Private (rank)
- This article is about the military rank of Private. For alternative meanings see: Private (disambiguation).
A Private, short for "private soldier", is a soldier of the lowest military rank.
Private insignia
(U.S. Army)
In the U.S. Army, Private refers to the two lowest enlisted ranks, just below Private First Class. The lowest rank (officially known as Private E-1 and sometimes referred to as recruit) wears no uniform insignia, while the second (Private E-2) wears the insignia shown here. Advancement to the higher version of private (with insignia) 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 absent 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 refers to the lowest enlisted rank, just below Private First Class. A marine corps private wears no uniform insignia.
In the British Army, many regiments and corps have distinctive (and descriptive) names for this rank:
- Trooper - Cavalry Regiments
- Sapper - Royal Engineers
- Craftsman - Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
- Gunner - Royal Artillery
- Signaller - Royal Signals
- Musician - Military bands
- Guardsman - Foot Guards
- Fusilier - Fusilier regiments
- Rifleman - Rifle regiments
- Kingsman - The King's Regiment
- Highlander - The Highlanders
In the Royal Marines the equivalent rank is Marine.
Related articles
