Corporal
From Free net encyclopedia
Corporal is a rank (equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4) in use by several militaries, police forces or other uniformed organizations around the world. It is known by several different names depending upon the language used, such as Caporal, Gefreiter, Cabo, Capo, Rav-Turai, alikersantti, and Rikushi.
Australian Defence Force
Image:Australian Army Corporal Insignia.jpg 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 a Section Commander (SeCo), and is in charge of 10-14 men of private rank. He may also have a second-in-command, generally a Lance-Corporal. The same ranks within artillery units are Bombardier and Lance-Bombardier respectively.
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. There is no RAAF equivalent to the Army rank of Lance-Corporal.
British Armed Forces
Image:UK-Army-OR4.gif Corporal (Cpl) is the second rank of non-commissioned officer in the British Army and Royal Marines, falling between Lance Corporal and Sergeant. The badge of rank is a two-bar chevron (also known as "stripes" 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 sergeants or even 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 an LCoH holds the rank of corporal, but is automatically give the appointment of LCoH). Similarly, in the Foot Guards the appointment of Lance Sergeant is effectively used instead of corporal. Royal Artillery corporals are called Bombardiers. The equivalent in the British Indian Army was Naik or Lance Daffadar.
A common nickname for a corporal is a "full screw".
Image:Rafcorp.jpg Corporal is the lowest NCO rank in the Royal Air Force, coming between Junior Technician and Sergeant. Between 1950 and 1964, corporals in technical trades were known as Corporal Technicians and wore their chevrons point up.
Although classified as NATO OR-4, British corporals frequently fill OR-5 equivalent posts.
Canadian Forces
Image:CA-Army-OR4.gif Corporal (Cpl) is an Army and Air Force non-commissioned member rank of the Canadian Forces. Its Naval equivalent is Leading Seaman (LS). It is senior to the rank of Private and its Naval equivalent Able Seaman, and junior to Master Corporal and its equivalent Master Seaman. 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 2-bar chevron, point down, worn in gold thread on both upper sleeves of the Service Dress jacket; in tan (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.
Image:Canadacorp.jpg 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 severaly 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.
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)".
Privates in the Canadian Forces are considered to be apprentices in their trades, and corporals are journeymen. To become a corporal one must served four years as a private, and achieved Qualification Level 5 trades training.
The rank of corporal in artillery units follows the British convention and is styled "Bombardier" (Bdr) — thus a Master Corporal is "Master Bombardier" (MBdr).
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.
Finnish Defence Force
Image:Finnish Corporal Insignia.jpg Korpraali (literally translated as "corporal") is the equivalent to Lance Corporal and it is the most senior rank of private. Alikersantti (literally translated as "sub-sergeant") with illustrated collar and sleeve badges is the lowest NCO rank and it is the equivalent to Corporal. Around 20% of conscripts are promoted to alikersantti after they have gone through 16 weeks of NCO training. An alikersantti is usually the leader of a group that consists of 4-7 men. Korpraali is a rank above private and below alikersantti. Alikersantti is again a rank above korpraali and below kersantti (sergeant).
German Military
Image:GE-Army-OR4a.gif
Unteroffizier is the traditional German equivalent to Corporal, and has existed as a military rank since at least the 18th century.
The lower rank of Gefreiter is often translated as "corporal", but is in fact more closely equivalent to a British lance-corporal (or today a senior private). This and the rank of Oberstabsgefreiter are today classified by NATO as OR-4 ranks, with Unteroffizier being classified as OR-5.
The SS equivalent to Unteroffizier was Unterscharführer.
Irish Defence Forces
Image:IE-Army-OR4.png Corporal (Cpl) (Ceannaire in Gaelic) is the lowest rank of non-commissioned officer within the Irish Army and Air Corps. The Naval equivalent is Leading Seaman (LS).
The Army rank insignia consists of two winged chevrons (or "stripes"). The Dress Uniform being red chevrons with a yellow border. The main role of an infantry corporal is to either command a section as the section commander or to command the Fire Support Group (FSG) of a section as the 2I/C. Another role is that of training NCO of a section, as all Corporals must be qualified instructors.
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.
Israel Defense Forces
Image:Idf crpl.gif In the Israel Defense Forces, soldiers are promoted from private to corporal (Rav-turai or Rabat) after approximately 8 months of service, if they performed their duties appropriately during this time. Soldiers who take a commander's course may become corporals earlier (the earliest for a combat soldier being 9.5 months). Corporals get a symbolic pay raise of 4.60 NIS and corporals who are also noncommissioned officers (mashak) are able to command privates in their respective units.
A corporal may be promoted to a sergeant about 10 months after becoming a corporal, or to a second lieutenant for corporals who complete an officer's course.
Norwegian Defence Force
Image:NO-Army-OR4.gif In the Norwegian Defence Force, promotion to the rank of Korporal is used as a way to acknowledge soldiers who have done a good job in their service, without giving them any real authority. Promotion may come after only 4 months (or even less), and the rank carries two chevrons and a slight pay increase. In addition, every candidate who completes a special selection period, the Aspirantperiode, including those aspiring to become a sergeant or a soldier in His Majesty The King's Guard, automatically qualifies for the rank of Korporal, as do the Military Police.
The pay raise is fondly known as Colatilegget, or the "coke raise", as the sum in question is approximately enough to buy one Coke each day.
Spanish Armed Forces
Image:SP-Army-OR3.gif In the Spanish Armed Forces Cabo is the rank between Soldado (soldier) and Sargento (sergeant). Equals to a NATO OR-3
Swedish Armed Forces
Image:Swedisharmykorporal.gif In the Swedish Army, the rank of Korpral is given to conscripts under training as section leaders and platoon leaders after 5 months of training. Those who are selected as (wartime) platoon leaders are later promoted to Furir (corresponding to the British corporal) and later Sergeant, while the section leaders are promoted to the rank of Furir after 10 months of service. The second-in-command at the section level, and often also at the platoon level, holds the same rank as the section or platoon leader.
Republic of Singapore
Image:Singaporearmycorporal.jpg Corporals (CPL) in the Singapore Armed Forces, unlike Corporals in most other military forces, are not non-commissioned officers (known as Specialists in Singapore). The rank of Corporal lies between Lance-Corporal (LCP) and 3rd Sergeant (3SG). It is the most common rank held by conscript soldiers, who are usually promoted to the rank near the end of their national service term. Corporals usually do not go on to become sergeants. A Corporal in the Singapore Armed Forces is roughly equivalent to a Specialist in the U.S. Army.
A Corporal wears rank insignia of two point down chevrons and an arc (similar to an upside down U.S. Army Private First Class rank with an additional stripe).
A Corporal in the Singapore Police Force is a non-commissioned officer ranking below Sergeant.
U.S. Armed Forces
Image:USAr.insignia.e4.wag2.png In the U.S. Army a Corporal (CPL) is the fifth enlisted rank, the first three being forms of Private and the fourth being the Specialist. A Corporal ranks above a Specialist and below a Sergeant, and has the same pay grade as a Specialist.
Unlike a Specialist, a Corporal is a non-commissioned officer and may direct the activities of other soldiers, including Specialists. Corporal is the most junior non-commissioned officer rank. A promotion from Specialist to Corporal is a lateral promotion; an increase in rank but not in pay grade.
It is common for a Corporal to lead a fireteam; however, if a soldier is promoted to Corporal and there are too many soldiers of that rank, the new Corporal will stay in his current position.
The rank of Corporal is the only rank in the United States Army that has never been removed from the NCO Corps.
Image:Marine Corp CPL.JPG Corporal is the fourth enlisted rank in the U.S. Marine Corps as well, ranking immediately above Lance Corporal and immediately below Sergeant. Corporal is the lowest grade of non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, as it is in the U.S. Army.
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| E-1 | E-2 | E-3 | E-4 | E-5 | E-6 | E-7 | E-8 | E-9 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Force: | AB | Amn | A1C | SrA | SSgt | TSgt | MSgt | SMSgt | CMSgt - |
| Army: | PV1 | PV2 | PFC | SPC -
CPL | SGT | SSG | SFC | MSG - | SGM - |
| Marine Corps: | Pvt | PFC | LCpl | Cpl | Sgt | SSgt | GySgt | MSgt - | MGySgt - |
| Navy: | SR | SA | SN | PO3 | PO2 | PO1 | CPO | SCPO | MCPO - |
Corporals in police forces
Some police departments in the United States maintain a rank of corporal, which is almost always next above a patrolman, officer, deputy, trooper etc. and next below a sergeant. Its existence has become increasingly popular in recent years, but does not necessarily confer supervisory responsibilities upon its holder unless in the absence of a sergeant or ranking supervisor; often it is simply a more senior grade of patrolman, with higher pay.
Many departments confer this rank on FTOs (Field Training Officers) - those who are trusted in training new officers right out of the Police Academy. The Corporal rank gives them status both within the agency and to the citizens who come in contact with them. Because these officers have been chosen for their experience and tact, FTOs are mentors to new officers and veteran officers alike.
The rank also exists in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and used to exist in some Australian police forces. It is also used in many other police forces of the Commonwealth.
In police forces in India, the rank of Naik is given to long-serving constables who have not yet been promoted to Head Constable (usually after approximately 20 years service). The annual pay increments would, however, have already elevated the Naik's pay to the basic pay scale of a Head Constable by this time. This rank does not give any extra authority or privileges to the holder.