Lance Corporal
The Lance Corporal (short: LCpl or L / Cpl) is a military grade used by many armed forces, police units and other equally structured organizations worldwide. He is above the rank of Private First Class ( US Marines ) or Private Class 1-3 ( British Army , Royal Marines ) and below the rank of Corporal (US Marines) or Lance Sergeant ( British Foot Guards , Honorable Artillery Company ). It is the lowest non-commissioned officer rank or, as in most cases, the highest crew rank , usually synonymous with the NATO rank code OR-3. For example, it can be found in the US Marine Corps, the Royal Marines and the British Army. In addition, many countries have an equivalent rank in their armed forces.
history
The presumed origin of the Lance Corporal is derived from a merger of the Corporal with the (outdated, medieval term) of the Lancepesade rank, a formerly lowest rank of a non-commissioned officer. The medieval corporal led a group of soldiers, assisted by the Lancepesade , a war veteran . The Lancepesade in turn derives from the medieval Italian Lancia spezzata ago, which means as much as "Broken Lance" (English. Broken lance ) or "broken spear" (English. Broken spear ) to indicate this metaphor that this unit combat experience owns.
Rank badge
The British Lance Corporal badge has a yellow or gold-colored uniform angle pointing down with the tip , the US a yellow uniform angle pointing upwards on a red (beige or black, depending on the uniform) background, with two rifles crossing below.
In the 19th century , the British Lance Corporal still had two downward pointing white uniform angles as rank insignia.
literature
- Der Reibert - The manual for the German soldier (with NATO rank badge). Hamburg, ES Mittler & Sohn , October 2008, ISBN 3813208974 and ISBN 978-3813208979 .
- Brian L. Davis: Uniforms and badges of NATO: history and organization , 1st edition, Stuttgart, Motorbuch-Verlag 1991, ISBN 3-613-01427-0
See also
- U.S. Marine Corps ranks
- Ranks in the British Army
- Royal Marines ranks
- NATO rank code OR-3 Lance Corporal
Web links
- Lance Corporal Rank Badge (United Kingdom) (Photo)
- United States Department of Defense Enlisted Rank Insignias (English)
- Dictionary.com - Lance Corporal (English)