High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Specialist (abbreviated "SPC") is one of the four junior enlisted ranks in the U.S. Army, just above Private First Class and equivalent in pay grade to Corporal. Unlike Corporals, Specialists are not considered junior non-commissioned officers (NCO). New recruits enlisting into the United States Army who have earned a four-year degree, and as of 2006 those with civilian-acquired job skills, will enter as a Specialist. Typically, newly recruited Officer Candidates hold the rank of Specialist when enlisted and during BCT/IET (Basic Combat Training, Initial Entry Training) prior to their official enrollment into OCS (Officer Candidate School) they will be granted a Pay Grade of E-5 (as of early 2009) but hold a rank of Officer Candidate (OC), not a Sergeant (SGT).n 1920, the Army rank and pay system received a major overhaul. All enlisted and non-commissioned ranks were reduced from 128 different insignias and several pay grades to only 7 rank insignias and 7 pay grades, which were numbered in seniority from 7th Grade (lowest) to 1st Grade (highest).