Re: EBCDIC to ASCII OPTCD=Q? (JCL)


"Alistair" <alistair@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1158940474.290347.95400@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Rick Smith wrote:
"Alistair" <alistair@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1158774662.910290.181790@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[snip]
I notice you don't have privates in
the army but that everyone is a "specialist".

Privates are E-1 through E-3. Specialists are E-4
through E-7. It is probably true that the number of
Specialists exceeds the number of Privates; but it is
true that every Specialist was once a Private. At one
point, the time-in-service requirement for E-4 was
one year, thus Privates may reach their time-in-service
prior to, or soon after, deployment overseas.
Promotions during training and assignment in the US,
may be why you don't notice Privates but do notice
"that everyone is a 'specialist'".

I think you are right.

As I discovered, I was mistaken in some respects;
including that the time-in-service requirement for
Specialist is now two years with an exception for
certain college graduates.

However, the way that I first heard it was that
privates were demoralised by not being valued, so the term specialist
was dreamed up to make them feel.... special.

The history of the Specialist rank (posted separately)
would seem to refute that; that is, Specialist has always
been a rank Privates reach as their 'value' increases.
The current exception being those who enter the
US Army with a four-year degree and receive the rank
of Specialist upon entry. Perhaps a four-year degree
has value. <g>



.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: EBCDIC to ASCII OPTCD=Q? (JCL)
    ... Privates are E-1 through E-3. ... Specialists exceeds the number of Privates; ... Sergeant, Staff Sergeant, and Sergeant First Class, ... The insignia for Corporal is two chevrons, ...
    (comp.lang.cobol)
  • Re: EBCDIC to ASCII OPTCD=Q? (JCL)
    ... Privates are E-1 through E-3. ... Specialists exceeds the number of Privates; ... Sergeant, Staff Sergeant, and Sergeant First Class, ... The insignia for Corporal is two chevrons, ...
    (comp.lang.cobol)
  • Re: EBCDIC to ASCII OPTCD=Q? (JCL)
    ... Privates are E-1 through E-3. ... the Specialist ranks began in 1955 with four grades. ... degrees entering the US Army start as Specialists ...
    (comp.lang.cobol)
  • Re: Army ammo
    ... The Army recently concluded a $3 million, ... out what it was told by a group of specialists years ago: ... power of the M-16/M-4 carbine is good for close combat. ... level of marksmanship training of the solider. ...
    (talk.politics.guns)
  • Re: Army ammo
    ... The Army recently concluded a $3 million, ... out what it was told by a group of specialists years ago: ... power of the M-16/M-4 carbine is good for close combat. ... For those lacking marksmanship training, ...
    (talk.politics.guns)