Can some of our Army brothers and sisters explain the enlisted rank structure? For instance, what is a SPC(P)? Sergeant...?

LtCol Mac McCarty — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 21:09:44 -0500

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2016 9:20 PM

CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 21:20:24 -0500

Hey Sir,
The (P) suffix denotes when one has attended and passed a promotion board making one eligible for the next rank.
e.g., SPC(P) means that they are eligible for SGT. SGT(P) is eligible for SSG and so on.

The AF, informally, does the opposite.
e.g., MSgt(S) denotes that one is about to tack on MSgt (Select=S) but is still a TSgt. TSgt(S) is about to promote to TSgt, etc.

Since it is not an official rank, we have a running joke, "What is a MSgt(S)? They are a TSgt." E.g., until they promote, they are what they are. :)

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Feb 3 at 2016 9:24 PM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 21:24:04 -0500

LtCol Mac McCarty, SPC(P) (E-4) is not a Army rank, however its just a status. The SPC (P) is promotable for Sergeant, but must make cut-off points to make Sergeant (E-5).

Response by SN Greg Wright made Feb 3 at 2016 10:24 PM

SN Greg Wright — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 22:24:59 -0500

LtCol Mac McCarty Lots of answers for you already so I'll just say: welcome to RP Sir. I think you'll find lots of good people here.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Feb 4 at 2016 2:19 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 02:19:14 -0500

The Navy does things somewhat like the AF. When the Board report comes out, you'll typically see Higher Rank (Sel) as the first introduction and then referred to current rank thereafter. I don't know much of that background other than it gives fair warning not to piss someone off who'll be your boss soon. Then there is Frocking in which the member gets pinned with the higher rank but doesn't get paid until their actual promotion date. It's done for Mils who are placed in the higher ranking billet. Interesting enough, they still wait for increased UCMJ authority as well. We see it a lot when an O-6 assumes a Flag Billet. It is done for Command billets and less frequently for others. It's typically up to whoever is the next echelon command to decide to frock or not.

Response by 1SG Patrick Sims made Feb 4 at 2016 6:11 AM

1SG Patrick Sims — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 06:11:01 -0500

It is an E-4 rank, and a throwback from the past that should have don away with years ago. there was a time when the Army had two enlisted ranks---The specialists were set up as technicians and really didn't have any authority and therefor never attended any leadership schools---I remember seeing a corporal marching around a bunch of SPC sevens and eights. It was a bad idea to start with.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2016 8:59 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 08:59:36 -0500

P is for promotable showing the individual has been selected for promotion to the next rank. Where as other services often use S for select, and let that individual where the next rank with the S beside it. For example an instructor I had in CGSC was a LtCol (S) in the AF, in the Army he would have been a MAJ (P).

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Feb 4 at 2016 9:39 AM

MCPO Roger Collins — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 09:39:14 -0500

All this convinced me that the Navy conventions regarding promotions and Rate (Rank) is the least complicated. Some one in the stratosphere determines the numbers get promotions and the detainees assign based on service needs. At times regardless of Rate.

Response by LtCol Mac McCarty made Feb 4 at 2016 9:43 AM

LtCol Mac McCarty — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 09:43:52 -0500

Thanks to all who responded, especially the NCOs, Petty Officers, SNCOs and Chiefs (my Dad was a CPhM in WWII, so I learned early on that a good Chief had lots to do with his boss becoming a good officer). What a simple question about a meaningless parenthetical has revealed is that we each have our own way of doing things that works for us. If that assures victory on the battlefield, the only place that really matters in our chosen profession of violence, the Nation will be well served by all. We Marines do respect each of you in our Sister Services. Love, your big brother. Semper Fi!

Response by SMSgt Robert Dahl made Mar 3 at 2016 4:28 PM

SMSgt Robert Dahl — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 16:28:56 -0500

Sir,
From what I remember of my Army days, the (P) designator after the rank just meant that the person is in a promotable status and awaiting the cutoff scores for the next rank to become achievable and the person still holds the current rank. The person is referred to the rank in which he/she currently holds, not the next one that the person is promotable to.

Response by SFC Timothy Parker made Jun 3 at 2017 9:03 PM

SFC Timothy Parker — Sat, 03 Jun 2017 21:03:51 -0400

E4 that has past the board to be promoted to E5 (SGT)