second lieutenant
Lowest commissioned rank
Second lieutenant is the lowest commissioned officer rank in the U.S.
Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, typically held by new officers fresh from training.
The equivalent Navy rank is ensign.
A second lieutenant usually commands a platoon and reports to a first lieutenant or captain.
She was promoted to second lieutenant after graduating from West Point.
Institution of learning
- West PointU.S. Army academy
- SandhurstRoyal Military Academy
- ROTCStudent officer training program
- commissioningOrdering work to be made
graduation · bootcamp · cadet · military school · basic training · field exercises · war college · mentorship
Flag or junior officer
- subalternJunior commissioned officer
- insigniaDistinguishing mark of rank
- barsRods, taverns, or measures
- gold barCast precious metal block
butter bar · commissioned · promotion · captain · colonel · major · general · sergeant
Small infantry formation
- infantryGround combat troops
- armyOrganized land-based military
- marinesNaval infantry soldiers
- air forceMilitary aviation branch
deployment · barracks · uniform · squad · regiment · battalion · brigade · company
Color of vegetation
- inexperiencedLacking practical knowledge
- rookieInexperienced newcomer
- juniorLower in standing
- fledglingInexperienced newcomer
probationary · butter bar · learning curve · mentee · supervised · untested · fresh · raw
Authoritative instruction given
- platoon leaderMilitary small-unit commander
- ordersInstructions to obey
- patrolRegular surveillance route
- missionPurpose-driven task
briefing · logistics · coordination · supervision · accountability · reporting · inspection · discipline
academy
Institution of learning
- West PointU.S. Army academy
- SandhurstRoyal Military Academy
- ROTCStudent officer training program
commissioning · graduation · bootcamp · cadet · military school · basic training · field exercises · war college · mentorship · evaluation
ensign
Flag or junior officer
- subalternJunior commissioned officer
- insigniaDistinguishing mark of rank
- barsRods, taverns, or measures
gold bar · butter bar · commissioned · promotion · captain · colonel · major · general · sergeant · corporal
platoon
Small infantry formation
air force · deployment · barracks · uniform · squad · regiment · battalion · brigade · company · garrison
green
Color of vegetation
- inexperiencedLacking practical knowledge
- rookieInexperienced newcomer
- juniorLower in standing
fledgling · probationary · butter bar · learning curve · mentee · supervised · untested · fresh · raw · developing
command
Authoritative instruction given
- platoon leaderMilitary small-unit commander
- ordersInstructions to obey
- patrolRegular surveillance route
mission · briefing · logistics · coordination · supervision · accountability · reporting · inspection · discipline · delegation
- 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
second lieutenantgeneral
Widespread, not specialized
four-star general · field marshal · five-star general · admiral · brigadier general
second lieutenantprivate
Restricted to certain parties
enlisted soldier · enlisted personnel · recruit · private first class · corporal
second, secondly, seconds, seconded, seconding, lieutenant, lieutenants, lieutenancy, locality