To help with the questions about Rifleman/Trooper/Sapper/Bomber/Whatever as a rank, I offer this.
Rank in the CF are defined in QR&O Vol I 3.01 as fols:
OFFICERS
1. General
2. Lieutenant-General
3. Major-General
4. Brigadier-General
5. Colonel
6. Lieutenant-Colonel
7. Major
8. Captain
9. Lieutenant
10. Second Lieutenant
11. Officer Cadet
NON-COMMISSIONED MEMBERS
12. Chief Warrant Officer
13. Master Warrant Officer
14. Warrant Officer
15. Sergeant
16. Corporal
17. Private
(2) An officer or non-commissioned member who, on or after the date this article comes into force (18 September 1986), holds a rank in the Canadian Forces set out in paragraph (1) and who, in accordance with orders and instructions issued by the Chief of the Defence Staff wears a naval uniform, shall use and be referred to by the designation of rank set out in Column II of the Schedule to the National Defence Act having the same serial number as that of his rank in paragraph (1), and reference in this paragraph to the rank held by an officer or non-commissioned member includes any rank to which the member may be promoted, reduced or reverted from time to time.
(3) Except in accordance with paragraph (2), no officer or non-commissioned member shall, after the coming into force of this article, use or be referred to by a designation of rank other than as set out in Column I of the Schedule to the National Defence Act.
The columns of the
Schedule to
Section 21 of the
NDA are as fols:
Column I | General | Lieutenant-General | Major-General | Brigadier-General | Colonel | Lieutenant-Colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Second Lieutenant | Officer Cadet | | Chief Warrant Officer | Master Warrant Officer | Warrant Officer | Sergeant | Corporal | Private |
|
Column II | Admiral | Vice Admiral | Rear Admiral | Commodore | Captain | Commander | Lieutenant-Commander | Lieutenant | SubLieutenant | Acting SubLieutenant | Naval Cadet | | Chief Petty Officer 1st Class | Chief Petty Officer 2nd class | Petty Officer 2nd Class | Petty Officer 1st class | Leading Seaman | Able Seaman | Ordinary Seaman |
|
Column III | General | Lieutenant-General | Major-General | Brigadier | Colonel | Lieutenant-Colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Second Lieutenant | Officer Cadet | | Warrant Officer Class 1 | Warrant Officer Class 2 | Squadron/Battery/Company Quartermaster Sergeant | Staff Sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Bombardier | Private | Craftsman | Fusilier | Guardsman | Gunner | Rifleman | Sapper | Signalman | Trooper |
|
Column IV | Air Chief Marshal | Air Marshal | Air Vice Marshal | Air Commodore | Group Captain | Wing Commander | Squadron Leader | Flight Lieutenant | Flying Officer | Pilot Officer | Officer Cadet | | Warrant Officer Class 1 | Warrant Officer Class 2 | Flight Sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Aircraftman |
|
So, what's this mean?
Columnn I is the rank of the Canadian Forces. Colum II is the designations used by the Navy. Columns III and IV are no longer used by the CF and are therefore not "proper" designations. Units and branches of the CF may continue to use these designations, but not in an official manner (or at least none that I can find).