On 7 Sep 2003 06:02:56 -0700, Exposingwannabes
wrote:

>Try looking at the US Government Printing Office list of official
>abbreviations... Yup... Right there it says... Sp/4 Specialist Fourth
>Class.
>
>I always wonder why folks like you stay in denial?
>
>WANNABE!


Here you are, Dean Shultis of Wauchula, FL, straight from the U.S.
Army's own website
https://www.perscom.army.mil/tagd/ti...sted_Ranks.htm


1958. Grades E8 and E9 were added and restructuring of titles changed
and was announced in DA Message 344303, June 1958. The specialist
insignia was also enlarged for male personnel. The insignia remained
the same size for female personnel. The new regulation, AR 670-1,
dated 28 September 1959, described the insignia as follows:

Sergeant Major E9. Three chevrons above three arcs with a five pointed
star between the chevrons and arcs.

Specialist Nine E9. Three arcs above the eagle device and two chevrons
below.

First Sergeant E8. Three chevrons above three arcs with a lozenge
between the chevrons and arcs.

Master Sergeant E8. Three chevrons above three arcs.

Specialist Eight E8. Three arcs above the eagle device and one chevron
below.

Platoon Sgt or Sergeant First Class E7. Three chevrons above two arcs.

Specialist Seven E7. Three arcs above the eagle device.

Staff Sergeant E6. Three chevrons above one arc.

Specialist Six E6. Two arcs above the eagle device.

Sergeant E5. Three chevrons.

Specialist Five E5. One arc above the eagle device.

Corporal E4. Two chevrons.

Specialist Four E4. Eagle device only.

Private First Class. One chevron.


Specialists were authorized to continue to wear the smaller insignia.
The chevrons formerly authorized for E5, E6 and E7 were authorized for
continued wear until the individual was promoted or demoted. They also
continued to use the previous title.

1965. The Specialist Eight and Specialist Nine grades were
discontinued.

1967. Subdued black metal insignia was authorized for wear on the
collar of the work uniforms by DA Message 292128Z, December 1967.

1968. A new insignia was authorized by DA Message 865848, 28 May 1968,
for Sergeants Majors assigned at the principal NCO of battalion and
higher. This insignia was the same as the Sergeant Major insignia
except the star was small and a wreath was placed around the star.



1968. The insignia consisting of a single chevron, which was
previously authorized for private first class, was authorized for
Privates E2. A new insignia was authorized for Private First Class,
which consisted of one chevron above one arc per DA Message 868848, 28
May 1968.