Army Corporal vs. Marine Corporal: is there a difference in the mentality of each?

2014-03-20T23:51:10-04:00

A cousin of mine is in the marines. He blasted me about some of the differences. Couldn't argue some of his statements. Looking for further perspective.

Response by SFC James Baber made Mar 21 at 2014 1:47 AM

2014-03-21T01:47:26-04:00

Their is a big difference, CPL in the Marines is almost stronger than an SGT in the Army as far as responsibility and getting promoted to the rank, while CPL in the Army is many times given due to a SPC being senior in a section or squad and having the ability to be an NCO just not the points to be promoted.

A CPL in the Marines is promoted very stringently based on what is called a merit promotion something that doesn't happen every day as they expected to act in the capacity as any other NCO in the USMC, unlike a CPL in the Army who is not able to fit in with other E4s because they are considered an NCO, yet they don't truly fit in with the NCOs as they are just an E4.

I could go on and on, but I am sure your cousin has hit on these and many more I could cover as well, there is no real comparison on the subject to be honest with you.

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 22 at 2014 3:22 AM

2014-03-22T03:22:07-04:00

Just with responsibilities, a Marine Corporal is a team leader like a Army Sergeant would be.  We push more responsibility to the lower ranks, even for myself a Platoon Sergeant or a Section Leader, this is reserved for a Sergeant First Class but in the Corps it's a Staff Sergeant.  We really don't see our responsibilities line up until the pay grades of E-8/E-9.    

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 11 at 2014 10:49 AM

2014-09-11T10:49:33-04:00

SSgt Fair raises several excellent points. I had always found it interesting that even as an E-4, Soldiers still have to earn the right to be an NCO. I agree that the mentaility in the Marine Corps is to instil leadership traits and principles from the very earliest stages of our career. Marines and even Recruits are presented with ample opportunities to lead large amounts of their peers from the beginning of bootcamp onwards, and the funny thing is, for the most part, it works very effectively. The fact is that in todays Marine Corps by the time a Marine is ready to pin on Corporal, he is already a qualified leader, thanks to programs that are fast becoming manditory such as Leading Marines and Lance Corporal Seminar.

Response by SFC Michael Jackson, MBA made Apr 23 at 2015 3:54 AM

2015-04-23T03:54:32-04:00

In my opinion, not all corporals are created equally in the Army. Although they should be. The responsibilities and quality of corporals vary by the units and job positions. Army Corporals in some of our combat arms units like the 82nd, 101st, or 3 ID that actually hold team leader positions. I'd match against Marine corporals. Most of the laterally appointed corporals from the support units. Not so much.

disclaimer: There are exceptions and no disrespect is extended to anyone's contribution. In my opinion, junior NCO generally had higher levels of responsibility in combat arms units

Response by Cpl Charles Thompson made Mar 6 at 2018 5:51 PM

2018-03-06T17:51:04-05:00

The Marine Corps, unlike the Army, has no other rank at the pay grade of E-4. Corporal is the lowest grade of non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, though promotion to corporal traditionally confers a significant jump in authority and responsibility compared to promotion from private through lance corporal. Marine infantry corporals generally serve as "fire-team leaders", leading a four-man team or weapons crew of similar size (e.g., assault weapons squad, medium machine gun team, or LWCMS mortar squad).

In practice, however, the billet of fire team leader is generally held by a lance corporal, while corporals serve in the squad leader billet that would normally be held by a sergeant (E-5) in infantry units. In support units, corporals generally serve in "journeyman" level roles in which they direct the activities of junior Marines and provide technical supervision, on a very limited scope, under the direct supervision of a sergeant or SNCO.