first lieutenant
Captain's junior officer
First lieutenant is a military officer rank, typically the second-lowest commissioned grade in armies and air forces.
In the U.S.
Army and Air Force, a first lieutenant outranks a second lieutenant and is outranked by a captain.
The rank often indicates an officer with one to two years of experience: She was promoted to first lieutenant after eighteen months.
One who commands
- majorOf chief importance
- colonelSenior military officer
- sergeantMid-level military rank
- corporalOf the flesh
warrant officer · commissioned officer · junior officer · field grade · insignia · bar · silver bar · promotion
Military small-unit commander
- executive officerHigh-ranking organizational leader
- commandAuthoritative instruction given
- missionPurpose-driven task
- operationsPlanned systematic activities
deployment · briefing · logistics · training · supervision · coordination · planning · reconnaissance
Organized land-based military
- marinesNaval infantry soldiers
- air forceMilitary aviation branch
- infantryGround combat troops
- artilleryLarge-caliber battlefield weapons
cavalry · armor · battalion · company · regiment · brigade · garrison · barracks
Power to enforce obedience
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- mentorshipGuidance from experienced person
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
- decision-makingProcess of choosing actions
initiative · delegation · teamwork · morale · integrity · example · guidance · motivation
captain
One who commands
corporal · warrant officer · commissioned officer · junior officer · field grade · insignia · bar · silver bar · promotion · advancement
platoon leader
Military small-unit commander
- executive officerHigh-ranking organizational leader
- commandAuthoritative instruction given
- missionPurpose-driven task
operations · deployment · briefing · logistics · training · supervision · coordination · planning · reconnaissance · patrol
army
Organized land-based military
artillery · cavalry · armor · battalion · company · regiment · brigade · garrison · barracks · uniform
authority
Power to enforce obedience
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- mentorshipGuidance from experienced person
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
decision-making · initiative · delegation · teamwork · morale · integrity · example · guidance · motivation · accountability
- military officerscolonel, general, officers, major, admirals
- military ranksgeneral, captain, major, sergeant, private
- Air Force Ranksairman, staff sergeant, master sergeant, captain, major
- Army Rankscolonel, general, major, brigadier general, major general
- Junior Ranksprivate, corporal, lance corporal, sergeant, staff sergeant
- junior officersensign, sublieutenant, subaltern, midshipman, flying officer
first lieutenantgeneral
Widespread, not specialized
four-star general · general of the army · field marshal · colonel · admiral
first lieutenantenlisted soldier
Non-officer in armed forces
private · enlisted personnel · enlisted man · sergeant major · private first class