Private (rank)

Common anglophone military ranks
Navies Armies Air forces
Officers
Admiral of
the Fleet		 Marshal /
Field Marshal		 Marshal of
the Air Force
Admiral General Air Marshal
Commodore Brigadier Air Commodore
Captain Colonel Group Captain
Commander Lt. Colonel Wing Commander
Lieutenant
Commander		 Major /
Commandant		 Squadron
Leader
Lieutenant Captain Flight Lieutenant
Sub-Lieutenant Lieutenant Flying Officer
Ensign 2nd Lieutenant Pilot Officer
Midshipman Officer Cadet Officer Cadet
Seamen, soldiers and airmen
Warrant Officer Sergeant Major Warrant Officer
Petty Officer Sergeant Sergeant
Leading Seaman Corporal Corporal
Seaman Private Aircraftman

A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank (equivalent to NATO Rank Grades OR-1 to OR-3 depending on the force served in). The term derives from the medieval term "private soldiers" (a term still used in the United Kingdom), denoting soldiers who were either hired, conscripted, or feudalized into service by a nobleman forming an army. The usage of "Private" dates from the 18th century, when the army of Napoleon Bonaparte first established the permanent rank of Soldat.

In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.

Contents

Asia

Korea

The equivalent ranks to Privates within the North and South Korean armies are Il-byong and E-byong. The symbol for this rank is 1 line( | ) or 2 lines( || ). Private second class is known by 1 line, while Private first class is 2 lines.

Republic of Singapore

Once Recruits complete their Basic Military Training (BMT), they attain the rank of Private (PTE). Privates do not wear ranks on their rank holder.

Commonwealth

Australia

In the Australian Army, a soldier of Private rank wears no insignia [1]. Like its British Army counterpart, the Australian Army rank of Private (PTE) has other titles, depending on the Corps and specification of that service member.

The following alternative ranks are available for Privates in the Australian Army:

The term Digger is a common Australian military slang used for referring to soldiers from Australia. The name originated during World War I and remains in current usage today. It is mainly used to describe soldiers from the rank of private to junior NCOs, but can be used to describe an Australian soldier of any rank (although it is uncommon to refer to an officer as a "digger").

In the Australian Army there are technically four levels of Private, these are: Private (Recruit), Private (Trainee), Private 1 and Private (Proficient). These are only used on employment records and in determining levels of pay and qualifications and no authority is derived from these levels (i.e. a Private (Proficient) doesn't have authority over a Private (Trainee) unless placed within a sub-unit command structure from which authority might be derived - e.g. if a Private (Proficient) was acting as a section commander, or 2-i-c, over the top of a Private (Trainee), which is unlikely in the Regular Army, but quite common in the Australian Army Reserve). Private (Recruit) relates to soldiers who are undergoing or who have not yet completed their basic training at the Army Recruit Training Centre, Kapooka. Private (Trainee) refers to soldiers who have completed basic training and are either undertaking specific to Corps employment training, or who have not yet completed that training. Private 1 relates to soldiers who have completed basic and employment training and are normally on their first posting. Finally, Private (Proficient) refers to soldiers who are fully qualified in their rank and trade and who have either completed a further one year of service after becoming full qualified, or who have not completed a further year, but have instead undertaken and successfully completed two specialisation courses that would normally qualify them for an extra pay grade.

Canada

In the Canadian Forces there are three levels of Private: Private (Recruit), Private (Basic), and Private (Trained). All persons holding the rank of Private are referred to as such and the qualifier shown in brackets is used on employment records only. A Private is considered an "apprentice" in their trade, and there are no pay raises between the various levels of private except for time in rank raise. The Canadian Army and Air Force have an identical rank structure.

An Army Private may also be known by other titles, depending on unit and/or branch:

The Canadian Navy's equivalents are:

Pakistan

In the Pakistan Army the lowest enlisted rank is Sipahi, literally meaning Soldier in Urdu. A Sipahi does not wear any rank insignia on his uniform. Sipahis are sometimes also referred to as Jawan, literally meaning "young" in Urdu.

United Kingdom

In the British Army, a Private (Pte) equates to both OR-1 and OR-2 on the NATO scale, although there is no difference in rank. Privates wear no insignia. Many regiments and corps use other distinctive and descriptive names instead of Private, some of these ranks have been used for centuries, others are less than 100 years old.[1] In the contemporary British Armed Forces, the Army rank of Private is broadly equivalent to Able Seaman in the Royal Navy and Aircraftman, Leading Aircraftman and Senior Aircraftman in the Royal Air Force.

Distinctive equivalents for Private include:

Also in the Boys Brigade the rank Private is used when a boy moves from the Junior Section to the Company Section

Ratings and Other Ranks of the British Armed Forces
   

OR-1



AC

OR-2
AB
Mne
Pte
LAC - SAC - Jnr Tech/SAC(T)

OR-3

LCpl
LCpl
LCpl (RAF Regt only)

OR-4
LH
Cpl
Cpl
Cpl

OR-5/OR-6
PO
Sgt
Sgt
Sgt

OR-7
CPO
CSgt
SSgt / CSgt
Chf Tech - Flt Sgt

OR-8
WO2
WO2
WO2

OR-9
WO1
WO1
WO1
WO / MAcr

Europe and Latin America

Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Spain

The equivalent rank to private in the Spanish, Mexican, Colombian and Argentinian army is the "soldado raso" meaning rankless soldier.

Belgium

On enlistment in the Belgian army one is given the rank of Soldat, whether one wishes to be a volunteer, NCO or officer. Subsequent rank depends on the branch of the service: for example, at the École Royale Militaire (for officer training) one is soon promoted to the rank of Caporal ("corporal"). The insignia is a simple black mark.[2]

Brazil and Portugal

The equivalent rank to Private in the Brazilian and Portuguese Armed Forces is the soldado meaning soldier.

Finland

The Finnish equivalent rank is Sotamies (literally "soldier"), although since 1973 this has been purely a paper term as all infantry troopers were renamed as jääkäri troops, previously reserved only to mobile light infantry. As in the British army, the various branches use different names:

In the Finnish Air Force, the basic rank is lentosotamies ("flight soldier"). In the Finnish Navy, the basic rank is matruusi ("seaman").

Special corps troopers may be referred by their function or unit, such as Kaartinjääkäri (Guards Jaeger), Panssarijääkäri (Armoured Jäger) Laskuvarjojääkäri (Paratroop Jaeger) or Rannikkojääkäri (Coastal Jaeger).

France

In the French army Soldat de seconde classe is the lowest military rank. This rank is also referred to as Recrue ("recruit").

Germany

Private rank (Schütze) shoulder epaulette, German Army uniform

The German equivalent of Private (OR-1) is Schütze (Rifleman), until 1918 it was Gemeiner ("common man"). The rank of Schütze has existed as a military rank since at least the 18th century and the term has been used since the Middle Ages.

As in the British Army, different names for this lowest rank are in use in the German Army, for example Pionier (engineer), Kanonier (gunner) or Jäger (trooper/rifleman), or Funker (wireless operator). In contrast, Soldat (meaning simply "soldier") is strictly used as a general term, not as a rank.

The Naval equivalent is known as Matrose (sailor/seaman), and the Luftwaffe (airforce) equivalent is Flieger (aviator/airman).

According to the NATO rank code, the rank of Gefreiter is equivalent to Private (OR-2), and Obergefreiter is equivalent to Private (OR-3).

Ireland

2* Private
3* Private

Private (Pte) (Saighdiúr Singil in Irish), is the lowest enlisted rank in the Irish Army. Soldiers enlist as recruits then undergo a basic course of instruction. There are three grades of Private in the Army. After basic training the soldier is upgraded (rather than promoted) from Recruit to Private 2 Star (Pte 2*) (Saighdiúr Singil, 2 Réalta). After more Corps Specific Training (usually lasting eight weeks) the Soldier is upgraded to Private 3 Star (Pte 3*) (Saighdiúr Singil, 3 Réalta). All are usually just addressed as "Private", although before being upgraded, Recruits may be addressed as "Recruit".

In corps units the rank designation changes. In the Artillery the rank is known as Gunner (Gnr), but usually only after the completion of a Gunners Course, and in the Cavalry it is known as Trooper (Tpr). Communications and Information Services Privates are known as Signalman or Signalwoman. Medical Orderlies are sometimes referred to as Medic, although this can apply to Privates and Corporals.

Netherlands

In the Royal Netherlands Army, the Landmacht, the equivalent ranks are 'Soldaat' (soldier), similar to the original French, with different classes:

Depending on where the 'Soldaat' serves, he may be deemed a 'kanonnier' (gunner in the artillery), 'huzaar' (hussar in the cavalry) or 'fuselier' (Rifleman in the rifles) as well as 'commando', 'jager' or 'rijder'. There is less differentiation than in other countries between different armed forces. A 'Soldaat' can be promoted to 'Korporaal' (Corporal) .

Switzerland

In the Swiss army a recruit is given the rank of Soldat after 13 weeks of training.

United States

U.S. Army Private E-2's Arm Patch

In the U.S. Army, Private (PVT) is used for the two lowest enlisted ranks, just below Private First Class. The lowest rank (officially known as Private E-1 (PVT) and sometimes referred to as recruit but also held by some soldiers after an Article 15 or prisoners after conviction until they are dishonorably discharged) wears no uniform insignia, while the second, Private E-2 (PV2), wears a single chevron. Advancement to the higher rank is currently automatic after six months time in service, but may get shortened to four months if given a waiver (a pay raise may take effect after four months of service, even without advancement to Private E-2 if the private's commanders believe the private's performance has warranted it).

In the U.S. Marine Corps, Private (PVT) only refers to the lowest enlisted rank, just below Private First Class. A Marine Corps Private wears no uniform insignia and is sometimes described as having a "slick sleeve" for this reason. Most new, non-officer Marines begin their military career as a Private. It is important to note that, in the Marine Corps, Privates First Class are not referred to as "Privates." It is more appropriate to use either "Private First Class" or "PFC."

Pay Grade →
Branch of Service ↓		 E-1 E-2 E-3 E-4 E-5 E-6 E-7 E-8 E-9
Air Force: AB Amn A1C SrA SSgt TSgt MSgt SMSgt CMSgt - CCM - CMSAF - SEAC
Army: PVT PV2 PFC SPC - CPL SGT SSG SFC MSG - 1SG SGM - CSM - SMA - SEAC
Marine Corps: Pvt PFC LCpl Cpl Sgt SSgt GySgt MSgt - 1stSgt MGySgt - SgtMaj - SgtMajMarCor - SEAC
Navy: SR SA SN PO3 PO2 PO1 CPO - SEA SCPO - CMDSCPO MCPO - CMDCM - FORCM - FLTCM - MCPON - SEAC
Coast Guard: SR SA SN PO3 PO2 PO1 CPO SCPO MCPO - CMC - MCPOCG

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.rgjmuseum.co.uk/pages_dykt/dykt_0002.asp
  2. ↑ http://www.mil.be/def/viewpic.asp?LAN=fr&FILE=ranks&ID=32

External links