"Please explain the US Army Rank Structure in the 1950's.?

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"Please explain the US Army Rank Structure in the 1950's.?
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I am looking for the "Specialist Grades" which ran from E-4 to E-7 and later to E-9. The Specialist Grades came out in 1955 or there abouts. I was a PFC (E-3)at the time and wore the new "Gold" stripe. When I reported in at Ft. Monmouth, NJ, they thought I was a "Specialist PFC". An E-4 at that time was either a Corporal or a "Specialist 3rd Class" (SP3). An E-5 was either a "Buck Sergeant" (Three Stripes which the Army had not used for quite some time.) or a "Specialist 2nd Class" (SP2). An E-6 was either a "Staff Sergeant" or a "Specialist 1st Class" (SP1). An E-7 was either a "Sergeant First Class", "Master Sergeant", or a "Master Specialist" There was some overlap between the "old" E-5, 6 and 7's when they added the the E-8 and 9 grades later on. The Specialists became Spec 4 (E4), Spec 5 (E5), Spec 6 (E6) , etc. up through Spec 9 (E9). I was a Spec 6 before being promoted to "Sergeant First Class" (E-7). I never saw a Spec 8 or Spec 9. E8's were either a "Master Sergeant" or a "First Sergeant". E9's "Staff Sergeant Major" or a "Command Sergeant Major".

Wayne C	E8 and E9 never came to light in the real world. I never did see a Spec 7. but did work with two Spec 6 while active. Those were the only 2 I ever ran across. I think Spec 7 was used for the few NCO helo pilots in the early 60's before the requirement for a commision. That is what some of the senior guy's told us. I was avionics so those guys had all been around nothing but rotary since the late 50's early 60's when I met them. The link has the history of the pay grade. SSG US Army 73-82 Spec 5 75-80 Edit: The guy above mentions hard stripes. As a Spec the only time you had command authority was when put in charge of a specific detail. Even then a senior NCO or officer would instruct the others that the Spec. was in charge and they would what they were told by him/her.

bkingshott	It was even after the 50's they were around in the 70's too. E-4 was Specialist 4 E-5 was Specialist 5 E-6 was Specialist 6 E-7 was Specialist 7 Normally these grades were not hard stripe and did not command troops they were in personnel, finance and some in aviation. Normally from what I remember once you got to E-8 or E-9 then you converted to hard stripe.

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