<P> Lance corporal is the lowest of the non-commissioned officer ranks in the Australian Army and New Zealand Army, falling between private and corporal . It is the only appointed rank, and thus demotion is easier than with other ranks, a commanding officer can demote a lance corporal, whereas other ranks require a court martial for demotion . A lance corporal is usually the second in command of a section, and is in control of the gun group in an infantry section . There is no equivalent rank within the Royal Australian Air Force or Royal Australian Navy . </P> <P> Second corporal was also formerly used in Australia in the same way that it was used in the British Army . </P> <P> The Canadian Forces abolished the Canadian Army rank of lance corporal on their creation as a unified force in 1968 . The rank of trained private equates to OR3 and wears the single chevron, but has no command authority . In terms of actual authority, the current appointment of master corporal equates most directly to the pre-unification appointment of lance corporal . In both cases, this rank was granted to the second - in - command of an infantry section . </P> <P> Lance corporal (LCpl or formerly L / Cpl) is the lowest ranking non-commissioned officer in the British Army and Royal Marines, between private and corporal (although officially they have a NATO grade of OR3, due to their having the same battlefield role of fire team commander as a sergeant in the U.S. Army they are often treated as OR5s when working with U.S. forces). The badge of rank is a single chevron worn on both sleeves, or on an epaulette on the front of the Combat Soldier 95 dress standard (although lance corporals in the Foot Guards, Honourable Artillery Company, 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards, and The Queen's Royal Hussars wear two chevrons and in the Household Cavalry two chevrons surmounted by the crown are worn). The Royal Artillery uses the term lance bombardier instead . </P>

What is a lance corporal in the army