Junior enlisted soldiers will soon have to pin on the rank of corporal before they can become sergeants, according to an Army news release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Corporals are formally recognized as noncommissioned officers but retain the same E-4 pay grade as specialists. As a junior NCO, a corporal also takes on leadership duties for a small unit, like a fire team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Starting July 1, all active-duty specialists who have been recommended for promotion and completed the Basic Leader Course<\/a> will be laterally promoted to corporal. BLC is the required training to enter the NCO corps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Current corporals will need to qualify for promotion<\/a> and complete BLC, or else be laterally reassigned as specialists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe want to get after leading, teaching and mentoring our junior enlisted Soldiers early,\u201d Sgt. Maj. Kenyatta Gaskins, Directorate of Military Personnel Management sergeant major, said in the release. \u201cThis is a junior leader development process and that\u2019s how we\u2019re looking at this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The rank of corporal has historically been a recognition of leadership potential and is a somewhat rare sight in the Army. Requiring the rank for all soldiers represents a change in culture, Gaskins said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n