Posted on May 16, 2022
Why does the US Army persist with the rank of SP4?
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Responses: 163
Honestly, a specialist not on a leadership path should stay, while a corporal would be on a leadership path. I'm also on board for bringing back the different colors of insignia. It's harder to know what specialty a uniformed member is without squinting to see what's on a lapel from a distance. Also, probably a more controversial stance, CWOs should be gone altogether.
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As I understand it, the Army really had to lower their standards during viet nam and this resulted in hoods and illiterates joining but as badly as they tried to deflect this after the war the army only became more popular with idiots and mongrels which resulted casualties during peace time than ever before, so the Army began "distinguish them" but under Senate discouragement they weren't allowed to discriminate until they actually did something stupid. So then they created the Specialist and whoever volunteered for that self incriminated them selves and now the Army could get on with their business.
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Of course, it was 53 years ago, but my 'terminal' rank (a draftee) was SP5, same pay grade as SGT (E-5). What happened to those ranks, which were the equivalent of the old Tech Corporal/Sergeant ranks instituted in WWII? My dad, 23rd Corps, X Army on Okinawa, was a Tech Sergeant, and wore five stripes like the SFC did later. I was given the three stripes to put on at Ft. Sam Houston, but had to accept the chore of being barracks sergeant, which because of the extra dutes and my short-timer status, I declined -- tho I still have the patches! I was beyond bucking for anything except my ETS!
It was funny; nobody in civvies ever knew what a Spec rank was (if they cared) even tho Elvis put up SP5 before he got SGT stripes! Also, SP Fifth class sounded ungood, versus PFC, which meant first class. The numeral on the former matched the E-pay grade, but not on the old Private, First Class. Go figger! Wick
It was funny; nobody in civvies ever knew what a Spec rank was (if they cared) even tho Elvis put up SP5 before he got SGT stripes! Also, SP Fifth class sounded ungood, versus PFC, which meant first class. The numeral on the former matched the E-pay grade, but not on the old Private, First Class. Go figger! Wick
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Being part of the E4 Mafia is a position I enjoyed for 4 years. SFC would tell us what needed to be done and we did it. I was a teamleader, with soldiers under me, yet I didn't have to deal with all the NCO bs. On some occations, I was over multiple teams. I think the Army kept the SPC 4 rank because promotions, especially in my field to NCO, were few and far between. In six years, I only saw two soldiers promoted to E 5 and only one soldier promoted to E6 - in 6 YEARS (86-92).
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I BECAME A SP4 IN VIETNAM, 11B4P, AND IN MY UNIT A TROOP 2/17th CAV, 1st BRIGADE, 101st "AIRBORNE" DIV. UNTIL I BECAME A SGT E-5 I WAS OFTEN TASKED WITH LEADERSHIP ROLES WELL ABOVE MY PAY GRADE, FIRE TEAM LDR, SQUAD LDR, PLATOON LDR FOR GENERALLY SHORT TIMES, WHEN HIGHER UPS WERE ON LEAVE OR R&R. IT SUCKED WHEN I WAS A ACTING SQUAD LDR BUT ONLY BEING A SP4 HAD TO PULL KP WHEN MY SQUAD HAD A MISSION. IF A SGT E-5 GOT DEMOTED FOR WHATEVER HE WAS MADE A E-4 CORPORAL, NOT A SP4. LONG AGO AND FAR AWAY. AT BRAGG WITH THE 82nd FOR MY REMAINING SERVICE (RA) STILL SERVED AS A SQUAD LDR AS A SGT E-5 THEY DIDN'T WANT TO WASTE A E-6 ON ME AS I WAS A SHORT TIMER WITH NO DESIRE TO RE-UP.
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Sp4 and Corporal. Corporal rank is an NCO, while SP4 is not. Corporal, generally is in Combat Arms, SP4 in support units, not requireing NCO Status. Other benefits of SP4 is more pay, otherwise member wouldf be kept at E3 rank
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