Posted on Feb 27, 2014
Why do some NG Units not use the rank of Corporal as a rank?
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I have been told that the rank of CPL has been done away with in the army, but I see CPL's from other units in my state. I even was one, at a time in My career, In the National Guard. Why doesn't the rank get used. It is a lateral and just a swap of rank. no more money. If you are a team Ldr and all ready have that responsibility the what does the rank do but give you the authority of an JR NCO?
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Posted 12 y ago
Responses: 6
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I have always thought a CPL in the National Guard is like a WO but only on the enlisted side - Excellent knowledge about the Army and his/her MOS, Army Values/Warrior Ethos, but just without officer pay and/or respects. I have met a CPL in the National Guard. She drills about 30 minutes away from my home town and is a recruiter. I had asked her how she got CPL instead of SPC, and her response was, "I dont know. Just lucky, I guess."
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I've not seen a Corporal in the Active Army that didn't meet the following requirements: Warrior Leader Course graduate, recommended for E-5 by a promotion board, and currently serving in a leadership position. By leadership position I mean a slot that is supposed to be filled by an E-5 by the MTOE, and not just an E-4 position where you are expected to pick up more responsibility and leadership roles.
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SSG(P) Matthew Bisbee
Many E-4(P) soldiers are waiting for the promotion points to drop to get promoted. They should be laterally promoted to CPL until their promotion to SGT comes through.
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Hell fire- I saw maybe 15-20 CPL's during my entire AD service. Most units do not have CPL slots in the manning bill.
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<p>Generally speaking is it because that leadership slot is held by an E5. For instance, I am in an MP Company. Each squad has a squad leader (E6) and three team leaders (E5) and all command a truck or vehicle. Everyone else in the squad is junior enlisted as a gunner or driver. There simply is no reason to have a corporal because to be in a leadership position he would have to be holding an E5's slot. Why make an E4 a Corporal when you can just promote the next guy on the staff list to E5 to fill the empty slot? </p><p> </p><p> </p>
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SGT Bryon Sergent
well, if they say that there are enough e-5 and can't promote anyone at this time. You are holding that said slot. Wouldn't it make more sense to do the lateral and give that SPC the authority to the other SPC in the squad to show the position?
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SSG (Join to see)
I agree that specialist rink is overrated. Too many specialists get to that spot and stay there. I see the term junior NCO being applied to sergeants and staff sergeants and you're not consider to be a senior unless you're Sergeant First Class I think this is part of the problem. The Army needs to recognize Cpl. E 4's as positions of leadership.
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SFC Michael Hasbun
Institutionally, we don't expect enough from our people. What the Army considers a Sergeant task, the Marines would consider a senior Lance Corporal (E-3 for anyone unfamiliar) task. Our SSG's level of responsibilities are about on par with a Marine Corporal. We have 1SG's to do what Marine Company Gunnys' (E-7) do.
We really need to just raise our standards overall in terms of what we expect from each rank..
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SFC Michael Hasbun
Sure. Leadership in the Corps starts with CPL, and they have to compete for that rank. 99% of our E4's are SPC's, not leaders. Their Platoon Sergeants are SSG's, ours are SFC's. In the Corps, SSG's are Senior NCO's (Staff NCO's), where ours are Junior NCO's...
Institutionally, they place more responsibility at lower ranks. That's not a bold statement, that's doctrine.
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SFC Michael Hasbun
In fairness, leadership in the Corps starts at senior LCPL (E3), who generally occupy team leader slots.
That's the primary difference maker, the Marines expect of their juniors what we expect of our Sergeants..
That's the primary difference maker, the Marines expect of their juniors what we expect of our Sergeants..
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