I saw people arguing in the comments section about some TV show clip that was featuring a deployed US Army unit in current era and the one character was referred to as "Private 2nd Class".

I served in the Army and ever heard anyone refer to a "Private 2nd Class". You are just called "Private" or more accurately "HEY YOU!"

There are two Private ranks in the Army: Private E-1 (no stripe and rank is PVT) and Private E-2 (one stripe and rank is PV2).

So who is right here? Was this a writer's goof? Or is there a Private 2nd Class on paper that exists but no one refers to is as such?

Maybe there was one in the past but I never heard it referred to it that way.

I thought there was E-1 - PVT, E2 - PVT 2, and E-3 PFC.

Private 2nd Class was probably a misstatement since there IS a Private First Class.

All privates are dog shit

I think the writer was mistaken

quote:

Originally posted by YellowJacket:
I thought there was E-1 - PVT, E2 - PVT 2, and E-3 PFC.

Yes I forgot it's actually 3 Private ranks with E-3 being PFC

The writer is an idiot.

2nd Class Privates are limp dicks...

Everyone wants First Class Privates.

quote:

Originally posted by sigmonkey:
2nd Class Privates are limp dicks...

Everyone wants First Class Privates.

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Unless things have changed in the past 30+ years, no “private second class.” E-1 and E-2 were privates and E-3 was private first class. E-1 had no sleeve insignia; E-2 one chevron, E-3 one chevron with one rocker. Even that was a change, I believe early in my career. Originally one chevron without a rocker was the insignia for PFC.
The proper form of address for all three was private, as in, “Private Jones, ….”

I still remember, though, that one power hungry ( ) PFC in basic training insisted on being called “Private First Class.” And again unless it’s changed, something else fiction writers have gotten wrong is calling various sergeant ranks by their full names, e.g., “Sergeant First Class Jones, ….” The applicable regulation at the time made it clear that unless it was First Sergeant or Sergeant Major, everyone from E-5 to E-8 was “sergeant.”

In 1969-1970 while in South Korea my US Army Field Artillery Survey Section as a joke had the PFC E-3 with longest time as a E-3 took a CSM (command Sgt major) rank pin and cut the top two rockers off as well as the two bottom rockers off with the star and wreath intact makin a CPFC (command PFC) till he actually wore the pin during a formal inspection and our actual CSM (Command SGT Major) was not happy and the rank pin disappeared never to be seen again....... US Navy ranks on uniforms gave me fits. ..... Staff Sgt E-6 when I became a civilian..............................drill sgt.

As a Sailor, it’s either private or Sergeant lol.

I know most branches ranks but I can’t spot the chevrons that fast.

Similarly, in the Navy it’s Seaman until E4, then if I don’t know your rate it’s Petty Officer until Chief.

Edited to place correct link

According to this, there is just plain private (no insignia), private with one chevron, and Private First Class with one chevron and a circle segment below it, pay grades respectively E-1 through E-3. No second class. So the TV show is either taking artistic license with or (more likely) is just plain ignorant of the military.

US Army enlisted ranks and pay grades (Wikipedia)

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
US Army enlisted ranks and pay grades (Wikipedia)

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According to this, there is just plain private (no insignia), private with one chevron, and Private First Class with one chevron and a circle segment below it, pay grades respectively E-1 through E-3. No second class. So the TV show is either taking artistic license with or (more likely) is just plain ignorant of the military.

Definitely a wrong link.


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At least egregore wasn't in the midst of searching for something more embarrassing.

Come on, who wouldn't be interested in "scowling eye" Jeep grilles?

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
Come on, who wouldn't be interested in "scowling eye" Jeep grilles?

We're all just glad you didn't provide a link that would get us in trouble, at work or at home.




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Sounds like a 3rd LT.

Was easy in the USMC - private, private first class(PFC), and then lance corporal. Lance corporal allowed you to escape the ‘private’ class.

quote:

Originally posted by FenderBender:
Sounds like a 3rd LT.

Or Corporal-Captain.

I just looked at my old records and on 10 March 1967, I was promoted from "Private E-1 to Private E-2". Throughout the rest of my career, E-1's and E-2's were always referred to as 'Privates' and E-3's as 'PFC's'. I never heard nor saw the term 'Private Second Class'.

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:
Or Corporal-Captain.

But let us not forget all the armies that have Colonel-Generals.

And on the subject, how many of us know why US Lieutenant Generals have three stars and Major Generals two?