What Is a Lance Corporal in the Marines?

Lance corporal is an enlisted rank in the United States Marine Corps. The Marine Corps is the only branch of the U.S. armed forces to have the rank of lance corporal.

History

Early Marine Corps rankings included both a lance corporal and a lance sergeant. Although the rank of lance sergeant was eventually removed from the Corps' rank structure, the rank of lance corporal was established as a permanent rank in 1958.

Rank Structure And Responsibility

Lance corporal is the third lowest rank in the Marine Corps enlisted ranks. It falls after private and private first class, or PFC. Marines at the rank of lance corporal, and also private and private first class, are training in their military occupational specialty, or MOS. They also study leadership and facing their initial assignments in the Corps. The rank directly following lance corporal is corporal.

Insignia And Pay Grade

The Marine Corps insignia that denotes a lance corporal shows two crossed rifles. The pay grade of a lance corporal is E-3.

References

• My Armed Forces: Lance Corporal
• United States Marines: Enlisted Ranks
• Military Factory: United States Marine Ranks