Master corporal

{{Infobox military rank

| name = Master corporal

| native_name = {{lang|fr|Caporal-chef}}

| image = {{nobreak|50px 50px}}

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| image2 =

| image_size2 =

| alt2 =

| caption2 =

| image3 =

| image_size3 =

| alt3 =

| caption3 =

| country = {{flag|Canada}}

| service branch = {{ubl | {{army|Canada}} | {{air force|Canada}}}}

| abbreviation = {{ubl | MCpl | {{lang|fr|Cplc}} {{in lang|fr}}}}

| rank group = Junior ranks

| rank =

| NATO rank = OR-4

| Non-NATO rank =

| pay grade =

| formation =

| abolished =

| higher rank = Sergeant

| lower rank = Corporal

| equivalents = Master sailor

| history =

}}

In the Canadian Armed Forces the displayed rank of master corporal is an appointment that can be granted to army and air force members of the rank of corporal. Its navy equivalent is master sailor (MS) ({{langx|fr|matelot-chef}} or {{lang|fr|matc}}).

According to the Queen's Regulations and Orders:{{Cite web|last=Defence|first=National|date=2014-08-08|title=QR&O: Volume I - Chapter 3 Rank, Seniority, Command and Precedence|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/corporate/policies-standards/queens-regulations-orders/vol-1-administration/ch-3-rank-seniority-command-precedence.html|access-date=2021-08-16|website=www.canada.ca}}

1. The Chief of the Defence Staff or such officer as he may designate may appoint a corporal as a master corporal.
2. The rank of a master corporal remains that of corporal.
3. Master corporals have seniority among themselves in their order of seniority as corporals.
4. Master corporals have authority and powers of command over all other corporals.

Master corporal, while formally an appointment, is treated as a {{lang|la|de facto}} non-commissioned member rank, and is often described as such, even in official documents.

As mentioned above, the master corporal is senior to the corporal (and its naval counterpart, sailor first class (S1)). It is junior to the rank of sergeant (Sgt) and its equivalent naval rank, petty officer 2nd class (PO2). Master corporals and master sailors along with corporals and sailors first class make up the cadre of junior non-commissioned officers.

The rank insignia of a master corporal is a two-bar chevron, worn point down, surmounted by a maple leaf. Embroidered rank badges are worn in "CF gold" thread on rifle green (army) melton, or in silver on air force blue (air force) melton, stitched to the upper sleeves of the service dress jacket; as miniature gold metal and rifle-green enamel badges on the collars of the army dress shirt and army outerwear jackets; in "pearl-grey" (silver) thread on air force blue slip-ons on air force shirts, sweaters, and coats;"New Royal Canadian Air Force uniform unveiled." Archived 2014-09-24 at the Wayback Machine CTV Ottawa1 April 2015. and in white (army) or dark blue (air Force) thread on CADPAT slip-ons on the operational dress uniform. Insignia for mess uniform is determined by branch or regimental tradition.

Master corporals normally mess and billet with the junior ranks. Within most Canadian Army units, master corporals are commonly nicknamed "master jack" or "jack" by both superiors and subordinates. The nickname is derived from the former equivalent rank of lance corporal (still a rank in use with the Royal Canadian Army Cadets) or "lance jack". This is an informality and is used only within social context and never in formal proceedings. In general, only in closer working or socially comfortable units like rifle regiments or infantry units is this informal term commonly used. Master corporals are also frequently referred to as {{lang|fr|chef}} in Quebec, a reference to the French name of the rank, {{lang|fr|caporal-chef}}, which has also caused the term chief to be used by Quebec anglophone military members.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

{{Unreferenced section |date=May 2024}}

The master corporal appointment came into existence after the unification of the Canadian Forces in 1968. A power vacuum was inadvertently created when private soldiers were promoted to the rank of corporal as an incentive for continuing in the Forces at a time when Unification was introduced by Defence Minister Paul Hellyer, who promoted all privates with requisite time in service to what was originally a leadership rank (corporal) in the army. Eventually, corporals who had passed the "B" phase of their leadership training took to wearing a crown over their chevrons, and this arrangement was eventually formalized by having a maple leaf replace the crown, and the new {{"'}}B' corporals", as they were known, became master corporals.

{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2024}}

The rank, formally an appointment as a senior corporal, gives the MCpl authority over all privates and corporals. As such, a MCpl is a first-level supervisor who is assessed on his/her ability to manage and develop subordinates. Given the structure of the Canadian infantry platoon, the MCpl is roughly equivalent to the British rank of corporal, second in command of an infantry section; because MCpls often command sections and occupy various NCO positions, and because trained leadership is retained at a lower level (section) than in other militaries, it is more realistic to equate MCpls with the British, Australian and New Zealand rank of senior corporal and just under sergeant.{{according to whom|date=May 2025}}

{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2024}}

The general requirements for appointment to master corporal include a Qualification Level 5 course (known as a journeyman course in some trades), a primary leadership qualification course (PLQ), and a time in the rank of corporal for a minimum of two years. For combat arms trades (except for the infantry), the Army Junior Leadership Course (AJLC) is also required.

However, certain trades have their own particular qualifications in addition to the above. For example, infantry combines the Qualification Level 5B course, Qualification Level 6A, and Junior Leader's course in a single Infantry Section Commander's Course. In addition, to be appointed to master corporal an infantry soldier must have successfully completed a machine gunner's specialization course.

Master corporals often serve as training non-commissioned officers for the purposes of training new soldiers and airpersons. They are often a new recruit's first taste of military life.

{{see also|Ranks in the French Army|Ranks in the French Air and Space Force}}

{{see also|Comparative army enlisted ranks of Francophone countries}}

File:02.AlgA-CPL.svg|{{lang|fr|Caporal-chef}}
{{small|({{langx|ar|عريف أول|Earif 'awal}})}}
(Algerian Land Forces){{cite web |title=Ranks |url=https://www.mdn.dz/site_principal/sommaire/presentation/armoiries_an.php |website=mdn.dz |publisher=Ministry of National Defence (Algeria) |access-date=30 May 2021}}

File:Belgium-Army-OR-4a.svg|{{lang|nl|Korporaal-chef}}
{{small|({{langx|fr|Caporal-chef}})}}
(Belgian Land Component){{cite web |title=IPR Landcomponent |url=http://www.mil.be/def/ranks/index.asp?LAN=nl&ID=1&IDS=1&IDT=3 |website=mil.be |access-date=25 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050217100130/http://www.mil.be/def/ranks/index.asp?LAN=nl&ID=1&IDS=1&IDT=3 |archive-date=17 February 2005 |language=nl}}

File:Benin Army OR-4.svg|{{lang|fr|Caporal-chef}}
(Benin Army){{cite web |title=LOI N° 2005-43 DU 26 JUIN 2006 |url=https://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/ELECTRONIC/94851/111467/F-404511779/BEN-94851.pdf |website=ilo.org |publisher=National Assembly (Benin) |access-date=13 June 2021 |pages=19-20, 35-36 |language=fr |date=26 June 2006}}

File:blank.svg|{{lang|fr|Caporal-chef}}
(Burkina Faso Ground Forces){{cite web |title=LOI N° 037-2016/AN PORTANT CONDITIONS D'AVANCEMENT DES PERSONNELS D'ACTIVE DES FORCES ARMEES NATIONALES |url=https://lavoixdujuristebf.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/loi_037_avancement_personnel_fan.pdf |date=2015 |access-date=3 June 2021 |pages=17–21 |lang=fr |archive-date=31 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831104305/https://lavoixdujuristebf.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/loi_037_avancement_personnel_fan.pdf }}

File:Blank.svg|{{lang|fr|Caporal-chef}}
{{small|({{langx|rn|Kaporari shefu}})}}
(Burundi Army){{cite web |title=Loi organique N°1/ 04 du 20 février 2017 portant Missions, Organisation, Composition, Instruction, Conditions de service et Fonctionnement de la Force de Défense Nationale du Burundi |url=http://fdnb.bi/sites/default/files/loi-04-2017.pdf |website=fdnb.bi/ |publisher=Government of Burundi |access-date=27 June 2021 |page=45 |language=fr}}

File:Cameroon-Army-OR-4.svg|{{lang|fr|Caporal-chef}}
(Cameroon Ground Forces)

File:03.CAGF-MCPL.svg|{{lang|fr|Caporal-chef}}
(Central African Ground Forces)

File:Comoros-Army-OR-4.svg|{{lang|fr|Caporal-chef}}
(Comorian Army)

File:03-ROCongo Army-MCPL.svg|{{lang|fr|Caporal-chef}}
(Congolese Ground Forces){{cite web |title=Grades appellations distinctions |url=https://defense.gouv.cg/gradesappellationsdistinctions/ |website=defense.gouv.cg |publisher=Ministry of National Defense (Republic of the Congo) |access-date=7 June 2021 |language=fr}}

File:Djibouti-Army-OR-4.svg|{{lang|fr|Caporal-chef}}
(Djiboutian Army)

File:03.GLF-CPL.svg|{{lang|fr|Caporal-chef}}
(Gabonese Army){{cite web |title=Nos Galons |url=https://defense-nationale.gouv.ga/930-ministere/1164-insignes-et-galons-des-forces-de-defense/1196-nos-galons/ |website=Ministère de la Défense nationale |access-date=26 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830210233/https://defense-nationale.gouv.ga/930-ministere/1164-insignes-et-galons-des-forces-de-defense/1196-nos-galons/ |archive-date=30 August 2023 |date=20 August 2021}}

File:blank.svg|{{lang|fr|Caporal-chef}}
(Guinea Ground Forces)

File:Ivory_Coast-Army-OR-4.svg|{{lang|fr|Caporal-chef}}
(Ivory Coast Ground Forces){{cite web |title=GRADES / APPELLATIONS / DISTINCTIONS |url=http://www.defense.gouv.ci/culture/grades |website=defense.gouv.ci |publisher=Ministère de la Défense |access-date=23 September 2020 |language=fr}}

File:03.Madagascar Air Force-MCPL.svg|{{lang|fr|Caporal-chef}}
(Madagascar Ground Forces){{cite web |title=LOI N° 96-029 portant Statut Général des Militaires |url=http://www.defense.gov.mg/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/LOI-96-029.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710195555/http://www.defense.gov.mg/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/LOI-96-029.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 10, 2021 |website=defense.gov.mg |publisher=Ministry of Defence (Madagascar) |access-date=10 July 2021 |pages=2 |language=fr |date=15 November 1996}}

File:03.Mali Army-MCPL.svg|{{lang|fr|Caporal-chef}}
(Malian Army){{cite web|title=2011 - Plaquette sur les insignes et blasons des Forces Armées du Mali|url=http://www.memoriamali.com/webdossier/2011-parcours-historique-de-la-region-de-segou/|language=fr|date=23 April 2011 |access-date=17 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121154146/http://www.memoriamali.com/webdossier/2011-parcours-historique-de-la-region-de-segou/ |archive-date=21 January 2021}}

File:04-Moroccan Army-MCPL.svg|{{lang|fr|Caporal-chef}}
(Royal Moroccan Army){{cite book |last1=Ehrenreich |first1=Frederich |editor1-last= Nelson |editor1-first=Harold D. |title=Morocco: a country study |series=Area Handbook |date=1985 |publisher=American University |location=Washington, D.C. |lccn=85600265 |pages=350-351 |edition=5th |chapter=National Security |url=https://archive.org/details/moroccocountryst00nels/page/350/mode/2up |url-access=limited |access-date=16 September 2023}}

File:blank.svg|{{lang|fr|Caporal-chef}}
(Niger Army){{cite web |author1=Bureau international des droits des enfants |title=État des Lieux: Formation des forces de défense et de sécurité sur les droit de l'enfant au Niger |url=http://www.ibcr.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/%C3%89tat-des-lieux-Niger.pdf |access-date=28 September 2020 |page=34 |language=fr |date=December 2012}}

File:Senegal-Army-OR-4.svg|{{lang|fr|Caporal-chef}}
(Senegalese Army)

File:blank.svg|{{lang|fr|Caporal-chef}}
(Togolese Army){{cite web |title=Journal officiel de la république togolaise |date=12 February 2008 |volume=5 |url=http://jo.gouv.tg/sites/default/files/annee/2008/jo%202008-5.pdf |access-date=16 June 2021 |language=fr}}

File:Grade Marine tunisienne E3.png|{{lang|fr|Caporal-chef}}
{{small|({{langx|ar|رقيب أول|Raqib 'awal}})}}
(Tunisian Army){{cite web |title=Décret n° 72-380 du 6 décembre 1972, portant Statut particulier des militaires |url=https://legislation-securite.tn/law/40982 |website=legislation-securite.tn |publisher=Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance |access-date=22 December 2021 |language=fr |date=6 December 1972}}

File:Kopka pdh ad.png]]

In the Indonesian Military, the rank "Master Corporal" is known as Kopral Kepala (Kopka). In Indonesia, "Corporal" has three levels, which are: Second Corporal, First Corporal, and Master Corporal.

• Canadian Armed Forces ranks and insignia

{{reflist}}

Category:Military appointments of Canada

Category:Military ranks of Canada