Alexander Poutou removes specialist rank and replaces it with corporal chevrons for Cpl. “The Corporal initiative is designed to create a positive, visible welcome to the NCO Corps for Soldiers that have proved themselves ready,” said Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston in a tweet celebrating the new NCOs.Ĭommand Sgt. He emphasized the importance of linking a new NCO’s training status with the “visible difference” of wearing corporal’s stripes, though they still receive the same pay as their specialist counterparts. This means that they have been recommended by a unit board for promotion and have completed the month-long Basic Leader Course.īefore the change, lateral appointments to corporal were permitted for specialists selected for promotion to sergeant regardless of whether they’d completed BLC, but only if they were serving in a position that required an NCO.Ĭlark said the old policy presented “some risk,” because “we’d have promoted who are not trained, taking leadership positions.”

The shift begins at the lowest rung of the NCO ladder, with an Army directive signed in May ordering the active-duty Army and Army Reserve to appoint as corporals all specialists who are fully promotable to sergeant. One thing is certain: Clark and the Army want to build more experienced NCOs from the ground up.Ĭlark says the changes are meant to better prepare junior NCOs for the increased responsibilities they’ll someday have as platoon sergeants and beyond once they become senior NCOs later in their career. Clark says the Army has completed its final training backlogs from the old promotion system, but it’s too early to tell whether promotion rates will rebound in the face of strong retention and contracting end strength.

Army enlisted promotions