The 1570s brought us Private soldier, meaning "one below the rank of a non-commissioned officer".
Private is the lowest rank in the Army
No.
The lowest rank in the army is typically referred to as "private." In the U.S. Army, for example, the entry-level rank is Private (E-1), which is designated as "Private" without any additional insignia. This rank is often assigned to new recruits who have just completed basic training.
No, a second lieutenant is the lowest rank for a new officer in the army.
Private First Class
An enlisted rank in the U.S. Army that wears a single strip on the uniform would be a Private, specifically a Private (E-1) or Private First Class (E-2). This is the lowest rank in the Army and is denoted by a single chevron or strip on the uniform.
Corporal, a two-striper, but a corporal is an NCO like a sergeant, and a private is not. You "skipped" a rank! Private First Class is directly above a private
Private E-1
Private
Ted Kennedy did not serve in the military and therefore did not hold a rank in the army.
Yes. Private is a rank. So you could call a soldier by his rank or by his rank and name, such as "Private Jones". Not all soldiers would be called "private" unless that is their rank. Others may be called "Sergeant" or "Lieutenant" or "Captain".
No. A major is a rank in the Army. There are other ranks such as private or general.