Posted on Jun 3, 2014
SFC Michael Hasbun
23.6K
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
Votes
  • Newest
  • Oldest
  • Votes
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
11 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
11 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
11 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
11 y
I prefer Private No-Rank and Private Skeeter Wings. ;)
(1)
Reply
(0)
SSG Psyop Instructor
SSG (Join to see)
11 y
fuzzy patch lol
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
Avatar feed
The mythical Private Second Class!
SPC Robert Wagner
1
1
0
E-Fuzzy and Mosquito Wings?
(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
WO1(P) Information Services Technician
1
1
0
Anyone who says that rank during a promotion ceremony is not only mistaken, but is also a soup sandwich football bat squared away like a circle moron. Don't be dumb sparky, don't be dumb.
(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SSG Terminal Operations Nco
1
1
0
Someone needs to fix that. We really need to not have two pay grades with the same exact name.
(1)
Comment
(0)
SGT Sean O'Hara
SGT Sean O'Hara
>1 y
Agreed, way too much confusion.
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
1SG Michael Blount
1
1
0
SSG - I believe a correction is in order. Progression from E1-E4, I believe is classified as an "advancement". I'm guessing because they're pretty much automatic unless you've murdered somebody. Unless something's changed, one's first "promotion" is from SPC/CPL to SGT.
(1)
Comment
(0)
MSG(P) Michael Warrick
MSG(P) Michael Warrick
11 y
First Sergeant you would be correct !!
(0)
Reply
(0)
1SG Michael Blount
1SG Michael Blount
11 y
SFC - There's been stuff I deliberately let slide, but I didn't think promotions was one of them. But, hey, you never know. Thanks for the confirmation.
(0)
Reply
(0)
1SG David Niles
1SG David Niles
11 y
tomato, tamato. 
(1)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
PV2 Logan Metcalfe
0
0
0
Over the years of our service, we have seen other things. To say that this is something amazing is just to say nothing. We were in such places, received knowledge in different parts of America, but you have not read such information https://vegasnews.com/193739/interesting-facts-about-the-state-of-nevada.html. This is a very interesting article about interesting facts about the state of Nevada.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
LTC Dallas Powell
0
0
0
Technically, according to AR 600-20, no one should ever address a PFC as "Private First Class."
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
LTC Dallas Powell
0
0
0
I call bullshit.
I was promoted to Private Second Class in 1989. Not only did my little Army handbook call it that, but so did my orders.
(0)
Comment
(0)
SFC Michael Hasbun
SFC Michael Hasbun
5 y
You're literally saying the regulation is wrong at this point. You have fun with that sir.
(0)
Reply
(0)
LTC Dallas Powell
LTC Dallas Powell
5 y
I'm not saying that at all. Maybe it was changed at some point in the last 31 years, but for as long as I can remember E-2 was always Private Second Class.
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
CPL Satellite Communication Systems Operator/Maintainer
0
0
0
Edited >1 y ago
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
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
LCpl Joe Clayton
0
0
0
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
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
PFC Zanie Young
0
0
0
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.
(0)
Comment
(0)
SGT Sean O'Hara
SGT Sean O'Hara
>1 y
As all of us enlisted mostly wore the E-2 insignia, I was a private :)
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
SFC Michael Hasbun
0
0
0
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
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SFC Recruiting And Retention Nco
0
0
0
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.
(0)
Comment
(0)
1SG Michael Blount
1SG Michael Blount
11 y
SSG - thanks for the waring about not calling BCT Privates by their rank. I'll just stick with "hey you, crack baby..."
(4)
Reply
(0)
CPT Brandon Christensen
CPT Brandon Christensen
11 y
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.
(0)
Reply
(0)
SGT Sean O'Hara
SGT Sean O'Hara
>1 y
I've only ever heard "Private Second Class" in a TRADOC environment.
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
MSgt Command Equipment Manager
0
0
0
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.
(0)
Comment
(0)
SFC Michael Hasbun
SFC Michael Hasbun
11 y
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.
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small

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