Specialist (rank)
The wearing of specialist badges inset in rank insignia was abolished, and a generic system of chevrons and arcs replaced them.
The classes only indicated competency, not authority, and a specialist did not outrank another man of his respective non-specialist rank.
Officially, specialists wore the single chevron of a private first class because no special insignia was authorized to indicate their rank.
Such insignia was commercially available through catalogs or the base Post Exchange (PX) and could also be ordered with inset trade badges.
However, confusion and lowered morale among senior NCOs led to the Army reversing this stance in late 1943, after which technicians no longer held non-commissioned officer status.
[11] Beginning 4 September 1942, technicians wore a block "T" insignia under their chevrons for easier identification.
The insignia was yellow on a dark blue background, with the General Service Army Eagle set in the center.
The senior specialist ranks of SP2 (E5), SP1 (E6), and MSP (E7) were indicated by one, two, or three yellow arcs over the eagle respectively.
"[14] These specialist ranks were created to reward personnel with higher degrees of experience and technical knowledge.
Appointment to either specialist or non-commissioned officer status was determined by military occupational specialty (MOS).
In some military occupational specialties, a soldier was appointed either a specialist or non-commissioned officer depending on which particular position or "slot" that he filled in his organization.
[15] The continued use of SP4 on automatically produced documents (transfer orders, leave and earnings statements, unit manning reports, inter alia) hampered the adoption of the new abbreviation (and, to a lesser extent, the absence of "-4" in the non-abbreviated rank) by individual soldiers who viewed the computer-produced documents as the final word on the proper term.
[1] New recruits enlisting into the United States Army who have earned a four-year degree, and as of 2006[update] those with civilian-acquired job skills, will enter as a specialist (pay grade E-4).
Between 1941 and 1948, the United States Navy maintained an enlisted rate of Specialist in the petty officer pay grade structure.
[21] This was to absorb directly appointed civilian experts needed in the rapidly expanding Navy.
The Coast Guard added an additional five exclusive specialties in 1943 (D, CW, PR, PS and TR); four were awarded double letters to avoid duplication.
The trade badge was an embroidered diamond-shaped border inset with the specialty letter and set between the US Navy Eagle and the rank chevrons.
