Private (rank)

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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 dates from the Middle Ages, where privates were known as "private soldiers" (a term used well into the 20th century) who were either hired, conscripted, or feudalized into service by a nobleman forming an army. The usage of Private as a military rank dates from the 18th century, when the army of Napoleon Bonaparte first established the permanent rank of Soldat.

Contents

1 Australia
2 Canada
3 Germany
4 Ireland
5 Netherlands
6 United Kingdom
7 United States
8 See also

Australia

In the Australian Army, a soldier of Private rank wears no insignia [link].

Canada

Private (Trained) shoulder board Canadian Forces.

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.

Private (Recruit) (Pte(R)) - Self explanatory.
Private (Basic) (Pte(B)) - After finishing recruit training, a member becomes a Private (Basic). This rank is held through trades training and beyond.
Private (Trained) (Pte(T)) - A Private (Basic) becomes a Private (Trained) after 2½ years of service, and completion of their trade's Qualification Level 4 on-the-job training (OJT) package. A Private (Trained) is the only Private to wear rank insignia, a single chevron.

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

Craftsman - Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Branch
Fusilier - Fusilier regiments (infantry)
Guardsman - Foot Guards regiments (infantry)
Gunner - Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery
Rifleman - Rifle regiments (infantry)
Sapper - Canadian Military Engineers
Signaller - Signals
Trooper - Royal Canadian Armoured Corps

In terms of authority and responsibilities, the rank of Corporal is often seen as more or less equivalent to a Private in the post-Unification armed forces, and the term "Corporal/Private" is often used. Corporals no longer require leadership training for promotion to that rank, and the grade now represents a Private with additional trades training and time in rank but no leadership responsibilities (though he may in practice be given minor leadership tasks).

The Canadian Navy's equivalents are:

Ordinary Seaman (OS) - Private (Recruit/Basic)
Able Seaman (AB) - Private (Trained)

Before Unification of the Armed Forces, a private wore no insignia regardless of level of training, but could be appointed Lance Corporal, wearing one chevron. A Corporal at that time was the equivalent of today's Sergeant in that he required leadership training for promotion and was considered sufficiently trained and experienced to command a section of infantry (or equivalent in other branches).

Germany

Private (Schütze) Shoulder Board German Army

The German equivalent of private is Schütze. 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 Fallschirmjäger (paratrooper).

The Naval equivalent is known as Matrose, and the Luftwaffe (air force) equivalent is Flieger.

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

Ireland

Private 3* Insignia

Private (Pte) (Saighdiúr Singil in Gaelic), 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) 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".

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. Medics 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', with different classes:

'Soldaat der derde klasse', for soldiers in training, without insignia

'Soldaat der tweede klasse', the basic infantry rank, an insignia single striped red band

'Soldaat der eerste klasse', comparable to Private First Class, with an insignia with 2 striped red bands.

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:

Air Trooper - Army Air Corps
Bugler - Buglers in rifle and light infantry regiments
Craftsman - Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (women as well as men use this rank)
Drummer
Fusilier - Fusilier regiments
Gunner - Royal Artillery
Guardsman - Foot Guards
Highlander - The Highlanders
Kingsman - The King's Regiment/Duke of Lancaster's Regiment
Musician - Military bands
Piper - Bagpipers in Scottish and Irish regiments
Rifleman - Rifle regiments
Sapper - Royal Engineers
Signaller - Royal Corps of Signals (formerly called Signalman)
Trooper - Household Cavalry, Royal Armoured Corps, Special Air Service
Trumpeter - Trumpeters in the Household Cavalry (and formerly in all cavalry regiments)
Ranger - Private Soldiers in the General Service Battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment and the Royal Irish Rangers (TA)

In the Royal Marines, the equivalent rank is Marine.

	OR-1	OR-2	OR-3	OR-4	OR-5/OR-6	OR-7	OR-8	OR-9
British Ratings and Other Ranks
Royal Navy:		ORD - AB		LH	PO	CPO	WO2	WO1
Royal Marines:		MNE	LCpl	Cpl	Sgt	CSgt	WO2	WO1
Army:	Pte	Pte	LCpl	Cpl	Sgt	SSgt / CSgt	WO2	WO1
Royal Air Force:	AC	LAC - SAC - Jnr Tech		Cpl	Sgt	Chf Tech - FS		WO / MAcr

United States

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 (PV1) and sometimes referred to as recruit) 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 (but an automatic pay raise takes effect after four months of service, even without advancement to Private E-2, meaning that the rank of Private E-1 has two separate pay grades).

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. Most new, non-officer marines begin their military career as a Private.

	E-1	E-2	E-3	E-4	E-5	E-6	E-7	E-8	E-9
U.S. military enlisted ranks
Air Force:	AB	Amn	A1C	SrA	SSgt	TSgt	MSgt	SMSgt	CMSgt - CCM - CMSAF
Army:	PV1	PV2	PFC	SPC - CPL	SGT	SSG	SFC	MSG - 1SG	SGM - CSM - SMA
Marine Corps:	Pvt	PFC	LCpl	Cpl	Sgt	SSgt	GySgt	MSgt - 1st Sgt	MGySgt - SgtMaj - SMOMC
Navy:	SR	SA	SN	PO3	PO2	PO1	CPO	SCPO	MCPO - CMCPO - MCPON