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[–] Fuzzycrumpkin 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

No, one is enlisted, the other is officer. Officers have to go to someplace like west point in order to get their commission because they are required to have a bachelor's degree, where the sergeant doesn't need college, and is what is called a NCO or noncommissioned officer. Each of those are on a different pay scale with officers getting paid a lot more than enlisted and should be thought of as separate jobs. Think the difference between a drill sergeant and someone who is in charge of paperwork and planning of how a unit runs.

In the photo the specialist on the left is meeting with the Lieutenant colonel in the middle and the major general on the right. The specialist is the closest to being the sergeant actually as he is just the one rank prior to being promoted to sergeant.

[–] [deleted] ago 

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[–] Fuzzycrumpkin ago  (edited ago)

Specialist and corporal are the same rank... You don't have to be a corporal to become a sergeant. Corporal was a rank added for a specialist that doesn't have enough points in order for you to get sergeant. That is why specialist and corporal are both e-4 on the pay scale and sergeant is e-5.

Most of the army won't even promote people to corporal because points are now easy enough to get now.

Edit: here is a graphic just so there isn't any more confusion.