Should the Army bring back the Specialist titles?

I Was A Vietnam Combat Veteran And Love Being Called Specialist. It Is One Honor For Me This Day! When One Is Called Specialist There Is Something About It. I Am A Light Weapons Specialist And Till This Day!!! I am Still The Best!

reasons why
1. Low recruiting numbers
2. Low Retention due to RCP mandate
3.RCP severance pay
4.Years of experience and specialized MOS such as aviation signal Corps cyber security
4. The turnover of skill lost between an experience specialist and a fresh AIT soldier Not beneficial to units
5. The loss of years of investment into a single soldier who transferred over to civilian sector to make sometimes twice what they made it in the military

As the Army got smaller, and the need for warm bodies became less, we could afford to be more and more selective. Today, all NCOs are expected to the "technically and tactically proficient" in the same person. Furthermore, NCOs are expected to be able to take charge, and to be in charge it very much helps to have the UCMJ protections. Specialists are not NCO's and cannot give a lawful order.

In a word-no. There should be two e-4 ranks: specialist for standard e-4 not in a leadership role or combat arms, and col for e-4s in combat arms or leadership roles.

When I entered the U.S. Army in 1981 after serving 3 years prior service in the USMC, I believe the Specialist Ranks went all the way to SP-6

Enlisted in 78 Field Artillery, E1 to E5 in 27 months. 90 percent time in the woods so wife says get a new job or get a new wife. Reenlistment to "fixed station" MOS as a Telephone Central Office Repairman (when the Army still owned the base landline operations). Handed SP5 insignia in 80 after AIT and tore off hard stripes until 85 when the rank was eliminated plus being on the E6 list same year. Super small career field with only 56 E6 slots worldwide so basically everyone knew everyone. Highly technical field so Specialist rank was fitting. RCP lost many highly trained people and yes, we were nerds for the most part buried in troubleshooting off a 5 foot schematic versus moving formations, calling cadence, etc... I ended up being on the E6 list for 7 years (cutoff scores were ridiculously high so an off day on a PT test was a make/break back then) until I was offered an early retirement from Desert Storm in 93 as E5(p) over 15. Bottom line... specialist ranks for highly technical jobs with minimal upward progression is of great value plus NO RCP. It's better to keep skills sometimes versus forcing someone out with great value to the organization.

No, I would even do away with the Spec 4. The Marine Corp don’t have Specialist and they have no problem with commands. I was a Spec 5 and I always felt lower in rank than an E-5 sergeant

As a 91B who is constantly getting calls from my NCO's (Who are E6 and up) about things related to our MOS I agree with bringing back these kinds of ranks. Sadly, the way the army works now is based on PT and memorization of how to be a leader. What good is an NCO if they don't know their jobs first and foremost?

I'm a PFC who should have been promoted to SPC already. I had some issues that held me back. But when it comes to the job itself I'm fantastic. But because I have no desire to be an NCO I'm stuck at the E4 rank max. To quote my last few monthly counselings: "You display unmatched knowledge on your MOS compared to your peers. You are my top soldier when it comes to troubleshooting legacy vehicles."

Yet I'm ETSing OCT 2019. There is no place for me in the Army. It's like they don't want my knowledge since I'm not interested in being an NCO. But on the flip side of the coin, we have a SPC that got his P status and just got his BLC date. He himself has stated that he doesn't particularly like what he's doing as a mechanic and that he knows enough to do the job. Don't get me wrong, our NCO's are shaping him into a leader and when it comes to PT he's amazing. I feel as an NCO he'll do great. As a future mechanic leader, not so much.

You are right not everyone is a leader, but many great people, super with the tech end have been handed their walking papers.

For the warrant officer who thinks that we shouldn’t bring back the spec system, I think we should get rid of the warrant’s, because I guess they couldn’t handle or hack being an officer, in my book they are the same as the specialists