[Banander]

Once upon a time there were hard stripes and soft stripes.


The hard stripes were the NCO's. These were the leaders in the field (Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant . . .).


Then there were the soft stripes . . . Specialists were for lack of a better word 'Specialists' at what they did. All enlisted clerical, medical, maintenance, supply . . .etc ranks were Specialists, with the exceptions of NCOs sometimes.


Now exists only Specialist Fourth Class (or Spec4, SP4) which holds the pay grade of Corporal (E-4) but has (in theory) none of the authority of a Corporal.


The Marines in WW2 and Korea had a similiar like system between ranks of combat and support NCOs.