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Second lieutenant

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Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.[1] The lowest officer rank, it is usually placed below lieutenant or first lieutenant.

Australia[]

The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until 1986.

In the colonial forces, which closely followed the practices of the British military, the rank of second lieutenant began to replace ranks such as ensign and cornet from 1871.

New appointments to the rank of second lieutenant ceased in the regular army in 1986.[2] Immediately prior to this change, the rank had been effectively reserved for new graduates from the Officer Cadet School, Portsea which closed in 1985. (Graduates of the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) and the Royal Military College, Duntroon (RMC-D) are commissioned as lieutenants.).[3][4] The rank of second lieutenant is only appointed to officers in special appointments such as training institutions, university regiments and while under probation during training. Trainees undertaking Special Service Officer (SSO) training are appointed at their officer rank prior to undertaking the training (usually as lieutenants or captains). This is different to General Service Officer (GSO) trainees who start off at the rank of officer cadet (ADFA/Australian Army Reserve officer trainees) or staff cadet (Royal Military College, Duntroon).[5]

Ranks equivalent to second lieutenant are acting sub-lieutenant in the Royal Australian Navy and pilot officer in the Royal Australian Air Force.

Canada[]

The Canadian Forces adopted the rank with insignia of a single gold ring around the service dress uniform cuff for both army and air personnel upon unification in 1968 until the late 2000s.[6][7] For a time, naval personnel used this rank but reverted to the Royal Canadian Navy rank of acting sub-lieutenant, though the CF green uniform was retained until the mid-1980s. Currently, the Canadian Army insignia for second lieutenant is a pip and the Royal Canadian Air Force insignia for lieutenant is one thick braid. The equivalent rank for the Royal Canadian Navy is acting sub-lieutenant. Also known as an Ensign in the Foot Guards units (Canadian Grenadier Guards & Governor General's Foot Guards).

France[]

Sous-lieutenant is the most junior commissioned rank in the modern French Army, Airforce and Gendarmerie. It dates historically from the late XVIth Century in the reign of Henry II of France. In 1674 this designation replaced that of ensign in the French infantry. By 1791 there were two sous-lieutenants in each company. After 1781 entry to this rank and beyond required four quartering of nobility - that is for all four grandparents to be recognised members of the aristocracy. The French Revolution substituted election by popular vote and later, under Napoleon, by graduation from officers' military schools or after four years of service as a sous-officer (NCO).

Until World War I sous-lieutenants were distinguished by a single gold fringed epaulette worn on the right shoulder (silver for cavalry).[8] Modern rank insignia is reduced to a single braid stripe on each shoulder strap and (when worn) kepi.[9]

Indonesia[]

Main article: Indonesian military ranks

In Indonesia, "second lieutenant" is known as letnan dua (letda) which is the most junior ranked officer in the Indonesian Military. Officers in the Indonesian National Armed Forces are commissioned through one of four major commissioning programs. Upon graduation the candidates are promoted to the rank of second lieutenant, thus becoming commissioned officers. The four programs are:

  • National Armed Forces Academy (Akademi TNI): a four-year undergraduate program that emphasizes instruction in the arts, sciences, and professions, preparing men and women to take on the challenge of being officers in the armed forces (Army: Military Academy, Navy: Naval Academy, Air Force: Air Force Academy);
  • Officer Candidate School: a 28-week program that is attended by senior NCOs or warrant officers from all services;
  • Career Officer Program for college graduates: a 7–8 month program that is designed to recruit civilian professionals (e.g., doctors, dentists, pharmacists, psychologists) into the armed forces;
  • Pilot Short Service School: a 34-month program to train pilots to serve in the armed forces.

New Zealand[]

Like many other Commonwealth countries, the rank structures of the New Zealand Defence Force usually follow British traditions. Hence the New Zealand Army maintains a rank of second lieutenant and the Royal New Zealand Air Force has its exact equivalent, pilot officer.

However, the Royal New Zealand Navy breaks with British tradition and uses the name ensign for its most junior commissioned officer rank (rather than the usual equivalents, such as acting sub-lieutenant or second lieutenant).

United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries []

The rank of second lieutenant (2Lt) was introduced throughout the British Army in 1877 to replace the short-lived rank of sub-lieutenant, although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers, Fusilier and Rifle regiments. At first the rank bore no distinct insignia. The rank was abolished in 1881 but reintroduced in 1887.[10] In 1902, a single Bath star was introduced; the ranks of lieutenant and captain had their number of stars increased by one to (respectively) two and three. The rank is also used by the Royal Marines.

New British Army officers are normally commissioned as second lieutenants at the end of their commissioning course at RMA Sandhurst where they hold the rank of Officer Cadet, and continue with specific training with their units. Progression to lieutenant rank usually occurs after about a year. In the British armed forces, second lieutenant is a rank which is not used as a form of address. Instead a second lieutenant named, for example, Smith is addressed and referred to as Mr Smith, with the exception that the alternative titles ensign (Foot Guards) and cornet (in the Blues and Royals[11] and Queen's Royal Hussars[12]) are still used. In the Royal Air Force, the comparable rank is pilot officer. The equivalent in the Royal Navy is midshipman.

United States[]

Second Lieutenant
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2nd Lieutenant Rank Pin Insignia

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US Air Force O1 shoulderboard Error creating thumbnail:
2nd Lieutenant Shoulder straps Army, Marines, Air Force, Space Force
Country  United States
Service branch Template:Country data united states
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Abbreviation 2LT (USA) 2ndLt (USMC)
2d Lt (USAF) 2d Lt (USSF)
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NATO rank OF-1
Non-NATO rank {{{Non-NATO rank}}}
Formation {{{formation}}}
Abolished {{{abolished}}}
Next higher rank First lieutenant
Next lower rank {{{lower rank}}}
Equivalent ranks Ensign
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In the United States, second lieutenant is the normal entry-level rank for most commissioned officers in the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force. It is equivalent to the rank of ensign in the Navy, Coast Guard, Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps.

In the Army and Marine Corps, a second lieutenant typically is a platoon leader who leads a platoon-size element, usually consisting of 16 to 44 soldiers or marines.[13] A rifle platoon is composed of several squads with each squad led by a non-commissioned officer as squad leader. The second lieutenant is usually assisted by a platoon sergeant who advises and supports the platoon's commanding officer in leading the unit.

In the Army, the rank bore no insignia until December 1917, when a gold-colored bar similar to the silver-colored bar of a first lieutenant was introduced.[14] In U.S. military slang, the rank is sometimes called "butterbar" or "brown bar" in reference to the insignia,[15] while "shavetail"—a reference to an unbroken mule—is a derisive nickname.[16]

Bangladesh[]

The rank of second lieutenant has existed in the Bangladesh Army since the Liberation War. It is a rank below lieutenant and a rank above master warrant officer. In the Army, a second lieutenant serves as the administrative officer or staff officer in a unit.[17] In the Navy, the rank of second lieutenant does not exist, its equivalent is sub-lieutenant.[18]

Gallery[]

Army[]

Marines[]

Navy[]

Air Force[]

Space Force[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ↑ "Second lieutenant". merriam-webstar. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/second%20lieutenant. 
  2. ↑ "Archived copy". http://www.home.netspeed.com.au/heritagehorse/images/rank%20in%20aust%20army%202003%20extract.pdf. 
  3. ↑ "Commissioned Officer Ranks". Australian Army. http://www.army.gov.au/Our-people/Ranks/Officer-Ranks. 
  4. ↑ "General Service Officer". Defence Force Recruiting. http://www.defencejobs.gov.au/army/jobs/GeneralServiceOfficer/?entryTypeId=13. 
  5. ↑ "Commissioned Officer Ranks | Australian Army". https://www.army.gov.au/our-people/australian-army-rank-structure/commissioned-officer-ranks. 
  6. ↑ Navy marks centennial by reinstating 'executive curl' "Navy marks centennial by reinstating 'executive curl' | CTV News". 2 May 2010. http://www.ctvnews.ca/navy-marks-centennial-by-reinstating-executive-curl-1.508191. 
  7. ↑ Canadian Army goes back to the future with return to British-style ranks and designations "Canadian Army goes back to the future with return to British-style ranks and designations". 8 July 2013. https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/07/08/canadian_army_goes_back_to_the_future_with_return_to_britishstyle_ranks_and_designations.html. 
  8. ↑ Jouineau, Andre (2008). Officers and Soldiers of the French Army 1914. Amber Books Limited. p. 11. ISBN 978-2-35250-104-6. 
  9. ↑ Gaujac, Paul (2012). Officiers et Soldats de L'Armee Francis 1943-1956. Histoire & Collections. p. 16. ISBN 978-2-35250-195-4. 
  10. ↑ Roper, Michael (1998) (in en). The Records of the War Office and Related Departments, 1660-1964. Public Record Office. p. 271. ISBN 978-1-873162-45-3. https://books.google.com/books?id=aKFRAQAAMAAJ. 
  11. ↑ "The Household Cavalry Command Structure - Forms of Address". Enasec Ltd. http://householdcavalry.info/strcture.html#add. "In The Blues And Royals, the most junior Officer rank (equivalent to 2nd Lieutenant) is known as "Cornet"." 
  12. ↑ "The Armed Forces". https://www.debretts.com/expertise/forms-of-address/professions/the-armed-forces/. 
  13. ↑ "Marine Corps Ranks | Marines" (in en). https://www.marines.com/about-the-marine-corps/roles/ranks.html. 
  14. ↑ "U.S. Army Officer Grade Insignia: Second Lieutenant (2LT) O1". https://tioh.army.mil/Catalog/Heraldry.aspx?HeraldryId=15677&CategoryId=9170&grp=2&menu=Uniformed%20Services&ps=24&p=0. "Second lieutenants continued to have no insignia until a gold bar was adopted in December 1917." 
  15. ↑ Dalzell, Tom (2009). The Routledge Dictionary of Modern American Slang and Unconventional English. Taylor & Francis. p. 154. ISBN 978-0-415-37182-7. https://books.google.com/books?id=5F-YNZRv-VMC&pg=PA154. 
  16. ↑ Dickson, Paul (2000). War Slang: American Fighting Words and Phrases from the Civil War to the War in Iraq (2 ed.). New York: Bristol Park. p. 32. ISBN 978-0-88486-407-3. https://archive.org/details/warslangamerican0000dick/page/32/mode/2up/. Retrieved 2025-05-17. 
  17. ↑ "Ranks & Insignia". https://join.army.mil.bd/home/page/ranks-insignia. 
  18. ↑ "Rank & Insignia". https://joinnavy.navy.mil.bd/Rankandinsignia/. 
  19. ↑ "Paratus". Regional Publications Ltd.. pp. 12–13. http://abdf.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/ABDF_mag_2011.pdf. 
  20. ↑ "Badges of rank". Department of Defence (Australia). https://www.defence.gov.au/images/Badges_of_rank.pdf. 
  21. ↑ "Ranks & insignia". https://joinbangladesharmy.army.mil.bd/home/page/ranks-insignia. 
  22. ↑ "Barbados Defence Force Medal Ceremony". Barbados Defence Force. 18 Jul 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDeATyAgCWE. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Ranks". Government of Botswana. http://www.gov.bw/en/Ministries--Authorities/Ministries/State-President/Botswana-Defence-Force-BDF/About-the-BDF1/Ranks-and-Insignia/. 
  24. ↑ "Postos e Graduações - Exército" (in pt). Brazilian Army. https://www.eb.mil.br/postos-e-graduacoes/-/asset_publisher/DQlwhsMH8YR7/content/exercito?inheritRedirect=false&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eb.mil.br%3A443%2Fpostos-e-graduacoes%3Fp_p_id%3D101_INSTANCE_DQlwhsMH8YR7%26p_p_lifecycle%3D0%26p_p_state%3Dnormal%26p_p_mode%3Dview%26p_p_col_id%3Dcolumn-1%26p_p_col_count%3D1. 
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 "Ranks and appointment". Government of Canada. 23 November 2017. https://www.canada.ca/en/services/defence/caf/military-identity-system/rank-appointment-insignia.html. 
  26. ↑ "Hærens Gradstegn" (in da). Danish Defence. October 2021. https://www.forsvaret.dk/globalassets/fko---forsvaret/dokumenter/gradstegn/-plakater_gradstegn_haren_a2_okt_2021-.pdf. 
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 "Insignias" (in es). Ministry of Defense (Dominican Republic). https://www.mide.gob.do/detail.aspx?id=477&sl=96. 
  28. ↑ Merrill, Tim (1993). Guyana and Belize: country studies. Library of Congress. p. 138. LCCN 93010956. https://www.loc.gov/resource/frdcstdy.guyanabelizecoun00merr_0/?sp=176&st=text. Retrieved 3 June 2021. 
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 "Pangkat Harian" (in id). Indonesian National Armed Forces. https://www.tni.mil.id/pages-39-pangkat-harian.html. 
  30. ↑ "Army Rank Markings". Defence Forces (Ireland). http://www.military.ie/fileadmin/user_upload/images/Info_Centre/Posters/rank_markings/Army_Rank_Markings_01.png. 
  31. ↑ "BADGES OF RANK". 2019. https://www.jdfweb.com/badges-of-rank/. 
  32. ↑ "KDF Ranks". Ministry of Defence - Kenya. https://mod.go.ke/kdf-ranks/. 
  33. ↑ "Ranks in the Army". Lesotho Defence Force. http://www.ldf.gov.ls/ranks.html. 
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 "Defense Act of 2008". 3 September 2008. p. 8. http://www.vertic.org/media/National%20Legislation/Liberia/LR_Defense%20Act%20of%202008.pdf. 
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 "Rank Insignia". Armed Forces of Malta. https://afm.gov.mt/en/equipment/Pages/Rank-Insignia.aspx. 
  36. ↑ "Government Notice". 20 August 2010. pp. 99–102. http://www.lac.org.na/laws/2010/4547.pdf. 
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 "De rangonderscheidingstekens van de krijgsmacht" (in nl). Ministry of Defence (Netherlands). 19 December 2016. https://www.defensie.nl/binaries/defensie/documenten/brochures/2021/01/15/rangen-krijgsmacht/rangonderscheidingstekens.pdf. 
  38. ↑ "Badges of Rank". New Zealand Defence Force. https://nzdfpop.cwp.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Resources/21-Update_Rank-Poster-all-services.pdf. 
  39. ↑ Smaldone, Joseph P. (1992). "National Security". In Metz, Helen Chapin. Nigeria: a country study. Area Handbook (5th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. pp. 296–297. LCCN 92009026. https://www.loc.gov/resource/frdcstdy.nigeriacountryst00metz_0/?sp=340. Retrieved 21 October 2021. 
  40. ↑ "Pakistan Army Ranks with Salary and Insignia". 26 January 2021. https://pakistanforces.com/pakistan-army-ranks/. 
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 "RDF Insignia". Government of the Republic of Rwanda. https://www.mod.gov.rw/rdf/insignia. 
  42. ↑ SAINT CHRISTOPHER AND NEVIS DEFENCE FORCE ACT. Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis. 31 December 2009. pp. 110–111. 
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 43.2 "Rank structure". Seychelles People's Defence Forces. https://www.spdf.sc/rank-structure/. 
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 44.2 "SAF Rank Insignias". Ministry of Defence (Singapore). https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/portal/mindef/about-us/saf-rank-insignias. 
  45. ↑ "Uniform: Rank insignia". Department of Defence (South Africa). http://www.army.mil.za/aboutus/uniform/rankinsignia.htm. 
  46. ↑ "Dress Regulation PDF - Part I". Sri Lanka Army. January 2019. pp. 10-4–10-11. https://www.army.lk/sites/all/themes/bootstrap/common/images/images2/downloads/Dress-regulation-2019-PART-I.pdf. 
  47. ↑ Dyer, Gwynne (1979). "Surinam". In Keegan, John. World armies. Sandhurst: Royal Military Academy. p. 663. LCCN 79-9217. https://archive.org/details/worldarmies00keeg/page/662/mode/2up. Retrieved 9 March 2022. 
  48. ↑ "Rank Chart (Commissioned Officers)". Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force. http://69.0.195.188/HQ/Our-Organisation/Ranks-Chart-(Commissioned-Officers).aspx. [dead link]
  49. ↑ "Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces Act". Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation. 18 September 2019. pp. 1851–1854. https://www.updf.go.ug/Gazette.pdf. 
  50. ↑ "Rank structure". British Army. https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/our-people/ranks/. 
  51. ↑ "U.S. Army Ranks". United States Army. https://www.army.mil/ranks/. 
  52. ↑ 52.0 52.1 Hudson, Rex A.; Meditz, Sandra W., eds (1992). "Chapter 5. National Security". Uruguay: A Country Study (2nd ed.). Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. pp. 222–223. ISBN 0-8444-0737-2. https://www.marines.mil/portals/1/Publications/Uruguay%20Study_3.pdf?ver=2012-10-11-163307-517. Retrieved 13 June 2021. 
  53. ↑ Ehrenreich, Frederick (1983). "National Security". In Nelson, Harold D.. Zimbabwe: a Country Study. Area Handbook (3rd ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. p. 267. ISBN 978-0-16-001598-4. LCCN 83-11946. https://books.google.com/books?id=D3R0AAAAMAAJ. Retrieved 5 July 2022. 
  54. ↑ "ރޭންކް ސްޓްރަކްޗަރ" (in dv). Maldives National Defence Force. https://mndf.gov.mv/mndf/ranks. 
  55. ↑ "Ranks". U.S. Marine Corps. https://www.marines.mil/Ranks/. 
  56. ↑ "Postos e Graduações" (in pt). Brazilian Navy. 11 July 2017. https://www.marinha.mil.br/postos-e-graduacoes. 
  57. ↑ "Grados Militares" (in es). Joint Command of the Armed Forces of Peru. https://www.ccffaa.mil.pe/cultura-militar/grados-militares/. 
  58. ↑ "Os Postos" (in pt). https://www.marinha.pt/pt/a-marinha/Paginas/postos.aspx. 
  59. ↑ "Postos e Graduações" (in pt). Brazilian Air Force. https://www.fab.mil.br/postosegraduacoes. 
  60. ↑ "Flyvevåbnets Gradstegn" (in da). Danish Defence. 2021. https://forsvaret.dk/globalassets/fko---forsvaret/dokumenter/gradstegn/-flyvevabnets_gradstegn_2021-.pdf. 
  61. ↑ "Air Corps Rank Markings". Defence Forces (Ireland). http://www.military.ie/fileadmin/user_upload/images/Info_Centre/Posters/rank_markings/Air_Corps_Ranks_01.png. 
  62. ↑ "Ranks". Philippine Air Force. https://www.paf.mil.ph/ranks. 
  63. ↑ "Rank Insignia". Department of Defence (South Africa). http://www.af.mil.za/uniform/rank_ins.html. 
  64. ↑ "Air Force Instruction 36-2903". Department of the Air Force. 25 June 2021. p. 108. https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/afi36-2903/afi36-2903.pdf. 
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Commissioned officer ranks of the British Armed Forces
NATO rank code Student Officer OF-1 OF-2 OF-3 OF-4 OF-5 OF-6
* 		OF-7
** 		OF-8
*** 		OF-9
**** 		OF-10
*****
Royal Navy O Cdt Mid SLt Lt Lt Cdr Cdr Capt Cdre RAdm
(list) 		VAdm
(list) 		Adm
(list) 		Adm of the Fleet
Royal Marines 2Lt Lt Capt Maj Lt Col Col Brig Maj-Gen Lt-Gen Gen
(list)
Army O Cdt 2Lt Lt Capt Maj Lt Col Col Brig Maj-Gen
 Lt-Gen
 Gen
(list) 		FM
Royal Air Force OC / SO APO / Plt Off Fg Off Flt Lt Sqn Ldr Wg Cdr Gp Capt Air Cdre AVM Air Mshl Air Chf Mshl
(list) 		MRAF
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Commissioned officer ranks of the Canadian Armed Forces
NATO rank code Student Officer OF-1 OF-2 OF-3 OF-4 OF-5 OF-6
* 		OF-7
** 		OF-8
*** 		OF-9
**** 		OF-10
*****
Royal Canadian Navy NCdt A/SLt SLt Lt (N) LCdr Cdr Capt (N) Cmdre RAdm VAdm Adm
 Not used
Canadian Army OCdt 2Lt Lt Capt Maj LCol Col BGen MGen LGen Gen Not used
Royal Canadian Air Force OCdt 2Lt Lt Capt Maj LCol Col BGen MGen LGen Gen Not used
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