Corporal

Military rank

This article is about the military rank. For other uses, see Corporal (disambiguation).

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Comparative military ranks

| |  Armies,
air forces
(non-Commonwealth)|  Navies,
coast guards|  Air forces
(Commonwealth system)

|
|
|

Flag commissioned officers
|  Field marshal or Marshal|  Admiral of the fleet|  Marshal of the air force
|  General or
colonel general or
army general|  Admiral|  Air chief marshal
|  Lieutenant general or
army corps general|  Vice admiral|  Air marshal
|  Major general or
divisional general|  Rear admiral or
Counter admiral|  Air vice-marshal
|  Brigadier or
brigadier general|  Commodore or
flotilla admiral|  Air commodore
Senior commissioned officers
|  Colonel|  (Ship-of-the-line)
Captain|  Group captain
|  Lieutenant colonel|  Frigate captain or
Commander|  Wing commander
|  Major or
commandant|  Corvette captain or Lieutenant
commander|  Squadron leader
Junior commissioned officers
|  Captain|  Lieutenant|  Flight lieutenant
|  First lieutenant or
lieutenant|  Lieutenant
junior grade or
sub-lieutenant|  Flying officer
|  Second lieutenant or
junior lieutenant|  Ensign or
midshipman|  Pilot officer
|  Officer cadet|  Officer cadet|  Flight cadet
Non-commissioned officers
|  Warrant officer or
sergeant major|  Warrant officer or
chief petty officer|  Warrant officer
|  Sergeant|  Petty officer|  Sergeant
Enlisted ranks
|  Corporal or
bombardier|  Leading seaman|  Corporal
|  Lance corporal or
Lance bombardier or
Specialist|  Able seaman|  Leading aircraftman
|  Private or
gunner or
trooper or
sapper|  Seaman|  Aircraftman or
airman or
aviator

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Corporal is a military rank in use by the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. The rank is usually the lowest ranking non-commissioned officer. In some militaries, the rank of corporal nominally corresponds to commanding a section or squad of soldiers.

The word is a contraction from the medieval Italian phrase capo corporale (transl. head of a body [of soldiers]).[1] While most Indo-European languages use the contraction, West Iberian languages use cabo.[2][3]

## By country[edit]

This section may contain excessive or irrelevant examples. Please help improve the article by adding descriptive text and removing less pertinent examples. (June 2023)

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### Argentina[edit]

NCOs in the Argentine Armed Forces are divided into junior and senior NCOs, with three and four ranks, respectively. The three junior ranks are called "corporal" (cabo) in both the Navy and the Air Force, while in the Army the third rank is called "sergeant" (sargento).

National Gendarmerie and Coast Guard junior NCOs ranks are similar to those in the Army and Navy, respectively.

### Australia[edit]

Corporal is the second lowest of the non-commissioned officer ranks in the Australian Army, falling between lance-corporal and sergeant. A corporal is usually appointed as a section commander, and is in charge of 7–14 soldiers of private rank. They are assisted by a second-in-command, usually a lance-corporal or senior private. A Corporal within Artillery is known as a bombardier. Corporal is also a rank of the Royal Australian Air Force, being equal to both the Australian Army and Royal Air Force rank of corporal.

### Bangladesh[edit]

Corporal is a non-commissioned officer rank in the Bangladesh Army, falling between lance-corporal and sergeant, and in the Bangladesh Air Force, falling between leading aircraftman and sergeant.[4]

### Belgium[edit]

The branches of the Belgian Armed Forces use three ranks of corporal: corporal (Dutch: korporaal, French: caporal), master corporal (Dutch: korporaal-chef, French: caporal-chef) and 1st master corporal (Dutch: 1ste korporaal-chef, French: 1e caporal-chef). Corporal is equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-3, whereas master corporal and 1st master corporal are equivalent to OR-4. The rank immediately below corporal is 1st private and the rank directly above 1st master corporal is sergeant.

Units with a cavalry, artillery or Logistic Corps (Transport unit) tradition replace Corporal by "Brigadier".

The equivalent of these ranks in the Naval Component are quartermaster, chief quartermaster and 1st chief quartermaster.

### Belarus[edit]

Belarus Kapral

The Byelorussian Home Defence (23 February 1944 – 28 April 1945) used the kapral (Belarusian: капрал), in the meaning of Corporal as enlisted grade, equivalent to Obergefreiter, Hauptgefreiter or Stabsgefreiter of the German Wehrmacht (1933–1945).

### Brazil[edit]

Corporal (in Portuguese Cabo) is the second NCO rank of the Army and Navy, after the Private (or Sailor at the Navy), third of the Air Force, after Private First-Class. Soldiers (either a recruit or a promoted Private) who successfully complete the Corporal course may be promoted to the rank of Corporal should they excel in the course. A Corporal in the Brazilian Army will lead the smallest fractions of units as machine gun squads, mortar and infantry squads.

Uma insígnia de Cabo no modelo emborrachada

### Canada[edit]

Corporal is an Army and Air Force non-commissioned member rank of the Canadian Armed Forces. Its naval equivalent is sailor 1st class. It is senior to the rank of private and its naval equivalent sailor 2nd class, and junior to master corporal (caporal-chef) and its equivalent master sailor (matelot-chef). It is part of the cadre of junior non-commissioned officers, and one of the junior ranks. In French, the rank is caporal.

The rank insignia of a corporal is a two-bar chevron, point down, worn in gold thread on both upper sleeves of the service dress jacket; in rifle green (army) or dark blue (air force) thread on CADPAT slip-ons for operational dress; in old gold thread on blue slip-ons on other air force uniforms; and in gold metal and green enamel miniature pins on the collars of the army dress shirt and outerwear coats. On army ceremonial uniforms, it is usually rendered in gold braid (black for rifle regiments), on either both sleeves, or just the right, depending on unit custom.

Corporal is the first non-commissioned officer rank, and the lowest rank officially empowered to issue a lawful command. Corporals can lead troops if they have the formal qualifications to be promoted to master corporal but have not been promoted yet. However, the rank of corporal was severely downgraded after Unification, along with the attendant responsibilities. A corporal in the Canadian Army in 1967 had the same duties and responsibilities that a sergeant has today. In an infantry section, a corporal will sometimes command an assault team if a master corporal is leading the section or they are pending promotion to master corporal.

Another effect of Unification was to delete the appointments of lance-corporal and lance-sergeant (a corporal holding the acting rank of sergeant). The former is still common in other Commonwealth militaries.

Corporal is deemed to be the substantive rank of the members carrying the appointment of master corporal. On pay documents, corporal was formerly listed as "Cpl (A)" and master corporal as "Cpl (B)".

In rifle regiments, a distinction was historically drawn between a corporal and an acting corporal; The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada had a special insignia to distinguish between the two.

### Chile[edit]

In the Army, Navy, Air Force and Police, there are three grades of Corporal: Corporal, Corporal 2nd. and Corporal 1st. The next level is Sergeant 2nd. grade.

### Germany[edit]

Corporal or Korporal was the most junior NCO grade in many German partial states of Deutscher Bund, before the term was replaced by the word Unteroffizier in the middle of the 19th century.

In September 2021, the Bundeswehr reimplemented the grade of Korporal, but this time as a senior enlisted rank below NCO level. Additionally, a completely new rank was created with the grade of Stabskorporal what is the most senior enlisted rank now.[5] Both ranks are classified OR-4 in the NATO rank code system. In the Bundeswehr, both ranks share paygrade A6 with the junior NCO rank Stabsunteroffizier.

### France[edit]

There are three ranks of corporal (French: caporal). In the French Army, these are not NCO ranks, but enlisted ones. The corporals are called "ranked" (gradés). Non-commissioned officers start at the rank of sergent.

| OR-3

|

Army[6] | Air force[7]
Shoulder  |  |
Camouflage  |  |
French  | Caporal
English translation  | Corporal

In regiments with a cavalry tradition, using white insignia, and artillery, brigadier is used instead.

### India[edit]

See also: Air Force ranks and insignia of India

In the Indian Air Force, a corporal is a rank given to an airman who is senior to leading aircraftman but junior to a sergeant. A corporal is designated as a Non-Commissioned Officer in the Indian Air Force.

### Indonesia[edit]

Main article: Indonesian military ranks

In the Indonesian Military, the rank "Corporal" is known as Kopral. In Indonesia, "Corporal" has three levels, which are: Second Corporal (Lance Corporal), First Corporal (Corporal), and Master Corporal.

### Ireland[edit]

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Corporal
Ceannaire

Army and Air Corps insignia

Country|  Ireland
Service branch|  Irish Army
Irish Air Corps
Rank group| Non-commissioned officer
Pay grade| €805.38 – €847.45[8]
Formation| 1924
Next higher rank| Sergeant
Next lower rank| Private, 3 star (army)
Airman, 3 star (air corps)
Equivalent ranks| Leading seaman

Corporal (Irish: Ceannaire) is the lowest rank of non-commissioned officer within the Irish Army and Air Corps. The Naval Service equivalent is leading seaman.

#### Army[edit]

The main role of an infantry corporal is either to command a section as the section commander or to command the fire support group as the second in command of the section. All corporals are qualified instructors on drill, section weapons, and fieldcraft.

In the Artillery Corps, the corporal is normally assigned to a gun detachment as a layer, or a detachment commander. Artillery corporals can also find themselves in charge of the battery signals section.

The army rank insignia consists of two winged chevrons (or "stripes"), the dress uniform being red chevrons with a yellow border.

#### Air Corps[edit]

Before 1994, the Air Corps was considered part of the army and wore army uniforms with distinct corps badges but the same rank insignia. With the introduction of a unique Air Corps blue uniform in 1994, the same rank markings in a white colour were worn, before the introduction of a new two-chevron badge with wing rank marking.

### Italy[edit]

A soldier could be promoted from private (soldato) to corporal rank (caporale) after 3 months of service until 2014, now they have to pass a selection to be promoted to corporal.[9] The title was used as a senior office in the Italian Kingdom during World War II.

### New Zealand[edit]

The New Zealand Defence Force awards the corporal rank to soldiers or airmen after 6 or 7 years of service. There is substantial responsibility on the part of a corporal in the New Zealand Army and Royal New Zealand Air Force. They usually command a small team and work closely with their sergeants. A pay increase is also given.

Like their British, Canadian and Australian counterparts, they wear two chevrons to distinguish their rank.

Corporals have what is termed 'power of arrest', and is impressed on recruits in RNZAF basic training. Basically, this power means that any airman or private disobeying or ignoring an order from a corporal will be subject to military arrest by that individual. Power of arrest is used by higher ranks to enforce their orders, corporal in the RNZAF being the lowest rank with this power.

### Pakistan[edit]

These ranks are still used in the Pakistan Air Force. it is a rank given to an airman who is senior to leading aircraftsman but junior to a sergeant.

### Philippines[edit]

In the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the rank Corporal is locally called as Kabo. It is currently being used by both the Philippine Army and the Philippine Marine Corps. It stand above the rank of private first class and below sergeant.

The Philippine Revolutionary Army also used corporal as part of their ranks during the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine–American War. It is the lowest enlisted personnel rank on the service, below the rank of sergeant.

As of 8 February 2019, a new ranking classification for the Philippine National Police was adopted, eliminating confusion of old ranks. The rank of corporal is included on the new ranking classification. It is the second from the bottom, placing above the rank of Patrolman and below police staff sergeant.

### Poland[edit]

In the Polish Land Forces, the rank of kapral is the lowest rank in the NCO corps (OR-3 in NATO code). Most commonly the rank is held by a NCO commanding an infantry squad, tank or gun crew, or a similar unit. The equivalent rank in the Polish Navy is mat.

As with many other military ranks, direct comparison between various armies might be misleading. Before World War II, the Polish Army's kapral was more or less equivalent to the British rank of lance corporal, while the British rank of corporal was named plutonowy (lit. platooner). In modern times, the rank is still equivalent to a UK lance corporal or a private first class in the U.S. Army (OR-3), while the British and American rank of corporal (OR-4) is equivalent to the Polish rank of starszy kapral (lit. "senior corporal"), which was introduced in 1971.

Historically, the rank was first introduced in Poland in the 17th century, together with mercenary troops of Italian origin. In foreign troops on the royal payroll, a kapral commanded four ranks of musketeers or part of a company of pikemen. In the 20th century, between the world wars, the rank of corporal was held by both conscripted NCOs and professional soldiers alike. This was changed after World War II, when the Polish Army was under Soviet command and the rank of kapral was modified to resemble that of Soviet junior sergeant, reserved for conscripted NCOs. In the modern Polish Army, the rank is exclusively reserved for professional soldiers.

The insignia of kapral (worn on shoulder straps or badge above breast pocket) are two bars.

### Portugal[edit]

The Portuguese Navy has the rank of cabo da Armada (corporal of the Navy). All other branches of the Portuguese Armed Forces have several ranks of corporal (cabo in Portuguese). The Portuguese Army and the Portuguese Air Force have the ranks of segundo cabo (second corporal), primeiro cabo (first corporal) and cabo-adjunto (corporal adjudant). The National Republican Guard has the ranks of cabo (corporal), cabo-chefe (chief corporal) and cabo-mor (corporal-major).

The several ranks of corporal correspond to the several pay grades, above that of private, that can be reached inside the enlisted rank professional category of the Army, the Air Force and the National Republican Guard. In the Navy, the rank of cabo da Armada is the highest pay grade in the enlisted rank category.

### Russia[edit]

The rank of corporal (Russian: капрал) existed in the Russian Army from 1647 to 1798, when it was replaced with that of non-commissioned officer (Russian: унтер-офицер, from German: Unteroffizier, literally "sub-officer"). Soviet and modern Russian armies have the rank of "yefreytor" (derived from the German Gefreiter) as the highest rank of enlisted personnel, below lance (or junior) sergeant (Russian: младший сержант) which are assigned as squad leaders.

### Singapore[edit]

See also: Singapore Armed Forces ranks

#### Singapore Armed Forces[edit]

The Corporal rank in the Singapore Armed Forces is between the rank of Lance Corporal and Corporal First Class.[10] National Servicemen are usually promoted to this rank within the 2nd year of their service.

Prior to 1992, the SAF followed the British model where corporals were non-commissioned officers often holding the appointment of section leader. Today, a corporal is not a specialist (NCO-equivalent). Corporals are usually given higher responsibilities/ appointments as a section 2IC, or 2nd-in-command.[11]

#### Home Team[edit]

In the Singapore Police Force, Singapore Civil Defence Force, Singapore Prison Service, Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and Singapore Customs, a corporal is a rank below sergeant.

The rank insignia for a corporal is two chevrons pointing downwards.

#### Uniformed youth organisations[edit]

For the National Cadet Corps (NCC), the rank of Corporal is below the rank of Third Sergeant,[12] and above the rank of Lance Corporal. For the National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) and the National Civil Defence Cadet Corps (NCDCC), the rank of Corporal is below the rank of Sergeant, and above the rank of Lance Corporal.[13][14]

For NCC, the rank insignia is same as that of an SAF CPL, except that the letters 'NCC' are below the insignia, so as to differentiate NCC cadets from SAF personnel. As for NPCC and NCDCC, the rank insignia is two pointed-down chevrons with the letters 'NPCC' and 'NCDCC' below the insignia, so as to differentiate NPCC and NCDCC cadets from Singapore Police Force and Singapore Civil Defence Force personnel, respectively.

The rank of Corporal is generally awarded to cadets in Secondary Two, or Secondary Three. Corporals, after being appointed, are given training to command a squad.

### Spain[edit]

In the Spanish Armed Forces, cabo (corporal) is the rank between soldado de primera (first class private) and cabo primero (first corporal). It actually equates to a NATO OR-4, with cabo primero and cabo mayor equating both to an OR-5.

### Ukraine[edit]

Since 2015, the Corporal (Ukrainian: капрал, romanized: kapral), was introduced in the National Police of Ukraine, that is a special rank of junior quarterdeck. It corresponds to former junior sergeant of militia. Also since 2018–19, the Corporal (Ukrainian: капрал, romanized: kapral) was introduced in the Court Security Service (Ukrainian: Служба судової охорони, romanized: Sluzhba Sudovoi ohorony), and the DBR (Ukrainian: Державне бюро розслідувань, romanized: State Bureau of Investigation) as a special rank of junior quarterdeck.

### United Kingdom[edit]

The rank of corporal, which falls between lance-corporal and sergeant is used by the British Army, Royal Marines, and Royal Air Force.

The badge of rank is a two-bar chevron (also known as "stripes", "tapes", or "hooks"). A corporal's role varies between regiments; but, in the standard infantry role, a corporal commands a section, with a lance-corporal as second-in-command (2ic). When the section is split into fire teams, they command one each. In the Royal Armoured Corps, a corporal commands an individual tank. Their duties therefore largely correspond to those of staff sergeants in the United States Army and corporals are often described as the "backbone" of the British Army.

In the Household Cavalry, all non-commissioned ranks are designated as different grades of corporal up to regimental corporal major (who is a warrant officer class 1). There is no effective actual rank of corporal, however, and the ranks progress directly from lance-corporal to lance-corporal of horse (who is effectively equivalent to a corporal; technically, a lance-corporal of horse holds the rank of corporal but is automatically give the appointment of lance-corporal of horse). Similarly, in the Foot Guards and in the Honourable Artillery Company, every Corporal is appointed as a lance-sergeant meaning they wear three chevrons rather than the regular two, with a lance-corporal wearing two chevrons instead of one: this is sometimes said to have originated with Queen Victoria who did not like "her own guardsmen" having only one chevron.[citation needed]

Royal Artillery corporals are called bombardiers; although, until 1920, the Royal Artillery had corporals and bombardier was a lower rank. The rank of second corporal existed in the Royal Engineers and Royal Army Ordnance Corps until 1920.

A common nickname for a corporal is a "full screw", with lance-corporals being known as "lance-jacks".

Corporal is the lowest NCO rank in the Royal Air Force (aside from the RAF Regiment who have lance-corporals), coming between junior technician or Senior aircraftman technician and sergeant in the technical trades, or senior aircraftman and sergeant in the non-technical trades. Between 1950 and 1964, corporals in technical trades were known as "corporal technicians" and wore their chevrons point up.

In the Royal Navy, the equivalent to corporal is leading hand or leading rate.

The Army Cadet Force, Combined Cadet Force, Air Training Corps, Royal Marines sections of the Sea Cadet Corps and the Combined Cadet Force all have the rank of corporal, reflecting the structure of their parent service; therefore it is the second NCO rank of the ACF, CCF (including the RAF Section, which has the rank of lance corporal) and marine cadets, and the first NCO rank in the ATC.

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Ratings and other ranks of the British Armed Forces

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| NATO grade / Service branch | OR-1 | OR-2 | OR-3 | OR-4 | OR-5/OR-6 | OR-7 | OR-8 | OR-9

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Royal Navy | Recruit  | Able seaman | not applicable  | Leading rating | Petty officer | Chief petty officer | Warrant officer 2 | Warrant officer 1
Royal Marines |  | Marine | Lance corporal | Corporal | Sergeant | Colour sergeant | Warrant officer 2 | Warrant officer 1
British Army | Recruit  | Private | Lance corporal | Corporal | Sergeant | Staff sergeant /
Colour sergeant | Warrant officer 2 | Warrant officer 1
Royal Air Force | Air recruit | Air specialist (class 2)
Air specialist (class 1) /
Air specialist (class 1) technician | Lance corporal (RAF Regt only)  | Corporal | Sergeant | Chief technician /
Flight sergeant |  | Warrant officer /
Master aircrew

### United States[edit]

Corporal

Army corporal

Marine Corps corporal

Country|  United States
Service branch|  United States Army
United States Marine Corps
Abbreviation| CPL
Rank| Enlisted
NATO rank code| OR-4
Pay grade| E-4
Next higher rank| Sergeant
Next lower rank| Private first class (Army)
Lance corporal (Marines)
Equivalent ranks| Petty officer third class (Navy)
Senior airman (Air Force)
Specialist 4 (Space Force)

#### United States Army[edit]

In the U.S. Army, corporal is preceded by the first three forms of private and the rank of specialist.[15] A corporal rank shares the same pay grade (E-4) as a specialist, though unlike a specialist, a corporal is a non-commissioned officer and may direct the activities of other soldiers.[16]

The rank of corporal dates to the Revolutionary War. Each company in the Continental Army contained an enlisted contingent of a sergeant, corporal, and nineteen privates. The corporal, along with the superior sergeant, were responsible for the care, discipline, and training of their men.[17] After the Civil War, U.S. Army infantry strategy increasingly focused on units below the company level.[18] In 1891, a squad was defined as an eight-man unit led by a corporal, a definition which held through World War I until the eve of the U.S. entry into World War II.[18]

In 1940, with the recognition of the increasing importance of small-unit tactics, the size of the squad was increased to twelve men, now led by a sergeant, with a corporal as assistant squad leader.[18] In February 1944, the squad leader became a staff sergeant, assisted by a sergeant, dropping the corporal from the infantry company's chain of command.[19] As a result of this "steady inflation" of the NCO corps, writes historian Ernest F. Fisher, "the rank of corporal came to mean very little in a line organization, though the corporal was in theory and by tradition a combat leader."[20] After the Korean War, squad leaders were further promoted to sergeant first class (E-7), and the "once-honored rank of corporal sank into oblivion."[20]

Beginning in July 2021, specialists who are graduates of the Basic Leader Course (BLC) and who have been recommended for promotion are to become corporals before further promotion; conversely current corporals who have not yet graduated from BLC will be laterally reassigned as specialists until they have graduated from BLC.[21] No change in pay is involved, but corporals are expected to lead, teach, and mentor their teams.[22]

#### United States Marine Corps[edit]

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Corporal is the fourth enlisted rank in the U.S. Marine Corps,[23] ranking immediately above lance corporal and immediately below sergeant. The Marine Corps, unlike the Army, has no other rank at the pay grade of E-4. Corporal is the lowest grade of non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, though promotion to corporal traditionally confers a significant jump in authority and responsibility compared to promotion from private through lance corporal. Marine infantry corporals generally serve as "fire-team leaders", leading a four-man team or weapons crew of similar size (e.g., assault weapons squad, medium machine gun team, or LWCMS mortar squad).

In practice, however, the billet of fire team leader is generally held by a lance corporal, while corporals serve in the squad leader billet that would normally be held by a sergeant (E-5) in infantry units. In support units, corporals generally serve in "journeyman" level roles in which they direct the activities of junior Marines and provide technical supervision, on a very limited scope, under the direct supervision of a sergeant or SNCO.

Due to its emphasis on small-unit tactics, its infantry-centric ethos, and its tradition of empowering junior NCOs to exercise first-level leadership, the U.S. Marine Corps' Tables of Organization (TOs) usually places corporals (as well as sergeants and staff sergeants) in billets where other services would normally have higher ranking NCOs in authority. For example, the USMC Table of Organization "billet" rank for rifle fire team leader, rifle squad leader, and rifle platoon sergeant is corporal (E-4), sergeant (E-5), and staff sergeant (E-6), respectively. However, the same positions (Table of Organization and Equipment "slots") in US Army infantry units are one grade higher and, except in fire teams (both services with four men in each team), the equivalent Army units are smaller (viz., USMC rifle squad and rifle platoon – 13 men and 43 men, respectively, vice US Army rifle squad and rifle platoon – 9 men and 34 men, respectively). Specifically, for the Army rifle units, the rank of the fire team, squad leader, and platoon sergeant are: sergeant (E-5), staff sergeant (E-6), and sergeant first class (E-7), respectively.[24] Similarly, the term "strategic corporal" refers to the special responsibilities conferred upon a Marine corporal over against the normal responsibilities, and usual authority, of service members in the grade of E-4 in the other branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.[25]

Until the mid-to-late 1980s,[year needed] corporals were the lowest USMC rank eligible for selection as a drill instructor for USMC recruit training.[citation needed]

The history of the rank of corporal in the USMC roughly parallels that of the U.S. Army until 1942. From 1775 until WWII, the Marine Corps used essentially the same rank and organizational structure as its common British and colonial forebears with the Army, as well as the later Continental and U.S. armies. In 1942, as the Army modified its triangular division infantry organization to best fight in the European/North African/Middle Eastern Theatre the Marine Corps began modifying the triangular division plan to best employ its amphibious warfare doctrine in the Pacific Theatre. This meant that for the Corps, squad leaders would remain as sergeants and that the rifle squad would be sub-divided into three four-man fire teams each led by a corporal.

#### United States Air Force[edit]

See also: Airman first class and United States Air Force enlisted rank insignia

When the United States Air Force was separated from the US Army in 1947, corporal (E-3) became the most junior NCO grade - below sergeant - of this newly created independent branch of the United States Armed Forces. It was replaced by Airman 2nd Class (E-3) in April 1952 respectively Airman 1st Class (E-3, previously E-4) in October 1967, both enlisted ranks below NCO level.

In the same process sergeant was first replaced by Airman 1st class in 1952 (E-4, becoming E-3 in 1967). The title sergeant was reimplated in E-4 as lowest NCO rank from October 1967 to March 1991. From 1976, sergeant shared his paygrade with Senior airman (since then the most senior enlisted rank below NCO status), before phasing out in the late 1990s.[26]

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United States enlisted ranks

Pay grade

Branch of service

| E-1 | E-2 | E-3 | E-4 | E-5 | E-6 | E-7 | E-8 | E-9 | Special

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Army

PVT |
PV2 |
PFC |
SPC – CPL |
SGT |
SSG |
SFC |
MSG – 1SG¹  |
SGM – CSM |
SMA – SEAC
Marine Corps

Pvt |
PFC |
LCpl |
Cpl |
Sgt |
SSgt |
GySgt |
MSgt – 1stSgt¹  |
MGySgt – SgtMaj |
SMMC – SEAC
Navy

SR |
SA |
SN |
PO3 |
PO2 |
PO1 |
CPO |
SCPO – CMDCS |
MCPO – CMDCM – FORCM, FLTCM |
MCPON – SEAC
Air Force

AB |
Amn |
A1C |
SrA |
SSgt |
TSgt |
MSgt – 1st Sgt¹  |
SMSgt – 1st Sgt¹  |
CMSgt – 1st Sgt¹ – CCM |
SEANGB – CMSAF – SEAC
Space Force

Spc1 |
Spc2 |
Spc3 |
Spc4 |
Sgt |
TSgt |
MSgt |
SMSgt |
CMSgt |
CMSSF – SEAC
Coast Guard

SR |
SA |
SN |
PO3 |
PO2 |
PO1 |
CPO |
SCPO |
MCPO – CMC – DMCPOCG2 |
MCPOCG

1. For the Army and Air Force, first sergeants are temporary and lateral ranks and are senior to their non-diamond counterparts, while Marine Corps first sergeants have no lateral movement within paygrade and is a permanent rank.
2. The rank insignia is used by other Coast Guard senior enlisted leaders.

## NATO code[edit]

While the rank is used in a number of NATO countries, it is ranked differently depending on the country.

NATO code  | Country[27] | English equivalent

|
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UK  | US
OR-4  | Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Norway, Romania  | Corporal  | Corporal
OR-3  | Belgium, Canada, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland  | Lance corporal  | Private first class
OR-2  | Estonia, Italy, Portugal, Spain  | Private  | Private

## Gallery[edit]

* Caporal
(Arabic: عريف, romanized: Earif)
(Algerian Land Forces)[28]

* Korporaal
(French: Caporal)
(Belgian Land Component)[29]

* Caporal
(Benin Army)[30]

* Corporal
(Botswana Ground Force)[31]

* Caporal
(Burkina Faso Ground Forces)[32]

* Caporal
(Kirundi: Kaporari)
(Burundi Army)[33]

* Caporal
(Cameroon Ground Forces)

* Corporal
(French: Caporal)
(Canadian Army)[34]

* Caporal
(Central African Ground Forces)

* Caporal
(Chadian Ground Forces)

* Korporal
(Royal Danish Army)[35]

* Kapral
(Estonian Land Forces)[36]

* Caporal
(France Army)[6]

* Korporal
(German Army)[37]

* Rav Turai
Hebrew: רב טוראי
(Israel Defense Forces)[38]

* Caporale
(Italian Army)[39]

* Kaprālis
(Latvian Land Forces)[40]

* Caporal
(Luxembourg Army)[41]

* Korporaal
(Royal Netherlands Army)[42]

* Korporal
(Norwegian Army)[43]

* Kapral
(Polish Land Forces)[44]

* Cabo
(Spanish Army)[2]

* Corporal
(British Army)[45]

* Corporal
(United States Army)[46]

* Corporal
(United States Marine Corps)[47]

* Corporal (Australian Army)

* Corporal (New Zealand Army)

## See also[edit]

* Korporal
* Lance corporal
* Corporal first class
* Corporal of the field
* Master corporal
* Corporal of horse
* Staff corporal
* Corporal Jackie
* List of comparative military ranks

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Define 'corporal'". Dictionary.com. 2011. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
2. ^ a b "Army Ranks & Insignia". ejercito.defensa.gob.es. Ministry of Defence (Spain). Retrieved 30 May 2021.
3. ^ "POSTOS E DISTINTIVOS EXÉRCITO". antigo.mdn.gov.pt (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 1 March 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
4. ^ "Rank Categories". Bangladesh Army. Bangladesh Army. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
5. ^ Anordnung des Bundespräsidenten über die Dienstgradbezeichnungen und die Uniform der Soldatinnen und Soldaten (15 September 2021)
6. ^ a b Instruction N° 10300/DEF/EMAT/LOG/ASH (PDF) (in French). Staff of the French Army. 13 June 2005. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
7. ^ "Les grades" (PDF). defense.gouv.fr (in French). Ministry of Armed Forces (France). Retrieved 4 June 2021.
8. ^ "Enlisted Pay Scales 01 October 2021" (PDF). gov.ie. Government of Ireland. p. 4. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
9. ^ "The Career" (in Italian). Italian Army. 2011. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
10. ^ "SAF Military Ranks – Enlistees". Mindef.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 27 September 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
11. ^ "The Singapore Army – Home". Mindef.gov.sg. 29 December 2004. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
12. ^ "NCC Ranks and Badges". Anglo Chinese School (Independent). Archived from the original on 20 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
13. ^ "National Police Cadet Corps". npcc.org.sg. Archived from the original on 20 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
14. ^ "National Civil Defence Cadet Corps (NCDCC) / National Civil Defence Cadet Corps (NCDCC)". uniforminsignia.org. Archived from the original on 20 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
15. ^ "U.S. Army Ranks". United States Army. 2011. Archived from the original on 29 May 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
16. ^ Torbush, Alicia (12 March 2009). "Corporal: Stepping into the world of NCOs". United States Army. Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
17. ^ Hogan, David W.; Fisch, Arnold G.; Wright, Robert K., eds. (2009). The Story of the Noncommissoned Officer Corps. Washington, D.C.: United States Army Center of Military History. pp. 5–7. ISBN 978-0-16-067869-1.
18. ^ a b c McMahon, John K. (1953). The Army Lineage Book, Vol. 2: Infantry. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 30–47 - via Google Books.
19. ^ "U.S. Army Rifle Company (1944-45)". Battle Order. 6 June 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
20. ^ a b Fisher, Ernest F. (1994). Guardians of the Republic: A History of the Noncommissoned Officer Corps of the U.S. Army. New York: Ballantine. pp. 250–277. ISBN 0-449-90923-9.
21. ^ Venhuizen, Harm (7 June 2021). "All soldiers must now serve as corporals before promotion to sergeant". Army Times.
22. ^ Joseph Lacdan, Army News Service (4 June 2021) Soldiers to pin on corporal after BLC
23. ^ "Enlisted Rank Insignia". U.S. Department of Defense. 2011. Archived from the original on 28 May 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
24. ^ USMC Table of Organization, TO 1013G: Rifle Company, Infantry Battalion, Infantry Regiment and US Army Table of Organization and Equipment, TOE 07015C000: Rifle Company, Infantry Battalion (Light), Light Infantry Division
25. ^ Krulak, Charles C. (January 1999). "The Strategic Corporal: Leadership in the Three Block War". Marines Magazine. Archived from the original on 21 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
26. ^ Spink, Barry L. (30 July 2013). "A Chronology of the Enlisted Rank Chevron". A Chronology of the Enlisted Rank Chevron. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
27. ^ NATO (2021). STANAG 2116 NATO (7th ed.). Brussels, Belgium: NATO Standardization Agency. pp. D-1–D-3.
28. ^ "Ranks". mdn.dz. Ministry of National Defence (Algeria). Retrieved 30 May 2021.
29. ^ "IPR Landcomponent". mil.be (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 17 February 2005. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
30. ^ "LOI N° 2005-43 DU 26 JUIN 2006" (PDF). ilo.org (in French). National Assembly (Benin). 26 June 2006. pp. 19–20, 35–36. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
31. ^ "Ranks". Government of Botswana. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
32. ^ "LOI N° 037-2016/AN PORTANT CONDITIONS D'AVANCEMENT DES PERSONNELS D'ACTIVE DES FORCES ARMEES NATIONALES" (PDF) (in French). 2015. pp. 17–21. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 August 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
33. ^ "Loi organique N°1/ 04 du 20 février 2017 portant Missions, Organisation, Composition, Instruction, Conditions de service et Fonctionnement de la Force de Défense Nationale du Burundi" (PDF). fdnb.bi/ (in French). Government of Burundi. p. 45. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
34. ^ "Ranks and appointment". Government of Canada. 23 November 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
35. ^ "Hærens Gradstegn" (PDF). forsvaret.dk (in Danish). Danish Defence. 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
36. ^ "Sümboolika: Maaväe Auastmed". mil.ee (in Estonian). Estonian Defence Forces. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
37. ^ "Dienstgradabzeichen Heer". bundeswehr.de (in German). Bundeswehr. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
38. ^ "Ranks". web.archive.org. 30 August 2009. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
39. ^ "i gradi dell'Esercito Italiano - distintivi di incarico e funzionali" (PDF). esercito.difesa.it (in Italian). Italian Army. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 August 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
40. ^ "Pakāpju iedalījums". mil.lv/lv (in Latvian). Latvian National Armed Forces. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
41. ^ "Grades". Armee.lu. Luxembourg Army. Archived from the original on 20 December 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
42. ^ "De rangonderscheidingstekens van de krijgsmacht" (PDF) (in Dutch). Ministry of Defence (Netherlands). 19 December 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
43. ^ "Militære grader". forsvaret.no (in Norwegian). Norwegian Armed Forces. 4 February 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
44. ^ "Sposób noszenia odznak stopni wojskowych na umundurowaniu wojsk Lądowych i sił Powietrznych" (PDF). wojsko-polskie.pl (in Polish). Armed Forces Support Inspectorate. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
45. ^ "Rank structure". British Army. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
46. ^ "U.S. Army Ranks". army.mil. United States Army. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
47. ^ "U.S.M.C. Ranks". marines.mil. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 4 May 2024.

## External links[edit]

* Media related to Corporals at Wikimedia Commons

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