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

Simplest terms? A Specialist works in a detail while a corporal is forced to lead it while his/her friends work. When I was Corporal the Platoon Sergeant would say, "We need a detail to pull the grass out of the cracks in the Motor Pool, get it done." The SSGs would then say to the SGTs, "We got a detail get it done!". Then the SGTs would go "Damn that sucks....WAIT lets get the Corporal to do it, he needs the experience!" That is what a Corporal is, a person who yesterday was friends with everyone, now today...a friend of no one!

This is a joke but has anyone known one of these?

Well, first I would like to say that when I was an Specialist, I felt like I was on top of the world! One more rank closer to Sargeant. I was in for a surprise when I was in Korea for almost 8 months and I under the E-5 when a Corporal came to my section. I was peeved, because I was there like a Forman I lost it to Corporal! I was not the only E-4 that felt that way as I had this discussion with a few of my peers and some felt the same way I did, and some say they only do what they was ordered to do no more, no less. But, when I matured, I specialize in my MOS since I was a Specialist I made the best of the rank until I was promoted to SGT and I'm still learning. I think the Army should do the E-4 rank like the Marines.

Aside from a Specialist having a shield and a Corporal having two stripes as insignia and a Corporal being considered a junior NCO who is in charge of other lower ranked troops, including Specialists, there really isn't one. They have the same E grade and the same pay. A Corporal just has more responsibility.

Same pay grade as a cpl but not considered an nco. Specialist gets the same pay without the responsibility. Historically the specialist rank from what I read was used for tech jobs and climbed in rank from Spec 1 all the way up to spec 8 if I remember correctly. They no longer carry the same respect or designation of a technical side of things.

In 1986, I was sent to PLDC and made corporal, from Specialist 4th class. I then took over as section chief of a self propelled howitzer crew, normally Sergeant and Staff Sergeant position.
I had great leadership skills, but lacked time in service to go before the promotion board for E-5.

I've read the comments and what comes to mind is leadership skills, and allotted positions.
But, I had been around Specialist 5, 6, 7, & 8, and know that these men and women were deserving of respect, as we all work together.

As it was explained to me it was an attempt to keep the total number of NCOs down. A Corporal was an NCO. Specialists were not and could not be in leadership positions. Specialists ranks ran from Spec 4 to Spec 9. A problem that arose from this was an E9 Specialist could be ordered around by a Corporal. Specialists had no command authority. When I was in there were Spec 4 through 7. Spec 7 was done away with in the late 60s or early 70s. Spec 5 and 6 went away in the mid 80s.

a Corporal is in charge of troops, while a Specialist isn't. they are both E-4's in pay grade.

The Rank of specialist was created due to the increase in the number of CPLs during the Viet Nam war. With so many troups wearing stripes, (which give the soldiers "Command") there was no one to dig latrines or peel potatoes.

A Corporal is an E-4 and is also non commissioned officer typically has completed PLDC and is promotable. A specialist is an E-4 and is NOT a non commissioned officer.
Back whet they had specialist 5, 6 , etc. they were E-5's and E-6's BUT were not non commissioned officers and therefore could not give a lawful order as a corporal can as sergeant can.