Second Lieutenant

Second Lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.

Etymology

The word lieutenant derives from French; the lieu meaning "in place" as in a position (cf. in lieu of); and tenant meaning "holding" as in "holding a position"; thus a "lieutenant" is somebody who holds a position in the absence of his or her superior (compare the Latin locum tenens). Similar words in other languages include the Arabic mulāzim (Arabic language: ملازم‎), meaning "holding a place", and the Hebrew word segen (Hebrew: סגן‎), meaning "deputy" or "second to".

In the nineteenth century, British writers who either considered this word an imposition on the English language, or difficult for common soldiers and sailors, argued for it to be replaced by the calque "steadholder." However, their efforts failed, and the French word is still used, along with its Lieutenant-Colonel variation, in both the Old and the New World.

Pronunciation

Pronunciation of lieutenant is generally split between the forms lef-tenant (/lɛfˈtɛnənt/) and lieu-tenant (/ljuːˈtɛnənt/), with the former generally associated with the United Kingdom, Ireland and Commonwealth countries, and the latter generally associated with the United States. The earlier history of the pronunciation is unclear; Middle English spellings suggest that the /ljuː-/ and /lɛf-/ pronunciations existed even then. The rare Old French variant spelling luef for Modern French lieu ('place') supports the suggestion that a final [w] of the Old French word was in certain environments perceived as an [f].

In Royal Naval—and other English-speaking navies outside the United States—tradition, the intermediate pronunciation /ləˈtɛnənt/ was preserved. This is not recognized as current by the OED, however, and by 1954 the Royal Canadian Navy, at least, regarded it as "obsolescent" even while regarding "the army's 'LEF-tenant'" to be "a corruption of the worst sort".

United Kingdom and Commonwealth

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 and their usual inexperience as officers, second lieutenants are often colloquially referred to as Butterbars or Nuggets. Other colloquialisms include Commissioned Privates, 2nd Luey, or Brown Bars (this last is due to the subdued gold color of the bar as worn on tactical uniforms).

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

People who have a bachelor's degree, or members of ROTC (Reserve Officers' Training Corps) in college may also enter as a Second Lieutenant. Newly commissioned Second Lieutenants usually attend a Basic Officer Training course.

Norway

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 do not 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 Executive Officers (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 (Edit)	No Equivalent	General	Generalløytnant	Generalmajor	Brigader	Oberst	Oberstløytnant	Major	Kaptein / Rittmester	Løytnant	Fenrik	No Equivalent	No Equivalent

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
• Mexico: Subteniente
• 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)