Specialist Rank, why do we still have it instead of a corporal?

SGT Anthony Rossi we should keep it as SPC is not a leadership position but CPL is utilized for leadership positions. It is the lower enlisted version of 1SG/MSG and CSM/SGM. Same pay and benefits but different because of the position they are in.

Simple, a corporal is a NCO a specialist is not.

The specialist ranks are great for reserve/national guard units because they allowed compensation for competency. Many do not qualify or seek the responsibility of leadership but their loyal service and increasing skill deserve to be compensated.

Get rid of all this confussion and problematic business.Eliminate the specialist rank that doesn't represents anything anymore but confussions and problems, and make the E-4's corporals once and for all.

Corporal is a positioned rank that should be earned showing the leadership capabilities that you striving to achieve as a sergeant. As for specialist I believe this is a rank that should be earned as well. I get so tired of seeing 4-5 year specialist without a promotable status. Why are you wanting the Army's time and money? I believe that by the time you get to specialist, you are achieving standard to that under an NCO as to if your NCO was to leave you would be able to temporarily fill his shoes. Some Specialist today just just don't understand that and leaders promote just so they won't hit RCP. Honestly I can care less if you hit RCP. If they can't preform I will not recommend them to the board. One of the main problems we have today with leadership is that team leaders and young NCOs, and sometimes even senior leadership as well, want to be their SOldiers friend and have them like them all the time. Next thing you know favoritism kicks in and the SM is wearing strips. Meanwhile this new Sergeant doesn't know the first thing about leadership minus what he/she studied for the board because he/she was never mentored right. Remember select, train, educate, promote: not select-promote.

Overall an E-4 is a pay grade and we should build those nor should we laterally promote SMs just because they been a socialist for so long. We should be focusing on building strong leaders within our formation and promoting excellence with standards and discipline. This is just my opinion.

Initially the specialists ranks where for like cooks and MP's and anyone not Combat arms related. Well, hard strippers out rank the specialist even though the are the same E grade. So there where a lot of pissing contests.
Now days its because they are afraid of doing a 4187 and doing the lateral transfer of the rank. A 1st Sergeant that I won't name said that the ARMY had done away with the Corporal rank many years back. I was like really then why was I a Corporal in my last unit. He stammered and said that he wouldn't promote anyone to that rank and wouldn't have any in HIS unit and that it was stupid.
I can see having the SPC rank. You are only allowed so many NCO's in the unit. so if all e-4's are cpl's no one will get promoted till Someone gets boarded for e-5.

I like the idea of having technical Mos embrace the Spec ranks, and leaving the chevrons to the combat arms. Yet if we scrap it I am fine with that as well. Just go all the way in either direction.

I think maybe most spc didn't have that leadership, and no college.