Why did the Army do away with the specialist ranks of SP/5 and above?

Cpl Bernard Bates — Sun, 21 Jul 2019 13:08:23 -0400

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Jul 21 at 2019 1:49 PM

SFC Ralph E Kelley — Sun, 21 Jul 2019 13:49:32 -0400

The 'Powers That Be' (Congress) decided that every soldier equal to NCO rank should be (another McNally-ish sentiment) a leader and that everyone wanted to be (if I were in charge I could do it better) a leader. That's my opinion.

Response by MSG Danny Mathers made Jul 21 at 2019 2:41 PM

MSG Danny Mathers — Sun, 21 Jul 2019 14:41:01 -0400

It was a measure to thin the ranks of combat service support soldiers and reclassify the specialist Military Occupation Skills to combat support and Combat Arms. The specialist E-4 rank was maintained because at the time only Corporals were former NCOs that were busted to E-4. This was done during the early post Vietnam days when the army was involved in a reduction in force. I remember reclassified SSG & SFC into the Infantry that couldn't lead a fire team. I had a platoon sergeant that spent more time on sickcall than on duty. I was glad to see him sent to the motor-pool. There were a lot of SP5 & SP6 that ETS to keep from going into combat arm. I also, saw a lot of good Officers RIF back to NCO Ranks during this period. There was a lot of BS Drills conducted to drive people out! Same patterns were started in 2008. Think about it..................

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made Jul 21 at 2019 9:01 PM

CW4 Craig Urban — Sun, 21 Jul 2019 21:01:45 -0400

I was a SP/5 but officially a Corporal was a NCO and I was not. A guy in my unit was buck SGT. He was given that because our authorized SSG was not due in for 90 days. He got busted to Corporal for stealing a painting off the wall in the rod and gun club one night when he was drunk. Camp Peri, Weisbaden Germany 1968. The accountable officer a new 2LT said bobby you are to supervise police call. And the barracks for the next 30 days and stay away from Craig. He is the boss. Bobby Fairchild was his name. He got out after his enlistment was up. You never recover from a court martial.

Response by SGT James Murphy made Jul 22 at 2019 11:37 AM

SGT James Murphy — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 11:37:25 -0400

Hey! I'm ahead of the curve again! in 1969 I got my SPC5 exchanged for a Hard Five because I was attached to the ASA. Of Course, they shut the ASA down in 1973 so again ahead or behind I'm not sure there.... 8-)

Response by SP5 Thomas Jameson made Jul 26 at 2019 5:27 PM

SP5 Thomas Jameson — Fri, 26 Jul 2019 17:27:35 -0400

They wanted to get rid of more than a few good men

Response by SP5 John Means made Jul 30 at 2019 1:10 PM

SP5 John Means — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 13:10:11 -0400

Oddly enough I was an sp5, but my last DD214, listed my as a Sgt. That was 1979

Response by CPT(P) Gs Greene made Aug 15 at 2019 10:50 AM

CPT(P) Gs Greene — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 10:50:53 -0400

My thought is that the Army should've kept SP5 and SP6. I can see the higher E-7 and above being reserved for SNCO positions only, but it would be good for people who are very proficient in their occupational skills to be able to move up to E-5 and E-6 outside of the NCO regiment.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 11 at 2019 5:36 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 17:36:51 -0500

I can only speak for myself, but I was in MEDCOM most of my career, and between '82 and 2000 I was Spec4, 5 and 6, until promotion to SFC in 2000. I'm not sure, but I'm not aware of any Army-wide, unversal cutoff date for the specialist ranks during my time in - maybe it had to do with MEDCOM being a large part of my career, or maybe it was gradually (& dependent on MOS perhaps) phased out. Sorry I don't have a better answer for you.
Warriors Forever!
-Ed Boles

Response by SP5 William Braid made Nov 15 at 2019 11:15 AM

SP5 William Braid — Fri, 15 Nov 2019 11:15:37 -0500

I don;t know

Response by SGT John Shatesky made Dec 17 at 2020 3:36 PM

SGT John Shatesky — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 15:36:54 -0500

They did? How come is right.

Response by SP5 Gary Perkins made Aug 3 at 2021 2:21 PM

SP5 Gary Perkins — Tue, 03 Aug 2021 14:21:06 -0400

My HonDiscCertificate had “Sepcialist”Five misspelled so reprinted with a chuckle. I have both certificates!