Etymologically, Lieutenant combines the French lieu (in place) and tenant (holding) to mean – one who holds a place for another. Entering English from Old French, it described a deputy acting on behalf of a superior, a definition still central to its use in military and civil ranks (eg lieutenant colonel or lieutenant governor) and phrases like in lieu of.

Fresh from the academy, we joined our regiments as newly commissioned Second Lieutenants—eager to go, but as unguided as a nuclear-tipped missile. Fortunately, during my command tour (2002-2004), that breed had become extinct.

Despite a shared etymology, its pronunciation split into two distinct branches:

• The British “Left-tenant”: This variant likely stems from a Middle English reading of Old French, where the letters ‘u’ and ‘v’ were often interchanged, influencing the sound to shift to an ‘f’.
• The American “Loo-tenant”: This version hews more closely to the original French. It became standardised in the United States, partly due to the influence of spelling reformers like Noah Webster, who championed pronunciations that aligned with a word’s spelling.

The rank of Second Lieutenant is the most junior commissioned officer rank in many of the world’s armed forces, typically placed directly below the rank of Lieutenant.

Commonwealth and British Influence

• Commonwealth militaries, following British practices, began using the rank of Second Lieutenant in 1871 to replace older ranks like Ensign (infantry) and Cornet (cavalry).
• British Army: The rank was introduced in 1877, abolished in 1881, and then reintroduced in 1887. In 1902, its insignia was standardized as a single star.
• Indian Army: The rank was used until the turn of the millennium (around the early 2000s).
• Australian Army: The rank was abolished in 1986.
• Canadian Forces: Adopted the rank in 1968 and used it until the late 2000s. The Canadian Navy briefly used it before reverting to the naval rank of Acting Sub-Lieutenant.

International Context

• France: The equivalent rank, Sous-lieutenant, has a long history dating back to the reign of Henry II in 1674.
• United States Army: The rank bore no insignia until December 1917, when a gold bar was introduced. This led to its common slang names:
  • Butter Bar or Brown Bar: Referring to the color of the insignia.
  • Shavetail: A derisive term from the U.S. Cavalry, referring to an unbroken mule whose tail was shaved to mark it as inexperienced and potentially dangerous.

Insignia

• The standard NATO insignia for the rank is a single star.
• In the British tradition, this single star was introduced alongside the two stars of a Lieutenant and the three stars of a Captain.

The young officers of the world’s militaries, whether holding the rank of Lieutenant or Second Lieutenant, are a potent force. They are defined by their readiness to accept any challenge and their commitment to learning the complex art of military leadership.