Posted on Nov 28, 2016
What was the purpose of the higher Specialist ranks?
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During the time my grandfather served in the Army, there were many Specialist ranks all the way up to E-9. My question is, what was the purpose of having an E-9 SPC (SP9) back when these ranks were in service. I could use a good history lesson!
Thank you,
SPC O'Hara
Thank you,
SPC O'Hara
SP5
SP6
SPC
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 110
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Back then, the two rank systems were used to distinguish who was a leader (an NCO), and who was a technician (specialists). The higher specialist ranks were given to soldiers who had a great deal of administrative responsibility, but did not necessarily lead any troops. For example, someone who was a quartermaster (supply sergeant) who worked at the Pentagon and worked on massive acquisition projects might hold one of the higher specialist grades. He was paid the same as the NCO of the same grade because of the level of responsibility and expertise he had, but he was not in charge of troops and most of his authority was administrative only.
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SSG Ronald Robinson
SPC Melody Joyce - If you had more than enough promotion points why were you not promoted? Did you have more points than the cutoff point requirement?
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SPC Donna (Martin) Harrell
I was a PFC when assigned to the Pentagon in 1981. A year later I was promoted to SP4. My specialty was 71L, Administrative Assistant.
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SFC Robert Walton
The Specialist rank also had dining Facilities, commissary, PX, Medical, truck driver, supply, Finance, Personnel, POL, nuclear biological chemical, Communication, They were mission specific Mos's and specialized in their field. They carried the same authority as the NCO only in their specialized field They were not leaders of Squads, Platoons, You carry the same rank as a Corporal, However a Corporal was a leader and trainer of Combat Soldiers. You could be in Combat but as a part of the Team but not expected to lead a Soldiers into the fight. JMTC
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SGT John Overby
I was active 1969-1971. When I finished advanced AIT as an 05C20 I was a Spec 4. When promoted to E-5, we were given Sargeant stripes as a 05C40. No one to supervise, no change in duties, but now an NCO. Beat me what the deal was. Never mattered except on payday.
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SGT Sean O'Hara I was the Chief Fire Direction Computer for a mortar platoon, and was a SP5. I had one subordinate, a SP4 Fire Direction Computer. Mortar squad leaders were all SGTs, perhaps because they had an appropriate number of subordinates, 4 in their case. (Appropriate in that an Infantry Team Leader would also be a SGT and have 4 team members.) By that standard, if you had an entire squad of 10 subordinates, you would be a SSG, and if you had a platoon's worth, you would be an SFC. But if you had less, you could be a SP6 or SP7.
I don't know if this is the ACTUAL reason, but it is what it appeared to be in the early to mid 70's. The only SP7s I saw were senior cooks.
I think then, the Army was trying to increase pay for those who had valued skills, but insufficient subordinates to justify higher rank. I think the Army needs to continue to look into this, and stop the drain of highly qualified talent to the contracting world.
I don't know if this is the ACTUAL reason, but it is what it appeared to be in the early to mid 70's. The only SP7s I saw were senior cooks.
I think then, the Army was trying to increase pay for those who had valued skills, but insufficient subordinates to justify higher rank. I think the Army needs to continue to look into this, and stop the drain of highly qualified talent to the contracting world.
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SSG Edward Tilton
SP5 Edwin Overstreet - It depended on the MOS, mine went to hard stripes at E-6. It didn't make any sense and depended on officers who were vacancies
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CW5 Jack Cardwell
As a young SGT E-5 somewhere around 1977-78 with around 3 years time in service I had Spec 5s in my squad that had over 10 years time in service! Guess i was lucky i made hard stripe !
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SP5 Philip Sanders
I was a SP5 with Army Security Agency (Radio Research in Nam). We had hard Strip ans specialists depending on the type of responsibility you had. For instance I was responsible for the “poking pit” on my shift which was the group that prepared originating message traffic. The trick Chief was a E-6 Platoon Sgt, thus it all depended on what position you were promoted to.
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SFC Kenneth Hunnell
You might wantto look at the medical enlisted field. Just the other day, I came across a veteran that was in the army back in the mid 50's. He said that he worked for a master specialist at Fort Sam Houston
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Just for information:
In 1968 when the Army added the rank of Command Sergeant Major, the specialist ranks at E-8 and E-9 were abolished without anyone ever being promoted to those levels. In 1978 the specialist rank at E-7 was discontinued and in 1985, the specialist ranks at E-5 and E-6 were discontinued.
In 1968 when the Army added the rank of Command Sergeant Major, the specialist ranks at E-8 and E-9 were abolished without anyone ever being promoted to those levels. In 1978 the specialist rank at E-7 was discontinued and in 1985, the specialist ranks at E-5 and E-6 were discontinued.
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SGT Jerrold Pesz
SPC Robert Keesee - I am sure those insignia exist but the army says that no one ever held those ranks.
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SP6 Peter Kreutzfeldt
they had to have somebody who could do the job, the hard striper could not get anything done, just yell a lot
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