second lieutenant

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Second Lieutenant is the lowest commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.

In British English the rank is pronounced second /lɛf'tɛnənt/ (lef-tenent), while in American English it is pronounced second /lu'tɛnənt/ (loo-tenent).

United Kingdom and Commonwealth

Insignia of a British Second Lieutenant

The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign (cornet in the cavalry), although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers, Fusilier and Rifle regiments. At first the rank bore no distinct insignia. In 1902 a single bath star (now commonly referred to as a pip) 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.

In the Royal Air Force the comparable rank is pilot officer. The Royal Navy has no exactly equivalent rank, and a second lieutenant is senior to a Royal Navy midshipman but junior to a Sub-Lieutenant. The Royal New Zealand Navy – breaking with Royal Navy tradition – uses the ensign grade for this rank equivalent. The Royal Australian Navy also breaks tradition in the sense that it has the equivalent rank of Ensign, but it is titled "acting sub lieutenant."

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. 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.

United States

Insignia of a United States Second Lieutenant

2nd Lieutenant rank insignia of the Confederate Army as used during the American Civil War

In the United States, second lieutenant is typically the entry-level rank for most commissioned officers.

In the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marine Corps, a second lieutenant typically leads a platoon-size element (16 to 44 soldiers or marines). In the Army, the rank bore no insignia until December 1917, when a gold bar was introduced to contrast with the silver bar of a first lieutenant.

In the U.S. Air Force, a second lieutenant may supervise flights of varying sizes, depending upon the career field, as a flight commander or assistant flight commander or may work in a variety of administrative positions at the squadron, group, or wing level.

As a result of the gold color of the bars, second lieutenants are often colloquially referred to as Butterbars, Nuggets, Commissioned Privates, or 2nd Luey.

The corresponding United States Coast Guard and United States Navy rank is ensign.

In the Army Medical Corps, this is the entry-level rank for nurses.

v • d • e United States commissioned officer and officer candidate ranks
	Officer candidate	O-1	O-2	O-3	O-4	O-5	O-6	O-7	O-8	O-9	O-10	Special	Special
Approximate insignia:	(no universal insignia)												(no authorized insignia)
Air Force:	CDT / OT	2d Lt	1st Lt	Capt	Maj	Lt Col	Col	Brig Gen	Maj Gen	Lt Gen	Gen	GOAF[1][4]	[2]
Army:	CDT / OC	2LT	1LT	CPT	MAJ	LTC	COL	BG	MG	LTG	GEN	GA[1][4]	General of the Armies[1][4]
Marine Corps:	Midn / Cand	2ndLt	1stLt	Capt	Maj	LtCol	Col	BGen	MajGen	LtGen	Gen	[2]	[2]
Navy:	MIDN / OC	ENS	LTJG	LT	LCDR	CDR	CAPT	RDML	RADM	VADM	ADM	FADM[1][4]	Admiral of the Navy[1][4]
Coast Guard:	CDT	ENS	LTJG	LT	LCDR	CDR	CAPT	RDML	RADM	VADM	ADM	[2]	[2]
Public Health Service:	[2]	ENS	LTJG	LT	LCDR	CDR	CAPT	RADM	RADM	VADM	ADM	[2]	[2]
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration:	[2]	ENS	LTJG	LT	LCDR	CDR	CAPT	RDML	RADM	VADM[1][4]	[3]	[2]	[2]
Grade inactive [1] Grade never created [2] Grade is authorized for use by U.S. Code but has not been created [3] Grade requires Congressional approval for re-activation [4]

v • d • e United States warrant officer ranks
	W-1	W-2	W-3	W-4	W-5
Approximate insignia:	(no universal insignia)	(no universal insignia)	(no universal insignia)	(no universal insignia)	(no universal insignia)
Air Force:	WO-1[1]	CWO-2[1]	CWO-3[1]	CWO-4[1]	CWO-5[1]
Army:	WO1	CW2	CW3	CW4	CW5
Marine Corps:	WO-1	CWO-2	CWO-3	CWO-4	CWO-5
Navy:	WO-1[1]	CWO-2	CWO-3	CWO-4	CWO-5
Coast Guard:	[3]	CWO-2	CWO-3	CWO-4	[3]
Public Health Service:	[3]	[3]	[3]	[3]	[2]
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration:	[2]	[2]	[2]	[2]	[2]
Grade inactive [1] Grade never created [2] Grade is authorized for use by U.S. Code but has not been created [3]

Norway

UK-Navy-OF1.gif An RNoN Fenrik Arm, shoulder or chest insignia (depending on uniform)

A Norwegian Army and Heimevernet (Home Guard) Fenrik shoulder insignia.

The equivalent rank in Norway(O-1) is "fenrik", but the function of the rank differs drastically from other armies. Although it is an officer rank, it strongly resembles an NCO-rank in practice. The ranking system in Norway is quite different, while they don't have a professional army, Fenriks are usually former experienced sergeants but to become a sergeant one has to go through officer's training and education. Though they still fill such roles as squad leaders and platoon sergeants while at the rank Fenrik, in some cases Fenriks are XOs. Most Fenriks have finished the War Academy as well, and are fully trained officers. This is due to the lack of an NCO-corps in the Norwegian army.

NATO Code	OF-10	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1		OF(D)	Student Officer
Norway[1] edit	No Equiv	General	Generalløytnant	Generalmajor	Brigader	Oberst	Oberstløytnant	Major	Kaptein / Rittmester	Løytnant	Fenrik	No Equiv

Other countries

•  Afghanistan: Dvahom Baridman
•  Albania: Nëntoger
• Arabic-speaking countries except Bahrain, Oman, Sudan, Yemen: ملازم (Mulazim)
•  Argentina,  Cuba,  Nicaragua and  Peru: Teniente
•  Armenia: լեյտենանտ (Leytenant)
•  Azerbaijan and  Uzbekistan: Leytenant
•  Bahrain,  Oman,  Sudan and  Yemen: ملازم ثان (Mulazim Thani)
•  Belgium: Sous-Lieutenant (French); Onderluitenant (Dutch)
•  Bhutan: Deda Wom
•  Bolivia,  Chile,  Colombia,  Ecuador,  El Salvador,  Guatemala,  Panama and  Paraguay: Subteniente
•  Bosnia and Herzegovina: Podporučnik
•  Brazil and  Angola: Segundo Tenente
•  Cambodia: Ak-no-say-ney-trey
•  Cape Verde and  Guinea-Bissau: Tenente
•  People's Republic of China: 少尉 (Shào wèi)
• Imperial China (Qing Dynasty): 協軍校 (Xié jūn xiào)
•  Croatia: Poručnik
•  Czech Republic,  Slovakia and  Czechoslovakia: Podporučík
•  Denmark: Løjtnant
•  Dominican Republic: Segundo Teniente
•  Estonia: Nooremleitnant
•  Finland: Vänrikki (Finnish) or Fänrik (Swedish) (army and air force); Aliluutnantti (Finnish) or Underlöjtnant (Swedish) (navy)
•  France and all French-speaking non-European countries: Sous-Lieutenant
•  Georgia: ლეიტენანტი (Leytenanti)
•  Germany and  Austria: Leutnant
•  Greece and  Cyprus: Anthypolokhagos (army); Anthyposminagos (air force)
•  Hungary: Hadnagy
•  Honduras: Segundo Teniente
•  Indonesia: Letnan Dua
•  Iran: ستوان دوم (Setvan Dovom)
•  Republic of Ireland Second Lieutenant (English); Dara-Lefteanant (Irish)
•  Israel: סגן משנה (Segen mishne)
•  Italy: Sottotenente
•  Japan: Santō Rikui (or San'i) (modern); Shōi (historical)
•  North Korea and  South Korea: 소위 (Sowi)
•  Laos: Roitrïäkäd
•  Latvia: Leitnants
•  Lithuania: Leitenantas
•  Luxembourg: Lieutenant
•  Malaysia: Leftenan Muda
•  Myanmar: Du Bo
•  Nepal: Sahayak-Senani
•  Netherlands and  Suriname: Tweede-Luitenant
•  Norway: Fenrik
• Ottoman Empire: Mülazım
• Philippines: Second Lieutenant (English); Magat, Tenyente, Ikalawang Tenyente, Alperes (cognate of Alferez)
•  Poland: Podporucznik
•  Portugal and Mozambique: Alferes
•  Romania: Sublocotenent (modern); Locotenent (former)
•  Russia,  Belarus,  Bulgaria,  Kazakhstan,  Ukraine and  Soviet Union: Лейтенант (Leytenant)
•  Russian Empire: Подпоручик (Podporuchik); Kорнет (Kornet) (cavalry)
•  Saudi Arabia: ملازم
•  Serbia,  Macedonia and  Yugoslavia: Потпоручник (Potporučnik)
•  Slovenia: Poročnik
•  Spain and  Equatorial Guinea: Alférez
•  Sweden: Fänrik
•  Switzerland: Leutnant (German); Lieutenant (French); Tenente (Italian)
•  Republic of China(Taiwan): 少尉 (Shào wèi)
•  Thailand: ร้่อยตรี
•  Turkey: Teğmen
•  Uruguay: Teniente Segundo
•  Venezuela: Subteniente (army); Subteniente (air force); Alférez (Navy)
•  Vietnam: Thiếu Uý

See also

• Comparative military ranks
• British Army officer rank insignia
• U.S. Army officer rank insignia
• Cornet (military rank)

References