Can a Specialist make a Private stand at Parade Rest for him?

CW3 Kevin Storm - With respect in this instance, the individual should be laterally appointed to CPL as I was. The respect indeed should be given however, shouldn't be warranted or required based on what we think.

Should be, but the rank of Corporal has been so poorly managed for the last 35 years it is not used the way it should be.

Agreed, however I do believe that the whole ‘position over rank’ thing has to come into play at some point. If the PSG deems that soldier worthy and capable of an NCO position, then absolutely. Then the argument could be made to remove all questions by throwing CPL stripes on that TL until they get promoted, right?

How about just show professionalism and act accordingly? I'm guessing that since you are surrounded by NCO's, SNCO's, jr Officers and senior OIC's that you just don't like the answers you've been given, so you seek someone out on social media who'll be sympathetic. My first recommendation would be follow the order you were given. If you are so put off and feel belittled by an act of respect, then there is a chain of command ...use it. If you're right, you'll be vindicated and offending SPC will be corrected.

During my AD time (1961-1964) Specialist 4 was considered an "overpaid private." That was my rank for about two years -- six months of which I held a Sergeant E-5 position, (AT squad leader) with NCO authority & even attended NCO Academy.

I never passed SPC but I did hold NCO positions. I never made them stand at parade rest for me unless I had to, aka they were screwing around while given a block of instruction or they were being smoked for whatever reason. The only reason I was put in that position was 1. I was fastest gunner on the mortar and 2. All the guys I was over never had a deployment (I had a 15month deployment with my previous unit). They wanted guys who had been there in charge because we had already been in that situation. I wanted the guys to do stuff for me willingly more than forced, anyone one of them could've got better than me and been over me at any given time, no sense in making them hate me.

SPC Jeff Colson - Also gunner! Fastest big deflection? I was on the 81mm, did some in 6 seconds, no AG moving the bipod! I had the same because of that, never put anyone on parade rest tho.

No authority below Cpl? Interesting...…….. so if all leaders E4 and above are killed and all that remain are E3s and below, can they go home? Seems to me the Army has far too many regulations and no common military sense.

Not necessarily so. There are provisions in times of conflict. There are standing orders in each organization related to the succession of command.

Yep, there are provisions in the Marines for peace time and conflict also, if the guy is a higher rank than you are he has authority over you. If you are an NCO (E-4) you don't get shit details like mess duty, I was served chow by an Army E-7 aboard a troop ship, never happen in the Corps. We have some E-3 squad leaders...…….

Understood. The only time I have ever seen a Senior NCO serve chow was because he volunteered. We (the Army) do not typically have Squad leaders below E5. We do have Corporals who serve as Squad and Section Sergeants. Take care.