In the U.S. Army Corporal (CPL) is preceded by the first three forms of
Private E2 and the rank of
Specialist. A Corporal ranks above a
Specialist and below a
Sergeant, but shares the same pay grade (E-4) as a Specialist. Unlike a Specialist, however, a Corporal is a non-commissioned officer and may direct the activities of other soldiers, including Specialists. A promotion from Specialist to Corporal is a lateral appointment; an increase in rank, but not in pay grade.
Currently, very few soldiers are made Corporal. Most go from Private First Class to Specialist to Sergeant. However, Corporals are found in many combat units. The typical criterion for promotion to Corporal is that the Specialist must be serving in a leadership position that would typically be occupied by an NCO such as a Sergeant.
It is common for a Corporal to lead a fireteam; however, if a soldier is promoted to Corporal and there are too many soldiers of that rank, the new Corporal will stay in his current position.
The rank of Corporal is the only rank in the United States Army that was never removed from the NCO Corps since the earliest days of the Army.
