Posted on Mar 19, 2019
What is the difference between the CPL and SPC ranks?
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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.
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CPL (Join to see)
Its actually a little worse than this. Especially in the guard. Not exactly sure in the active side but when you lateral over to a cpl you become an nco but not a full sgt. While this is a step forward its hard cause your peers still view you as just another one of them and when you get put in charge you get more flack and its much harder to maintain civility between being the superior. Some of your closer friends might be the ones that give you the most problems as they view your rank as a way to manipulate and get out of duties because you are such good friends, but as you take your job seriously it becomes stressful to deligate fairly.
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CPL Clyde Willis
CPL (Join to see) what you describe happens in active duty units too. What the new corporal has to decide is if the rank means anything to themselves. If the rank means nothing, give in to your friends, otherwise let them know what it means. If they are your friends they will respect you and your rank. It is only slightly different in the civilian world when someone gets promoted.
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CPL (Join to see)
CPL Clyde Willis i completely agree, im sad to know it is the same in active status. But you are very much right, a true friend will listen and do what was said.
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CPL Brandon Creeger
CPL Clyde Willis - I ran into this just before OIF 1. I passed the promotion board and was promoted to CPL a few weeks before we deployed. My platoon in the Battery was made up of older NCOs. All three of our Paladins had section Chiefs that had been in the unit for several years. They made sure that anyone that was promotable was shifted over to another gun section. That curtailed quite a bit of the the problems you would find with a lateral from SPC to CPL. Once you pinned on the SGT stripes a guy might be shuffled to the other gun line in the Battery or if there was no viable spot to fill they would trade you off to another Battery the Regiment(3d ACR at the time so there were only 3 firing Batteries with 2 platoons a piece. 3 Batteries with 6 guns a piece.)
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CPL is a Non-commissioned officer. SPC is not. Same pay grade, but CPL has more authority and responsibilities.
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Your unit needs another NCO and the commander believes you are the best candidate within the unit. It is an honor.
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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.
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.
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There is a huge difference
Getting a promotion to CPL just like getting promoted to a SGT rank
Most CPL are all on promotion list for E5
Nothing new
Getting a promotion to CPL just like getting promoted to a SGT rank
Most CPL are all on promotion list for E5
Nothing new
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Thank all y’all for the information. I got my 5 yesterday so now I don’t have the CPL rank
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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.
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Suspended Profile
..and a BIG difference in the Guard and the Regulars...
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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
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Suspended Profile
Just fer chuckles...
Suspended Profile
I did serve as a cartoonist after all..
CPL Robert Swartz
That was pretty much the pecking order when I served a couple lifetimes ago. I had the pleasure <cough> of holding the Cpl rank. You had the responsability and authority w/o the pay. I was in an Cav unit, so I didn't have to take shit off the tanker Sp 5's.
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Suspended Profile
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.
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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.
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