Soldato

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A Soldato (Italian for Soldier) is the lowest level of the formal Cosa Nostra hierarchy. However, a soldier is much greater in rank and prestige than any ordinary associate of the crime family. In order to become a soldier, the primary requisite for an associate is to become a made man. The promotion to the rank of soldier is a tremendous step up in the hierarchy from the associate level. The Italian term picciotto (plural picciotti) is also used to refer to lower level mafioso soldiers. However, picciotto usually indicates a younger, more inexperienced mafioso, one who has not necessarily been made. Picciotti usually perform grittier tasks or simple tasks such as beatings and robbery.

A soldier's main responsibility is to earn money and kick a portion of his profits up to his capo. Everything else, including murder, is only a means to that end. The soldier is obliged to obey orders from his capo to commit murder for his crime family without hesitation or any questions asked. Failure to do so will usually result in death for the unwilling soldier. He is paid for these services but not as much as the higher-ups in the hierarchy. As a made man, he is bound by the mafia code of Omerta.

Since the Soldier is also a made man, he is considered untouchable in certain areas of the mob. If an associate or another soldier wants to kill a soldier, it is compulsory that he have a sitdown with the mob higherups and obtain their permission. Killing a soldier without getting the boss's permission is considered taboo in mob circles and can lead to the perpetrator of the murder getting killed himself.

Like the associate, a soldier is required to pay tribute to the capo for the privilege of being able to operate. Most of his illegal schemes are unsuccessful, but he must have enough success in his schemes in order to remain in favor with his superiors and avoid becoming a liability. Some associates are rewarded with induction for strong arm work, but end up being incompetent when it comes to making money in the long run. A few successful soldiers end up inheriting successful rackets, but for most, it is a daily struggle to generate income. Not all soldiers are treated equally within the family.

A soldier is respected and treated according to the profits that his rackets generate and the amount of goodwill that he has within his family. A boss's son like Alphonse Persico of the Colombo family, may be a soldier, but all family members and wiseguys from other families know from early on that he is being groomed for bigger things. Another soldier might be a great money earner and report directly to the boss, like Gambino family soldier Robert DiBernardo did in the 1980s when Paul Castellano was boss. Others, like Chicago family's Phil Alderisio in the 1950s are greatly respected for their crafty ruthlessness.

On the other hand, some soldiers suffer from the negative side effects that come with the rank. A prominent example is the Colombo family soldier, Tony "The Gawk" Augello who committed suicide because he feared that Carmine "Junior" Persico was going to kill him for involving his son Alphonse in a busted drug ring. Others such as Genovese family soldier George Barone react to their loss of power by becoming informers.

Soldiers can be virtually broke, just managing to earn enough cash to pay the rent. Far too often, they live lavish and extravagant lifestyles while risking being broke as they borrow money from other mobsters at usurious or loanshark interest rates. They may also spend exorbitant sums of money on lawyer fees while their earning ability is thwarted by incarceration or police surveillance. They can also be multi-millionaires either through their own prowess or because they have inherited their father's well established rackets along with their father's substantial legitimate enterprises.

See also

• Caporegime

References

• Capeci, Jerry. The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Mafia. Indianapolis: Alpha Books, 2002. ISBN 0-02-864225-2