What is the difference between the CPL and SPC ranks?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 13:43:16 -0400

I found out yesterday I am being laterally "promoted" to CPL. What is the point of the CPL rank? I've only met one or two in my time in the guard.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2019 1:55 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 13:55:56 -0400

You will have NCO duties with specialist pay. Go to BLC and get promoted to E5...

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2019 3:13 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 15:13:41 -0400

All the headaches of being a NCO with all the pay of a specialist.

Response by CPL Mark Andersen made Mar 19 at 2019 4:31 PM

CPL Mark Andersen — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 16:31:13 -0400

You will be an NCO, with E-4 pay. It means you are in an NCO slot.

Response by CPL Clyde Willis made Mar 19 at 2019 4:48 PM

CPL Clyde Willis — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 16:48:28 -0400

Your unit needs another NCO and the commander believes you are the best candidate within the unit. It is an honor.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2019 5:29 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 17:29:02 -0400

In my case it was because I had gone to the promotion board and passed, but was awaiting a non existent (unless I re-enlisted) BLC date. (I ETS’d shortly after I passed) They changed it a few years ago making it a requirement to pass WLC(BLC) before you pin SGT. Before that most Specialists would get sent to promotion boards when their leadership felt they were ready and they’d pin Sergeant after being recommended by the board for promotion, they would go to WLC shortly after (Which is probably why you never saw very many CPLs running around)

Response by CPL Marc Livesey made Mar 19 at 2019 6:08 PM

CPL Marc Livesey — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 18:08:55 -0400

I was in the guard too and went spec to cpl - them put into a team leader slot
my e7 was getting me ready for my 5 - take it and be happy - junior nco

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2019 6:37 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 18:37:30 -0400

CPL is a Non-commissioned officer. SPC is not. Same pay grade, but CPL has more authority and responsibilities.

Response by CPL Joe Hall made Mar 20 at 2019 10:27 PM

CPL Joe Hall — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 22:27:08 -0400

Basically you just got promoted to the head table of the mafia. Your leaders have faith in you and they think you need to step up and earn that next strip.

Response by CPL Adam Gerischer made Mar 21 at 2019 10:25 AM

CPL Adam Gerischer — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 10:25:05 -0400

It basically puts you next in line for promotion boards. Not as many meetings as E-5 and up but more paperwork than E-4. You become the one responsible when no one else is around. You are the motivator and the doer of the team. You set the pace.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 21 at 2019 12:02 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 12:02:34 -0400

CPL is the greatest rank in the Army. You are above all other E-4 and below, but you don’t have the headaches of the SGTs and SSGs. If your unit treats you like the NCO you actually are, then you will learn a lot.

As a CPL, I was able to win 2 BN NCO of the Month boards and 1 Brigade NCO of the month board. The recommendations I got because of this were a big part of the reason I was able to join ROTC.

Additionally, you will get to “practice” being an NCO. Your NCOERs as a CPL don’t go beyond the Battalion or Brigade level (can’t remember which, it’s been a while). When you make SGT, you will already have experience leading soldiers with UCMJ authority behind you, performing monthly, event-oriented and performance couselings. You will also know how to truly conduct proper PRT on your own.

All in all, it’s a great rank if your unit is supportive and you take advantage of your opportunities.

Response by PO1 David Ewing made Mar 21 at 2019 9:40 PM

PO1 David Ewing — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 21:40:40 -0400

Besides, if you ever work with E-4's from other services, being a CPL puts you on the same level.
True story time (grab a beer while the Sailor starts telling his story)...
I was a Navy E-4 serving in a joint service command working with Army, Air Force, and Marines.
I worked with an Army SPC and the conversation came up about who was senior. He thought he was because he had been an E-4 longer. I thought I was because I was an NCO and he wasn't. Went to our supervisor (Army SFC) who backed me up. Basically siding with the "NCO beats non-NCO of same rank".
We also worked with Air Force who, at the time, also had a non-NCO E-4 (Senior Airman) and an NCO E-4 (Sergeant). And, the same held with them where an NCO "outranked" a non-NCO. One difference with the Air Force was that a Senior Airman who had attended leadership training could be in a leadership role.
All simply because of leadership training and expectations.
So, there's that. May not mean much unless you're in one of those situations.

Response by CPL Robert Crain made Mar 22 at 2019 10:12 AM

CPL Robert Crain — Fri, 22 Mar 2019 10:12:19 -0400

To address your post, as a former Corporal, I was laterally appointed by the CSM to take over and run the HHC Arms Room. He needed someone with leadership skills to Supervise and manage it for the ARMY. I was chosen and given the lateral promotion based on leadership skills and performance. So to answer your question, If you show leadership skills the lateral promotion is the way to go until you can make SGT. A specialist is not a leadership position, it is not designed for that, only hardstripe rank need to be in that position. Good luck Corporal.

Response by CPL James Barnstead made Mar 22 at 2019 11:20 AM

CPL James Barnstead — Fri, 22 Mar 2019 11:20:57 -0400

I spent 4 years of my Military career as a CPL, for me it was because my Guard unit had no NCO slots. I led a fire team in Iraq with this rank and considered it an honor. I was Infantry and CPLs are still pretty common in my MOS. The guys if anything respected CPLs in my unit as much or more then E-5s. CPL is completely bases on performance and you can loss it at any time. Unlike some guys that make 5 and go to shit you have to prove your self every day as a CPL. Wear the rank with pride, most guys will sooner or later make E5 if they stay in long enough, but CPL is in earned by very few. You also have the added benefit of if you get an Article 15 the worst that can happen is you become a SPC, and loss no pay lol

Response by CPL Gregory Fincher made Apr 9 at 2019 11:32 AM

CPL Gregory Fincher — Tue, 09 Apr 2019 11:32:02 -0400

A Corporal is a NCO rank, a Specialist is a MOS rank; Meaning, a Corporal will be next assigned to Sergeant and will continue on the NCO path. The NCO path is one of command in combat. The Specialist path is one which is focused on specializing more on the MOS. There is a E-4 through E-9 for Specialists and NCO; but the NCO path focuses on the Leadership, Command and Control of the Squad, Platoon, Company, Battalion, Brigade, and Division. Hey Congrats! Salute! /**

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2019 11:08 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 11:08:13 -0400

I was also in the Guard when they pinned me with CPL. The unit needed more NCO's and I was the most Senior Specialist. In reality, I was ADHOC promoted to SFC with a Medical PLatoon of 32 in a Conventional Infantry BN before the BN transformed to the Light Infantry Configuration. It was nerve-racking at first. Expected to attend all the Sr. NCO functions..like NCO DP, the Tuesday Night Training Meetings before Drill (Non-Paid). I was a bit older than the average CPL 27 years old, So really it was making sure the medical support was in place for the Infantry Companies when they had training, Our Companies were spread out all over the State...so it was about loading up the Ambulances and getting them to their training locations and determining what other support was available. (ie) MEDEVAC, Air and Ground...Local Medical Facilities...and just normal Pre-Combat Checks. After a while it got to me, b/c the NCOs that were on our manning document never showed up or were TDY (ANCOC, BNCOC, PLDC) or whatever. I was then Promoted to SGT, but I had to play CPL for about three years before that happened. Promotions were slow as molasses in a New York Winter. It's much better now that most states have centralized promotions.

Response by SPC Casey Ashfield made Apr 11 at 2019 5:03 PM

SPC Casey Ashfield — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 17:03:15 -0400

One is an underpaid sergeant. The other is an overpaid private.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Apr 12 at 2019 1:12 AM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 01:12:02 -0400

The Corporal is an NCO a Specialist 4 isn't.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Apr 12 at 2019 5:58 AM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 05:58:18 -0400

The "point" is that "they" want you to be an NCO. It could be that you have demonstrated the leadership qualities they are looking for and want to recognize that. It could be that they think you have potential, but you need to "grow up," and giving you more responsibility will hopefully force this change. It could simply be that they NEED another NCO to make things run, and you were the most eligible.

Whatever the reason, whoever decided to laterally promote you decided that you should be an NCO. You need to act the part, now. Be, know, do. Live the NCO Creed. Take care of your Soldiers. Don't forget where you came from, but STOP THINKING LIKE A SPECIALIST.

Being laterally promoted can happen at three ranks - CPL, 1SG, CSM. All three lateral promotions carry an immense honor, and a level of prestige... and a large number of headaches. Buckle up, Buttercup, yer in fer a RIDE.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 12 at 2019 6:10 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 06:10:35 -0400

you're in a NCO position

Response by SPC(P) Clifford Deal made Apr 29 at 2019 2:42 AM

SPC(P) Clifford Deal — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 02:42:24 -0400

GHard stripe actually has more command and control than a Sp 4. As a junior NCO [promotable] there'll be more respect there than any "Full bird private" ever got. In an NBC room , for example, certain documentation cannot be signed for by a SP 4 , but a corporal can get it done.

Response by SPC(P) Clifford Deal made Apr 29 at 2019 2:46 AM

SPC(P) Clifford Deal — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 02:46:59 -0400

Just fer chuckles...

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 7 at 2019 8:10 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 May 2019 08:10:24 -0400

Being CPL is basically having a job of a NCO but get paid as SPC. We have one in our unit who was CPL , now SGT he’s smarter than other SGTs take advantage of it and work to prove that you can be an effective E5

Response by SPC(P) Clifford Deal made May 7 at 2019 11:34 AM

SPC(P) Clifford Deal — Tue, 07 May 2019 11:34:14 -0400

..and a BIG difference in the Guard and the Regulars...

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 7 at 2019 11:45 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 May 2019 11:45:01 -0400

When I was offered a promotion to E5 I had a lateral promotion to CPL until I finished BLC. As soon as i had my 1059 the PAR was published to promote me to SGT. Check to see if your in an E5 slot.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2019 3:48 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 May 2019 15:48:08 -0400

Thank all y’all for the information. I got my 5 yesterday so now I don’t have the CPL rank

Response by CPL Michael Moore made Jun 9 at 2019 2:23 PM

CPL Michael Moore — Sun, 09 Jun 2019 14:23:18 -0400

The difference is your command saw the potential for leadership so you are being promoted ( and it is a promotion) into a leadership spot as a Jr Non commissioned officer. No more shamming for you lol.

Response by CPL Rob Hazeltine made Aug 10 at 2019 10:26 AM

CPL Rob Hazeltine — Sat, 10 Aug 2019 10:26:04 -0400

It’s a trap! But no really, it’s a way to stand out, in a good way. It’s 100% a thankless role, but because I stepped up, I got sent to a bunch of school. Also really depends on your unit.

Response by CPL Raul Perez Jr made Oct 24 at 2019 7:57 PM

CPL Raul Perez Jr — Thu, 24 Oct 2019 19:57:21 -0400

As a CPL, you are in more of a command position. You get a little more respect, but not the pay. I like a CPL in a recon plt.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 19 at 2019 12:20 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 12:20:39 -0500

CPL is a NCO with responsibilities still such as soldiers, maintaining counseling packets, checking dorms, and etc. Its the same pay as specialist but it’s great practice before you pin on your five.

Response by CPL Laurie Wilde made Sep 24 at 2020 6:49 PM

CPL Laurie Wilde — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 18:49:34 -0400

It's a lateral move both are e4 CPL is hard stripe above Spec 4.