Corporal
The first noncommissioned officer rank of the US Army, E-4 and NATO OR-4, a junior leader of small teams.
Overview
Corporal wears two chevrons and is the smallest true command rank: a corporal can lead a fire team of about four soldiers and enforces standards when no sergeant is present. The title descends from Italian caporale, head of a small squad, documented in armies since the sixteenth century. In the modern US Army an E-4 becomes a corporal rather than a specialist when slotted into a leadership position, making the rank a recognized stepping stone to sergeant. Corporals share duty authority with specialists but carry responsibility specialists do not.
Related Topics
Private
New soldiers enter the Army as Private, pay grade E-1, wearing no insignia. Advancement to Private E-2, one chevron, typically fol...
Private First Class
Private First Class wears one chevron with one rocker and typically arrives within the first one to two years of service. PFCs are...
Sergeant
Sergeant wears three chevrons and typically leads a squad of eight to twelve soldiers, the smallest unit that fights as a complete...
Staff Sergeant
Staff Sergeant wears three chevrons over one rocker and usually leads a full squad or a support section, with responsibility for t...