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Korporal (en: Corporal; fr: Caporal; from corpus, corporis [lat]) is in a number of armed forces the lowest rank of the non-commissioned officers group (NCO group). However, according to the NATO-Rang it might be equivalent to Hauptgefreiter / Stabsgefreiter of the German Bundeswehr. In Switzerland the rank will be used in the Fire department as well.
Contents
- Austrias
- kuk Army
- Switzerland
- France Great Britain and United States
- The Netherlands
- Vatican City
- Poland
- Prussia
- Examples
- References
In former German armed forces the designation to the lowest NCO rank was "Corporal" to.
Austrias
Korporal (Kpl) is a rank of the enlisted men rank group (EN group) in the Austrian Bundesheer, and is equivalent to NATO-Rang code OR-3. In the k.u.k Army it still counted to the NCO rank group and was allowed to wear the yellow-black port epée.
Today and in the comparison to the German Bundeswehr it is equivalent to the EN-rank “Hauptgefreiter/ Stabsgefreiter ”. In peace time the Korporal might be tasked to command a small sub unit, e.g. a fileteam (de: Trupp, 2 to 8 men) or a squad (de: Gruppe, 8-13 men).
During United Nations missions and in NATO Partnership for Peace the rank Korporal will be designated in English with Corporal (Cpl) and is equivalent to NATO-Rang code OR-3.
k.u.k. Army
Korporal (Hungarian: Tizedes) was also a military rank of the k.u.k. Austro-Hungarian Army (1867–1918). Rank insignia where two white celluloid-star on the stand-up collar of the so-called Waffenrock (en: uniform jacket) on gorget patch (de: Paroli). Stand-up collar and background of the gorget patch showed a particular egalisation colour. This rank was corresponding to the ranks of enlisted men as follows:
⇒ Ranks of the Austrian Bundesheer
⇒ Rank insignias of the Austro-Hungarian armed forces
Switzerland
In the Military of Switzerland the Korporal is the lowest NCO-rank (NATO-Code: OR-4). The rank is higher than the enlisted rank Obergefreiter.
Until the so-called Army reform XXI (with effect from January 1, 2004) the regular Korporal appointment was to squad leader (de: Gruppenführer, 8-13 men). However, in 2014 this appointment was upgraded to Wachtmeister (OR-6). The Korporal rank was converted to military specialist without any command function.
Korporal is also a rank designation in the Switzerland armed forces postal system", and in CBRN Defence.
In United Nations missions and in NATO Partnership for Peace the rank Korporal will be designated in English with Corporal (Cpl).
⇒ Military ranks of the Swiss Armed Forces
France, Great Britain, and United States
In France, Great Britain, and the United States the promotion to Corporal is possible by passing of an particular course, several tests an examination.
The Netherlands
In the Netherlands the promotion to "Korporaal" is possible after a longer service time in the enlisted men rank group. There are two corporal ranks:
Vatican City
In the Pontifical Swiss Guard there are two corporal ranks:
Poland
In the Polish armed forces there are the two Kortporal OR4-rank :
Prussia
In Prussia the "Corporal" commanded an up to 30 men strong so-called Korporalschaft (en: Corporal-ship). The rank sequence was as follows:
In 1856 the designation Corporal was changed to Unteroffizier. Until 1807 the (aristocrat) officer aspirants were called Freikorporal (en: Freecorporal).
Examples
Below there are shown some examples, which might be explain by the wording Corporal