SPC (P) promoted to CPL until they make points

2015-03-28T17:56:22-04:00

What if we pinned CPL on all the the SPC (P) Soldiers? It would give him time to ease into a leadership role and they could fill certain positions that leaders prefer stripe wearers fill (i.e. an NCO in every truck, duty etc). Just a thought. What do you think?

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Mar 28 at 2015 11:30 PM

2015-03-28T23:30:50-04:00

CW2 Stephen Pate, It is healthy for our Army to promote all SPC to CPL once they are promotable & complete WLC, let these Soldiers have an opportunity to lead and learn to lead before.

FYSA - the name will soon change to Basic Leader Course BLC, the title Warrior Leader Course seems to give civilian companies the impression that is a school focused on Warrior/battlefield tasks.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Mar 28 at 2015 11:34 PM

2015-03-28T23:34:08-04:00

Makes sense, I would say, if there is a leadership position they can work in.

Response by PFC Mike Mcdermott made Mar 28 at 2015 11:47 PM

2015-03-28T23:47:21-04:00

This can't be a bad idea. When I was in from 91-95, the Corporal rank didn't transfer outside of the Company level. Has that changed?

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made Jun 4 at 2023 11:04 AM

2023-06-04T11:04:16-04:00

Would wipe out a bunch of soldiers for fatigue details. NCOs are not supposed to do manual labor.

Response by SFC William Linnell made Jun 5 at 2023 9:56 AM

2023-06-05T09:56:02-04:00

I can only answer this from 27+ years as a tanker and being combat arms. Lil history. Specialist rank E-4, Spc5, Spc6, Spc7, Spc8 and Spc9, were pinned on those that were not combat arms and/or not in a leadership position. We had a bunch of SPC5 in the gunner position. Someone thought that being a gunner was not a leadership position. But those Spc5 gunners had the green leadership tabs on the epaulettes on the field jacket and Class A jacket and the Class A shirts. I wanna say that we still wore the pin on ranks for the shirt collars. I don't remember. April 85 timeframe Big Army did away with the Specialist ranks E-5 - E-7. I have been one of those Spc/E-4 being promoted to CPL with a 4187. I think that made it more permanent instead of just a Co pin on. I went to the SGT promotion board, passed and the BN CSM telling my 1SG to promote me to CPL. The CO did and I became a Tank Commander which normally is a SSG position.
Getting back to CPL. I have witnessed some Soldiers passing the promotion board and waiting on points to activate after the 90 day waiting period, were pinned Sgt/E-5 as an "Acting Jack" until they made the cut-off. Which Big Army stopped doing. And promotion points were effective after passing the promotion board. Which made a ton of sense.
CPL is a good stepping point learning what an NCO is and does. Which traits to develop into their leadership style. They should be mentored by the NCOs around them. It's a hard rank to transition in bc one is still buddies with SPC4 and below. Especially living in the barracks. Sometimes their buddies respect that and them being an NCO with off duty a bit more relaxed. I know quite a few that didn't want CPL bc they felt they were only pinned to be an extra NCO on the CQ roster, guard duty etc.
Professionally, I feel that they should've kept the Specialist ranks. In non-combat arms, are ALL those NCOs in leadership positions in their MOS being a support role? Technical/Specialized positions?https://ncohistory.com/short-history-of-the-specialist-rank

short-history-of-the-specialist-rank

Response by SSG Bill McCoy made Jun 5 at 2023 12:44 PM

2023-06-05T12:44:39-04:00

In the Navy and Marines, an E-4 is, in fact, an NCO (Petty Officer for the Navy). That said, the Army "could" just make all SPC's Corporals; but why? Corporal has always seemed to me to be, literally, the most junior NCO - thus, the most junior person responsible for leading/supervisiong those on his/her team/squad/section/whatever. Seems like a good training emthodology, and a way to recognize a Specialist who gives 110%.