lieutenants

Lieutenants are commissioned officers in many armed forces and police organizations, ranking above second-in-command and below captains (in many armies) or their naval equivalents. The term derives from Old French lieutenant, from lieu, place, and tenant, meaning one who holds the place of another.

In land forces, a lieutenant often serves as a platoon commander or as a deputy to a company commander, taking responsibility for training, administration, and operations planning. A lieutenant may also fill specialized staff roles at battalion or brigade level. In some nations there are two grades: lieutenant and first lieutenant; in others there is a single lieutenant rank with subgrades or abbreviations.

In navies, the rank of lieutenant is an officer grade that, depending on navy, sits above lieutenant junior grade (or sub-lieutenant) and below lieutenant commander. Naval lieutenants may command a department aboard ship, serve as department heads, or act as watch officers or staff officers ashore.

In air forces and other services, the rank exists in various forms and may correspond to a junior officer who commands a small unit such as a flight or squadron element or serves in staff roles. The exact title and position vary by country.

Insignia and ordering vary by service; insignia are typically markers on the shoulder, sleeve, or collar, such as pips, stripes, or stars, indicating seniority. The role and authority of a lieutenant are defined by national regulations and service doctrine.