1LTs

First Lieutenant (1LT) is a commissioned officer rank in the United States Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force, designated O-2. The rank sits above Second Lieutenant and below Captain. The insignia is a single silver bar.

In most services, 1LTs serve as platoon leaders or in other company- or squadron-level staff roles, translating to leading a platoon of about 16–44 soldiers in the Army and Marine Corps, or serving as a flight or section leader in the Air Force and Space Force. They provide tactical and administrative leadership, counsel enlisted personnel, and assist higher officers with planning and operations. They may also serve as executive officers at the company or squadron level, or in functional staff positions such as personnel, operations, or training.

Career progression: 1LT is the typical rank held after graduation from initial officer training and during a service member’s early career. Most officers are promoted to Captain after roughly two years in grade, contingent on performance, time in service, and the needs of the service. Professional military education at this stage includes branch- or service-specific officer courses, with the Captain’s Career Course or equivalent as the next milestone before promotion to Captain and assuming broader command and staff duties.

Historical context: The title derives from British Army heritage and remains a common designation in NATO-aligned forces. Variants and duties differ by service branch and nation, but the rank consistently marks transition from initial platoon leadership to more senior company- or squadron-level responsibilities.