Posted on May 13, 2015
Specialist Rank, why do we still have it instead of a corporal?
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Bring back the spec ranks. There are many who have the technical skills that the Army needs but do not have the leadership capabilities or inclination to be NCOs. During my time in the Army I ran into many E5-E8 soldiers who would have been excellent Spec5-Spec8s because of their technical expertise but should never have been put in charge of troops.
I've stated this on several similar threads, but I'll repeat it again here. At my last duty station I worked with a civilian GS intel guy who was a retired CSM. He was one of the CSMs who made the recommendation to do away with the Specialist track (Spec5-Spec7) that existed at the time. He told me on more than one occasion that it was his biggest regret from his time in the Army. He wished he could go back and change that decision and even extend the Specialist ranks to E8 and E9.
I've stated this on several similar threads, but I'll repeat it again here. At my last duty station I worked with a civilian GS intel guy who was a retired CSM. He was one of the CSMs who made the recommendation to do away with the Specialist track (Spec5-Spec7) that existed at the time. He told me on more than one occasion that it was his biggest regret from his time in the Army. He wished he could go back and change that decision and even extend the Specialist ranks to E8 and E9.
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SGT Anthony Rossi
I look at it in two different ways.
1. Bring back the spec ranks and used them for technical MOS's. Where the goal for most medics, communication, mechanical, type soldiers should strive to be true "specialists" in there trade.
Leaving the chevrons for the direct combat arms MOS's.
2. Or, remove it completely and use the corporal insignia just don't hold it as a NCO position. The purpose here is to maintain uniformity in the rank structure. Just like the Marines it makes it clear to other branches who is what. The spec e-4 as a standalone rank is confusing to non Army personnel.
1. Bring back the spec ranks and used them for technical MOS's. Where the goal for most medics, communication, mechanical, type soldiers should strive to be true "specialists" in there trade.
Leaving the chevrons for the direct combat arms MOS's.
2. Or, remove it completely and use the corporal insignia just don't hold it as a NCO position. The purpose here is to maintain uniformity in the rank structure. Just like the Marines it makes it clear to other branches who is what. The spec e-4 as a standalone rank is confusing to non Army personnel.
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SGT Anthony Bussing
in the Marines though...Corporal is a recognized NCO rank with all privileges and duties expected of it
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I would honestly like to add step levels to the E4 rank. It kills me when technically advanced Soldiers make SGT but can not be trusted to lead. You can mentor them everyday and every way but they just don't get it and now they are expected to leade because we don't want them RCP'd.
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SGT Anthony Rossi
I agree with this idea. Yet I think that from a visual perspective the spec rank doesn't make sense. It doesn't blend well with the rank structure. It's the only enlisted rank that has neither chevron or rocker in its appearance. Why don't we have something that looks like a PFC rank and the. Just put the bird on the inside. Then if you want to add levels just add rockers?
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CW3 (Join to see)
When I was a SSG/Platoon Sergeant, I was stopped from hemming up a newly promoted SGT who didn't want to call cadence because "they didn't teach us that in PLDC".
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LTJG Kevin Matthews
CW3 (Join to see) - That IS crazy! Did they never march in a formation prior to this? Could they not emulate what others had done? I could teach that in 5 minutes TODAY, and I hung up my sergeant's stripes back in 1984
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GySgt (Join to see)
Just to provide clarification on something above. In the Marine Corps, Sgt and SSgts are not promoted by points. They are board selected just like Army SFCs. A SSgt in the MC is considered a senior NCO unlike the other services.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
GySgt (Join to see) Sgt's are cutting score based, SSgt+ are Annual Selection.
http://www.killfoot.com/cutting-scores/active-duty-sergeant/
http://www.killfoot.com/cutting-scores/active-duty-sergeant/
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GySgt (Join to see)
Yes, what I meant was that Sgt and SSgts compete via board selection. You are correct, promotion to Sgt is via points and time in.
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LTJG Kevin Matthews
Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS - I had that situation when I was in a tactical MI unit. Pratically everyone came in with college, so they quickly promoted to E-4. Complete basic, AIT, language school, and soon they were all E-5. So to answer you question how does the Army handle that? easy! Everyone gets treated like a private!
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