Posted on Jun 3, 2014
SFC Michael Hasbun
22.6K
26
32
5
4
1
Private second class
I'm sure we've all heard it, generally at promotion ceremonies. A Soldier rising in grade from E-1 to E-2 being announced as promoted to "Private Second Class".

I just wanted to address this as someone brought it up today at work. Gentlemen and Ladies, there is no such thing as a Private Second class. They are Privates. Personnel in pay grade E-1 are Privates, abbreviated PVT. Personnel in pay grade E-2 are also Privates, abbreviated PV2. Only the abbreviation changes, not the rank or form of address.

Until promoted to Private First Class, the correct rank/form of address is Private. Let's kill this purple unicorn.
Posted in these groups: Star PromotionsRank Rank
Avatar feed
Responses: 16
LCDR Aerospace Engineering Duty, Maintenance (AMDO and AMO)
4
4
0
This is why I can't take seriously the Army's snide comments about the Navy's enlisted rank system (three sets of three... tough stuff there). They'll promote you from Private to Private, change a pup tent into a rocker on advancement, and refuse to give you a stripe when you go from E-8 to E-9.
(4)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
1SG Michael Blount
2
2
0
Of course, I did see a huge typo on somebody's 1059 coming out of PLDC (now called WLC)..a student's rank was typed in as "SFC" instead of "SPC" I remember thinking to myself, "that's somebody on a fast career track"
(2)
Comment
(0)
1SG David Niles
1SG David Niles
10 y
I was pinned minutes after ANCOC graduation, got a lot of double takes from my fellow class mates. None asked me about it though. LOL
(0)
Reply
(0)
1SG Michael Blount
1SG Michael Blount
10 y
1SG - I love those light speed ceremonies, don't you?
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
MSG Usarec Liason At Nrpc/Nara
2
2
0
Just for kicks and giggles would a PV1 be a private 3rd class??? I get it though who wouldn't want their rank to sound fancy??
(2)
Comment
(0)
SFC Michael Hasbun
SFC Michael Hasbun
10 y
If we want to use somehting similair to the Navy structure, then yes, certainly!

I would like to rename Sergeant First Class to something a bit more... awesome. The Marines already took Gunnery Sergeant, which is admittedly cool sounding, so maybe something along the lines of Phalanx Sergeant, or (insert cool sounding military term here) Sergeant...
(2)
Reply
(0)
1LT Nick Kidwell
1LT Nick Kidwell
>1 y
I prefer Private No-Rank and Private Skeeter Wings. ;)
(1)
Reply
(0)
SSG Psyop Instructor
SSG (Join to see)
>1 y
fuzzy patch lol
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small

Join nearly 2 million former and current members of the US military, just like you.

close