Posted on Mar 28, 2015
CW2 Stephen Pate
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What if we pinned CPL on all the the SPC (P) Soldiers? It would give him time to ease into a leadership role and they could fill certain positions that leaders prefer stripe wearers fill (i.e. an NCO in every truck, duty etc). Just a thought. What do you think?
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CSM Michael J. Uhlig
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CW2 Stephen Pate, It is healthy for our Army to promote all SPC to CPL once they are promotable & complete WLC, let these Soldiers have an opportunity to lead and learn to lead before.

FYSA - the name will soon change to Basic Leader Course BLC, the title Warrior Leader Course seems to give civilian companies the impression that is a school focused on Warrior/battlefield tasks.
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SFC William Linnell
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I can only answer this from 27+ years as a tanker and being combat arms. Lil history. Specialist rank E-4, Spc5, Spc6, Spc7, Spc8 and Spc9, were pinned on those that were not combat arms and/or not in a leadership position. We had a bunch of SPC5 in the gunner position. Someone thought that being a gunner was not a leadership position. But those Spc5 gunners had the green leadership tabs on the epaulettes on the field jacket and Class A jacket and the Class A shirts. I wanna say that we still wore the pin on ranks for the shirt collars. I don't remember. April 85 timeframe Big Army did away with the Specialist ranks E-5 - E-7. I have been one of those Spc/E-4 being promoted to CPL with a 4187. I think that made it more permanent instead of just a Co pin on. I went to the SGT promotion board, passed and the BN CSM telling my 1SG to promote me to CPL. The CO did and I became a Tank Commander which normally is a SSG position.
Getting back to CPL. I have witnessed some Soldiers passing the promotion board and waiting on points to activate after the 90 day waiting period, were pinned Sgt/E-5 as an "Acting Jack" until they made the cut-off. Which Big Army stopped doing. And promotion points were effective after passing the promotion board. Which made a ton of sense.
CPL is a good stepping point learning what an NCO is and does. Which traits to develop into their leadership style. They should be mentored by the NCOs around them. It's a hard rank to transition in bc one is still buddies with SPC4 and below. Especially living in the barracks. Sometimes their buddies respect that and them being an NCO with off duty a bit more relaxed. I know quite a few that didn't want CPL bc they felt they were only pinned to be an extra NCO on the CQ roster, guard duty etc.
Professionally, I feel that they should've kept the Specialist ranks. In non-combat arms, are ALL those NCOs in leadership positions in their MOS being a support role? Technical/Specialized positions?https://ncohistory.com/short-history-of-the-specialist-rank
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COL Charles Williams
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Makes sense, I would say, if there is a leadership position they can work in.
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SPC (P) promoted to CPL until they make points
SSG Bill McCoy
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In the Navy and Marines, an E-4 is, in fact, an NCO (Petty Officer for the Navy). That said, the Army "could" just make all SPC's Corporals; but why? Corporal has always seemed to me to be, literally, the most junior NCO - thus, the most junior person responsible for leading/supervisiong those on his/her team/squad/section/whatever. Seems like a good training emthodology, and a way to recognize a Specialist who gives 110%.
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PFC Mike Mcdermott
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This can't be a bad idea. When I was in from 91-95, the Corporal rank didn't transfer outside of the Company level. Has that changed?
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MAJ Ronnie Reams
MAJ Ronnie Reams
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Acting rank does not transfer. Ranks with valid promotion are valid Army wide.
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MAJ Ronnie Reams
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Would wipe out a bunch of soldiers for fatigue details. NCOs are not supposed to do manual labor.
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SFC William Linnell
SFC William Linnell
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Ahh Major, since when have NCO's not be exempt from doing "Manual Labor"? That's a statement that Officers fall into, NOT NCOs. This must be held for Non-combat arms units. All the NCOs in the units I served in, they ALL worked. Exempt was the CSM, SGM, Even the SFC Platoon Sergeants were there busting a sweat.
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SFC William Linnell
SFC William Linnell
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I don't see how I can edit my wording. Had two thoughts running thru my nugget and ended up with a couple words not in order. Corrected sentence. Since when have NCOs been exempt from doing Manual Labor? Too many knocks to the nugget. LOL
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MAJ Ronnie Reams
MAJ Ronnie Reams
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Back in my day as an EM, NCOs supervised not labor. Wonder why they work now. Never had an NCO on KP, area beatification, barracks party, etc., other than in a supervisory capacity.
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