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Common Military Ranks
Navies (English-speaking world)	Armies and some Air Forces	Air Forces (Commonwealth)
Admiral of the Fleet	Field Marshal	Marshal of the Air Force
Admiral	General	Air Chief Marshal
Vice Admiral	Lieutenant General	Air Marshal
Rear Admiral	Major General	Air Vice Marshal
Commodore	Brigadier	Air Commodore
Captain	Colonel	Group Captain
Commander	Lieutenant Colonel	Wing Commander
Lieutenant Commander	Major	Squadron Leader
Lieutenant	Captain	Flight Lieutenant
Sub-Lieutenant	Lieutenant	Flying Officer
Warrant Officer	Warrant Officer	Warrant Officer
Petty Officer	Sergeant	Sergeant
Leading Rate	Corporal	Corporal
Seaman	Private	Aircraftman

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. They are sometimes known as 'Recruits'.

Contents 1 Australia 2 Canada 3 Germany 4 Ireland 5 Korea 6 Mexico 7 Netherlands 8 Republic of Singapore 9 United Kingdom 10 United States 11 External links 12 See also

In the Australian Army, a soldier of Private rank wears no insignia [1]. 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;

• Craftsman (CFN) - Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
• Gunner (GNR) - Royal Australian Artillery
• Sapper (SPR) - Royal Australian Engineers
• Musician (MUSN) - Australian Army Band Corps
• Signalman (SIG) - Royal Australian Corps of Signals
• Trooper (TPR) - Royal Australian Armoured Corps and the Australian Special Air Service Regiment

Digger is the Australian military slang term for soldiers from Australia. The name originated during World War I.

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)) - Fresh recruit, untrained. Holds this rank through recruit training.
• 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 completion of their DP 1 training. 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
• Highlander - Highland Regiments (infantry)
• 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 Master Corporal 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).

The German equivalent of Private (OR-1) is Schütze, until 1918 it was Gemeiner ("common man"). 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), or Funker (wireless operator). Soldat (meaning simply "soldier") may also be used as a general term.

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 equivalent to Private (OR-2), and Obergefreiter is equivalent to Private (OR-3).

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". While On the Potential Non-commissioned officers course (POTs) to be promoted to the rank of Corporal or in command of another group of Privates that private is then referred to as Orderly Sergent.

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.

The equivalent ranks to Privates within the North and South Korean armies are E-byong and Il-byong. 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.

The equivalent rank to private in the Mexican army is the "soldado" meaning soldier.

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.

Once Recruits complete their Basic Military Training (BMT), they attain the rank of Private (PTE). Privates do not wear ranks on their sleeves.

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:

• Airtrooper (Atpr) - Army Air Corps
• Bugler - Buglers in The Rifles and formerly also in other Rifle regiments
• Craftsman (Cfn) - Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (women as well as men use this rank)
• Drummer (Dmr) - Drummers in infantry regiments
• Fusilier (Fus) - Fusilier regiments
• Gunner (Gnr) - Royal Artillery
• Guardsman (Gdm) - Foot Guards
• Highlander - The Highlanders
• Kingsman - Duke of Lancaster's Regiment
• Musician (Mus) - Military bands (formerly called Bandsman)
• Piper (Ppr) - Bagpipers in Scottish and Irish regiments
• Ranger - Royal Irish Regiment and Royal Irish Rangers
• Rifleman (Rfm) - Rifle regiments
• Sapper (Spr) - Royal Engineers
• Signaller (Sig) - Royal Corps of Signals (formerly called Signalman)
• Trooper (Tpr) - Household Cavalry, Royal Armoured Corps, Special Air Service and Honourable Artillery Company
• Trumpeter (Tptr) - Trumpeters in the Household Cavalry (and formerly in all cavalry regiments)

In the Royal Marines, the equivalent rank is Marine or Bandsman, as appropriate.

	Ratings and Other Ranks of the British Armed Forces
	OR-1	OR-2	OR-3	OR-4	OR-5/OR-6	OR-7	OR-8	OR-9
Royal Navy:		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

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 but also held by some prisoners after conviction until they are dishonorably discharged) wears no uniform insignia, while the second (Private E-2 (PV2)) wears a single chevron. Although the title of PV2 is Private Second Class in the U.S. Army, it is rarely called such. 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 (a pay raise may take effect after four months of service, even without advancement to Private E-2 if local commanders decide the private's performance has warranted it).

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.

U.S. military enlisted ranks
	E-1	E-2	E-3	E-4	E-5	E-6	E-7	E-8	E-9
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 - 1stSgt	MGySgt - SgtMaj - SgtMajMarCor
Navy:	SR	SA	SN	PO3	PO2	PO1	CPO	SCPO	MCPO - CMCPO - MCPON
Coast Guard:	SR	SA	SN	PO3	PO2	PO1	CPO	SCPO	MCPO - CMCPO - MCPOCG

• U.S. Army Enlisted Rank Insignia - Criteria, Background, and Images

• Comparative military ranks