Trooper (rank)
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(March 2013) |
Trooper(abbr. Tpr) from the French "troupier"is the equivalentranktoprivatein aregiment[1]with acavalrytradition in theBritish Armyand many otherCommonwealtharmies, including those ofAustralia,Canada,South AfricaandNew Zealand;it is also used by theIrish Army.
In the British Army theRoyal Tank Regiment,although not a former cavalry unit also uses the term Trooper[2]as do theSpecial Air ServiceandHonourable Artillery Company.Airtrooper(Atpr) is used in theArmy Air Corps.
Cavalryunitsare organized intosquadrons,further divided intotroops,hence a trooper is a member of a troop. "Trooper" can also be used colloquially to mean any cavalry soldier (although not usually anofficer).
In theUnited States Cavalryandairborne forces,"trooper" is a colloquialism that has traditionally been used not as a rank, but rather as a general term for any enlisted soldier.[3]
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 horses and equipment, and so would need to be reasonably wealthy and a gentleman of sorts. In addition cavalry regiments were seen to be relatively fashionable and dashing, often having colourful or even garish uniforms.
In the United States many states have a state branch of law enforcement that serves as a highway patrol. Many state highway patrols refer to their officers as troopers.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"Army Be The Best".The British Army.Retrieved1 April2022.
- ^"The Battle of Cambrai".Royal Tank Regiment.Retrieved1 April2022.
- ^"Merriam-Webster".Trooper Definition and Meaning.Merriam-Webster Editor.Retrieved1 April2022.