Lance Corporal
Encyclopedia
Lance corporal is a military rank
, used by many armed forces worldwide, and also by some police
forces and other uniformed organizations. It is below the rank of corporal
, and is typically the lowest non-commissioned officer
, usually equivalent to the NATO Rank Grade OR-3
.
with the now-archaic lancepesade, formerly a non-commissioned officer
of the lowest rank. This in turn derives from the Italian lancia spezzata, which literally means "broken lance" or "broken spear", but which was used to denote a seasoned soldier, as the broken spear was a metaphor for combat experience, where such an occurrence was very likely.
and New Zealand Army
, falling between Private
and Corporal
. It is the only appointed rank, and thus demotion is easier than with other ranks. A Lance Corporal is usually the second in command of a Section
(2IC), and is in control of the gun group in an infantry section. The same rank within artillery
units is known as Lance-Bombardier
(Lance Bombardier in New Zealand). There is no equivalent rank within the Royal Australian Air Force
or Royal Australian Navy
. The badge of rank is a 1-bar chevron worn on both sleeves or on an epaulette.
Second Corporal
was also formerly used in Australia in the same way that it was used in the British Army
.
A common nickname for a Lance Corporal in Australia is a "Lance Jack".
abolished the appointment of Lance Corporal on their creation as a unified force
in 1968. The rank of Trained Private
equates to OR-3 and wears the single chevron, but has no command authority. In terms of actual authority, the current appointment of Master Corporal
equates most directly to the pre-Unification appointment of Lance Corporal as in both cases, this appointment was granted to soldier second-in-command of an infantry section, for example. Although with the new Conservative majority currently in government, many changes have been happening in the Canadian Military, one of which is the move towards the traditional Canadian Army, keeping in line with other Commonwealth countries. This may result in the eventual bringing back of the rank of Lance-Corporal.
is a Caporal or Brigadier.
was Acting Lance-Daffadar in cavalry regiments and Lance-Naik
in other units. These ranks are still used in the Indian Army
and Pakistan Army
.
, the equivalent of a Lance Corporal rank was that of Anspeçada. The rank of Anspeçada was replaced, in the end of the 19th century, by the present rank of Segundo-Cabo (Second Corporal), the former rank of Cabo (Corporal) beeing renamed Primeiro-Cabo (First Corporal).
After the independence of Brazil in 1822, the new Brazilian Army
followed the Portuguese system of ranks, having also the rank of Anspeçada. The rank existed also in the Brazilian States Military Polices and in the Military Firefighters Corps
. The rank of Anspeçada was discontinued in Brazil in the first half of the 20th century.
ranks between Private First Class (PFC) and Corporal (CPL).
Like the rank of Corporal, it is not considered a Specialist
rank, and the Lance-Corporal has absolutely no command authority by virtue of his rank. However, Lance-Corporals who are appointed second-in-command of a section (military unit)
do have the authority to command the rest of the section. National Servicemen
in such appointments are usually promoted to this rank in the middle of their two-year enlistment.
A Lance-Corporal wears rank insignia of a single point down chevron with an arc above it (similar to an upside down US Army PFC rank badge).
in the British Army
and Royal Marines
, between Private
and Corporal
(and with a NATO grade of OR3). The badge of rank is a one-bar chevron worn on both sleeves, or on an epaulette on the front of the Combat Soldier 95 dress standard (although Lance Corporals in the Foot Guards
, Honourable Artillery Company
, 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards
and The Queen's Royal Hussars
wear two-bar chevrons and in the Household Cavalry
a two-bar chevron surmounted by the crown is worn). The Royal Artillery
uses the term Lance-Bombardier instead. The designation "Chosen Man", used during the Napoleonic Wars
, was a precursor to the rank. A common nickname for a Lance Corporal is "lance jack". Lance Corporals are commonly addressed as "Corporal".
Until 1961, Lance Corporal was only an appointment rather than a rank, given to privates who were acting NCOs, and could be taken away by the soldier's commanding officer (whereas a full Corporal could only be demoted by court martial). The Royal Engineers
and Army Ordnance Corps
also used the similar rank of Second Corporal
, which was a substantive rank (also wearing one chevron), until 1920. Until 1920, Bombardiers
in the Royal Artillery were equivalent to Second Corporals and Acting Bombardiers were equivalent to Lance Corporals (both wearing one chevron).
In the infantry
, a Lance Corporal usually serves as second-in-command
of a section
and commander of its delta fire team
. It is also a rank commonly held by specialists such as clerks, drivers, signallers, machine-gunners, and mortarmen.
In the Royal Military Police
all other ranks are promoted to Lance Corporal on the completion of their training.
On 1 April 2010, the rank of Lance Corporal was introduced into the RAF Regiment
, although it is not be used by other branches of the Royal Air Force
. The RAF sections of Combined Cadet Force
s, seen in some British schools, have used the rank of Cadet Junior Corporal (also bearing one chevron) for many years in order that NCOs can be ranked on parity with the Cadet Lance Corporals in the Army Sections. RAF Regiment Lance Corporals have powers of charge over Aircraftmen
, Leading Aircraftmen
and Senior Aircraftmen
, but not Junior Technician
s and Senior Aircraftmen Technicians
, who, despite being OR2s, require a Corporal or above to charge if required.
in order of seniority in the U.S. Marine Corps
, just above Private First Class
and below Corporal
. It is not a non-commissioned officer
rank. In the Marine Corps, to call a lance corporal "Corporal" is considered disrespectful to both ranks.
The USMC is the only component of the U.S. Armed Forces to currently have lance corporals. A lance corporal relies upon a composite score to be promoted to corporal.
From the earliest years of the Corps, the ranks of lance corporal and lance sergeant were in common usage. Marines were appointed temporarily from the next lower rank to the higher grade but were still paid at the lower rank. As the rank structure became more firmly defined, the rank of lance sergeant fell out of use, with rank of lance corporal serving in the Corps into the 1930s, but this unofficial rank became redundant when the rank of private first class was established in 1917. The lance corporal fell out of usage prior to World War II, before it was permanently established in the sweeping rank restructuring of 1958.
had the rank of Lance Corporal from 1965 to 1968 signified by one chevron with a rocker underneath. The insignia later became Private First Class in 1968 with the former one chevron of a PFC, becoming Private E-2.
Military rank
Military rank is a system of hierarchical relationships in armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms...
, used by many armed forces worldwide, and also by some police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
forces and other uniformed organizations. It is below the rank of corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
, and is typically the lowest non-commissioned officer
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
, usually equivalent to the NATO Rank Grade OR-3
Ranks and insignia of NATO
Ranks and insignia of NATO are combined military insignia used by the member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.The rank scale is used for specifying posts within NATO.-Definitions:...
.
Etymology
The presumed origin of the rank of Lance Corporal derives from an amalgamation of corporalCorporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
with the now-archaic lancepesade, formerly a non-commissioned officer
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
of the lowest rank. This in turn derives from the Italian lancia spezzata, which literally means "broken lance" or "broken spear", but which was used to denote a seasoned soldier, as the broken spear was a metaphor for combat experience, where such an occurrence was very likely.
Australia and New Zealand
Lance Corporal is the lowest of the non-commissioned officer ranks in the Australian ArmyAustralian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
and New Zealand Army
New Zealand Army
The New Zealand Army , is the land component of the New Zealand Defence Force and comprises around 4,500 Regular Force personnel, 2,000 Territorial Force personnel and 500 civilians. Formerly the New Zealand Military Forces, the current name was adopted around 1946...
, falling between Private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
and Corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
. It is the only appointed rank, and thus demotion is easier than with other ranks. A Lance Corporal is usually the second in command of a Section
Section (military unit)
A section is a small military unit in some armies. In many armies, it is a squad of seven to twelve soldiers. However in France and armies based on the French model, it is the sub-division of a company .-Australian Army:...
(2IC), and is in control of the gun group in an infantry section. The same rank within artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
units is known as Lance-Bombardier
Bombardier (rank)
Bombardier is a rank used in artillery units in the armies of Commonwealth countries instead of corporal. Lance-bombardier is used instead of lance-corporal....
(Lance Bombardier in New Zealand). There is no equivalent rank within the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
or Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
. The badge of rank is a 1-bar chevron worn on both sleeves or on an epaulette.
Second Corporal
Second Corporal
Second Corporal was a rank in the Royal Engineers and Army Ordnance Corps of the British Army. Second Corporals wore one rank chevron, but unlike Lance-Corporals they held full non-commissioned officer rank. They were thus equivalent to Bombardiers in the Royal Artillery. The rank was abolished in...
was also formerly used in Australia in the same way that it was used in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
.
A common nickname for a Lance Corporal in Australia is a "Lance Jack".
Canada
The Canadian ForcesCanadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
abolished the appointment of Lance Corporal on their creation as a unified force
Unification of the Canadian Forces
Unification of the Canadian Forces took place in 1968 when the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force were merged to form the Canadian Armed Forces....
in 1968. The rank of Trained Private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
equates to OR-3 and wears the single chevron, but has no command authority. In terms of actual authority, the current appointment of Master Corporal
Master Corporal
Master Corporal , in the Canadian Forces and the Royal Canadian Army Cadets is an appointment of the rank of Corporal in the Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Airforce...
equates most directly to the pre-Unification appointment of Lance Corporal as in both cases, this appointment was granted to soldier second-in-command of an infantry section, for example. Although with the new Conservative majority currently in government, many changes have been happening in the Canadian Military, one of which is the move towards the traditional Canadian Army, keeping in line with other Commonwealth countries. This may result in the eventual bringing back of the rank of Lance-Corporal.
France
The equivalent of a Lance Corporal in the French ArmyFrench Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
is a Caporal or Brigadier.
India and Pakistan
The equivalent to Lance-Corporal in the British Indian ArmyBritish Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
was Acting Lance-Daffadar in cavalry regiments and Lance-Naik
Lance Naik
Lance Naik is the equivalent rank to Lance Corporal in the Pakistan and Indian Armies and before 1947, in the British Indian Army, ranking below Naik. In cavalry units the equivalent is Acting Lance Daffadar. Like a British Lance Corporal, he wore a single rank chevron....
in other units. These ranks are still used in the Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
and Pakistan Army
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
.
Portugal and Brazil
Until the end of the 19th century, in the Portuguese ArmyPortuguese Army
The Portuguese Army is the ground branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces which, in co-operation with other branches of the Portuguese military, is charged with the defence of Portugal...
, the equivalent of a Lance Corporal rank was that of Anspeçada. The rank of Anspeçada was replaced, in the end of the 19th century, by the present rank of Segundo-Cabo (Second Corporal), the former rank of Cabo (Corporal) beeing renamed Primeiro-Cabo (First Corporal).
After the independence of Brazil in 1822, the new Brazilian Army
Brazilian Army
The Brazilian Army is the land arm of the Brazilian Military. The Brazilian Army has fought in several international conflicts, mostly in South America and during the 19th century, such as the Brazilian War of Independence , Argentina-Brazil War , War of the Farrapos , Platine War , Uruguayan War ...
followed the Portuguese system of ranks, having also the rank of Anspeçada. The rank existed also in the Brazilian States Military Polices and in the Military Firefighters Corps
Military Firefighters Corps
In Brazil, the Military Firefighters Corps is a military organization with the mission of civil defense, firefighting, and search and rescue inside the States of the Federation. Since 1915, it has been a Military reserve force and an auxiliary force of the Brazilian Army. The Military Firefighter...
. The rank of Anspeçada was discontinued in Brazil in the first half of the 20th century.
Singapore
The rank of Lance-Corporal (LCP) in the Singapore Armed ForcesSingapore Armed Forces
The Singapore Armed Forces is the military arm of the Total Defence of the Republic of Singapore; as well as the military component of the Ministry of Defence. The SAF comprises three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Navy...
ranks between Private First Class (PFC) and Corporal (CPL).
Like the rank of Corporal, it is not considered a Specialist
Specialist (rank)
Specialist 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...
rank, and the Lance-Corporal has absolutely no command authority by virtue of his rank. However, Lance-Corporals who are appointed second-in-command of a section (military unit)
Section (military unit)
A section is a small military unit in some armies. In many armies, it is a squad of seven to twelve soldiers. However in France and armies based on the French model, it is the sub-division of a company .-Australian Army:...
do have the authority to command the rest of the section. National Servicemen
National Service in Singapore
Conscription in Singapore, called National Service , requires all male Singaporean citizens and second-generation permanent residents who have reached the age of 18 to enrol in the military...
in such appointments are usually promoted to this rank in the middle of their two-year enlistment.
A Lance-Corporal wears rank insignia of a single point down chevron with an arc above it (similar to an upside down US Army PFC rank badge).
United Kingdom
Lance Corporal (LCpl or formerly L/Cpl) is the lowest ranking non-commissioned officerNon-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
and Royal Marines
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
, between Private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
and Corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
(and with a NATO grade of OR3). The badge of rank is a one-bar chevron worn on both sleeves, or on an epaulette on the front of the Combat Soldier 95 dress standard (although Lance Corporals in the Foot Guards
Foot Guards
-British Army:The Foot Guards are the Regular Infantry regiments of the Household Division of the British Army. There have been six regiments of foot guards, five of which still exist. The Royal Guards Reserve Regiment was a reserve formation of the Household Brigade in existence from 1900-1901...
, Honourable Artillery Company
Honourable Artillery Company
The Honourable Artillery Company was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1537 by King Henry VIII. Today it is a Registered Charity whose purpose is to attend to the “better defence of the realm"...
, 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards
1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards
1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards is a cavalry regiment of the British Army. Nicknamed The Welsh Cavalry, the regiment recruits from Wales, Herefordshire, and Shropshire, and is the senior cavalry regiment, and therefore senior regiment, of the line of the British Army...
and The Queen's Royal Hussars
The Queen's Royal Hussars
The Queen's Royal Hussars is the senior United Kingdom light cavalry regiment. It was formed on 1 September 1993 from the amalgamation of The Queen's Own Hussars and The Queen's Royal Irish Hussars...
wear two-bar chevrons and in the Household Cavalry
Household Cavalry
The term Household Cavalry is used across the Commonwealth to describe the cavalry of the Household Divisions, a country’s most elite or historically senior military groupings or those military groupings that provide functions associated directly with the Head of state.Canada's Governor General's...
a two-bar chevron surmounted by the crown is worn). The Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
uses the term Lance-Bombardier instead. The designation "Chosen Man", used during the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
, was a precursor to the rank. A common nickname for a Lance Corporal is "lance jack". Lance Corporals are commonly addressed as "Corporal".
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
and Army Ordnance Corps
Royal Army Ordnance Corps
The Royal Army Ordnance Corps was a corps of the British Army. It dealt only with the supply and maintenance of weaponry, munitions and other military equipment until 1965, when it took over most other supply functions, as well as the provision of staff clerks, from the Royal Army Service...
also used the similar rank of Second Corporal
Second Corporal
Second Corporal was a rank in the Royal Engineers and Army Ordnance Corps of the British Army. Second Corporals wore one rank chevron, but unlike Lance-Corporals they held full non-commissioned officer rank. They were thus equivalent to Bombardiers in the Royal Artillery. The rank was abolished in...
, which was a substantive rank (also wearing one chevron), until 1920. Until 1920, Bombardiers
Bombardier (rank)
Bombardier is a rank used in artillery units in the armies of Commonwealth countries instead of corporal. Lance-bombardier is used instead of lance-corporal....
in the Royal Artillery were equivalent to Second Corporals and Acting Bombardiers were equivalent to Lance Corporals (both wearing one chevron).
In the infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
, a Lance Corporal usually serves as second-in-command
Second-in-command
The Second-in-Command is the deputy commander of any British Army or Royal Marines unit, from battalion or regiment downwards. He or she is thus the equivalent of an Executive Officer in the United States Army...
of a section
Section (military unit)
A section is a small military unit in some armies. In many armies, it is a squad of seven to twelve soldiers. However in France and armies based on the French model, it is the sub-division of a company .-Australian Army:...
and commander of its delta fire team
Fireteam
A fireteam is a small military unit of infantry. It is the smallest unit in the militaries that use it and is the primary unit upon which infantry organization is based in the British Army, Royal Air Force Regiment, Royal Marines, United States Army, United States Marine Corps, United States Air...
. It is also a rank commonly held by specialists such as clerks, drivers, signallers, machine-gunners, and mortarmen.
In the Royal Military Police
Royal Military Police
The Royal Military Police is the corps of the British Army responsible for the policing of service personnel, and for providing a military police presence both in the UK, and whilst service personnel are deployed overseas on operations and exercises.Members of the RMP are generally known as...
all other ranks are promoted to Lance Corporal on the completion of their training.
On 1 April 2010, the rank of Lance Corporal was introduced into the RAF Regiment
RAF Regiment
The Royal Air Force Regiment is a specialist airfield defence corps founded by Royal Warrant in 1942. After a 32 week trainee gunner course, its members are trained and equipped to prevent a successful enemy attack in the first instance; minimise the damage caused by a successful attack; and...
, although it is not be used by other branches of the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
. The RAF sections of Combined Cadet Force
Combined Cadet Force
The Combined Cadet Force is a Ministry of Defence sponsored youth organisation in the United Kingdom. Its aim is to "provide a disciplined organisation in a school so that pupils may develop powers of leadership by means of training to promote the qualities of responsibility, self reliance,...
s, seen in some British schools, have used the rank of Cadet Junior Corporal (also bearing one chevron) for many years in order that NCOs can be ranked on parity with the Cadet Lance Corporals in the Army Sections. RAF Regiment Lance Corporals have powers of charge over Aircraftmen
Aircraftman
Aircraftman , or Aircraftwoman , is the lowest rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of several other Commonwealth countries....
, Leading Aircraftmen
Leading Aircraftman
Leading aircraftman Leading aircraftman (LAC) Leading aircraftman (LAC) (or leading aircraftwoman (LACW) is a rank in some air forces, between aircraftman and senior aircraftman and having a NATO rank code of OR-2. The rank badge is a horizontal two-bladed propeller....
and Senior Aircraftmen
Senior Aircraftman
Senior Aircraftman , or Senior Aircraftwoman , is a rank in the Royal Air Force, ranking between Leading Aircraftman and Senior Aircraftman Technician and having a NATO rank code of OR-2. The rank, which is non-supervisory, was introduced on 1 January 1951...
, but not Junior Technician
Junior Technician
Junior Technician is a junior non-commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the Pakistan Air Force. In the RAF it ranks equal to Senior Aircraftman Technician , above Senior Aircraftman and below Corporal and has a NATO rank code of OR-2...
s and Senior Aircraftmen Technicians
Senior Aircraftman Technician
Senior aircraftman technician is a rank in the Royal Air Force, ranking between senior aircraftman and corporal and having a NATO rank code of OR-2. It is also subordinate to the Army and RAF Regiment rank of lance corporal, although SACs and junior technicians require a Corporal rank or above to...
, who, despite being OR2s, require a Corporal or above to charge if required.
Marine Corps
Lance Corporal (LCpl) is the third enlisted rankEnlisted rank
An enlisted rank is, in most Militaries, any rank below a commissioned officer or warrant officer. The term can also be inclusive of non-commissioned officers...
in order of seniority in the U.S. Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
, just above Private First Class
Private First Class
Private First Class is a military rank held by junior enlisted persons.- Singapore :The rank of Private First Class in the Singapore Armed Forces lies between the ranks of Private and Lance-Corporal . It is usually held by conscript soldiers midway through their national service term...
and below Corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
. It is not a non-commissioned officer
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
rank. In the Marine Corps, to call a lance corporal "Corporal" is considered disrespectful to both ranks.
The USMC is the only component of the U.S. Armed Forces to currently have lance corporals. A lance corporal relies upon a composite score to be promoted to corporal.
From the earliest years of the Corps, the ranks of lance corporal and lance sergeant were in common usage. Marines were appointed temporarily from the next lower rank to the higher grade but were still paid at the lower rank. As the rank structure became more firmly defined, the rank of lance sergeant fell out of use, with rank of lance corporal serving in the Corps into the 1930s, but this unofficial rank became redundant when the rank of private first class was established in 1917. The lance corporal fell out of usage prior to World War II, before it was permanently established in the sweeping rank restructuring of 1958.
Army
The United States ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
had the rank of Lance Corporal from 1965 to 1968 signified by one chevron with a rocker underneath. The insignia later became Private First Class in 1968 with the former one chevron of a PFC, becoming Private E-2.