Should there be more pay for the lateral promotion ranks I.e. SPC/CPL, MSG/1SG and SGM/CSM?

Did they do away with CPL on DA orders?

SGT Robert Wager - No, but those are very rare. Mostly Combat Arms branches/units are authorized (by MTOE) Corporals, and are put on DA orders. For other units whose MTOE don't have CPL slots, for a SPC to be lateraled to CPL, the SPC has to be in a leadership position AND there are no SGTs available to fill the slot. A lot of 1SGs, although well-intentioned, try to put SPCs up for CPL just to give them leadership experience/responsibility. You can't do that, according to regs.

Another issue comes up when the unit-lateraled CPL goes to another unit; the CPL comes off and SPC goes back on. Sucks for the SPC having to get the gold braid taken off his/her uniform slacks, and hard stripes taken off the uniform blouse.

SSG(P) (Join to see) - I did promote a SPC to a CPL. As you mention the 1SG pushed it, and as you mention the Regs are VERY narrow in regard to it. 1) The SPC has to be MOSQ for the billet, 2) there can't be another MOSQ E5 on my books that could fill the billet. AND THE BIG ONE!!!!! 3) The SPC has to be promotable to SGT. Which makes the whole thing moot.

I did this for my 1SG. The 1SG was new to the unit, and wanted to reward a high speed SPC, and it was all about the dog and pony show formation ceremony. I told the newly promoted CPL I better see a SGT promotion packet on my desk the following month.

So it really all was moot. He probably didn't even get a new CAC card with CPL before he made SGT.

The Army simply needs to treat its seniors like the Navy does.