What is the difference between a Specialist and a Corporal in the Army? Inquiring Marine minds want to know.

Joking aside, we like to pretend that a Specialist is some sort of over-paid private while a Corporal is an under-paid NCO.

In some units, that is actually true. In some units it is just a matter of MOS.

The history of the Specialist goes back to the Technical Corporals and Technical Sergeants of WWII, when the Army acknowledged the need to recognize and pay some people for what they knew and what they could do that didn't involve leading troops and shooting a rifle at the enemy.

Later, as the Army became even more complex and technical, the Army faced a serious problem with recruiting and retention for people in technical fields. By law, pay was tied to rank so the Army couldn't pay people who were technical experts more without promoting them to ranks that they generally had neither the temperament or the experience to perform. The Army's solution was to create 'Specialist' ranks -- not just "Specialist" but a whole series of Specialist ranks SP4 through SP9 (although apparently no one ever held SP8 or SP9). The key to the Army solution was that ALL Specialists ranked above PFC but below Corporal. One small problem with this system was that the Army could put all the Specialist grades as being below a Corporal in the Army rank structure, by law the equivalence between military services was by Pay Grade. The result was that an Army SP6 was below an Army Corporal within the Army, but equal to a Navy Petty Officer First Class or a Marine Staff Sergeant. This wasn't a big problem for the Army because there weren't any many "Joint" assignments where it would come up.

After a short while the Army dropped the SP8 and SP9 ranks (which apparently no one actually held) but kept SP4 through SP7. Most people were fine with this system, but as with anything sensible, there were a few people who wanted to tinker with anything that worked and some of those people were in leadership positions.

We started to see people being promoted to SP4 and SP5 in positions where it made no sense to consider them technical specialists. For example the Table of Organization for an Armor unit ended up with a four-man tank crew that was supposed to include one PFC, two SP5, and one NCO or Officer. Other kinds of units (such as personnel and finance) had SP6 or SP7 slots as "Team Leaders" with no junior NCO slots, then needed a Master Sergeant or First Sergeant as the first NCO position in the MOS.

Eventually the Army converted all the SP7 positions to Sergeant First Class, all the SP6 positions to Staff Sergeant, and all the SP5 positions to Sergeant, but still kept SP4 (renamed to SPC) to distinguish between soldiers who had been around long enough that the Army wanted to pay them E-4 pay but didn't expect them to show any leadership ability.

I rember seeing a corporal once, I was e4 promotable, so I had pldc, corporal, has a fire team , best I can say for you, but in not really sure, just what I saw

Back when I was in the Army (1966-68), the specialist rank was used to promote deserving soldiers to next pay grade with no command authority. It was not used for infantry (that I know of), but was used more in support units (clerical, signal, etc) when command positions were full. I'm sure a lot has changed since then.

A corporal is a leader, and most of the time has graduated from PLDC. Typically someone who promotes the corporal as high potential in the army. It was a
Corporal in 2 1/2 years, and I’m very proud of that.

Army SPC/E-4 have more In common with Marine Corps L/CPL E-3 they do the same jobs and have similar duties. While Cpl E-4 in the Marine Corps is an NCO and Junior leader like all the other Branches of Military!

Specialist ranks generally more administrative roles duty assignments and corporal or say master sgt and 1st sgt both = e-8 but 1st sgt primarily admin assignment i.e.. to company commander is 1st sgt of the company hands on with master sgt?

A US Army Specialist position usually entails technical proficiencyand basic tactical about their MOS

A Corporal is entrusted with much higher technical, tactical and Leadership displayed attitude. A corporal OUTRANKS A SPECIALIST and is isually assigned to "Combat Arms" Units; Infantry, Armour, Artillery, etc.
I met few Corporals in the Army but remember one that was truly professional, motivated, and sharp in ALL of the ABOVE! He was a tremendous credit to our unit!

They are both E4 rank but the corporal is more so in command, like a E5 without the rank.

Ahh, I really don't care.

DD 368 and letter of financial relief through your chain of command. Advise how you are having trouble paying bills and have the strong desire to serve on active duty and enjoy a career.