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

When I was in, a Corporal ran his own shop (at one time or other) and was considered a full, dues-paying NCO. Most corporals I knew did not run their own shops but they got the lateral promotion because at one point they did. A Specialist, on the other hand, was a junior NCO who could still be selected to run details but does not pay dues as a full NCO. So, the specialist had the same pay as a corporal but more money and less responsibility.

I was in the Field Artillery. I was a specialist one day, a howitzer driver. Then I was laterally appointed to Corporal and assigned as a Gunner (Sgt/E-5 position). That was my experience and those of others I knew as a Corporal. I became an NCO and treated that way.

Corporals are found in the combat arms MOS 's and sometimes where the higher ups want to make an E-4 a squad leader.

The major difference between a Specialist and a Corporal is that a Corporal is a Non-Commisioned Officer and a Specialist is not

A corporal is a junior NCO that has passed a promotion board and is either waiting to pick up SGT or holds a position that requires a corporal instead of a Specialist. Specialist and corporal are the same pay grade l, but hold different duties or positions

A specialist is the rank of E-4, but usually has no leadership responsibilities. A Corporal is a NCO and has the leadership role in a squad or platoon. Same pay, more responsibility!

a specialist is a senior enlisted member who continues to do his MOS; a CPL is in a leadership role and classified as a NCO.

An Army corporal is an e-4 in a Combat Arms related MOS, and is considered an NCO. A Specialist is in another MOS that generally requires some type of specialist training, but is not considered an NCO.
Thus they can still use the I didn't know excuse (lol)

It is the person who makes the rank, not the rank makes the person....

basicly a specialist is a e4 pay grade only, a corporal is an e4 pay grade nco..