are the grizzled veterans who have been everywhere and seen everything. They are the legitimate bad asses of the British Army. Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CWO2) are the Company/Squadron level Senior NCOs. They are the senior NCOs at Company/Squadron level and are advisors to the Company Commander or Squadron Commander who happens to be a Major. Chief Warrant Officer 1 (CWO1) are the Regimental Sergeant Majors (RSMs). These NCOs have served for no fewer than 18 years. They know everything there is about being a soldier for the Queen (or King). Check out this website: http://www.army.mod.uk/structure/32321.aspx

But that doesn't mean a senior NCO cannot be a 2IC. They can and they are. Every unit has a Non-Commissioned Officer In Charge (NCOIC).