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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.
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.
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Promotions Rank
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 16
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My understanding is that it was in fact called a private second class, historically, thus the abbreviation. I suppose that over the course of many years the term fell out of popular usage and all that remained was the formal abbreviation with seemingly no explanation to the modern soldier. However, when the need arises to distinguish between an E-1 and E-2, I greatly prefer the term private second class to actually referring to them by the abbreviation, as if they're the sequel to PV1: PV2, more PVier.
Some references to the history of "classes" in Army rank structure:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_enlisted_rank_insignia#1920.E2.80.931942
Some references to the history of "classes" in Army rank structure:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_enlisted_rank_insignia#1920.E2.80.931942
United States Army enlisted rank insignia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This chart represents the United States Army enlisted rank insignia with seniority increasing left-to-right inside a given pay grade. All enlisted ranks of corporal and higher are considered non-commissioned officers (NCOs).
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Can't say I've ever heard this term used. We did have another affectionate term used for the non rate class. Senior pvt or senior lance. Sr. Pvt was used both for pvt and pfc
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No such animal, and I wore the rank. I was a private regardless. Anyone who thinks otherwise is an idiot (no offense to servicemembers). I would rather been called "Private" than anything else.
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It's happened again! This time it was Stars and Stripes. In the article they use the "Private Second Class" rank... I hope this isnt an omen..
http://www.stripes.com/news/army/female-soldier-testifies-about-recruitment-in-fort-hood-prostitution-ring-case-1.286895
http://www.stripes.com/news/army/female-soldier-testifies-about-recruitment-in-fort-hood-prostitution-ring-case-1.286895
Female soldier testifies about recruitment in Fort Hood prostitution ring case
The charges against Sgt. 1st Class Gregory McQueen and another sergeant convicted last year in the Fort Hood prostitution ring case helped spur a push to revamp the military’s rules on prosecuting sexual assault cases.
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I can honestly say I have never in my career heard of "Private Second Class." N oI have heard them say "Private: E2." This falls along the lines of drill sergeant school no longer saying to call E1-E3 Privates due to that name being "degrading" and they now stress calling them Warriors. Um no, your rank is Private and until they change the name that is what you are going to be called.
Source. Office partner just got back from DS school a few weeks ago.
Source. Office partner just got back from DS school a few weeks ago.
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1SG Michael Blount
SSG - thanks for the waring about not calling BCT Privates by their rank. I'll just stick with "hey you, crack baby..."
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CPT Brandon Christensen
Thanks for the laugh 1SG! It brought back a memory of when I was in BCT in 2003, and my DS called me that because me and a fellow PVT were determined to get under 10 minutes for our two mile run and we kept asking during white time if we could go run around the barracks.
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That is good information to have. Coming from a sister service, I have both seen and heard people say Private Second Class on more than one occassion and thought that that is what it was supposed to be.
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SFC Michael Hasbun
It's one of those wrong things that happens enough that it becomes "right" by virtue of repetition.. It's still clearly wrong, but when everyone is wrong, well, that's how new standards happen.
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