Second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant is the lowest commissioned rank in many armed forces
United Kingdom and Commonwealth
In British English the word is pronounced second /lɛf'tɛnənt/, in American English it is pronounced second /lu'tɛnənt/. The rank 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 and Fusilier regiments. At first the rank bore no distinct insignia. In 1902 a single bath star (sometimes 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.
A UK Second Lieutenant is normaly paid between £52.65 and £64.95, UK Pounds
United States of America
In the United States, Second Lieutenant is typically the entry-level rank for most Commissioned Officers. A Second Lieutenant typically leads a platoon-size element (16 to 44 soldiers).
In the United States Army, the rank bore no insignia until December of 1917, when a gold bar was introduced to contrast with the silver bar of a First Lieutenant. The rank is also used in the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps. As a result of the gold color of the bars, second lieutenants are often referred to colloquially as "Butterbars" or "Nuggets." The corresponding United States Coast Guard and United States Navy rank is Ensign.
Non-English speaking countries
- Afghanistan: Dvahom Baridman
- Albania: Nëntoger
- Arabic-speaking countries except Bahrain, Oman, Sudan, Yemen and former French colonies in North Africa: ملازم (Mulazim)
- Argentina, Cuba, Nicaragua, Paraguay 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, Honduras and Panama: Subteniente
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: Podporucnik
- Brazil and Angola: Segundo Tenente
- Cambodia: Ak-no-say-ney-trey
- Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau: Tenente
- People's Republic of China and Taiwan: 少尉 (Shào wèi)
- Imperial China (Qing Dynasty): 協軍校 (Xié jūn xiào)
- Croatia: Poručnik
- Czech Republic, Slovakia and Czechoslovakia: Poručík
- Denmark: Løjtnant
- Dominican Republic: Segundo Teniente
- Estonia: Nooremleitnant
- Finland: Vänrikki
- 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
- Myanmar: Du Bo
- Nepal: Sahayak-Senani
- Netherlands and Suriname: Tweede-Luitenant
- Norway: Fenrik
- Ottoman Empire: Mülazım
- Philippines: Magat,Tenyente
- 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)
- Serbia, Republic of Macedonia and Yugoslavia: Лотпоручник (Potporucnik)
- Slovenia: Poročnik
- Spain and Equatorial Guinea: Alférez
- Sweden: Fänrik
- Switzerland: Leutnant (German); Lieutenant (French); Tenente (Italian)
- Thailand: Roi Tri
- Turkey: Teğmen
- Uruguay: Teniente Segundo
- Venezuela: Subteniente (army); Alférez (air force)
- Vietnam: Thieu Uy