NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Specialist (rank)

Specialist (abbreviated "SPC") is one section of the fourth enlisted rank in the U.S. Army, just above Private First Class and below Corporal. It shares the same enlisted pay grade as the Corporal. Unlike Corporals, Specialists are not considered junior non-commissioned officers (NCO). Image File history File links US_Army_E-4_SPC.svgâ€Ž File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): United States Army United States Army enlisted rank insignia Template:Ranks and Insignia of NATO Armies/OR/United States Ranks and insignia... Image File history File links US_Army_E-4_SPC.svgâ€Ž File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): United States Army United States Army enlisted rank insignia Template:Ranks and Insignia of NATO Armies/OR/United States Ranks and insignia... // In the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), Specialists are the group of ranks equivalent to non-commissioned officers in other armed forces. ... For the Italian comics character with this name, see Lo Sconosciuto Most general, a specialist is a person which are able to solve some predefined class of problems. ... The United States Army is the largest, and by some standards oldest, established branch of the armed forces of the United States and is one of seven uniformed services. ... US Military In the U.S. Army, Private First Class is the third lowest enlisted rank, just above Private and below Corporal or Specialist. ... This article is about the military rank. ... A non-commissioned officer (sometimes noncommissioned officer), also known as an NCO or Noncom, is an enlisted member of an armed force who has been given authority by a commissioned officer. ...

World War I and II

Prior to 1942, an Army Specialist was known as a "Private Specialist" or simply "Specialist". Specialists of this time period wore chevrons of a Private First Class but drew PFC pay in addition to specialist pay in relationship to the specialist level possessed. While no special insignia was authorized for these Private Specialists, typically a soldier would wear PFC chevrons beneath which would be worn one to six additional arcs to denote specialty level. US Military In the U.S. Army, Private First Class is the third lowest enlisted rank, just above Private and below Corporal or Specialist. ...

During World War II, the specialist grade was known as Technician; the designation was done away with in 1948 but the concept was brought back under the new title of Specialist in 1955. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki TÅjÅ Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... The U.S. Army enlisted rank insignia that was used during World War II differs from the current system used today. ...

Specialist grades

Specialist Third Class (E-4), Specialist Second Class (E-5), Specialist First Class (E-6), and Master Specialist (E-7) similar to the Petty Officer grades of the Navy and Coast Guard. When the (so-called) Super Grades (E-8 and E-9 ) were introduced in 1958, the Specialist grade titles were changed to Specialist Four through Specialist Seven; Specialist Eight and Specialist Nine were added on top; each such grade paralleled the corresponding grade of non-commissioned officer (E-4 through E-9) in terms of pay, but without the NCO authority conferred on the latter, which is the differentiation between a Spec4 and a "hard striper".

Only the lowest Specialist grade survives today, as the higher grades were phased out, beginning with Specialist 8 and 9 in 1965. Specialist 8 and 9 had existed on paper only; there were never any actual promotions to these ranks. Specialist 7 was abolished in 1978 and Specialist 5 and 6 in 1985. At that time, the rank of Specialist 4 simply became known as "Specialist", which is how it is referred to today.

In deference to the original rating of Specialist 4, the modern day rank of Specialist is also sometimes known as "SpecFour". Slang terms for the rank of Specialist include "E-4 Mafia", indicating a reference to the large number of soldiers of E-4 rank who see their roles as performing the "grunt work" in the army. The Mafia reference is derived from some Specialists who are in positions to do favors for other Army specialists, such as supply administration specialists, but sometimes do not show equal generosity to senior enlisted, officers, or privates. The rank of Specialist is sometimes called a "Sham Shield": E-4s are the most experienced of the lower ranks and have usually figured out how to "sham" out of details. A specialist is sometimes ironically called a "full bird private", a play on "full bird colonel." For other uses, see Slang (disambiguation). ... The term grunt is slang for an infantryman in the U.S. military and some of the other armed forces of the English speaking world, and both Army and Marine The equipment laden soldiers were said to emit grunting sounds under the weight of modern combat equipment. ... Look up supply in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article is about business administration. ... An officer is a member of a military, naval, or if applicable, other uniformed services who holds a position of responsibility. ... A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank (equivalent to Nato Rank Grades OR-1 to OR-3 depending on the force served in). ...

New recruits into the United States Army that have earned a four-year degree enter at the rank of E-4 Specialist.

United States Navy

Between 1943 and 1944, the United States Navy maintained an enlisted rate of Specialist in the Petty Officer pay grade structure. A seaman would typically be known as a Specialist followed by a letter indicating what field the specialty was held. For instance, a Specialist (C) served as a "Classification Interviewer," while a Specialist (T) was a "Navy Teacher," among several other specialist designations. A Petty Officer is a noncommissioned officer or equivalent in many navies. ...

The Navy's use of the Specialist grade was done away with in 1948, when the World War II specialist positions were merged back into the standard rate structure.

See also

This article is about the military rank. ... For other uses, see Sergeant (disambiguation). ... A non-commissioned officer (sometimes noncommissioned officer), also known as an NCO or Noncom, is an enlisted member of an armed force who has been given authority by a commissioned officer. ... This chart represents the U.S. Army enlisted rank insignia with seniority decreasing left-to-right inside a given pay grade. ...

References

External links

The United States Armed Forces are the overall unified military forces of the United States. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Military service. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... USAF redirects here. ... Airman Basic (AB) is the lowest enlisted rank in the United States Air Force, just below Airman. ... Airman is a term used to refer to any enlisted personnel in the United States Air Force or Other Ranks in the Royal Air Force (in which airwoman is also seen). ... Airman First Class (A1C) is the third enlisted rank in the United States Air Force, just above Airman and below Senior Airman. ... Senior Airman (SrA) is the fourth enlisted rank in the United States Air Force, just above Airman 1st Class and below Staff Sergeant. ... United States Military Staff Sergeant insignia (U.S. Air Force) Staff Sergeant is the fifth enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force, just above Senior Airman and below Technical Sergeant. ... Technical Sergeant insignia Technical Sergeant is the sixth enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force, just above Staff Sergeant and below Master Sergeant. ... United States Master Sergeant insignia U.S. Marine Corps Master Sergeant insignia U.S. Army Master Sergeant insignia U.S. Air Force A Master Sergeant is: the eighth enlisted rank in the United States Marine Corps, just above Gunnery Sergeant, below Master Gunnery Sergeant, Sergeant Major, and Sergeant Major of... Senior Master Sergeant insignia Senior Master Sergeant is the eighth enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force, just above Master Sergeant and below Chief Master Sergeant, and is a non-commissioned officer. ... CMSAF Chevron (1 Nov 2004 - present) CMSAF Chevron (Apr 1964 - 31 Oct 2004) The Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (CMSAF) represents the highest enlisted level of leadership in the United States Air Force, and as such, provides direction for the enlisted corps and represents their interests, as appropriate... The United States Army is the largest, and by some standards oldest, established branch of the armed forces of the United States and is one of seven uniformed services. ... A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank (equivalent to Nato Rank Grades OR-1 to OR-3 depending on the force served in). ... A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank (equivalent to Nato Rank Grades OR-1 to OR-3 depending on the force served in). ... US Military In the U.S. Army, Private First Class is the third lowest enlisted rank, just above Private and below Corporal or Specialist. ... This article is about the military rank. ... For other uses, see Sergeant (disambiguation). ... United States Military Staff Sergeant insignia (U.S. Air Force) Staff Sergeant is the fifth enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force, just above Senior Airman and below Technical Sergeant. ... Sergeant First Class insignia Sergeant First Class (SFC) is the seventh enlisted rank in the U.S. Army, just above Staff Sergeant and below Master Sergeant, and is a non-commissioned officer. ... United States Master Sergeant insignia U.S. Marine Corps Master Sergeant insignia U.S. Army Master Sergeant insignia U.S. Air Force A Master Sergeant is: the eighth enlisted rank in the United States Marine Corps, just above Gunnery Sergeant, below Master Gunnery Sergeant, Sergeant Major, and Sergeant Major of... First Sergeant is the name of a military rank used in some countries. ... This article is about a military rank and position. ... This article is about a military rank and position. ... Sergeant Major of the Army insignia (U.S. Army) Sergeant Major of the Army flag (U.S. Army) The Sergeant Major of the Army is a unique rank in the United States Army. ... The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States armed forces responsible for providing force projection from the sea,[1] using the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces and is one of seven uniformed services. ... A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank (equivalent to Nato Rank Grades OR-1 to OR-3 depending on the force served in). ... US Military In the U.S. Army, Private First Class is the third lowest enlisted rank, just above Private and below Corporal or Specialist. ... Lance Corporal (LCpl or L/Cpl) is a military rank used by some elements of the British, Commonwealth, and U.S. armed forces. ... This article is about the military rank. ... For other uses, see Sergeant (disambiguation). ... United States Military Staff Sergeant insignia (U.S. Air Force) Staff Sergeant is the fifth enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force, just above Senior Airman and below Technical Sergeant. ... E-7 insignia; gunnery sergeant, USMC Gunnery Sergeant (GySgt) is the seventh enlisted rank in the United States Marine Corps, just above staff sergeant and below master sergeant and first sergeant, and is a staff non-commissioned officer. ... United States Master Sergeant insignia U.S. Marine Corps Master Sergeant insignia U.S. Army Master Sergeant insignia U.S. Air Force A Master Sergeant is: the eighth enlisted rank in the United States Marine Corps, just above Gunnery Sergeant, below Master Gunnery Sergeant, Sergeant Major, and Sergeant Major of... First Sergeant is the name of a military rank used in some countries. ... Master Gunnery Sergeant Insignia Master Gunnery Sergeant is the ninth and highest enlisted rank (along with the grade-equivalent rank of Sergeant Major) in the U.S. Marine Corps. ... This article is about a military rank and position. ... This article is about a military rank and position. ... USN redirects here. ... Seaman Recruit is the lowest enlisted rank in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, just below Seaman Apprentice; this rank was formerly known as Seaman Third Class. ... Fireman variation Airman variation Seaman Apprentice insignia Seaman Apprentice is the second lowest enlisted rank in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, just above Seaman Recruit and below Seaman; this rank was formerly known as Seaman Second Class. ... This article is about a military rank. ... U.S. Navy Good conduct variation U.S. Navy Petty Officer Third Class insignia Petty Officer Third Class is the fourth enlisted rank in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, just above Seaman and below Petty Officer Second Class, and is the lowest form of non-commissioned... Good conduct variation Petty Officer Second Class insignia Petty Officer Second Class is the fifth enlisted rank in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, just above Petty Officer Third Class and below Petty Officer First Class, and is a non-commissioned officer. ... Good conduct variation Petty Officer First Class insignia Petty Officer First Class is the sixth enlisted rank in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, just above Petty Officer Second Class and below Chief Petty Officer, and is a non-commissioned officer. ... Chief Petty Officer is a non-commissioned officer or equivalent in many navies. ... Good conduct variation Senior Chief Petty Officer insignia Senior Chief Petty Officer is the eighth enlisted rank in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, just above Chief Petty Officer and below Master Chief Petty Officer, and is a non-commissioned officer. ... Good conduct variation Master Chief Petty Officer insignia Master Chief Petty Officer Sleeve Insignia Master Chief Petty Officer is the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank (E-9) in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, just above Senior Chief Petty Officer, and is a non-commissioned officer. ... A Command Master Chief Petty Officer is the senior enlisted person in a United States Navy command structure. ... Good conduct variation Master Chief Petty Officer insignia Master Chief Petty Officer Sleeve Insignia Master Chief Petty Officer is the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank (E-9) in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, just above Senior Chief Petty Officer, and is a non-commissioned officer. ... Good conduct variation Master Chief Petty Officer insignia Master Chief Petty Officer Sleeve Insignia Master Chief Petty Officer is the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank (E-9) in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, just above Senior Chief Petty Officer, and is a non-commissioned officer. ... Good conduct variation Master Chief Petty Officer insignia Master Chief Petty Officer is the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank in the U.S. Navy, just above Senior Chief Petty Officer, and is a non-commissioned officer. ... USCG HH-65 Dolphin USCG HH-60J JayHawk USCG HC-130H departs Mojave USCG HC-130H on International Ice Patrol duties The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is at all times a branch of the U.S. military, a maritime law enforcement agency, and a federal regulatory body. ... Seaman Recruit is the lowest enlisted rank in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, just below Seaman Apprentice; this rank was formerly known as Seaman Third Class. ... Fireman variation Airman variation Seaman Apprentice insignia Seaman Apprentice is the second lowest enlisted rank in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, just above Seaman Recruit and below Seaman; this rank was formerly known as Seaman Second Class. ... This article is about a military rank. ... U.S. Navy Good conduct variation U.S. Navy Petty Officer Third Class insignia Petty Officer Third Class is the fourth enlisted rank in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, just above Seaman and below Petty Officer Second Class, and is the lowest form of non-commissioned... Good conduct variation Petty Officer Second Class insignia Petty Officer Second Class is the fifth enlisted rank in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, just above Petty Officer Third Class and below Petty Officer First Class, and is a non-commissioned officer. ... Good conduct variation Petty Officer First Class insignia Petty Officer First Class is the sixth enlisted rank in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, just above Petty Officer Second Class and below Chief Petty Officer, and is a non-commissioned officer. ... Chief Petty Officer is a non-commissioned officer or equivalent in many navies. ... Good conduct variation Senior Chief Petty Officer insignia Senior Chief Petty Officer is the eighth enlisted rank in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, just above Chief Petty Officer and below Master Chief Petty Officer, and is a non-commissioned officer. ... Good conduct variation Master Chief Petty Officer insignia Master Chief Petty Officer Sleeve Insignia Master Chief Petty Officer is the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank (E-9) in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, just above Senior Chief Petty Officer, and is a non-commissioned officer. ... A Command Master Chief Petty Officer is the senior enlisted person in a United States Navy command structure. ... Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard (MCPOCG) is a unique non-commisioned rank in the United States Coast Guard. ...

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