Should the Army bring back the Specialist titles?

Yes

I did exactly that to a certain degree. I signed up for 4 years, and I knew from the beginning that I wouldn't make a career of the military. In my 4th year I extended my service 1 year in order to stay in Berlin. But during the 3rd year I reached my specialist rank, and in the fourth year I was told to start studying for the board. I told my leadership that I didn't want it. Of course I was asked why? I said I have no interest in doing E-5 management jobs, and that I would be getting out in a year. This perplexed some of the senior NCO's for a little while, but they soon got over it as time went by. I knew moving up another rank in our small unit meant being a paper pushing, meeting taking, manager of the people I felt dearly about. So the next E-4 got my spot. And just as I thought, the promotion took away his day to day work and replaced it with NCO meetings, paperwork, management duties, and on and on. In this case yes I would have loved to have Specialist titles, I might.... might have given another year or two.

I agree, while I am retired AF I believe all branches should have a specialist or technician grade that follow the NCO. Not all troops are leaders, not all leaders are specialists. I also think the AF should bring back the WO corps as well.

As I can see it there are many specialist of many kind in all services today . Yes they need to bring it back for the sack of the men and weman that serve so proudly in there duties . Therefore give rank accordingly

I'd have to say NO. I think it is incumbent on every soldier to pursue leadership. At any moment that role can fall into a soldiers lap. The idea of not being a leader, but a technician instead is a recipe for confusion. By all means, be a technician or what ever, but as a soldier be a leader

Yes. Especially in technical MOS’s.

I was briefly a Spc 6 Reserve medic then reduced to a hard 5 to be a recruiter .(1984 )

I say bring back the specialist

I have seen to many cases where an individual was great at his job but when given those stripes they drove more out than they inspired.

Why did the Army force out all that professional knowledge in the first place? Did someone at the big puzzle palace get a burr under his saddle? We, as the Army, thew away so much institutional knowledge when that happened.

I've always thought so. I dislike that Specialist is earned by time, also. In a perfect world, Specialist would be earned and have a few grades to it, with soldiers that just want to do their job and be proficient at it earning their way past PFC. I was infantry, and I knew a lot of guys that just wanted to stay specialists and be good shooters. I doubt see why that is a bad thing.