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Private First Class
 
 
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In many armed forces
Armed forces

The armed forces of a country are its government-sponsored defense, fighting forces, and organizations. They exist to further the foreign and domestic policies of their governing body, and to defend that body and the nation it represents from external and internal aggressors....
 in the world, Private First Class is a rank held by junior enlisted persons.

United States
In the U.S. Army
United States Army

The United States Army is the branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for Army operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S....
, Private First Class is the third lowest enlisted rank, just above Private
Private (rank)

A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank . The term dates from the Middle Ages, where privates were known as "private soldiers" who were either hired, conscripted, or feudalism into service by a nobleman forming an army....
 and below Corporal
Corporal

Corporal is a Military rank in use in some form by most militaries and also by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to Ranks and insignia of NATO....
 or Specialist
Specialist (rank)

Specialist is one of the four junior enlisted ranks in the United States Army, just above Private First Class and equivalent in pay grade to Corporal....
 in the Army, and is equivalent to NATO Grade OR-3. In the U.S. Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps

The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing Military power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to rapidly deliver Marine Air-Ground Task Force....
 however it is the second lowest, just under Lance Corporal
Lance Corporal

Lance Corporal is a military rank, used by many armed forces worldwide, and also by some police forces and other uniformed organizations. It is below the rank of Corporal, and is typically the lowest Non-commissioned officer or enlisted rank, usually equivalent to the Ranks and insignia of NATO....
 and just above Private
Private (rank)

A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank . The term dates from the Middle Ages, where privates were known as "private soldiers" who were either hired, conscripted, or feudalism into service by a nobleman forming an army....
, equivalent to NATO Grade OR-2.






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Encyclopedia


In many armed forces
Armed forces

The armed forces of a country are its government-sponsored defense, fighting forces, and organizations. They exist to further the foreign and domestic policies of their governing body, and to defend that body and the nation it represents from external and internal aggressors....
 in the world, Private First Class is a rank held by junior enlisted persons.

United States


In the U.S. Army
United States Army

The United States Army is the branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for Army operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S....
, Private First Class is the third lowest enlisted rank, just above Private
Private (rank)

A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank . The term dates from the Middle Ages, where privates were known as "private soldiers" who were either hired, conscripted, or feudalism into service by a nobleman forming an army....
 and below Corporal
Corporal

Corporal is a Military rank in use in some form by most militaries and also by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to Ranks and insignia of NATO....
 or Specialist
Specialist (rank)

Specialist is one of the four junior enlisted ranks in the United States Army, just above Private First Class and equivalent in pay grade to Corporal....
 in the Army, and is equivalent to NATO Grade OR-3. In the U.S. Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps

The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing Military power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to rapidly deliver Marine Air-Ground Task Force....
 however it is the second lowest, just under Lance Corporal
Lance Corporal

Lance Corporal is a military rank, used by many armed forces worldwide, and also by some police forces and other uniformed organizations. It is below the rank of Corporal, and is typically the lowest Non-commissioned officer or enlisted rank, usually equivalent to the Ranks and insignia of NATO....
 and just above Private
Private (rank)

A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank . The term dates from the Middle Ages, where privates were known as "private soldiers" who were either hired, conscripted, or feudalism into service by a nobleman forming an army....
, equivalent to NATO Grade OR-2. Originally, in the Army, no insignia identified holders of this rank, but in 1920 one chevron was established for it; then a rocker was placed below the chevron in 1968 at the same time one chevron was authorized for the lower rank of private
Private (rank)

A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank . The term dates from the Middle Ages, where privates were known as "private soldiers" who were either hired, conscripted, or feudalism into service by a nobleman forming an army....
, in order to distinguish the latter from the still lower rank of recruit
Army recruit

Recruit or army recruit is a term often colloquially used to refer to the lowest military rank in various armed services. It usually implies that the soldier so labeled has not yet completed basic training....
.

Advancement to Private First Class is currently automatic after a minimum of 12 months time in service and 4 months as Private, but may be shortened to 6 months and 2 months, respectively, if given a waiver. Some new recruits may begin their military careers as a Private First Class if they meet certain criteria when they enlist. For example, a recruit may be promoted to this rank upon entering service, if they are able to assist their recruiters in enlisting others, can pass a knowledge test and a PT test prior to leaving for Recruit Training ('Boot Camp'), have earned 48 college credits, by serving three years in a JROTC
Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps

The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps is a Federal government of the United States program sponsored by the United States Armed Forces in high schools across the United States....
 program and are recommended by the senior instructor, or serving 1 year of Senior Reserve Officer Training Corps (College ROTC). Also, if a recruit has earned the rank of Sergeant or above in the Young Marines
Young Marines

The Young Marines is a youth program in the United States, open to children from the ages of 8 years old through 18 years old....
 the recruit will automatically rank up to a Private First Class. Lastly, attaining the Boy Scout
Boy Scout

A Boy Scout is a boy or a girl, usually 11 to 18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement. Because of the large age and Developmental psychology span, many Scouting associations have split this Age Groups in Scouting and Guiding in a junior and a senior section....
 rank of Eagle, or the Civil Air Patrol
Civil Air Patrol

The Civil Air Patrol is a United States Congress chartered, federally supported, Non-profit organization corporation that serves as the official Auxiliaries of the United States Air Force ....
 rank of cadet second lieutenant also helps with the automatic rank up.

Singapore

The rank of Private First Class (PFC) in the Singapore Armed Forces
Singapore Armed Forces

The Singapore Armed Forces comprises three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Navy ....
 lies between the ranks of Private (PTE) and Lance-Corporal (LCP). It is usually held by conscript soldiers midway through their national service term. Privates First Class wear a rank insignia consisting of a single chevron pointing down.

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See also

  • U.S. Army enlisted rank insignia
  • U.S. Marine Corps enlisted rank insignia
  • Comparative military ranks
    Comparative military ranks

    This article is a list of various states' armed forces military rank designations. Comparisons are made between the different systems used by nations to categorize the hierarchy of an armed force compared to another....