Marine Ranks: Lance Corporal

My Marine, and most of the India Company he graduated with, is now a lance corporal, or E-3. Congratulations to all of them!

It is equal in rank to Crewman in the Navy, Private First Class in the Army, and Airman First Class in the Air Force. A Lance Corporal is above a Private First Class, but under a Corporal in the Marine Corps. Generally, a Lance Corporal has no command authority until he or she reaches the rank of Corporal. Wikia

The USMC is the only component of the U.S. Armed Forces to currently have lance corporals. Promotion to lance corporal, is based on time in-grade and the conduct of the Marine. Further promotion to the NCO ranks (Corporal and above) is competitive and takes into account the individual service record of the Marine. There can only be a certain number of Corporals and Sergeants in each MOS, so even with a qualifying cutting score promotions may be delayed due to an excessive number of corporals occupying billets in a certain MOS.

The "Lance Corporal Underground" is the term for the network for information to be transmitted as it becomes known across the ranks.

Term used in the Marines to refer to the gossip passed around by those of a lower rank (usually lance corporals) about deployments, promotions, and any other topic pertaining to a unit's agenda.

Lance Corporal: So, I heard through the Lance Corporal Underground that we are going to Okinawa in May.
Other Lance Corporal: STFU I'm peeing. Urban Dictionary

The Lance Corporal Underground is a powerful force within the Corps. It acts as an information superhighway as fast as any internet connection, phone line or otherwise for your inter-company and battalion rumors. It’s remarkably accurate for the most part–that is, unless you are unable to filter out the things that get tacked onto the rumors like titties and beer. Terminal Lance

The Urban Dictionary also has an entry under Lance Corporal, but I can't share it in public.

Its pretty clear the Lance Corporals of the Marine Corps take the bulk of the risk.

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jason Phillips crosses a poppy field as Marines conduct a security patrol outside Forward Operating Base Hanson, Marjah, Afghanistan, April 30, 2011. The security patrol was done in order for Marines to inspect the well being of a nearby village. Phillips is with Guard Force, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 1. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alberto B. Vazquez/Released) public intelligence

And the bulk of the casualties.

Members of Marine Lance Cpl. Benjamin Whetstone Schmidt's platoon who recently returned from Afghanistan pose at Camp Pendleton, Calif. with a cross they made as a memorial tribute. Placement of religious symbols at the base has been prohibited while the Marine commandant considers the issue in light of a complaint last year by an atheist group. COURTESY PHOTO My San Antonio