Private (rank)

Etymology

The term derives from the medieval term "private soldiers" (a term still used in the British Army), denoting individuals who were either hired, conscripted, or mustered into service by a feudal nobleman commanding a battle group of an army. The usage of "private" dates from the 18th century.

Asia

Indonesia
Indonesian Army privates pose with two officers
Main article: Indonesian military ranks

In Indonesia, this rank is referred to as Tamtama (specifically Prajurit which means, soldier), which is the lowest rank in the Indonesian National Armed Forces and special Police Force. In the Indonesian Army, Indonesian Marine Corps, and Indonesian Air Force, "Private" has three levels, which are: Private (Prajurit Dua), Private First Class (Prajurit Satu), and Master Private (Prajurit Kepala). After this rank, it is promoted the rank: Corporal.

  • Private (Prajurit Dua)
  • Private First Class (Prajurit Satu)
  • Master Private (Prajurit Kepala)

Israel
Further information: Israel Defense Forces ranks

In the Israel Defense Forces, טוראי turai ("private") refers to the lowest enlisted rank. After 7–10 months of service (7 for combatants, 8 for combat support and 10 for non-combatants) soldiers are promoted from private to corporal (rav-turai or rabat), if they performed their duties appropriately during this time. Soldiers who take a commander's course, are prisoner instructors or practical engineers become corporals earlier. An IDF private wears no uniform insignia and is sometimes described as having a "slick sleeve" for this reason.

Israel Defense Forces ranks : נגדים חוגרים hogrim - enlisted
IDF NCO
Rank		טוראי
Turai		רב טוראי
Rav turai		סמל
Samal		סמל ראשון
Samal rishon
NATO OR–2OR–3OR–4
Abbreviationטוראי
Turai		רב"ט
Rabat		סמל
Samal		סמ"ר
Samar
Corresponding
Rank		PrivateCorporalSergeantStaff sergeant
Insignia
More details at Israel Defense Forces ranks & IDF 2012 - Ranks (idf.il, English)

Korea

The equivalent ranks to privates within the North and South Korean armies are ilbyeong (private first class) and ibyeong (private second class). 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.

Singapore

Once recruits complete their Basic Military Training (BMT) or Basic Rescue Training (BRT), they attain the rank of private (PTE). Privates do not wear ranks on their rank holder. PTEs who performed well are promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal (LCP). The PFC rank is rarely awarded nowadays by SAF. All private enlistees can be promoted directly to lance corporal should they meet the minimum qualifying requirements, conduct appraisal and work performance.[1] Recruits who did not complete BMT but completed 2 years of National Service will be promoted to private.

Commonwealth

Australia

In the Australian Army, a soldier of private rank wears no insignia.[2] 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:

Bangladesh


sainik (সৈনিক)
Bangladesh Army

In the Bangladesh Army the lowest enlisted rank is sainik (সৈনিক), literally meaning "soldier".[5]

Canada

In the Canadian Armed Forces, private is the lowest rank for members who wear army uniform. 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. The air force rank of aviator was formerly called "private", but this changed when traditional air force rank insignia were restored in 2014.[6] The French-language equivalent of private is soldat.

  • Private (recruit) (Pte(R)) – an untrained new recruit holds this rank through recruit training, known as the Basic Military Qualification Course (BMQ).
  • Private (basic) (Pte(B)) – after BMQ, a soldier becomes a private (basic). This rank is held through occupational training (Qualification Level 3) until Qualification Level 4 is attained. Private (recruit) and private (basic) are Development Period 1 within the Canadian Forces Professional Development System.
  • Private (trained) (Pte(T)) – A private (basic) becomes a private (trained) upon attaining Qualification Level 4. A private (trained) is the only private to wear rank insignia, a single chevron. Private (trained) and the next rank of corporal are Development Period 2 within the Canadian Forces Professional Development System.[7]

Canadian Army privates may be known by other titles, depending on their military trade and their unit’s tradition:

India and Pakistan

In the Indian Army and Pakistan Army, the lowest enlisted rank is sepoy (/ˈsiːpɔɪ/), literally meaning "soldier" derived from Persian. A sepoy does not wear any rank insignia on his uniform. They are commonly referred to as jawans.

South Africa

In the South African Army the lowest enlisted rank is Private. Privates don't wear insignia on their uniforms. In the different corps it is known with different titles.

  • Rifleman (Rfn) - South African Infantry Corps
  • Signalman (Sgn) - South African Signal Corps
  • Gunner (Gnr) - South African Armour Corps
  • Gunner (Gnr) - South African Artillery Corps
  • Sapper (Spr) - South African Engineer Corps

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.[8] In the contemporary British Armed Forces, the army rank of private is broadly equivalent to able seaman in the Royal Navy, aircraftman, leading aircraftman and senior aircraftman in the Royal Air Force, and marine (Mne) or bandsman, as appropriate equivalent rank in the Royal Marines. In the Boys' Brigade the rank of private is used when a boy moves from the junior section to the company section.

Distinctive equivalents for private include:

Royal Marines

In the Corps of Royal Marines, the rank structure follows that of British infantry regiments with the exception that the Royal Marines equivalent of private is Marine (Mne).

During the course of the First World War, some Royal Marines also took the rank of Sapper, this was usually found as part of the Royal Marine Divisional Engineers of the Royal Naval Division.[9]

Europe and Latin America

Austria

The lowest rank in the Austrian Armed Forces is the Rekrut (literally Recruit). For recruits in training to become non-commissioned or commissioned officers the rank bears an additional silver crossbar.

Up until 1998, the rank was called Wehrmann. In 2017 the silver crossbar was removed, as the system of the 'officers career' changed.

Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Mexico and Spain

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

Belgium

Upon enlistment to the Belgian army, one is given the rank of soldaat (Dutch) or soldat (French), whether one wishes to be a volunteer, non-commissioned officer or officer. Subsequent rank depends on the branch of the service: for example, at the Royal Military Academy (for officer training) one is soon promoted to the rank of korporaal (Dutch) or caporal (French) i.e. "corporal". The insignia is a simple black mark or the simplified version of the Royal Military Academy's coat of arms for candidate officers.

Brazil and Portugal

Soldado is the rank equivalent to private in the Brazilian and Portuguese Armed Forces. Soldado means "soldier" in Portuguese.

Finland
Military rank insignia of sotamies (private) of the Finnish Army and Air Force.

The Finnish equivalent rank is sotamies (literally "war man"), 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:

  • Infantry – jääkäri ("jaeger")
  • Military engineers – pioneeri ("pioneer")
  • Signal corps – viestimies ("message man")
  • Cavalry – rakuuna ("dragoon")
  • Artillery – tykkimies ("cannon man")
  • Tank corps – panssarimies ("armor man")

In the Finnish Air Force, the basic rank is lentosotamies ("flight war man"). In the Finnish Navy, the basic rank is matruusi ("seaman") or tykkimies ("cannon man") in the marine infantry.

Special corps troopers may be referred by their function or unit, such as kaartinjääkäri (Guards jaeger), panssarijääkäri (panzer jaeger), laskuvarjojääkäri (paratroop jaeger), rajajääkäri (border 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

The German Bundeswehr modern-day equivalent of the private rank (NATO-standard code OR-2) is Gefreiter.

The equivalent of the lowest rank (NATO-standard code OR-1) is either Schütze (rifleman), Kanonier (gunner) or Jäger (light-infantryman otherwise ranger), and sometimes in general simply Soldat (soldier), as well as other unit-specific distinctions.[10] Up until 1918 it was Gemeine[11] (Ordinary [soldier]) as well as unit-specific distinctions such as Musketier (musketeer), Infanterist (infantryman), Kürassier (cuirassier), Jäger (light-infantryman otherwise ranger), Füsilier (fusilier) etc., until 1945 Soldat (soldier) and unit-specific distinctions such as Schütze (rifleman), Grenadier (grenadier) etc. The navy equivalent of the OR-1 rank is known as Matrose[10] (sailor or seaman), and the German Air Force equivalent is Flieger[10] (aviator or airman) which is also used by army aviators.

  • Bundeswehr OR-1-rank: Soldat (Heer), Flieger (German Air Force) and Matrose (German Navy)
  • Schütze, Kanonier, Jäger rank
    shoulder epaulette
    Army (Heer) uniform jacket
  • Schütze, Kanonier, Jäger rank
    Army (Heer) combat uniform
  • Flieger rank
    Air Force (Luftwaffe) combat uniform
  • Schütze, Kanonier, Jäger Unteroffizieranwärter (UA) NCO-candidate rank
    Army (Heer) combat uniform
  • Matrose rank
    Navy service uniform

Hungary

The name of the lowest rank in the Hungarian army (Magyar Honvédség) is the honvéd which means "homeland defender". The word is also used informally for a soldier in general of any rank (i.e. "our honvéds" or an officer referred as a honvédtiszt, honvéd officer). This is because Hungarian military traditions are strictly defensive, despite the Hungarian army participating in offensives on foreign soil in both world wars. The word honvéd has been in use since the Hungarian Revolution of 1848. The term is not used for soldiers of foreign armies: a foreign soldier with no rank is called közlegény, literally "common lad" or "common man".

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.

Italy

In the Italian Army soldato is the lowest military rank. This rank is also referred to as recluta (meaning recruit). Soldato is the generic term for private. But in many specialized corps this term is never used, as a more specific, corp related, term is preferred. For instance the lowest rank in Alpine troops is alpino, and the lowest rank in the artillery is artigliere. In the air force this is ranked as aviere and in the navy as marinaio.

Netherlands

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

  • Soldaat der derde klasse (soldier/private 3rd class), for soldiers in Algemene Militaire Opleiding or AMO (General Military Training), with insignia.
  • Soldaat der tweede klasse (soldier/privat 2nd class), the basic infantry rank, an insignia single striped red band, obtained after AMO but before completion of Initiële Functie Opleiding or IFO (initial job training).
  • Soldaat der eerste klasse (soldier/privat 1st class), comparable to private first class, with an insignia with two neighbouring striped red bands, obtained automatically a year after completion of IFO.

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).

Sweden

In the Swedish Armed Forces a recruit is given the rank of ’’menig’’ in the army and ’’sjöman’’ in the navy.

After basic training which is roughly 3 months other terms can be used such as ’’soldat’’ (soldier), ’’jägare’’, etc.

Switzerland

In the Swiss Armed Forces a recruit is given the rank of Soldat (equivalent to NATO OR-2), usually after completion of the first 12 weeks of basic training, also referred to as recruit school.

Turkey

In the Turkish Land Forces, Turkish Air Force and Turkish Naval Forces; Er (Private) is the lowest rank possible. This rank does not have any insignia.

Venezuela
See also: Venezuelan military ranks

The rank is used by the National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela and has no insignia.

United States
Private
U.S. Army private E-2's insignia
Country United States
Service branch United States Army
 United States Marine Corps
AbbreviationPV1 & PV2 (Army)
Pvt (Marines)
RankEnlisted
NATO rankOR-1 (Pvt & PV1)
OR-2 (PV2)
Non-NATO rankE-1 (Pvt & PV1)
E-2 (PV2)
Next higher rankPrivate first class (Army)
Lance corporal (Marines)
Equivalent ranksSeaman recruit (Navy)
Airman basic (Air Force)

United States Army

In the United States Army, private is used for the two lowest enlisted ranks, just below private first class (E-3) or PFC. The lowest rank is "Private (E-1)" or PV1, sometimes referred to as "recruit", but this rank can also be held by some soldiers after punishment through the Uniform Code of Military Justice, or prisoners after conviction and demotion until they are discharged. A PV1 wears no uniform rank insignia; since the advent of the Army Combat Uniform (ACU), the slang term "fuzzy" has come into vogue, referring to the blank velcro patch on the ACU where the rank would normally be placed. The second rank, "Private (E-2)" or PV2, wears a single chevron, known colloquially as "mosquito wings". Advancement to PV2 is automatic after six months' time in service, but may be shortened to four months by a waiver. A person who earned the Eagle Scout award, the Gold Award, or completed at least two years of JROTC may enlist at any time at the rank of PV2.[12] The term of address, "Private," may be properly applied to any Army soldier E-1 (PV1) to E-3 (PFC). The abbreviation "PVT" may be used whenever the specific grade of private is immaterial (such as in Tables of Organization and Equipment).

United States Marine Corps

In the United States Marine Corps, private (Pvt) refers only 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. In the Marine Corps, privates first class are not referred to as "private"; it is more appropriate to use either "private first class" or "PFC".

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See also

References
  1. Singapore Air Force. "SAF Military Ranks - Enlistees". Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  2. "Australian Army Insignia". Users.chariot.net.au. Archived from the original on 1 January 2009. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  3. "Australian Army Rank Names". army.gov.au. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  4. "Australian Army Regional Force Soldier". defencejobs.gov.au.
  5. "Rank Categories". Bangladesh Army. Bangladesh Army. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  6. "New Royal Canadian Air Force uniform unveiled". Ottawa. 21 September 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  7. "DAOD 5031-8, Canadian Forces Professional Development". Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  8. "DID YOU KNOW THAT Rifleman was not an officially recognised rank in the British Army until 1923?". Rgjmuseum.co.uk. The Royal Green Jackets Museum. Archived from the original on 2 March 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  9. "Sapper PLATER, FREDERICK JOHN". Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
  10. "Official Website (Bundeswehr): Uniformen der Bundeswehr (Uniforms of the German Federal Defence Forces); shows service ranks of the Luftwaffe (page 15-17), Heer (page 09-13) and Navy (page 19-21), in German" (PDF). Bundeswehr.de. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 January 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  11. "Duden : Gemeine : Rechtschreibung, Bedeutung, Definition". Duden.de (in German). Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  12. "Army Regulation 601-210, Chapter 2–18" (PDF). Armypubs.army.mil. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 June 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
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