Why does the US Army persist with the rank of SP4?

SPC4 can be used as a team leader, but typically a team leader is a CPL (temporary rank) until he/she is eligible for promotion to SGT. We don't need high paid SPCs (SPC6/SPC7) in a power struggle with a lower NCO (SGT/SSG).

Before we talk about why shouldn't, let's talk about qualifications. To be a sergeant, one must pass the promotion board and the primary leader course (I think they call a warrior leader course now, anyone?). After these two official qualifications, one is given some benefits of the doubt that one understand and know how to lead the troops, make plan, execute a mission according to the commander's intent, and know how-to conduct force conservation and sustainment. If one passed the two qualifications but one lacks the promotion scores to meet the cut-off points, what should they do to distinguish themselves from other E4? After all the Army is all about distinguishing itself above peers, we are a bunch of egotistical maniacs. Do you get my points?

Now, about other specialist ranks, prior to the 1980s, not everyone can read or write, but they can do their jobs or they can shoot better than Lee Harvey Oswald. As much as you require merit, you also need to be able to work with others. Or rather, your chain of command has to want to work with you. Remember Top Gun? However, prejudice and favoritism have also existed; after all, we are only human. So, to be fair, everyone is given a fair chance to move up or move out. Plus, with the all-volunteer army, the Army can pick what quality they want. However, with picking and choosing, the Army ended up short-handed most of the time, but always losing and gaining people. It's a pain for the admin to change back and forth individual ranks officially. And the rest of the other logical reasons are pretty much the same as the officer and warrant officers, just on the enlisted side and with less civilian education and occupation specialty.

These are my deducted logical answers. Otherwise, let the son'bich who made the changes tell you.

It’s an obscure Vietnam era leftover and waste of money. Now that corporal rank is resurrected, SPC should be gone. AF and AF too, E-1/E-3 should be freebies and if you don’t go to a slotted NCO position of corporal and leader in say 8 years, you’re booted out as an E-3. You want E-4 pay? Be a slotted NCO, a leader and go to NCO school. We would save untold millions. Be a leader or stay E-3 and below.

I absolutely don't understand the Army logic. They want everyone to be a leader and in doing so they loose great technicians and operators. Back B 4 the E4 to E9 Specialist ranks they had Technical Sergeants. If you want to keep the best Technicians and operators, go back to the T ranks or the Specialists. Me, 20+ Army and retired. I had a SP5 that was our best Electronics Technician that the Army was going to kick out because of the up or out policy. In his MOS then he would have been promoted to SSG and he refused to go before the promotion board. The Army lost a most valuable asset because he did not want to be a NCO. In his case, there should have been a SP6 billet and he would have stayed. .

I agree with the SPC below , that makes sense. Semper Fi

I was just a damned dumb supply specialist. I had no desire to lead Soldiers. What I DID do was have 4 CoC inventories in a row with ZERO FLIPLS, help shut down a unit permanently, and write part break-downs in PBUSE. I would have been a SP6 or SP7 due to my knowledge and skill, I just never wanted to be a leader.

You need to understand that at times all troops can be called to take up leadership positions. Being a spec4 who on had leadership positions was a hindered my ability to do my job. In time of war that can get troops killed.

I to believe the specialist ranks should be for those in technical fields and not combat arms. I still believe that corporal is a rank that should be used for combat arms to distinguish those from technical MOS. The problem lies in the factor is who decides who should be a specialist or an NCO with rank of corporal and above. It is left up to the unit commander and if does not like you, you become a specialist.

The new Army! What happened to sp-5,6,7, ? If you don't have stripes you don't mean nothing!

In my opinion, a Corporal is no more a leader than a SP4. They both get paid the same in the Army. And, a SP4 can also serve as a combat soldier.