What is the E-1 abbreviation? Is it PV1 or PVT?

2019-02-05T15:31:32-05:00

I was having a friendly argument with my squad leader about the abbreviation of Private (E-1). Is it PV1 or PVT? He says it is PVT and I say it is PV1. I don't think that it is actually stated anywhere whether it is either one. However, I showed him AR 600-8-19, and it shows PV1. It is also PV1 on all the medical stuff I do for my Reserve unit (I'm an ARA). One of our Privates has his CAC card and it shows PVT. What say you? is it PVT or PV1? I don't think it is OFFICIALLY one or the other, but it was funny finding all the discrepancies trying to prove each other wrong.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2019 3:35 PM

2019-02-05T15:35:04-05:00

It could be either one, honestly. Writing PV1 just simply denotes the difference between one without a stripe and one with a stripe. Depending on my mood, I use either one.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2019 3:54 PM

2019-02-05T15:54:22-05:00

PV1 is accurate.
Also acceptable is "fuzzy".

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2019 4:06 PM

2019-02-05T16:06:35-05:00

SSG Private RallyPoint Member According to the VA....PVT
In reality the military is full of discrepancies within regulations and doctrine that either have not been fixed yet as one regulation got updated before the other or just nobody made a determination to correct it.
https://www.va.gov/vetsinworkplace/docs/em_rank.html

em_rank.html

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Feb 5 at 2019 4:31 PM

2019-02-05T16:31:57-05:00

E-1 is PVT, E-2 is PV2, E-3 is PFC

Response by Maj John Bell made Feb 5 at 2019 5:11 PM

2019-02-05T17:11:44-05:00

Probably no help at all, since I am a Marine and we abbreviate all ranks correctly. And the Army makes mistakes all the time :) But no rank includes a number (except Lt's. and we all know why Lt's are different) and 1stSgt, but that is a curse because one time in the entire history of Marine First Sergeants' a Lt was right when he disagreed with the 1stSgt so the good Lord smote all 1stSgts for all time. It was a Yankees vs Mets issue, not a military one.
By pay grade
E-1 = Private = Pvt,
E-2 = Private First Class = PFC because there are no second class Marines
E-3 = Lance Corporal = LCpl because if you aren't starting to assert yourself and act/think like a Corporal your day are numbered.
E-4 = Corporal = CPL because the Army has specialists, I guess they get paid like Cpl's But still act like LCpl's

Yes I am busting inter-service rivalry balls. If you Squad Leader wants to fire some back tell him to fill out the form in crayon, because I need a light snack. (If you don't get the crayon comment, keep running it up the chain of command until someone explains it to you.)

Response by SGT Richard H. made Feb 5 at 2019 5:17 PM

2019-02-05T17:17:54-05:00

PV1, because E-2 (PV2) is also a Private. Side note: PVT would be the correct abbreviation in the Marine Corps, because their E-2 is a PFC.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Feb 5 at 2019 5:21 PM

2019-02-05T17:21:59-05:00

I would call a soldier private over E-1.

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Feb 5 at 2019 6:08 PM

2019-02-05T18:08:47-05:00

It was clearly PVT in 1987 when I was one and we called an E-2 Private 2nd Class or PV2, there is no PV1 in my 31 years of this lil journey, but everyone keeps changing the damn PT, duty and service uniform, so why not the rank too. My .02 yet again.

Response by CW2 Cecil Copley made Feb 5 at 2019 7:36 PM

2019-02-05T19:36:15-05:00

As a former Military Officer, I can tell you that people who say PV1 as a rank is confused. Officially, the rank is PVT who is E-1 for 4 months when his pay is increased to E-2, but his rank does not change until he is promoted to PFC (Rank) and E-3 (pay).

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2019 8:04 PM

2019-02-05T20:04:20-05:00

According to AR 600-20 table 1-1, and AR 25-50 table 6-1, it is PV1. This is great- I actually thought it was PVT. Hope this helps.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2019 11:27 PM

2019-02-05T23:27:49-05:00

PVT is what shows up in eMILPO and the SRB. Doesnt get any more official than that I'd say.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Feb 6 at 2019 1:16 AM

2019-02-06T01:16:08-05:00

For an E-(xxxxxxg)1, is that a worthy query. For that period of time they do not know where they are, much less what they are! Unless they have been judged and confined as a PVT!

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2019 2:31 AM

2019-02-06T02:31:44-05:00

SR, FR, AR...in the USN and USCG.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2019 12:37 PM

2019-02-09T12:37:49-05:00

The regulation answer is always the right answer. Shoot from the hip answers often lead people astray. Good job to those who pulled the answer from the reg. Remember, APD (Army Publishing Directorate) is your friend!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2019 3:02 AM

2019-02-15T03:02:06-05:00

You're both correct it's that to distinguish its differences PVT and PV2 are abbreviated that way to differentiate the difference in pay grade among Privates. That's why E1 is PVT, E2 is PV2, and E3 is PFC. If terms of the right way, the wrong way, it's always the "Army way." Since you look at it through a civilian lense that's the wrong way. Look at it through the Army lense (way). LOL

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2019 9:06 PM

2019-02-19T21:06:02-05:00

PV1 or PV4 they are all PVTs.

Response by PFC Deric Gregory made Mar 11 at 2019 3:21 PM

2019-03-11T15:21:08-04:00

PV1 is correct. Private Fuzzy or Private Nothing are also acceptable. :)