All Topics  
Trooper (rank)

 

 
   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link
 

 

Trooper (rank)
 
 
  Topics Trooper (rank) Topic Home

Trooper (abbr. Tpr) is the equivalent rank
Military rank

Military rank is a system of hierarchy relationships in armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms....
 to private
Private (rank)

A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank . The term dates from the Middle Ages, where privates were known as "private soldiers" who were either hired, conscripted, or feudalism into service by a nobleman forming an army....
 in a regiment
Regiment

A regiment is a military unit, composed of variable numbers of battalions, commanded by a Colonel. Depending on the nation, military branch, mission, and organization, a modern regiment resembles a brigade, in that both range in size from a few hundred to 5,000 soldiers ....
 with a cavalry
Cavalry

The Cavalry is the second oldest of the Combat Arms, and as soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback in combat, it represents the mobility and offensive power of the armed forces....
 tradition in the British Army
British Army

The British Army is the Army branch of the British Armed Forces. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdoms of Kingdom of England and Kingdom of Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707....
 and many other Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations

The Commonwealth of Nations, also known as the Commonwealth or the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organization of fifty-three independent member states....
 armies, including those of Australia
Australian Army

The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force....
, Canada, South Africa
South African Army

The South African Army is the army of South Africa, first formed after the Union of South Africa was created in 1910.The South African military evolved within the tradition of frontier warfare fought by popular militias and small irregular military commando forces, reinforced by the Afrikaner historical distrust of large standing armies....
 and New Zealand
New Zealand Army

New Zealand Army , is the land armed force of the Military of New Zealand and comprises around 4,500 regular personnel and 2,500 non-regulars and civilians....
. Today, most cavalry units operate in the armoured role, equipped with tank
Tank

A tank is a Continuous track, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility and Military tactics Offensive and defence capabilities....
s or other armoured fighting vehicle
Armoured fighting vehicle

An armoured fighting vehicle is a military vehicle, protected by vehicle armour and armed with weapons. Most AFVs are equipped for driving in rugged terrain....
s. Some armoured regiments without a cavalry tradition do not use the rank, although the British Royal Tank Regiment
Royal Tank Regiment

The Royal Tank Regiment is an Cavalry regiments of the British Army of the British Army. It was formerly known as the Tank Corps and the Royal Tank Corps....
 does. Cavalry units are organized into squadron
Squadron

A squadron is a small military unit or formation of cavalry, Armoured forces, aircraft , or warships....
s, further divided into troop
Troop

A troop is a military unit, originally a small force of cavalry, subordinate to a squadron and headed by the troop leader. A cavalry soldier of Private is called a Trooper ....
s, hence a trooper is a member of a troop.






Discussion
Ask a question about 'Trooper (rank)'
Start a new discussion about 'Trooper (rank)'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Encyclopedia


Trooper (abbr. Tpr) is the equivalent rank
Military rank

Military rank is a system of hierarchy relationships in armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms....
 to private
Private (rank)

A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank . The term dates from the Middle Ages, where privates were known as "private soldiers" who were either hired, conscripted, or feudalism into service by a nobleman forming an army....
 in a regiment
Regiment

A regiment is a military unit, composed of variable numbers of battalions, commanded by a Colonel. Depending on the nation, military branch, mission, and organization, a modern regiment resembles a brigade, in that both range in size from a few hundred to 5,000 soldiers ....
 with a cavalry
Cavalry

The Cavalry is the second oldest of the Combat Arms, and as soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback in combat, it represents the mobility and offensive power of the armed forces....
 tradition in the British Army
British Army

The British Army is the Army branch of the British Armed Forces. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdoms of Kingdom of England and Kingdom of Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707....
 and many other Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations

The Commonwealth of Nations, also known as the Commonwealth or the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organization of fifty-three independent member states....
 armies, including those of Australia
Australian Army

The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force....
, Canada, South Africa
South African Army

The South African Army is the army of South Africa, first formed after the Union of South Africa was created in 1910.The South African military evolved within the tradition of frontier warfare fought by popular militias and small irregular military commando forces, reinforced by the Afrikaner historical distrust of large standing armies....
 and New Zealand
New Zealand Army

New Zealand Army , is the land armed force of the Military of New Zealand and comprises around 4,500 regular personnel and 2,500 non-regulars and civilians....
. Today, most cavalry units operate in the armoured role, equipped with tank
Tank

A tank is a Continuous track, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility and Military tactics Offensive and defence capabilities....
s or other armoured fighting vehicle
Armoured fighting vehicle

An armoured fighting vehicle is a military vehicle, protected by vehicle armour and armed with weapons. Most AFVs are equipped for driving in rugged terrain....
s. Some armoured regiments without a cavalry tradition do not use the rank, although the British Royal Tank Regiment
Royal Tank Regiment

The Royal Tank Regiment is an Cavalry regiments of the British Army of the British Army. It was formerly known as the Tank Corps and the Royal Tank Corps....
 does. Cavalry units are organized into squadron
Squadron

A squadron is a small military unit or formation of cavalry, Armoured forces, aircraft , or warships....
s, further divided into troop
Troop

A troop is a military unit, originally a small force of cavalry, subordinate to a squadron and headed by the troop leader. A cavalry soldier of Private is called a Trooper ....
s, hence a trooper is a member of a troop. "Trooper" can also be used colloquially to mean any cavalry soldier (although not usually an officer).

In the British Army, trooper is also used as a rank in the Special Air Service
Special Air Service

The Special Air Service is a special forces regiment within the British Army which has served as a model for the special forces of other countries....
 and Honourable Artillery Company
Honourable Artillery Company

The Honourable Artillery Company is the oldest surviving regiment in the British Army, and the second most senior in the Territorial Army....
. Airtrooper
Airtrooper

The rank of 'Airtrooper' abbreviated 'Atpr' is a private , the first rank awarded to a soldier of the British Army Air Corps ....
 (Atpr) is used in the Army Air Corps.

In the United States
United States Army

The United States Army is the branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for Army operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S....
 cavalry
United States Cavalry

U.S. Army cavalry units are a mounted force of the United States Army that originated in 1776, during the Revolutionary War. The role of the cavalry is reconnaissance, security and mounted assault, and the cavalry has served as a part of the Army force in every war the United States has participated in....
 and airborne
Airborne forces

Airborne forces are military units, usually light infantry, set up to be moved by aircraft and 'dropped' into battle. Thus they can be placed behind enemy lines, and have an ability to deploy almost anywhere with little warning....
, "trooper" is a colloquialism that has traditionally been used not as a rank, but rather as a general term for any enlisted soldier.

Cavalry Troopers are generally considered to be socially a cut above other soldiers. This distinction stems from the days when cavalry needed to supply their own mounts, tack etc. In order to supply the mounts and tack the Trooper would need to be reasonably wealthy so the average Trooper was a gentleman of sorts. In addition cavalry regiments were seen to be relatively fashionable and dashing, often having colourful or even garish uniforms.

This historically superior social position is humorously referenced today in the Australian Army, where cavalry Troopers jokingly define their role as: "The role of the Cavalry is to add colour, dash and daring, to what would otherwise be a mindless shitfight amongst grunts". In the British Army the equivalent phase is "adding tone to what would otherwise be just a vulgar brawl".

See also


  • Sowar
    Sowar

    Sowar , meaning 'The one who rides' in Persian language, was originally a rank during the Mughal Empire period. Later during the British Raj it was the name in Anglo-Indian usage for a horse-soldier belonging to the cavalry troops of the native armies of British India and the feudal states....
  • Chevalier
    Chevalier

    Chevalier is a French language word meaning, literally, "horseman," but used as a title of honor that is the equivalent of the English "knight."...