At the same time, the Technician ranks took over from the former Specialists, who had worn the insignia of privates. They were known as “The Four Horsemen.” Without naming names, their initials were MKM, JPR, JLK, and LO. Going to Berlin on My shift? I called it pulling a fast one on uncle sam! Spec’s were good par grade , one time when i was over seas we only had the specialist rank except when a corporeal transferred to our unit, we had a formation and the ranking specialist was marching the platoon which we were all truck drivers and a corneal saw the corporeal in the formation he called the plt to halt put the corporeal in charge of the plt. The Specialist ranks were good for those soldiers who deserved an increase in pay-grade based on merit as well as the point system. I have to say it was true as far back as (cough cough) 1976. I wore the stripes both specialist and Sgt. Appointed by warrant from the secretary of the Army. Army Specialist Pay Calculator Starting pay for a Specialist is $2,262.60 per month, with raises for experience resulting in a maximum base pay of $2,746.50 per month. Copyright © 2016 Ranger Up - an Atomschirm Corporation, Specialist: The Greatest Rank in the Army, Dumbass Chronicles: Hanging out with Hollywood, Top 3 Ways to Use Your Military Leadership Experience in the Civilian World. My two best excuses will always be on the tip of my tongue “I didn’t know,” and “It wasn’t me.” I will strive to remain invisible and unavailable for details. i declined telling the reup that i had a bigger promotion: civilian and i could tell the generals to kma. During the Viet Nam War if you were in combat believe or not there was rank of “Specialist 4th and 5th Class and MOS’S” that Any stray Private or NCO who didn’t have “back-up” would be gang tackled, duct taped to a cot and decorated with shaving cream. The Army National Guard is a reserve component of the U.S. Army, with units in each state, three territories and the District of Columbia. Korea (Suwon) worked as (SPC4, still) Bn Land and Ammo NCO, then went to the FDC and ran two crews. Its the E-4 who knows they need a 3 man detail, and he’s number 4. First, they were clearly “go-getters.” They worked hard, wanted to lead and loved telling Privates and Specialists what to do. Senior-level experts in their chosen field. In my company, the SPCs do all the work because the Privates aren’t licensed and the E5s are busy shamming….lol……, Former 12B/89D here… I loved my time as a spec-4 it was sadly short as they bumped me to E-5 and sent me to ranger school…. Its size is dependent on its function. Serves as the senior enlisted advisor and consultant to the chief of Staff of the Army (four-star general). The ARMY in its own special brand of sadism said “SO you want to go to Drill School?”, I got out in ’81 as Spec 5, & now I find out they did away with it, so does that mean I now have a vintage rank . Provide direction, guidance, resources, assistance, and supervision necessary for subordinates to perform their duties. Except when called to national duty, Guard units are under the command of authorities in individual states or territories. You can blouse your boots like a Sergeant Major. Assists officers at the company level (60 to 200 Soldiers). A Sergeant however, was an NCO, and would be put in charge of soldiers. Led by a lieutenant, assisted by a platoon sergeant that is a sergeant first class. There were a lot more dedicated mobsters in the battalion than the horsemen had previously realized. When I got to my first duty station I did more work and led(babysat) more soldiers then any Corporal I knew and I generally held them in contempt.