First lieutenant#U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard

{{main|Indonesian military ranks}}

In Indonesia, "first lieutenant" is known as Letnan Satu (Lettu), Indonesian National Armed Forces uses this rank across all three of its services. It is just above the rank of second lieutenant and just below the rank of captain.

{{main|Israel Defense Forces ranks}}

In the Israel Defense Forces, the rank above second lieutenant is simply lieutenant (Segen). The rank of (קצין מקצועי אקדמאי (קמ"א (katsín miktsoí akademai or "kama"), a professional academic officer (that is, a medical, dental or veterinary officer, a justice officer or a religious officer), is equivalent to a professional officer of the second class in the reserve and equivalent to first lieutenant.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}}

{{main|Lieutenant (British Army and Royal Marines)}}

In the British Army and Royal Marines, the rank above second lieutenant is simply lieutenant (pronounced lef-tenant), with no ordinal attached.

Before 1871, when the whole British Army switched to using the current rank of "lieutenant", the Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers and fusilier regiments used "first lieutenant" and "second lieutenant".

The first lieutenant (often abbreviated "1st Lt") in a Royal Navy ship is a post or appointment, rather than a rank.

Historically the lieutenants in a ship were ranked in accordance with seniority, with the most senior being termed the first lieutenant and acting as the second-in-command, unless the ship was complemented with a commander. Although lieutenants are no longer ranked by seniority, the post of "first lieutenant" remains. In minor war vessels, destroyers, frigates, and submarines, the first lieutenant is second in command, executive officer (XO) and head of the executive branch; in larger ships where a commander of the warfare specialization is appointed as the executive officer, a first lieutenant is appointed as their deputy. The post of first lieutenant in a shore establishment carries a similar responsibility to the first lieutenant of a capital ship. Colloquial terms in the Royal Navy for the first lieutenant include "number one", "the jimmy" (or "jimmy the one") and "James the First" (a back-formation referring to James I of England).Partridge, p 612, p 621, p 884 The first lieutenant may hold the rank of sub-lieutenant, lieutenant or lieutenant-commander.

{{Infobox military rank

| name = First lieutenant

| native_name =

| image = US-O2 insignia.svg

| image_size = 50px

| alt =

| caption = U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Space Force insignia of the rank of first lieutenant. Style and method of wear vary between the services.

| image2 = {{nobreak| 50px 50px 50px 50px }}

| image_size2 =

| alt2 =

| caption2 = Shoulder boards

| image3 =

| image_size3 =

| alt3 =

| caption3 =

| country = {{flag|United States}}

| service branch = {{army|United States|name=U.S. Army}}
{{marines|United States|name=U.S. Marine Corps}}
{{air force|United States|name=U.S. Air Force}}
{{space force|United States|name=U.S. Space Force}}

| abbreviation = 1LT {{small|(Army)}}
1stLt {{small|(Marine Corps)}}
1st Lt {{small|(Air Force and Space Force)}}

| rank group = Junior officer

| rank =

| NATO rank = OF-1

| Non-NATO rank =

| pay grade = O-2

| formation =

| abolished =

| higher rank = Captain

| lower rank = Second lieutenant

| equivalents = Lieutenant (junior grade)

| history =

}}

{{unreferenced section|date=November 2021}}

In the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Space Force, a first lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer. It is just above the rank of second lieutenant and just below the rank of captain. It is equivalent to the rank of lieutenant (junior grade) in the other uniformed services.

Promotion to first lieutenant is governed by Department of Defense policies derived from the Defense Officer Personnel Management Act of 1980. DOPMA guidelines suggest all "fully qualified" officers should be promoted to first lieutenant. A second lieutenant (grade O-1) is usually promoted to first lieutenant (grade O-2) after 18 months in the Army or 24 months in the Marine Corps and Air Force. The difference between the two ranks is slight, primarily being experience and a higher pay grade. It is not uncommon to see officers moved to positions requiring more experience after promotion to first lieutenant. For example, in the Army and Marine Corps these positions can include leading a specialty platoon, or assignment as the executive officer for a company-sized unit (70–250 soldiers or marines). In the Air Force, a first lieutenant may be a flight commander or section's officer in charge with varied supervisory responsibilities, including supervision of as many as 100+ personnel, although in a flying unit, a first lieutenant is a rated officer (pilot, navigator, or air battle manager) who has just finished training for his career field and has few supervisory responsibilities.

In the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, "first lieutenant" is the name of a billet and position title, rather than rank. Officers aboard early sailing ships were the captain and a number of lieutenants. The senior among those lieutenants was known as the first lieutenant, and would have assumed command if the captain were absent or incapacitated.{{cite web |url=https://www.historicnavalfiction.com/general-hnf-info/naval-facts/ranks-duties |title=Ranks & Duties |last=Hayes |first=David |website=Historic Naval Fiction |access-date=22 April 2018 |archive-date=23 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423034234/https://www.historicnavalfiction.com/general-hnf-info/naval-facts/ranks-duties |url-status=live }} As modern ships have become more complex, requiring specialized knowledge of engineering, communications, and weapons, the "first lieutenant" is the officer in command of the deck department responsible for line handling during mooring and underway replenishment. On smaller ships, the officer of the "first lieutenant" billet holds the rank of lieutenant, junior grade or ensign. On larger vessels, the position of "first lieutenant" is held by a lieutenant or, in the case of extremely large warships such as cruisers or aircraft carriers, the position of "first lieutenant" may be held by a lieutenant commander or even commander. However, on submarines and in aircraft squadrons, where the deck department may only have a few junior sailors, the "first lieutenant" billet may be filled by a first-class petty officer or chief petty officer. What is known in the U.S. Navy as the "first lieutenant division" is usually composed of junior sailors (E-3 and below) who are completing their ninety days of temporary assigned duty, or TAD, that all enlisted personnel are required to perform when initially assigned to a command. The primary mission of the division is servicing, cleaning, organizing and inventorying items within a command.Barnebey, Matthew; "1st Lieutenant Division plays significant role in supporting base", Jax Air NewsCutler and Cutler, p.90

The term "first lieutenant" had a dual meaning in the United States Revenue Cutter Service (known until 1894 as the United States Revenue-Marine). The position title of first lieutenant was held by a junior officer who was in charge of deck operations and gunnery. The rank of first lieutenant was the equivalent of lieutenant in the current rank structure of the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps. The next senior officer ranking above first lieutenant was captain and the next two lower officer ranks were second and third lieutenant, respectively. When the Revenue Cutter Service merged with the United States Life-Saving Service to form the U.S. Coast Guard in 1915, the rank of first lieutenant carried over into Coast Guard and remained in use until 1918, when the Coast Guard adopted the rank structure of the U.S. Navy.Cipra, Dave; "A History of Sea Service Ranks & Titles", Commandant's Bulletin, (May, June, July 1985), U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office.

File:09.RABDF-1LT.svg|First lieutenant
(Antigua and Barbuda Regiment){{cite web |title=Paratus |author1=Antigua & Barbuda Defence Force |url=http://abdf.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/ABDF_mag_2011.pdf |publisher=Regional Publications Ltd. |access-date=2 March 2020 |pages=12–13 |archive-date=7 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607174320/http://abdf.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/ABDF_mag_2011.pdf |url-status=dead }}

File:Argentina-Army-OF-1a.svg|{{lang|es|Teniente primero}}
(Argentine Army){{cite web |title=Grados |url=https://www.argentina.gob.ar/ejercito/grados |website=argentina.gob.ar |date=14 February 2018 |publisher=Government of Argentina |access-date=27 May 2021 |language=es |archive-date=4 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604103541/https://www.argentina.gob.ar/ejercito/grados |url-status=live }}

File:Australian Army OF-1b.svg|First lieutenant
(Australian Army){{cite web |title=Badges of rank |url=https://www.defence.gov.au/images/Badges_of_rank.pdf |website=defence.gov.au |publisher=Department of Defence (Australia) |access-date=31 May 2021 |archive-date=1 September 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060901144804/http://www.defence.gov.au/images/Badges_of_rank.pdf |url-status=live }}

File:Botswana-Army-OF-1b.svg|First lieutenant
(Botswana Ground Force){{Cite web|url=http://www.gov.bw/en/Ministries--Authorities/Ministries/State-President/Botswana-Defence-Force-BDF/About-the-BDF1/Ranks-and-Insignia/ |title=Ranks |publisher=Government of Botswana |access-date=22 September 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826111806/http://www.gov.bw/en/Ministries--Authorities/Ministries/State-President/Botswana-Defence-Force-BDF/About-the-BDF1/Ranks-and-Insignia/ |archive-date=26 August 2016 }}

File:Brazil-Army-OF-1b.svg|{{lang|pt-BR|Primeiro tenente}}
(Brazilian Army){{cite web |title=Postos e Graduações - Exército |url=https://www.eb.mil.br/postos-e-graduacoes/-/asset_publisher/DQlwhsMH8YR7/content/exercito?inheritRedirect=false&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eb.mil.br%3A443%2Fpostos-e-graduacoes%3Fp_p_id%3D101_INSTANCE_DQlwhsMH8YR7%26p_p_lifecycle%3D0%26p_p_state%3Dnormal%26p_p_mode%3Dview%26p_p_col_id%3Dcolumn-1%26p_p_col_count%3D1 |website=eb.mil.br |publisher=Brazilian Army |access-date=7 May 2021 |language=pt |archive-date=7 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507081505/https://www.eb.mil.br/postos-e-graduacoes/-/asset_publisher/DQlwhsMH8YR7/content/exercito?inheritRedirect=false&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eb.mil.br%3A443%2Fpostos-e-graduacoes%3Fp_p_id%3D101_INSTANCE_DQlwhsMH8YR7%26p_p_lifecycle%3D0%26p_p_state%3Dnormal%26p_p_mode%3Dview%26p_p_col_id%3Dcolumn-1%26p_p_col_count%3D1 |url-status=dead }}

File:Cape_Verde-army-OF-1c.svg|{{lang|pt|Primeiro tenente}}
(Cape Verdean National Guard){{cite web |title=Patente |url=https://www.fa.gov.cv/index.php/uniforme/patente |website=fa.gov.cv |publisher=Cape Verdean Armed Forces |access-date=26 May 2021 |language=pt |archive-date=26 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726014311/https://www.fa.gov.cv/index.php/uniforme/patente |url-status=dead }}

File:Cuba-Army-OF-1c.svg|{{lang|es|Primer teniente}}
(Cuban Revolutionary Army){{cite web |title=Grados militares |url=https://www.minfar.gob.cu/far/grados-militares?field_clasificacion_value=tropas |website=minfar.gob.cu |publisher=Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (Cuba) |access-date=28 May 2021 |language=es}}

File:Denmark-Army-OF-1b-M11.svg|{{lang|da|Premierløjtnant}}
(Royal Danish Army){{cite web |title=Hærens Gradstegn |url=https://forsvaret.dk/globalassets/fko---forsvaret/dokumenter/gradstegn/-harens-gradstegn-.pdf |website=forsvaret.dk |publisher=Danish Defence |access-date=26 May 2021 |language=da |date=2018 |archive-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109003315/https://www.forsvaret.dk/globalassets/fko---forsvaret/dokumenter/gradstegn/-harens-gradstegn-.pdf |url-status=live }}

File:Capona de Primer Teniente Ejercito Nacional Dominicano.svg|{{lang|es|Primer teniente}}
(Dominican Army){{cite web |title=Insignias |url=https://www.mide.gob.do/detail.aspx?id=477&sl=96 |website=mide.gob.do |publisher=Ministry of Defense (Dominican Republic) |access-date=28 May 2021 |language=es |archive-date=26 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226162440/https://www.mide.gob.do/detail.aspx?id=477&sl=96}}

Yliluutnantti M05.svg|{{lang|fi|Yliluutnantti}}
{{small|{{langx|sv|Premiärlöjtnant}}}}
(Finnish Army){{cite web |title=Sotilasarvot Puolustusvoimissa |url=https://puolustusvoimat.fi/sotilasarvot |website=puolustusvoimat.fi |publisher=Finnish Defence Forces |access-date=26 May 2021 |language=fi |archive-date=4 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704182757/https://puolustusvoimat.fi/sotilasarvot |url-status=live }}

File:08.Gambian Army-1LT.svg|First lieutenant
(Gambian National Army)

File:07. Guinea-Bissau 1LT.svg|{{lang|pt|Primeiro tenente}}
(Army of Guinea-Bissau)

File:14-TNI Army-1LT.svg|{{lang|id|Letnan satu}}
(Indonesian Army){{cite web |title=Pangkat Harian |url=https://www.tni.mil.id/pages-39-pangkat-harian.html |website=tni.mil.id |access-date=4 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124202839/https://www.tni.mil.id/pages-39-pangkat-harian.html |publisher=Indonesian National Armed Forces |archive-date=24 November 2020 |language=id}}

File:blank.svg|First lieutenant
(Liberian Ground Forces){{cite web |url=http://www.vertic.org/media/National%20Legislation/Liberia/LR_Defense%20Act%20of%202008.pdf |title=Defense Act of 2008 |date=3 September 2008 |page=8 |access-date=20 November 2017 |archive-date=1 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201044027/http://www.vertic.org/media/National%20Legislation/Liberia/LR_Defense%20Act%20of%202008.pdf |url-status=live }}

File:Luxembourg-Army-OF-1b.svg|{{lang|fr|Lieutenant en premier}}
(Luxembourg Army){{cite web |title=Grades |url=http://www.armee.lu/organisation/personnel/grades |website=Armee.lu |publisher=Luxembourg Army |access-date=24 February 2018 |archive-date=20 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221220205207/https://www.armee.lu/organisation/personnel/grades |url-status=live }}

File:Netherlands-Army-OF-1b.svg|{{lang|nl|1e Luitenant}}
(Royal Netherlands Army){{cite web |title=De rangonderscheidingstekens van de krijgsmacht |url=https://www.defensie.nl/binaries/defensie/documenten/brochures/2021/01/15/rangen-krijgsmacht/rangonderscheidingstekens.pdf |publisher=Ministry of Defence (Netherlands) |access-date=18 March 2021 |date=19 December 2016 |language=nl |archive-date=15 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315022254/https://www.defensie.nl/binaries/defensie/documenten/brochures/2021/01/15/rangen-krijgsmacht/rangonderscheidingstekens.pdf |url-status=live }}

File:New Zealand-Army-OF-1b.svg|First lieutenant
(New Zealand Army){{cite web |title=Badges of Rank |url=https://nzdfpop.cwp.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Resources/21-Update_Rank-Poster-all-services.pdf |website=nzdf.mil.nz |publisher=New Zealand Defence Force |access-date=28 July 2022 |archive-date=28 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220728162111/https://nzdfpop.cwp.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Resources/21-Update_Rank-Poster-all-services.pdf |url-status=live }}

File:09-Nicaragua Army-1LT.svg|{{lang|es|Teniente primero}}
(Nicaraguan Army){{cite web |title=Insignias de Grados Militares |url=https://www.ejercito.mil.ni/contenido/ejercito/grados/grados.html |website=ejercito.mil.ni |publisher=Nicaraguan Armed Forces |access-date=29 May 2021 |language=es |archive-date=2 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602212339/https://www.ejercito.mil.ni/contenido/ejercito/grados/grados.html |url-status=live }}

File:Paraguay-Army-OF-1b.svg|{{lang|es|Teniente primero}}
(Paraguayan Army){{cite book |last1=Cooke |first1=Melinda W. |editor1-last=Hanratty |editor1-first=Dennis M. |editor2-last=Meditz |editor2-first=Sandra W. |title=Paraguay: A Country Study |series=Area Handbook Series |date=1990 |edition=2nd |publisher=Library of Congress |pages=216–217 |chapter-url=https://www.loc.gov/resource/frdcstdy.paraguaycountrys00hanr_0/?sp=252 |access-date=5 October 2021 |chapter=Chapter 5: National Security |lccn=89600299 |archive-date=5 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211005091819/https://www.loc.gov/resource/frdcstdy.paraguaycountrys00hanr_0/?sp=252 |url-status=live }}

File:PA 1st Lt.png|First lieutenant
(Philippine Army){{cite web |title=Ranks and insignia |url=http://www.army.mil.ph/About_the_army/army/history/Ranks_and_Insignias.html |website=army.mil.ph |publisher=Philippine Army |access-date=20 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100428163644/http://www.army.mil.ph/About_the_army/army/history/Ranks_and_Insignias.html |archive-date=28 April 2010}}

File:US Army O2 (Army greens).svg|First lieutenant
(United States Army){{cite web |title=U.S. Army Ranks |url=https://www.army.mil/ranks/ |website=army.mil |publisher=United States Army |access-date=27 May 2021 |archive-date=30 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130022326/https://www.army.mil/ranks/ |url-status=live }}

File:blank.svg|{{lang|es|Teniente primero}}
(National Army of Uruguay){{cite book |editor1-last=Hudson |editor1-first=Rex A. |editor2-last=Meditz |editor2-first=Sandra W. |title=Uruguay: A Country Study |date=1992 |publisher=Federal Research Division, Library of Congress |isbn=0-8444-0737-2 |pages=222–223 |edition=2nd |url=https://www.marines.mil/portals/1/Publications/Uruguay%20Study_3.pdf?ver=2012-10-11-163307-517 |access-date=13 June 2021 |chapter=Chapter 5. National Security |archive-date=14 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314223944/https://www.marines.mil/portals/1/Publications/Uruguay%20Study_3.pdf?ver=2012-10-11-163307-517 |url-status=live }}

File:PTTEEJB-GNB.png|{{lang|es|Primer teniente}}
(Venezuelan Army){{cite web |title=Grados de Oficiales Subalternos |url=http://www.ejercito.mil.ve/grados-de-oficiales-subalternos/ |website=ejercito.mil.ve |publisher=Government of Venezuela |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717120614/http://www.ejercito.mil.ve/grados-de-oficiales-subalternos/ |archive-date=17 July 2019 |date=28 August 2017}}

US Marine O2 shoulderboard vertical.svg|First lieutenant
(United States Marine Corps){{cite web |title=Ranks |url=https://www.marines.mil/Ranks/ |website=marines.mil |publisher=U.S. Marine Corps |access-date=13 June 2021 |archive-date=14 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240714012952/https://www.marines.mil/Ranks/ |url-status=live }}

Generic-Navy-O2.svg|{{lang|pt|Primeiro-tenente}}
(Cape Verdean Coast Guard){{cite journal |title=Anexo A |journal=Boletim Oficial |date=18 January 2017 |volume=1 |issue=4 |pages=133–136 |url=https://kiosk.incv.cv/V/2017/1/18/1.1.4.2286/ |publisher=Government of Cape Verde |language=pt |archive-date=26 May 2021 |access-date=4 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526122009/https://kiosk.incv.cv/V/2017/1/18/1.1.4.2286/ |url-status=live }}

08.Botswana Air Force-1LT.svg|First lieutenant
(Botswana Defence Force Air Wing)

File:US Air Force O2 shoulderboard.svg|First lieutenant
(United States Air Force)

File:US_Space-force_O2.svg|First lieutenant
United States Space Force

;Citations

{{Reflist}}

;References used

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book|title=Marine Corps Uniform Regulations, Marine Corps Order P1020.34G with changes 1-5, Chapter 4. Insignia and Regulations for Wear, Sec. 4005. Insignia of Grade, Officers, Para. 2. Description by Grade, h. Captain, i. First Lieutenant, j. Second Lieutenant (p. 4-25) and Figure 4-11. Officers' Grade Insignia (Shoulder/Collar)|publisher=United States Marine Corps|location=Washington, DC}}
• {{cite web|last=Barnebey|first=Matthew|title=1st Lieutenant Division plays significant role in supporting base|url=http://jaxairnews.jacksonville.com/military/jax-air-news/2011-06-29/story/1st-lieutenant-division-plays-significant-role-supporting#ixzz2UToBsXyR|work=Jax Air News|publisher=Jacksonville.com website|access-date=6 May 2014|date=29 June 2011|archive-date=6 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506233238/http://jaxairnews.jacksonville.com/military/jax-air-news/2011-06-29/story/1st-lieutenant-division-plays-significant-role-supporting#ixzz2UToBsXyR|url-status=dead}}
• {{cite web|last=Cipra|first=Dave|title=A History of Sea Service Ranks & Titles|url=http://www.uscg.mil/history/articles/CipraDaveSeaServiceRanksArticle1985.pdf|work=Commandant's Bulletin|publisher=U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office|access-date=6 May 2014|date=May 1985}}
• {{cite book|last=Cutler|first=Deborah W. and Thomas J. Cutler|title=Dictionary of Naval Terms|year=2005|publisher=Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, Maryland|isbn=978-1-59114-150-1}}
• {{cite book|last=Partridge|first=Eric|title=A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English|edition=8th|year=1984|publisher=Routledge|location=London and New York|isbn=978-0025949805|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780025949805}}

{{refend}}

{{UK officer ranks}}

{{US officer ranks|collapse=collapsed}}

Category:Military ranks of the British Army

Category:Royal Navy appointments

Category:Military ranks of the United States Army

Category:Officer ranks of the United States Air Force

Category:Officer ranks of the United States Space Force

Category:Military ranks of the United States Marine Corps