Korporal

''Korporal'' is the German and Danish spelling of the English corporal. ''Korporal'' is used in a number of armed forces as the lowest rank of the non-commissioned officers group. However, in the German Bundeswehr, it is considered a high enlisted personnel rank. In Switzerland the rank is used in the Fire Department as well.

In former German armed forces, the designation of the lowest NCO rank was "Corporal".

Austria

''Korporal''Duden; Origin and meaning of "Korporal", in German

/ref> (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 peacetime the Korporal might be tasked to command a small sub unit, e.g. a fireteam (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'' () was also a rank of the k.u.k. Austro-Hungarian Army. Rank insignia were two white celluloid-star on the stand-up collar of the '' Waffenrock'' on gorget patch (). 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:

*''Bataillonshornist'' (Battalion bugler)
*''Bataillonstambour'' (Battalion drummer)
*''Geschütz-Vormeister'' (Gunner-corporal) artillery
*''Gewehr-Vormeister'' (Machinegun-corporal ) infantry
*''Unterjäger'' (Rifles-corporal) mountain troops
*''Waffenmeister'' 3. Klasse (Weapon master 3rd class) artillery and weapon arsenal

;Korporal in adjutation of the k.u.k. infantry

Korporal im k.u.k. InfRgt 21.png,
Einjährig-Freiwilliger Korporal im k.u.k. InfRgt 38.png,
Korporal im k.u.k. InfRgt 39.png,
Einjährig-Freiwilliger Korporal im k.u.k. InfRgt 58.png,
Korporal im k.u.k. InfRgt 60.png,
Korporal im k.u.k. InfRgt 71.png,
Korporal im k.u.k. InfRgt 75.png,
Korporal im k.u.k. InfRgt 83.png,

Denmark

In 1609, Christian IV of Denmark created a permanent organization with regiments of the Royal Danish Army. A regiment would be assigned one , one , one , and two s.

The first given insignia in 1812, when the rank was given two chevrons. It was originally the lowest NCO.

By 1972, the rank was only temporarily given. On 1 October 2008, 23 from the Army were the first to be permanently appointed , since 1972, while simultaneously being made an enlisted rank.

On 9 March 2012, 12 naval and 12 aviation specialists, were appointed . In the Navy, the degree is intended for employees who act as assistant instructors.

Germany

(''abbr.'' Korp) is the second highest enlisted rank in the Bundeswehr, that might be comparable to corporal in Anglophone armed forces. However, belongs to the rank group of enlisted men, as distinguished from the corporal in Anglophone armed forces which is a non-commissioned officer.

History

The ranks and were introduced by the Bundeswehr in October 2021 as the new most senior ranks for enlisted men, senior to Oberstabsgefreiter. This was done to allow soldiers who perform well and want to take more responsibility to reach a higher pay grade (''A6'' for Korporal, that is the same pay grade as the NCO rank Stabsunteroffizier (OR-5)) and thus make the career in the enlisted ranks more attractive.

Soldiers have to have served for at least three years in the rank of before being considered for promotion.

In September 2021, the rank insignia for and were introduced.

Norway

In Norway, the rank is only used by the Norwegian Army. Here is split into 4 classes and is the "specialist officer" () rank group.

Switzerland

In the Military of Switzerland the ''Korporal'' is the lowest NCO-rank. 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-5). 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).

Other armed forces

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:
*''Korporaal'' OR-3
*''Korporaal der 1e klasse'' OR-4

Vatican City

In the Pontifical Swiss Guard there are two corporal ranks:
*Korporal and
*Vizekorporal

Poland

In the Polish armed forces there are the two Korporal OR4-rank :
* Kapral hort: kpr.(en: Corporal)
* Starszy kapral hort: st. kpr. (en: Senior corporal)

Prussia

In Prussia the "Corporal" commanded an up to 30 men strong so-called ''Korporalschaft''. The rank sequence was as follows:
*''Gefreiter''
*''Korporal''
*''Sergant'' and/or ''Feldwebel''
In 1856 the designation ''korporal'' was changed to ''Unteroffizier''. Until 1807 the (aristocrat) officer aspirants were called ''Freikorporal'' ().

Examples

File:ES-Army-OR4.png,
''Kapral'', OR-2
File:LV-Army-OR4.png,
''Kaprālis'', OR-4, Army
File:Nl-landmacht-korporaal.svg,
''Korporaal'', OR-3, Army
File:GrenOR4.png,
''Korporal'', OR-4
File:Kapral m.svg,
''Kapral'' Army special forces

References

* ''Die Streitkräfte der Republik Österreich, 1918-1968'', Heeresgeschichtliches Museum, Militärwissenschaftliches Institut, 1968.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Korporal
Military ranks of Germany
Military ranks of Austria
Military ranks of Switzerland
Austro-Hungarian Army
Military ranks of Norway