[ras47]

I would have the Buck Sergeant chevrons engraved on both sides of his nameplate.

 

[Awioa007]

I would have the Buck Sergeant chevrons engraved on both sides of his nameplate.

Would I also list him as Specialist Daniel? Or Specialist 5 Daniel or just his name if I use the cheverons?

 

[The Night Rider]

I would have the Buck Sergeant chevrons engraved on both sides of his nameplate.

But he wasn't a Sergeant, he was a Spc5. You want the correct rank displayed. This is what Spc5 rank looked like.

 

[ras47]

But he wasn't a Sergeant, he was a Spc5.

Pardon my confusion. I'm not well versed in military ranks and naively assumed SPC5 was the same as a Sergeant. I see now they two are considered equal but not identical.

 

[The Night Rider]

Pardon my confusion. I'm not well versed in military ranks and naively assumed SPC5 was the same as a Sergeant. I see now they two are considered equal but not identical.

They're equivalent not equal. A Sergeant is a Non Commissioned Officer and outranks a Specialist.

 

[ras47]

They're equivalent not equal. A Sergeant is a Non Commissioned Officer and outranks a Specialist.

Ah, "equivalent" was the word I was looking for.

 

[The Night Rider]

Ah, "equivalent" was the word I was looking for.

Further clarification

Specialist grades paralleled the corresponding grades of non-commissioned officer (E-4 through E-7) only in terms of pay. The specialist grades, although they outranked the enlisted grades (E-1 to E-3), were outranked by all non-commissioned officers (E-4 to E-9) and lacked the authority conferred on an NCO.

 

[oldmick]

Pardon my confusion. I'm not well versed in military ranks and naively assumed SPC5 was the same as a Sergeant. I see now they two are considered equal but not identical.

Same pay grade, but SPEC 5 is a Specialist. I believe they retired the Spec 5 rank and now only use 3 stripes for the E-5 pay grade. Still if his DD214 is SP5, then that’s how it should be used.

 

[tommyhof]

Navy was less complicated. Seaman E1-E3, Petty Officer E4-E6 and Chief Petty Officer E7-E9. All equal in the same paygrade/rank.
E4 was a Petty Officer Third Class.

 

[The Night Rider]

Navy was less complicated. Seaman E1-E3, Petty Officer E4-E6 and Chief Petty Officer E7-E9. All equal in the same paygrade/rank.
E4 was a Petty Officer Third Class.

How does this help to answer the OP's question?

 

[Bren]

I would have the Buck Sergeant chevrons engraved on both sides of his nameplate.

Why would you have a rank the guy never held engraved on his flag case?

They're equivalent not equal. A Sergeant is a Non Commissioned Officer and outranks a Specialist.

Great idea giving advice about it then.

 

[Bren]

Same pay grade, but SPEC 5 is a Specialist. I believe they retired the Spec 5 rank and now only use 3 stripes for the E-5 pay grade. Still if his DD214 is SP5, then that’s how it should be used.

Prior to about 1985 or '86, the Army had Specialist 4, 5, 6, and 7. Each specialist rank was the same pay grade as that grad of NCO. Spec -4 = corporal, spec-5 = sergeant, Spec-6=Staff Sergeant and Spec-7 = Sergeant First Class. However, in terms of authority they were a half step below, so a Spec-4 outranked a PFC, but a Corporal outranked a Spec-4. The Army still has Specialist (not longer called Spec-4) and Corporal at E-4, but none of the others.

The guy's flag box should have:

 

[oldmick]

Prior to about 1985 or '86, the Army had Specialist 4, 5, 6, and 7. Each specialist rank was the same pay grade as that grad of NCO. Spec -4 = corporal, spec-5 = sergeant, Spec-6=Staff Sergeant and Spec-7 = Sergeant First Class. However, in terms of authority they were a half step below, so a Spec-4 outranked a PFC, but a Corporal outranked a Spec-4. The Army still has Specialist (not longer called Spec-4) and Corporal at E-4, but none of the others.

The guy's flag box should have:

There you go!

I found a couple of my old ones, I was a draftee so only in for 2years but made E-5.

 

[The Night Rider]

Great idea giving advice about it then.

Meaning?

 

[The Night Rider]

Prior to about 1985 or '86, the Army had Specialist 4, 5, 6, and 7. Each specialist rank was the same pay grade as that grad of NCO. Spec -4 = corporal, spec-5 = sergeant, Spec-6=Staff Sergeant and Spec-7 = Sergeant First Class. However, in terms of authority they were a half step below, so a Spec-4 outranked a PFC, but a Corporal outranked a Spec-4. The Army still has Specialist (not longer called Spec-4) and Corporal at E-4, but none of the others.

The guy's flag box should have:

Seems like somebody already said all of that

 

[The Night Rider]

There you go!

I found a couple of my old ones, I was a draftee so only in for 2years but made E-5.

View attachment 1050814

I found a pin on Spc5 rank on the ground of my National Guard motor pool some time between 2000- 2003. God only knows how long it lay there.

 

[Bren]

Meaning?

It was sarcasm. So it means exactly the opposite of what I said. That's what "sarcasm" means. Good thing you asked, since lots of people probably didn't get that. /sarcasm.

 

[ras47]

Why would you have a rank the guy never held engraved on his flag case?


Great idea giving advice about it then.

Maybe because I've seen it done before?

 

[Bren]

Maybe because I've seen it done before?

A person memorialized as having a rank he never held? He won't be around to complain, but that would be embarrassing to any Soldier or military family. Why not just throw on an eagle and pretend he was colonel?