Who can be the weapons officer in afloat units with less than 4 officers?

• A. WPO Who Is E5 Or Above
• B. WPO Who Is E6 Or Above Unless GM
• C. WPO Who Is E4 Or Above
• D. Only GM

Answer: (B)

The weapons officer on a small afloat unit must have enough authority and weapons-specific knowledge to supervise all ordnance handling, safety, and training. In these tight crews, the standard requirement is at least E6 to ensure proper leadership and oversight. An exception exists for Gunner’s Mates, whose specialized weapons training can justify filling the WPO role even if they aren’t E6. So the best description is someone who is E6 or above, unless they are a GM. The other options don’t fit because they either set the rank too low or restrict the position to GMs only, which isn’t aligned with the established practice for small commands.