In today's modern military, would there be any benefit to an enlisted structure similar to that of the past?

these days, as far as I have seen, NCOs who are NOT of leadership quality are usually discovered very early in their careers and assigned to other tasks better suited for their skill sets...let's face it, not all NCOs are leaders. It's a simple fact of life...many people are DOERS rather than MOVERS...this does NOT make them less in the eyes of society or the command structure. To bring back the old NCO rank structure would not really make a big difference...just more steps up the ladder...God bless you all !!!!

If you need a thought sugar coated, stop reading. There is no reason that a soldier who is not fit to lead should continue to climb the pay grades beyond his/her RCP. We all have a job to do so we must either do it or no longer be paid for holding the position. Anyone who does not exhibit the potential to be a leader has no business progressing beyond PFC. Be good at your job and work hard, that is fine and should be the norm at all levels. But only doing MOS tasks and not being charged with the welfare of others is Junior soldier level stuff. Climbing the pay chart involves accepting greater amounts of responsibility. And what is a greater responsibility than being entrusted with the lives of America's sons and daughters? If you would like to be compensated at the same rate as a Senior NCO then you should be required to earn it, not just take the easy road.

there are likely people of that type in EVERY military branch and I know there are people like that in modern business practice. Great techs at.... Can't lead a flock of ducks to water.

This was never based on leadership. It was simply MOS and TOE. Also you could be a Sp5 one day and get promoted to SSG E6 the next. People think this was something it wasn’t. Get rid of specialists. And get rid of that stupid-looking rocker under the PFC stripe. Embarrassing.

No No and No If you are in charge of a med detachment you have to lead you cannot pass responsibility for this ewho work for you that is why we got rid of Spec 5 thru 7 If you can't lead we don't need you.

I think it should stay the way it is

I would stick with the current rank structure it promotes growth from a technical expert to a teacher to a leader. We need our young people to grow and stay in one spot because they are comfortable. If they are unfit or do not wish to lead then they need to go. A career soldiers needs to have a sense of progression.

I would say a highly motivated NO! So now the support unit soldier can be a SPC 5 or SPC 6 and be told to go pound sand from a corporal? I can hear it now "you’re not even a real NCO you’re just a specialist " I had my Sergeant first class /E-7 92G get told by a E-5 13B "why don't you go back to the M.K.T. and do something useful like cooking a hot meal instead of standing here". He was the acting NCOIC of the F.O.B. guards in Baghdad in 2003 and the 1st Sergeant just laughed out loud. Can you imagine the amount of consoling statements, article 15, even physical altercations, etc. this will generate leading to a loss of good order and discipline? Plus, the added expense for class A and b uniforms, even field uniforms. No thank you please.

Being a SPC4 , I am torn on this issue. Even at this rank, you are a leader whether you want to be or not. The Army is unique in that e4 can be junior enlisted or NCO. But most jump to SGT from SPC4 without becoming Corporal. So should there be one rank for e4? And should e4 always be NCO like other branches?

In the Aviation branch, the increased complexity of these aircraft required much more time to maintain readiness percentages. We keep adding to the amount of tasks to train/ tasks to complete. The end state becomes dangerously unsafe to personnel and equipment. Just compare the critical ask list for a 15R/ 15U/ 15T. Even larger yet is the 15Y list. Put those tasks to train to proficiency in DTMS then you will see why the training schedule is constantly red inked