Korporal

Korporal
Country	Austria
Service branch	Austrian Land Forces  Austrian Air Force
NATO rank code	OR-3
Formation	1867
Next higher rank	Zugsführer
Next lower rank	Gefreiter

Korporal[1] (Kpl) is a rank of the enlisted men rank group (EN group) in the Austrian Bundesheer, and is equivalent to NATO-Rang code OR-3. In the k.u.k Army it still counted to the NCO rank group and was allowed to wear the yellow-black port epée.

Today and in the comparison to the German Bundeswehr it is equivalent to the EN-rank “Hauptgefreiter/ Stabsgefreiter ”. In peacetime the Korporal might be tasked to command a small sub unit, e.g. a fileteam (de: Trupp, 2 to 8 men) or a squad (de: Gruppe, 8-13 men).

During United Nations missions and in NATO Partnership for Peace the rank Korporal will be designated in English with Corporal (Cpl) and is equivalent to NATO-Rang code OR-3.

Korporal
Army, Navy and Air force insignia
Country	Denmark
Service branch	Royal Danish Army  Royal Danish Navy  Royal Danish Air Force
NATO rank code	OR-4
Non-NATO rank	M113
Next higher rank	Sergent
Next lower rank	Overkonstabel af 1. grad Marine-/Flyverspecialist

In Denmark, the rank of Korporal was originally the lowest NCO, but after the reintroduction of the rank in 2008, it is became the highest enlisted rank. There are a total of 1,400 corporal positions in the Danish Defence.

On 1 October 2008, 23 Overkonstabel from the Army were the first to be appointed korporals.[2] Korporals in the Army fill the following positions: Office assistants, supply assistants, IT technicians, professional craftsmen, second-in-command, group commanders, armored commanders on armored vehicles, specialist positions and small sections without a direct leader.[3]

On 9 March 2012, 12 naval and 12 aviation specialists, were appointed korporals. In the Navy, the degree is intended for employees who act as assistant instructors.[4][5]

In the Home Guard, a korporal is second-in-command of a Squad. Navigators in the Naval Home Guard units are also korporals.[6]

Korporal
Heer shoulder and Marine sleeve insignia TBA
Country	Germany
Service branch	German Army  German Navy  German Air Force
Abbreviation	TBA
Rank	German enlisted rank
NATO rank code	TBA
Formation	2021
Next higher rank	Stabskorporal
Next lower rank	Oberstabsgefreiter

Korporal will be the second highest enlisted rank in the German Bundeswehr, that might be comparable to corporal (OR-4) in Anglophone armed forces. However, as distinguished from the corporal in Anglophone armed forces, the Korporal belongs to the rank group of enlisted men.

Korporal
Country	Switzerland
Service branch	Swiss Army  Swiss Air Force
NATO rank code	OR-4
Next higher rank	Wachtmeister
Next lower rank	Obergefreiter

In the Military of Switzerland the Korporal is the lowest NCO-rank (NATO-Code: OR-4). The rank is higher than the enlisted rank Obergefreiter.

Until the so-called Army reform XXI (with effect from January 1, 2004) the regular Korporal appointment was to squad leader (de: Gruppenführer, 8-13 men). However, in 2014 this appointment was upgraded to Wachtmeister (OR-5). The Korporal rank was converted to military specialist without any command function.

Korporal is also a rank designation in the "Switzerland armed forces postal system", and in CBRN Defence.

In United Nations missions and in NATO Partnership for Peace the rank Korporal will be designated in English with Corporal (Cpl).

• 
   Estonia
  Kapral, OR-2
• 
   Latvia
  Kaprālis, OR-4, Army
• 
   Netherlands
  Korporaal, OR-3, Army
• 
   Norway
  Korporal, OR-4
• 
   Poland
  Kapral Army special forces

• Die Streitkräfte der Republik Österreich, 1918-1968, Heeresgeschichtliches Museum, Militärwissenschaftliches Institut, 1968.