Should PFCs stand at "Parade Rest" for a SPC?

While the corporal is a NCO rank, and should receive the courtesies as such, the specialist is still junior enlisted. The separation is there for a reason.

As a SPC I have not earned the right for a soldier to stand at parade rest for me. I have seen in a line unit at fort wainwright that e-3s have to stand at parade rest for e4s and that's why a PFC did for me after I asked him why he was doing it.

The real question is why is a Senior NCO asking such a dumb question?

In all technicalities, a specialist is not an nco, they're still junior enlisted.
Thus I see no reason to stand at parade rest.

The rank system out there is for the reason. And we stick to the Army Values. Some people realize that, some don't. Respect the senior in rank than you is one perfect example. That's what makes us professionals. By regulation, E4 is not an NCO and E3 and below don't have to snap in parade rest in front of him. Now, good E4 should couch and remind any E3 and below to do that in front of the NCO. And when time comes, when that E3 will become one, he will be expecting the same treatment of professionalism from lower enlisted.

I would say that for sure you want to respect soldiers who out rank yourself. That said, you also need to respect the soldiers of less rank than yourself. Parade rest is a sign of respect. I don't think it should be expected of a pfc to go to parade rest for a specialist, but at the same time if you are a pfc getting instructions/orders/advise from specialist you would go to parade rest to show that you are paying attention and giving a fellow soldier the respect he/she deserves.

I vote Pump your brakes high-speed!

There is no regulatory requirement to do so, so no. However, as a PSG I have had Soldiers subordinate to their SPC team leader stand at parade rest when addressing them in an effort to differentiate the position from their perceived peer relationship as junior enlisted service members. Is it the right thing? Not really. The correct answer in that scenario is to laterally promote the E-4 team leader to Corporal which is the purpose of that rank in my opinion. What is really inspiring though, is to see a subordinate Soldier stand at parade rest for his Team Leader not because he was ever told to do so, but out of earned respect of the junior leader in that position. I believe in the requirement to exercise courtesy by standing at parade rest as a measure of discipline, but I do think it is over-emphasized sometimes. As I have been guilty of making subordinate Soldiers stand at parade rest for their SPC superior, I have often been guilty of telling Soldiers subordinate to me to stop sweating the craziness and just communicate the message so we can get to work.

Without pause, YES!

What did SSG McCulley just say?
There are criteria that must be met: A> Said SPC must be holding an NCO coded position on the MTO&E. (My preferred example is an SPC holding a teamleader billet) B> Said SPC must be assigned Soldiers that s/he counsels and are also coded on said MTO&E under previously mentioned NCO position. C> ONLY THOSE SOLDIERS SHOULD DO IT! It shouldn't be a thing, but the troop is obviously a NCO Trainee who's rank just hasn't caught up. Their command would not entrust the responsibility of troops upon them *we hope*.

The more dangerous thing, in my opinion, is comfortability and the perception of those troops seeing that future NCO as Jr Enlisted. I made a big boy decision my last promotion and since my DOR was during PCS leave I had one of my dad's old Vietnam war buds, a retired CSM, promote me. He even got a hair cut.. pretty cool. I showed up to my next assignment (where a vast majority of the instructors are E6s) as a SSG and was always perceived as such. I've seen others who promoted soon after arriving where I observed 'rank bias' continue. Because I made a decision I didn't have to deal with it. There was a reason we used to move folks when they got promoted. IDK about you but, I love it when my juniors get promoted.. one less social barrier.. one step closer to peerhood (that is where we hide the beer) .

I'll start by saying that I have been both, SPC and CPL. Went to PLDC as a SPC, was promoted to CPL, CPLs were later phased out for a while and I found myself wearing SPC rank, once again. That said, as I saw it, as a SPC, I was not an NC. I was an experienced PFC, an equal. As a CPL, I felt like I was barely a Junior NC and never thought a PV1, PVT, PFC or a SPC should stand at Parade at Parade Rest for me. I suppose I could have done it as an E-4 CPL, but wouldn't have even entertained such an absurd thought while wearing E-4 SPC rank. This clown must be power hungry. As for the Lieutenants saluting one another, are they 2LTs saluting 1LTs? That is understandable. Two LTs of equal rank is pretty dumb.