Lance corporal (E-3)

How to read it

Lance corporal comes after private first class (E-2) and before Corporal (E-4) (E-4). The Navy’s officer-training guide to Marine insignia describes it as one stripe over crossed rifles. It is the first rank to carry the rifles, and they stay under the chevrons up to master sergeant. A lance corporal is not yet a noncommissioned officer: the Marine Corps counts pay grades E-4 and E-5 as NCOs.

Also searched as: E-3 marines, LCpl.

Lance corporal or Army private first class?

Both are E-3. The Army’s private first class wears one chevron above one arc, where the Marine lance corporal has crossed rifles under the chevron.

Where you’ll see it

Marine Corps uniform regulations put the chevrons in gold on scarlet on the blue dress coat and green on scarlet on the green service coat. On the utility uniform the insignia is black metal or plastic, worn on each side of the collar with the single point up.