Private first class#United States
{{Short description|Military rank}}
{{for|the Commonwealth equivalent|Lance corporal}}
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{{military ranks}}
Private first class ({{langx|fr|Soldat de 1{{sup|re}} classe}}; {{langx|es|Soldado de primera}}) is a military rank held by junior enlisted personnel in many armed forces.
French speaking countries
In France and other French speaking countries, the rank {{lang|fr|Soldat de première classe}} ({{literally|soldier of the first class}}; {{translation|private first class}}) is used.
Poland
In Poland, the rank is called {{lang|pl|Starszy szeregowy}} ({{translation|Senior private}}).{{cite web |title=Sposób noszenia odznak stopni wojskowych na umundurowaniu wojsk Lądowych i sił Powietrznych |url=https://www.wojsko-polskie.pl/iwsp/u/14/fc/14fc23f7-28a0-4a42-9ac0-287d512ffcb9/08b_oznaki_stopni_wojskowych_na_umundurowaniu_wl_i_sp_ok.pdf |website=wojsko-polskie.pl |publisher=Armed Forces Support Inspectorate |access-date=7 June 2021 |language=pl}}
Singapore
{{see also|Singapore Armed Forces ranks}}
Introduced in 1983, the honorific rank is awarded to hardworking conscript citizen-soldiers who performed well in their National Service term. Private First Class (PFC) wear a rank insignia of a single chevron pointing down.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/portal/mindef/about-us/saf-rank-insignias|title = MINDEF Singapore}}
The Private First Class (PFC) rank is rarely awarded nowadays by the Singapore Armed Forces. All private enlistees can be promoted directly to Lance Corporal (LCP) should they meet the minimum qualifying requirements, conduct appraisal and work performance.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/portal/mindef/about-us/saf-rank-insignias|title = MINDEF Singapore}}
United States
=United States Army=
In the United States Army, recruits usually enter service as a private in pay grade E-1. Private (E-2), designated by a single chevron, is typically an automatic promotion after six months of service. Private first class (E-3), equivalent to NATO grade OR-3, is designated by a single chevron with one arc or "rocker," and is more common among soldiers who have served in the U.S. Army for one year or more. Soldiers who have achieved an associate degree or its equivalent are entitled to enter the Army at this pay grade.{{cite web|url=https://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r601_210.pdf|title=Site Moved}} Advancement from private first class is to specialist (E-4); advancement to corporal (also at the E-4 pay grade) requires that the soldier also complete the Basic Leader Course (BLC), the first course of study in a US Army noncommissioned officer's professional development course.[https://www.armytimes.com/2021/06/07/all-soldiers-must-now-serve-as-corporals-before-promotion-to-sergeant/ Harm Venhuizen (7 Jun 2021) All soldiers must now serve as corporals before promotion to sergeant] Thus, in order to qualify for leadership posts such as team leader, the soldier must have first served as a corporal; a team leader is nominally a sergeant (E-5).
The rank of private first class has existed since 1846{{Cite web|title = A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774 - 1875|url = https://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsl&fileName=009/llsl009.db&recNum=39|website = memory.loc.gov|access-date = 2016-02-18}} and, prior to 1919, its insignia consisted of the branch of service insignia without any arcs or chevrons. The Secretary of War approved "an arc of one bar" (i.e., a "rocker") under the branch of service or trade insignia for privates first class on 22 July 1919. From August 5, 1920, to May 28, 1968, the rank insignia for private first class was a single chevron, per War Department Circular No. 303. On May 28, 1968, the insignia was changed to its current form, consisting of a single chevron with one arc.{{cite web|url=http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Rank_page/History_of_Enlisted_Ranks.htm |title=History of Enlisted Ranks |author=United States Army Institute of Heraldry |year=2006 |publisher=United States Army |access-date=December 31, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061231145748/http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Rank_page/History_of_Enlisted_Ranks.htm |archive-date=December 31, 2006 }}
=United States Marine Corps=
In the United States Marine Corps, the rank of private first class is the second lowest, just under lance corporal and just above private, equivalent to NATO grade OR-2, being pay grade E-2. It was established on June 3, 1916, to match the already existing Army rank, primarily because US Marine units were "often called upon to serve" with US Army organizations, such as in the American Expeditionary Force that served in Europe during World War I (e.g. 4th Marine Brigade of the U.S. Army's 2nd Infantry Division). At the time the two ranks were directly equivalent. However, the USMC rank of PFC is one grade lower (E-2) than the similarly titled US Army rank.{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/estimatessubmit00affagoog|page=[https://archive.org/details/estimatessubmit00affagoog/page/n266 240]|quote=secretary of the navy private first class 1918.|title=Hearings Before Committee on Naval Affairs of the House of Representatives, on Estimates Submitted by the Secretary of the Navy, 1918|first1=United States Congress House Committee on Naval|last1=Affairs|first2=Lemuel Phillips|last2=Padgett|date=1 January 1918|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|via=Internet Archive}}
Gallery
File:Benin Army OR-2.svg|{{lang|fr|Soldat de 1re classe}}
(Benin Army){{cite web |title=LOI N° 2005-43 DU 26 JUIN 2006 |url=https://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/ELECTRONIC/94851/111467/F-404511779/BEN-94851.pdf |website=ilo.org |publisher=National Assembly (Benin) |access-date=13 June 2021 |pages=19-20, 35-36 |language=fr |date=26 June 2006}}
File:01. Burkina Faso Army - PFC.svg|{{lang|fr|Soldat de 1re classe}}
(Burkina Faso Ground Forces){{cite web |title=LOI N° 037-2016/AN PORTANT CONDITIONS D'AVANCEMENT DES PERSONNELS D'ACTIVE DES FORCES ARMEES NATIONALES |url=https://lavoixdujuristebf.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/loi_037_avancement_personnel_fan.pdf |date=2015 |access-date=3 June 2021 |pages=17–21 |language=fr}}{{cite web |title=LOI N° 019-2015/CNT PORTANT STATUT GENERAL DES PERSONNELS DES FORCES ARMEES NATIONALES |url=https://archives.assembleenationale.bf/IMG/pdf/loi_019_portant_statut_militaire_fan-2.pdf |date=2014 |access-date=3 June 2021 |language=fr}}
File:blank.svg|{{lang|fr|Soldat de 1{{sup|re}} classe}}
{{small|({{langx|rn|Umusoda wo mu murwi wa mbere}})}}
(Burundi Army){{cite web |title=Loi organique N°1/ 04 du 20 février 2017 portant Missions, Organisation, Composition, Instruction, Conditions de service et Fonctionnement de la Force de Défense Nationale du Burundi |url=http://fdnb.bi/sites/default/files/loi-04-2017.pdf |website=fdnb.bi/ |publisher=Government of Burundi |access-date=27 June 2021 |page=45 |language=fr}}
File:Cameroon-Army-OR-2.svg|{{lang|fr|Soldat première}}
(Cameroon Ground Forces)
File:01.CAGF-PFC.svg|{{lang|fr|Soldat première}}
(Central African Ground Forces)
File:Chad-Army-OR-2.svg|{{lang|fr|Soldat première}}
(Chadian Ground Forces)
File:Comoros-Army-OR-2.svg|{{lang|fr|Soldat de 1{{sup|re}} classe}}
(Comorian Army)
File:01.DRC-PFC.svg|{{lang|fr|Soldat de 1{{sup|re}} classe}}
(Land Forces of the DR Congo)
File:01-ROCongo Army-PFC.svg|{{lang|fr|Soldat de 1{{sup|re}} classe}}
(Congolese Ground Forces){{cite web |title=Grades appellations distinctions |url=https://defense.gouv.cg/gradesappellationsdistinctions/ |website=defense.gouv.cg |publisher=Ministry of National Defense (Republic of the Congo) |access-date=7 June 2021 |language=fr}}
File:Djibouti-Army-OR-2.svg|{{lang|fr|Soldat première}}
(Djiboutian Army)
File:01.GLF-PFC.svg|{{lang|fr|Soldat première}}
(Gabonese Army)
File:Haiti-Army-OR-2.svg|{{lang|es|Soldado de primera}}
(Guatemalan Army){{cite web |title=Grados Militares |url=https://www.mindef.mil.gt/grados_militares/grados_militares.html |website=mindef.mil.gt |publisher=Ministry of Defence (Guatemala) |access-date=29 May 2021 |language=es}}
File:blank.svg|{{lang|fr|Soldat de 1{{sup|re}} classe}}
(Guinea Ground Forces)
File:Guinea-Bissau-Army-OR-2.svg|{{lang|pt|Primeiro-soldado}}
(Army of Guinea-Bissau)
File:Ivory_Coast-Army-OR-2.svg|{{lang|fr|Soldat de 1{{sup|re}} classe}}
(Ivory Coast Ground Forces){{cite web |title=GRADES / APPELLATIONS / DISTINCTIONS |url=http://www.defense.gouv.ci/culture/grades |website=defense.gouv.ci |publisher=Ministère de la Défense |access-date=23 September 2020 |language=fr}}
File:Army-USA-OR-03.svg|Private first class
(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}}
File:01.Mali Army-PFC.svg|{{lang|fr|Soldat de 1{{sup|re}} classe}}
(Malian Army){{cite web|title=2011 - Plaquette sur les insignes et blasons des Forces Armées du Mali|url=http://www.memoriamali.com/webdossier/2011-parcours-historique-de-la-region-de-segou/|language=fr|date=23 April 2011 |access-date=17 October 2020 }}
File:blank.svg|{{lang|es|Soldado de primera}}
(Mexican Army){{cite web |author1=Secretary of National Defense |author1-link=Secretariat of National Defense (Mexico) |title=Manual gráfico para el uso de Uniformes, Divisas y Equipo del Ejército y F.A.M. |trans-title=Graphic manual for the use of Uniforms, Badges and Equipment of the Army and Air Force |url=http://www.sedena.gob.mx/pdf/MGUDEFAM_2019.pdf |access-date=22 May 2021 |language=es |date=27 June 2019}}
File:02-Moroccan Army-PFC.svg|{{lang|fr|Soldat de 1{{sup|re}} classe}}
(Royal Moroccan Army){{cite book |last1=Ehrenreich |first1=Frederich |editor1-last= Nelson |editor1-first=Harold D. |title=Morocco: a country study |series=Area Handbook |date=1985 |location=Washington, D.C. |lccn=85600265 |pages=350–351 |edition=5th |chapter=National Security}}
File:Mozambique-Army-OR-2.svg|{{lang|pt|Primeiro soldado}}
(Mozambican Army)
File:01-Nicaragua Army-PVT.svg|{{lang|es|Soldado de primera}}
(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}}
File:blank.svg|{{lang|fr|Soldat de 1{{sup|re}} classe}}
(Niger Army){{cite web |author1=Bureau international des droits des enfants |title=État des Lieux: Formation des forces de défense et de sécurité sur les droit de l'enfant au Niger |url=http://www.ibcr.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/%C3%89tat-des-lieux-Niger.pdf |access-date=28 September 2020 |page=34 |language=fr |date=December 2012}}
File:PHIL ARMY PFC WOODLAND.svg|Private first class
(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:Senegal-Army-OR-2.svg|{{lang|fr|Soldat de 1{{sup|ère}} classe}}
(Senegalese Army)
File:Army-SGP-OR-2.svg|Private first class
(Singapore Army){{cite web |title=SAF Rank Insignias |url=https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/portal/mindef/about-us/saf-rank-insignias |website=mindef.gov.sg |publisher=Ministry of Defence (Singapore) |access-date=7 June 2021}}
File:Nl-landmacht-soldaat der 2e klasse.svg|{{lang|nl|Soldaat der 1e klasse}}
(Suriname Army)
File:blank.svg|{{lang|fr|Soldat de 1{{sup|re}} classe}}
(Togolese Army){{cite web |title=Journal officiel de la république togolaise |date=12 February 2008 |volume=5 |url=http://jo.gouv.tg/sites/default/files/annee/2008/jo%202008-5.pdf |access-date=16 June 2021 |language=fr}}
File:Grade Marine tunisienne E1.png|{{lang|fr|Soldat de 1{{sup|re}} classe}}
{{small|({{langx|ar|جندي أول|Jundiun awwal}})}}
(Tunisian Army){{cite web |title=Décret n° 72-380 du 6 décembre 1972, portant Statut particulier des militaires |url=https://legislation-securite.tn/law/40982 |website=legislation-securite.tn |publisher=Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance |access-date=22 December 2021 |language=fr |date=6 December 1972}}
File:Army-USA-OR-03 (Army greens).svg|Private first class
(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}}