American Guardsman Reacts | British ranks
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ต.ค. 2024
- Today I'll be learning more about British Army ranking structure, along with the symbols of each rank!
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In the British Army we don't salute warrant officers, I got yelled at by an American warrant officer and I quote, soldier do you not salute warrant officers in your Army I yelled back, no , and walked on , he was not happy he wanted to jail people,
...and only the most senior rank in a group salutes or returns a salute.
Salute an SNCO what do you get back? DONT SALUTE ME, I WORK FOR A LIVING :)
Something about watching an American react to an Australian video about British military ranks.
The "stars" on the British epaulettes are commonly called "pips'. It was noticed that the narrator referred to one of the NCO's duties to help junior officers. If that's "official', it's a good thing. I was in the US Navy. When I was a "Butterbar", Ensign for the Navy, or 2nd Lt for the other services, I listened VERY carefully to the Chief Petty Officer (CPO) in my section. He was of immense help to me, and I would unofficially show him my appreciation when I could.
And when I was a Midshipman and Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Australian Navy I did precisely the same thing. Not only did the Senior NCO's DESERVE respect, they could help you learn and progress MUCH faster than "on your own".
The ranks of Colonel and above are General Staff ranks. They have their own cap badge and the notorious red tabs. They leave their regiment or Corps and are known as “late” (eg Col Smith, late Royal Engineers).
The stars are the badges of chivalric orders, eg the Order of the Bath, so Bath stars for most officers, but Garter, Thistle and Shamrock stars for the Guards regiments. The colours of the rank badges may also differ, unless subdued insignia is used (usually on camouflage uniforms). Most are cream or red, but black for Rifle regiments and blue for technical corps are also seen.
Uniform in the British Army does not mean the same - when I was serving, a German liaison officer remarked to me “only in a British mess can I meet six officers who are wearing seven different uniforms!”.
The rule in many officers' messes was that, if two officers appear wearing the same dress, the more junior has to go and change.
@@wessexdruid7598 certainly the case in the Essex Yeomanry! One of my school friends was the adjutant and confirmed this.
This is very informative. Thank you.
The stars used on epaulettes are the star of the Order of the Bath, except for Grenadier, Coldstream and Welsh Guards who have the star of the Order of the Garter, and the Scottish and Irish Guards who have the stars of the Order of the Thistle or St. Patrick.
And in military parlance, they are called ‘Pips’.
it’s a pip
There is an error in the video, I noted. A Lance Corporal commands a team of four men and this is called a Fire Team. Two Fire Teams make a Section and so a Section (the basic assault unit of the British army) consists of eight men under the command of a Corporal. Oh! The nicknames for these ranks? Lance Jack and Full Screw, respectively.
I respect your knowledge about this.
Partially true in an infantry section. Yes if the section commander (corporal) takes a fireteam with them on a section attack the 2IC (lance jack / lance corporal) will command the fireteam left behind but otherwise will be in charge of the admin / medical aspects of the section where as the section commander will be in charge of the tactics for both fireteams.
So a Corporal would be the nominal leader of a contubernium (8-10 personal depending on exact time) of the ancient roman legion
This is pretty similar to the US Marines, except that we have 3 fire teams to a squad and 3 squads to a platoon. Our fire teams are coimmandered by either a senior Lance Corporal or a Corporal, and our squads are commanded by (usually) a SGt.).
IC and 2IC
Sappers are Royal Engineers who leave training already schooled in my day 10 main, subjects from Demolition to Bridge building to water Supply.
REspect
You could argue that the chevrons pointing upwards is “inverted” 🤷🏻♂️
For our septic friends - Private=E1 to E3, Lance Corporal = E4/5, Corporal = E6, Sergeant= E7, Staff Sergeant= E8 (Master Sergeant not a first sergeant), E = 8 Warrant Office 2 class (CSM), (First Sergeant), and last of all, E=9 Warrant Officer 1 class (RSM). The British army also has SNCO pilots (E7 - E9). Please note that not all regiments have the same badge of rank for a particular rank. Now carry on chaps, what, what....
@@FFSgetRidofLabourScumbags yes I came across this at USAF Homestead my Gun detachment was flying to San Diego so they had to be sorted out for the US rank system so the appropriate form of travel accommodation and eating facilities could be allocated to them this turnd out to be very amusing to us one of my Gunners a privet in the Rank system in the UK he had been a Gunner Privet for four years but here's the difference he had traid skill he was an advantage Gunner this ment he could take charge of a gun as a gun comander and he did quite obtain because of the manpower a gun is normally maned by on paper eight men pluss two drivers the normal manning is five pluss the driver so in the field an advanced Gunner will find himself with the approval of the Gun Comander in charge of the gun and if the other four are on rest and the gun has a fire mission in general I as a Gun Comander did not take over but filled the position that the Advanced Gunner normally occupied this improved his confidence and also the troop comander who would be running safety would see him and how caberble he is and that would be points in his future promotion. I know long winded but here's the main point he also was an advanced driver signaler and basick demolition and exsplosive technician this placed him in the US Rank system as a specialist class four so he was in what we understood as an unofficial Sargent and was entitled to use NCOs facilities such as accommodation messes and bars and clubs because my Gun Detachment had been together for five years most of my men were at the same level of training as the one I highlighted some had different traids one was an advanced medic but signer surveyor and comand post operator he was the realy odd one out he could bring a gun into line and used g maps and gun sides work out mainly in his head and the use of pad and pencil direction elevation charge taking into account air density and wind direction and temperature to get rounds on the ground the knowledge he had he also taught others this came in handy on an Exercise where we were told by the Marshalls that both OPs had been liquidated what are we going to do well we simply took one man off each gun six in all because of there skills they made up the new OPs even without modern technology but using systems development during the second World War the guns were back in action
Totally agree Lance corporal is equal to us corporal he should go up one
@@garywheble4534 Whilst serving, did you do the ‘punctuation & paragraphs’ course?
CSM/BSM = Company Sergeant Major/Battery Sergeant Major (Artillery). RSM = Regimental Sergeant Major. CSMs/BSMs addressed as Sergeant Major. RSMs addressed as Sir. Sergeant Major is a title, and not a rank. Ranks actually are Warrant Officer class 2 or Warrant Officer class 1 in the British Commonwealth Armies.
@@heli-crewhgs5285 And spelling.
New Zealands army has the same insignia as the British army, our Field Marshall is King Charles III, he also holds the ranks of Marshall of the Air Force in the RNZAF and Admiral of the Fleet in the RNZN.
Only one 'L' in Marshal.
Same over in Oz...
Only 1 'l' in Marshal.
The rank of Kingsman is used in the Duke of Lancaster's regiment. It comes from one of the regiments that were amalgamated to form the Duke of Lancaster's. That was the King's Regiment, which traditionally recruited from my home city, Liverpool.
Really enjoy your videos, very informative. Nice to see a quick one on the navy and Air force comparison too.
The Star insignia,often known as a star or pip, was worn by British Army officers on the shoulder to denote their rank. This particular variety of star is called a Bath star, being a simplified version of the star of the Order of the Bath, one of the four British Orders of Chivalry. A version of the Bath Star is also a British Police rank insignia , that of inspector and chief inspector they being the rank following sergeant ,
Hello their matey. My name is Rhys, I have just recently Passed Out (Graduated) from my Basic Training and currently in my job training.
So I will share a few bits of information which might interest you about the ranks.
So for Warrant Officers in the British Army. They usually hold the appointments of the following:
• WO2: Squadron Sergeant Major (SSM), Company Sergeant Major (CSM), Battery Sergeant Major (BSM), Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant (RQMS), Corps Drum Major, Bandmaster
• WO1: Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM), Garrison Sergeant Major (GSM), Bandmaster, Corps Drum Major, Corps Bugle Major
As for the General Ranks, you may see some Generals have stars on their collars as well as the rank slides I believe it is usually when on deployment to overseas so other foreign forces can tell what rank they will be
The original title of Major General was "Sergeant Major General", as a sergeant major is junior to a lieutenant lieutenant general is more senior
British brigadier rank used to be brigadier general. But was changed to brigadier only . Great video.
This video brought back memories of when we had Americans attached to our unit for specialist training. They tried really hard, but never mastered who to salute. Our side was easier, as we only met, on a regular basis, an American captain. The other thing I noticed, whilst on operations, the Americans were more relaxed with their officers than we were with our own ruperts. Even so, they were very effective on the job, which is all that matters in the end. Overall I really enjoyed working with the Americans, which is a lot more than can be said about working with some Europeans.
One thing about saluting that really used to piss me off is that Septic Ruperts never quite got the hang of the notion that in the British Army you only salute if you're wearing headgear - and they also seemed to have a bit of trouble with our "open-handed" salute, as opposed to their own "slash-your-forehead" version.
MsG
i do think we're too uptight here in the indian army with how officers and ORs interact with each other. imo you brits strike the perfect balance between being too uptight and being too casual like the yanks
@@gionncaomhinmorpheagh4791 In the USMC we only salute with headgear on too. And as an elisted person, it's very easy to figure out who to salute, if they're wearing something shiny on their collars or, in the case of you Brits, on their shoulder, you salute.
@@Riceball01 not a bad way of looking at it.
Recognition of rank in other armies is always a tricky one. When I was part of a task force headquarters attached to a US division my colonel got a bit crinkley as to why I, a lowly 2nd Lt at the time was getting saluted more often than he was. Eventually he asked one of the perceived offenders and it seemed that as I was going prematurely grey and was wearing a single pip (star) I was being mistaken for a brig. general while the combination of star and crown on my bosses shoulders was just too confusing and best ignored.
No sargeants in the household cavalry , check out the history of why this so .
Also in the guards they have Lance Sergeants , eivalent to a crporal in other corps and regiments.
The term Warrant Officer means something entirely different to the US Army than to the UK Army. British Warrant Officers are "Sergeants Major". US Warrant officers are technical specialists with Officer status.
Notably Helo pilots...
And the only WO2 to wear just a crown is a Sergeant Major, almost all other WO2 appointments wear a crown within a laurel leaf.
The stars or pips on officers’ rank slides are the Order of the Bath Star, the Order of the Bath being an Order (honorary group) of people holding Honours from the Crown. Some of the Guards Regiments use different stars: Grenadier, Coldstream and Welsh Guards have the Garter Star, The Scots have the Thistle Star and the Irish have the Shamrock Star.
Lets make it super clear, the British do not "invert" the chevron, you Americans do
A Five Star Officer in the US Military, is called a General of the Army or Air Force, or a Fleet Admiral in the Navy. There are none presently who hold that rank, as it is usually a wartime rank. The last Army officer to be promoted to 5 star was Omar Bradley, who was awarded it in 1950. The last Navy was William Halsey who was awarded it in December 1945. It should be noted that the word "awarded" is accurate. The last rank that one can "earn" in the US Military is 2 stars. After that, it is awarded by Congress.
So a few things;
The lowest rank in the British Army is not Private, it's Recruit. Until you're completion of Phase 1 (Boot camp equivalent) you are "Recruit Atkins" then once you've graduated to your trade training you get your trade specific Private equivalent.
The rank comparisons are wrong between the British Army and the US Army:
A Lance Corporal is an NCO, not Junior Enlisted, the closest equivalent to them is a US Army Buck Sergeant. Basically where the US Army has different grades of Junior Enlisted, the British Army wraps E-1 through E-4 into a single rank: Private. In the British Infantry a Lance Corporal commands a fire-team, and acts as the Squad XO.
Equally a British Army Sergeant the lowest rank of Senior NCO, and is equivalent to a US Army Sergeant First Class (both serve as Platoon Sergeants in their respective Armies), not a Sergeant (which in the US Army is much closer to the responsibility, career progression, and pay of a Lance Corporal).
Our Warrant Officers don't function like US Army Warrant officers, instead they're more like US Army Sergeant Majors and Command Sergeant Majors, a lot of WO's in the British Army hold the appointment Sergeant Major (essentially once you hit the rank of WO2 there's a whole warren of semi-ranks that you progress through, including Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant, Company Sergeant Major, Radio and Signals Warrant Officer, Det Commander, MTWO, all of which come under the umbrella of "WO2"
FYI: Sapper is the lowest rank in the Royal Engineers. So any Engineer is by default a Sapper. The closest equivalent to the US Army Sappers in the British Army are the Assault Pioneers, who are infantry soldiers specializing in demolition and defensive fortifications, and have their own curious traditions. Much like US Sappers, British Assault Pioneers have to complete a few years as a normal infantry soldier, then be selected to go on their demanding training course at which point they'll graduate into their Battalions Pioneer platoon, where usually they'll spend the rest of their career. (Pioneer Sergeants are noticeable because they are allowed to grow beards).
IIRC Private counterparts:
Trooper: Cavalry, Special Forces
Air Trooper: Army Air Corps
Sapper: Royal Engineers
Guardsman: Footgaurds Regiments
Paratrooper: Parachute Regiment
Craftsman: Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Signaler: Royal Signal Corps
Kingsman: Duke of Lancashire Regiment
Fusilier: Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
Rifleman: Rifles and Gurkhas
Gunner: Royal Artillery and RHA
Ranger: Royal Irish Regiment and Ranger Regiment
I think that's all, off the top of my head, but I'm sure someone will point out something I've forgotten.
The British ranking has been copied or modified around the world, and in the Navy, even more. Comes as a result of being the largest Empire the world has ever seen. The best always gets copied.
The UK's Warrant Officers can also be called Sergeant Major (SM). This can be a Company SM, Battalion SM, Regimental SM or even more recently Army SM. The Army Sergeant Major is the most senior enlisted man in the British Army.
The symbols that the 2nd Lieutenant/ Lieutenant & Captain have are actually 'St Edwards Crowns' but are more usually just referred to as pips. As this particular crown only came into use after the coronation of the late queen, it is possible that a different crown will be used going forwards.
No the st edwards crown is what majors plus have, the pips are miniature stars of the order of the bath.
Also in the household cavalry you have Squadron Corporal Major and Regimental Corporal Major, and no sergeants its all named corporals.
@@hardalarboard8876 Okay, thanks, I misremembered.
@@hardalarboard8876 Yup, and there are lance sergeants in at least one regiment and in the Regiment of Rifles Sergeant is actually spelled Serjeant. :)
@@_starfiend the foot guards regiments use lance sergeants. Lance Corporals in the guards have two chevrons instead of one, and lance sergeant is the equivalent of corporal elsewhere in the army. After lance sergeant there’s full sergeant and you can tell the difference on their scarlet tunics. Lance sergeants have white chevrons and full sergeants have gold chevrons
Warrant Officer Class 1 = R.S.M ( Regimental Sergeant Major ) = GOD.
Walks on water, brings fear and terror to any who gets called by him.
Any that do get called start to think ( very rapidly ) what they had done in the last 24 hours.
The pip for officers means.....You are not allowed under any circumstances do give this man/woman a MAP. If they get one you are to check and double check ANY map coordinates they made mutter. By the time they reach Captains rank they starting to get the hand of map reading and you only have to check them once or it bruises their ego too much.
I call any man a down right dirty liar if they ever claimed that they didn’t get a shiver of fear and started sweating when called up in front of the RSM hell it puts the fear into me right now just think about even after 18 years of been out of the Army 😰😂
An exception to this would be the Regimental Colonel in Chief.
(Especially the original one, he was usually the man with more money than the King, who decided to create, staff & train the regiment.)
For example, in more recent times the Colonel in Chief of the Australian Armoured Division was HRH Prince Charles of Wales (I'm not sure how that's changed since QE2 has been promoted to glory). No WO1 in the AAD would even think of calling out the CiC (it could well be a career ending move.)
The stars on lieutenant roles etc are called Pips
If you've seen swords you've either been hobnobbing with generals or undergoing the pleasure of a British Army PT session.
In the British army a warrant officer is also a Sargent major and if they commission they go directly to the rank of full Captain
The various ranks, such as Sapper, Signaler and Gunner etc. are related to the trade/corps the soldier is in. Eg. The Gunner is in the Artillery, the Sapper in the Engineers, and so forth. Some of the ranks, such as Kingsman, are specific to a particular unit/Regiment.
Lance Corporal would be the second in charge of an infantry section/squad which a Corporal would command. This means that the British Lance Corporal is roughly equivalent to a US corporal (nota PFC) while the British Corporal is equivalent to a US (buck?) Sergeant.
Two ranks not mentioned are Bombardier and Lance Bombardier, which are the Artillery equivalents of Corporal and Lance Corporal respectively.
Here's some trivia, it's the Americans that have inverted chevrons not the Brits.
“Howcome a Lieutenant General is senior to a Major General but a Major is senior to a Lieutenant?” “To confuse the enemy”
Originally the word lieutenant meant someone who substituted or assisted the person senior to them. So a lieutenant assisted a major and a lieutenant general assisted the general.
@@ianrobertson2282 I know, and it’s only a joke mate, no need for that.
@@hardalarboard8876 Ok then. Just trying to be helpful.🙂
@@hardalarboard8876 mate lol
Originally it was sergeant major general. A sergeant major is an nco rank below lieutenant, hence a major general is lower than a lieutenant general
Lance Corporal would be the 2-IC (Second in Command) of an infantry section of soldiers. He (and now she) would lead a fire team of 4 within that section of 8. Therefore, a section is made up of two sections and commanded by a Corporal (two stripes.) Sergeants would be three stripes and would be a Platoon Sergeant, reporting to the Platoon Commander (a Lieutenant) a commissioned officer. From an infantry perspecive of course!
The rank of Brigadier General was removed and replaced by the staff officer rank of Brigadier in the British army in the 1920’s as a cost cutting measure, because the pension of a general officer on retirement was much higher than that of a staff officer rank.
Hmmm context is everything I guess. As a Canadian we think you guys use an inverted chevron!!! 😁
For historical context most Commonwealth countries use the same (or similar) ranks as the British. In Canada we deviated for about 4 decades but we have reverted to British style officer ranks. Most other NATO countries follow a similar pattern as well. When I was with ISAF in 2006 in Kabul the commander of ISAF was a British Lieutenant General who wore proper British rank but all the senior British officers also wore American ranks because the yanks couldn't figure out their rank!!!
Had the same problem in Somalia when working with different nationalities.
By the same token, the use of a gold bar for 2LT and silver bar for 1LT (as well as silver Eagle for LCol and gold Eagle for Col) is counterintuitive.
Not strictly true that Officer Cadets at Sandhurst have no rank distinguishing feature... there is nothing on the combat uniform but Number 1 and 2 uniforms have a white collar patch to denote the rank
Denote 'lack' of rank, you mean.
He missed out "Craftsman" which is the Private equivalent in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers which was my old Corps.
He missed a few others too;
Fusilier - Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
Airtrooper - Army Air Corps
Ranger - Royal Irish Regiment
Trumpeter, Piper, Musician, Bugler - various Regimental and Corps bands.
And the coolest one of all... Highlander - The Highlanders, 4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland
There's also Bombardier which is a Lance Corporal in the Royal Artillery.
Got the important one. Trooper.
Bombardier = Corporal, Lance Bombardier= Lance Corporal. Ex REME who served with RA
Lance Bombardier.
Me too. VMb (E)A1*
The title Sapper is only earned after finishing Combat Engineer training which comes after basic training.
We had Sappers in Basic Training back in Bassingbourne in the Mid 90s only places like Pirbright insisted on giving the Title of Recruit.
For a Private in the "Royal Guards" A private is call a Guardsman etc. But when being shouted at by the drill sergeant. He will just call you (shout at you) private anyway. Lance Corporal. Nick name for them is Lance Jack. Most of the time they are just called Corporal has it's shorter. WO1 (also known has Regimental Sergeant Major) and WO 2 ranks (these differ a little within the army) are worn on the wrist and not on the arm as other NCO's. We normal only see them on larger parades where they take command. Officer Cadet is a title I haven't heard before. We know their rack has Under Officers. They wear a small white band on their shoulders where officers ranks should go. Has they are in officer training. We do not salute them has they have not been commissioned yet. Their first officers rank is normally Second Lieutenant (unless they are a doctor or chaplain and I think those would go straight to Captain after training). But we do stand to attention and call them sir. Has for the `Star! on the officers uniform. We call them "Pips". Three pips a the max of pips. Then for Major's it's the Crown. Then the tree pips enter again under the Crown from LT. Colonel upwards. Has with Lance Corporal, Second LT. and LT. Colonel. They are just called Corporal. Lieutenant and Colonel for short. Nice video!
Be interesting to see a comparison of the ranks of the Royal Air Force to those of the United States Air Force.
In the RAN/RAAF and Australian Army the position of "Warrant Officer OF THE Army/Navy/Air Force was instituted many years ago now... A unique position presumably designed to provide the Chief of Staff/Chief of Air/Naval Staff with good info on what the troops were feeling and thinking. In the RAN at least the "WON" had an office NEXT DOOR to CNS. Brilliant idea... although the original imposition of "Warrant Officer" rank ON our Navy was somewhat problematic, that had never been a Naval rank at all. So I would imagine the "tougher" Chief Petty Officer postings were simply "upgraded" to WO.
You the person reviewing this should read the actual differences and what they mean.
The private, sapper, trooper gunner ranks are just a traditional means of denoting what corp a soldier is from.
The pips on an officers shoulders are actually stars.
Crowns have another very long tradition.
Corporal in the uk are equivalent to Sgt in the US
Brits get more responsibly earlier in their careers
You may know this already but the epaulette pips are designed based on UK honours badges. The ones you showed were for soldiers in English battalions the design is based on the badge of the Order of the Bath. If you look at pips in Irish Scottish or Welsh battalions they are based on Honours of each country
I think the correct name for your US five star general is "General of the Army" .
I read an account about why the American chevron insignia were turned to point up but I cannot testify for it's veracity. The story goes that in 1917 when America joined the allies in WWI and American forces began to arrive in France the French and Belgian populace (and military) frequently mistook them for British troops with whom they were familiar. Their uniforms were of a similar colour and cut, their weapons were often very similar (Enfield P14 and P17) as was their NCO rank insignia. General Pershing was not happy about this and so ordered the reversal of the chevrons as a way of easily distinguishing between troops from the two forces. This became standard for all American army and marine units and has remained so upto today.
The star on the officer ranks are supposed to be minatures of the star of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, a British order of chivalry. The name of the Order comes from the ceremony that knights underwent when tjey became knights, which was a vigil of fasting and prayer, followed by a bath.
I would consider the British system better in terms of recognition which can be critical for the military.. The ranks up to SSGT were all worn on the upper arm, WO's on the sleeve, and officers on shoulder tabs. The 1 2 or 3 stripes or pips making ID easy. NB all ranks are now worn on a centre tab on combat gear.
Traditionally officers wore rank of the cuff like warrant officers
It depends which uniform you are in.
@@alexrowson-brown6568 only during WW1, where Officers in the field/Trenches would wear a rain cape. The bottom of the sleeve being visible at the edge of the rain cape. So the Rank was visible
There are exceptions to the standard British Army ranks, these are the Household Cavalry and the Foot Guards. The Household Cavalry is made up of two regiments, The Life Guards and the Blues & Royals (RHG/1stD)
The Household Cavalry ranks when in khaki No2 dress...
Trooper; no insignia on the sleeve, one band of gold braid on rim of cap peak (bill).
Lance Corporal; two stripes and a brass crown, two bands of gold braid on cap peak.
Lance Corporal of Horse; three stripes and a cloth crown, two bands of gold braid on cap peak.
Corporal of Horse; three stripes and a brass crown, three bands of gold braid on cap peak.
Staff Corporal; four inverted chevrons with a brass crown on the cuff, four bands of gold braid on cap peak. Usually apponted as a Squadron Quartermaster Corporal / SQMC.
Squadron Corporal Major (WO2), crown on the cuff, five bands of gold braid on cap peak.
Regimental Corporal Major (WO1), royal crest on the cuff, wears an officers style uniform with the gold braid running up and down the peak.
In the British Army one only salutes when wearing headdress. The exception is the Blues & Royals whose regimental custom is to salute without headdress. It's an excellent way of winding up line regiment officers.
I spent a while in a military hospital and the chief clerk (a staff corporal) came to visit. I was there in 1973/4, the building was Victorian the wards were open with a couple of dozen beds. While taking to the chief clerk I became aware that those mobile patients were in a huddle at the end of the ward. After he'd left one of the other patients (a Scots Guards Lance Sergeant) came over and asked "What was he?". When I said "SQMC" he turned to everyone else and said, "See, I told you".🤣🤣
Officer Cadet is an appointment not a rank.
On the WO2 badge the crown on its own signifies a Company or Squadron Sergeant Major.
A crown in laurel leaves is worn by Quartermaster Sergeants who are in jobs that are not sergeant.
Officer Cadet may well be an appointment in the Army/Air Force. The Navy equivalent - "Midshipman" - is most definitely a rank... because Mids ARE liable for operational service. and thus MUST have a real place in the system.
Hi there, great presentation. A note on the officers pips. If my memory serves me correctly (from 40 years ago). Pips came in two colours silver gilt which is a gold colour or black. The first denotes an officer who has passed out of Sandhurst. The dark colour represents an officer who has come through the ranks. These colours tend to be the embroidered type on epaulets.
However, they can also denotes specific regiments such as the guards, light infantry etc.
It's quite a complex military topic because of historical regimental traditions.
Nonsense.. There is no significance in the colour of Bath Stars (Pips). It depends on the regiment and the specific order of dress. There is no way of telling if an Officer is Direct Entry or Late Entry from the ranks from looking at the uniform.
@@felixthecat265 I stand corrected, thanks for clearing that up lol
@@felixthecat265 Why don’t you consider diplomacy? Change the ‘nonsense’ part of your response, to ‘Not quite.’
@@heli-crewhgs5285 Ah another virtue seeker! Please go and polish your halo elsewhere if you don't mind and stop sticking you nose into other folk's business.
L/Cpl the hardest rank to get in the British army but the easiest to lose or it used to be....I know from experience.
Plus the Sergeant rank in the Light Division ie The Rifles is spelt Serjeant,old English spelling.
Whilst i`m happily open to being corrected, i do believe that "Field marshal" ( in the UK army) is a wartime only commission.
Interestingly following what you said about “Field Marshal Marshall”, the rank itself was named from a man called “Marshall”, a knife of the 11th Centurry.
* knight
I have encountered several Sgt Pepper's in my time (& least one of whom was also a Lancastrian, lol)
Excellent reaction and I really enjoyed your "trivia".
It's always boots on the ground that win conflicts, and we here are not to shabby in that respect
The Royal Artillery are: Lance Bombardier ( Lance Corporal). Bombardier (Corporal). Battery Sergeant Major or 'BSM' (Company Sergeant Major 'CSM)
I found it interesting that the flag of the General of the Armies of the United States is an eagle (no surprise there) holding a fasces (no get your mind out of the gutter) the Roman symbol of judicial authority and judgement.
Others have pointed out that the stars you asked about are referred to as pips. While pip is the common term for this normal British Army insignia in most regiments and corps, strictly they are indeed all stars. Whether the standard general use pip or otherwise, they are minature versions of stars of various British orders of chivalry. The general use 'pip' is the star of the Order of the Bath. Some regiments, particular guards regiments, use other orders such as the Order of the Thistle or the Order of the Garter. Heaven help you if you refer to a Guards officer's stars as anything as common as a pip! Not recommended. Also, some regiments use Ensign (Guards) or Cornet (Household Cavalry).
Warrant officers in the British Army (and Armies based on the British system) are basically senior enlisted ranks. They are considered above NCO and below Officer and are Sergeants Major. American equivalents would be somewhere from Master Sergeant to Command Sergeant Major. American Warrant officers are typically technical experts, and are considered as Officer equivalent, although in a different class. British NCO's generally rate at a higher NATO equivalent level than American enlisted ranks with a British Staff Sergeant being equivalent to a Sergeant 1st class etc.
Warrant Officer 1 and 2 are the only NCO ranks in the British Army. Staff Sergeant does not count as a NCO as we do not refer to them as Sir/Ma'am.
The "stars" are properly called Bathstars, but more commonly referred-to as "pips." A Captain wil have three pips, but as the rank level increses to Lt/Colonel there will a pip to note the Lieutenancy level, similarly with a Lt. General.
I don't know about mowadays, but a Lance Corporal in my days was not a rank, but an "appointment." Essentially he would be a private who was thought worthy enough of a promtion to corporal, but was either not old enough or had not served enough time to gain the promotion. As such, he was usually regarded with some distain by his comrades as he was not a proper NCO, and conversely regarded by NCO's as a non-NCO, and therefore not allowed into the NCO "club." - so the poor old Lance-jack got the worst from both sides! In that situation, it was up to him to show he could keep control of his squad and earn his place (respect) as an NCO from both sides. The measure of the man!
IMHO in the US a Warrent Officer leads a Band. In Germany since a few Years we have "Fachdienstoffiziere"
A private in the Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers ( REME) is called a Craftsman,
The first rank of a commissioned officer is Second Lieutenant and its insignia is a single Bath star (more commonly referred to as a “pip”). A Lieutenant has two pips and a Captain has three pips. (Searched this up for you).
The first three British and Commonwealth Officer rank badges are called Pip's, hope it helps.
And some Australian Police of Commissioned Officer rank. I have three 'pips', or Bath Stars.
The 'pips' on the officer rank slides are meant to resemble pips originally located on the shoulder boards of napoleonic British army officer uniforms
@Halestone the star thing on the lieutenant is called a pip
o0fficer cadets are identified by a single horizontal stripe on the lower part of the rank slide
Lance Corporal commands a fireteam of 4 soldiers, including himself. 2 fireteams make up a section, which is under the command of a Corporal, who the Lance Corporal assists and deputieses for.
Lance Corporal, therefore (depending on the specific unit structure) is equivalent to Corporal or Sergeant in the US Army, and Corporal is equivalent to Sergeant or Staff Sergeant.
The British Sergeant (in the meaning of Platoon Sergeant as it usually is) is equivalent to Sergeant First Class.
The British Staff/Colour Sergeant (name depending on whether their unit is an infantry regiment) is equivalent to Master Sergeant.
Warrant Officer 2 (as the appointment of Company Sergeant Major) is the assistant/advisor to the company commander. It is thus equivalent to Sergeant Major.
Warrant Officer 1, as Regimental Sergeant Major, despite it's name referring to a regiment, actually advises/assists the commander of a battalion (a Lieutenant Colonel, as opposed to a regimental Colonel). It is thus equivalent to Sergeant Major.
Note: "Lieutenant" is pronounced . It is said that this is because they are left (given) the tenancy (charge/command) of a platoon.
The rank Captain is historically the commander of a company (officer commanding), but normally nowadays they're the 2IC to the officer commanding (nowadays a Major); you do still find some companies commanded by a Captain today if it's smaller, for example. In practice, therefore, a Captain is merely a senior Lieutenant. The "stars" on these ranks are called pips: this is apparently because they used "pip" up when officer insignia were worn on the shoulder on all forms of dress, not just No.1 ceremonial dress and No.2 parade dress.
The video began by explaining that a "Private" may go by multiple other titles as that rank, ie. Sapper, Trooper, Guardsman, etc. What happens again is that the Colour and Staff Sergeant ranks are equal, Warrant Officers 1&2 are catch all ranks for the various Sergeant-Major or Quartermaster Sergeant ranks, and other esoteric titles.
Officers upto Colonel are Field officers and those above are Staff officers, identified by their gorgets.
As for direct comparison of British Warrant Officers 1&2, the equivelant is the WO2 is an E-8 Master Sergeant or First Sergeant, the WO1 is thus an E-9 Sergeant Major or Command Sergeant Major.... then there's a rare ranks of Specials or WOA .... in general a Sergeant Major is senior to a Quartermaster Sergeant.
Yeah, can be a bit confusing when the different groups are working together. So, the OR and OF NATO grades were introduced. OR for Other Ranks and OF for Officer Ranks. Complicated is it not!!!
The Canadian Army has gone back to the same ranks! Similar somewhat?
One thing to note is that we give greater responsibility and allow for Greater individual Initiative for our LCpls and Cpls. Especially in the Infantry. The Cpl is the back bone of the British Army. An Infantry Rifle Company (Minus specialist NCOs in Company HQ) will consist of the following NCOs, 9 Lance Corporals, 9 Corporals, 3 Sergeants, 1 Colour Sergeant, 1 Warrant Officer Class 2 (in the appointment of Company Sergeant Major)
A corporal in the Commonwealth forces is a significantly higher rank than a US Corporal... the best way to compare would be by PAY I suspect. It's their system and I'm sure it works for them but to an Aussie it seems that just about everyone in the US Army is some kind of "Sergeant" and everyone in the US Navy is some grade of "Petty officer". Whereas in OUR forces those are both quite senior ranks taking up to 12 years to achieve...
Let's be clear about this - the time between ranks mentioned in this movie bears little resemblance to reality. Depending on what branch of the Army you are in, you can be a L/Cpl on completing recruit training - the INT CORPS is particularly fast-track - I got to Sergeant in under five years, and WO2 in eleven.
British officer cadets usually have a white stripe on their tabs. And a Lt,s to Cpt's ware pips.
Others have answered better than I could about the "pips" and crowns... I'm surprised you didn't mention (in passing, at least) that despite the same spelling, lieutenant is pronounced in a completely different way in the US from how it's pronounced in the UK. I should have realised that Pershing would have a special top rank - though I'm a little surprised that Eisenhower didn't also receive that title. Good luck with your academy training!
Apparently 'lieutenant' is pronounced differently by the Royal Navy, similar to the US pronounciation ('lootenant'). 'Leftentant' is strictly a British Army and Royal Air Force thing.
@@Akm72 That's not true.
@@stevehartley621 I could be wrong, just repeating what I've been told elsewhere
@@Akm72 I think he means specifically your saying that the Royal Navy ALWAYS say "lootenant" instead of "lefftenant", this I suspect is a varying thing as I swear I've heard RN sailors say it both ways on various occasions; although I know historically it USED to always be pronounced "Lefftenant" the same as in the other branches I suspect this may be falling slowly out of use through American influence, but I also know the old guard will come down like a ton of bricks on those caught corrupting the rank like that haha, so it's probably still pretty rare
Officers in the US Army are often employed a level higher than their British equivalent. For example, a Brigade in the UK is commanded by a Brigadier (1 star General). In the US, a Brigade is usually commanded by a Colonel. A US Army Captain might command a Company. In the UK that would be a Major's command.
A corporal is more akin to a us sergeant - being in command of a section. A section has a lance corporal, commanding a half section fire team.
Just to clarify a couple of ranks that weren't mentioned in that video, and they are dealing with the Ranks of Lance Corporal and Corporal. In the Royal Artillery, Royal New Zealand Artillery, Royal Australian Artillery, and the (I think) the Royal Canadian Artillery, these ranks are Lance Bombardier and Bombardier. The rank "Gunner" is for those Privates in the Artillery.
Back in the day, 17th and 18th Century (and possibly the 19th Century) there use to a Rank of Peppardier. As to where that stood in the ranking order, I have no idea.
You also used an inverted chevron because Britain first began using them in the military, Americans used them as they were British and then made their own tradition with them. Granted chevrons were used as coat of arms before that but, that's not a military rank.
That star is called a pip
The other strange element is an Royal Marines officer going through commissioning course at RTMC is already an second lieutenant.
Royal Marines are not Army - they belong to the Royal Navy.
WO2 & WO1 in the British army are E8&9 respectively.
Warrant Officer ranks in the British Army and US Army do not equate. In the British Army a Company Sergeant Major has the rank of Warrant Officer Class 2 and a Regimental Sergeant Major has the rank of Warrant Officer Class 1. 'Sergeant Major is a position/role/job held by a Warrant Officer. In the US Army Sergeant Majors are E8/9's typically. The US Army's Warrant Officers are between high NCO grades and Officers, typically in technical roles. They absolutely have nothing in common with each other.
The rank star (pip) worn by Officers in the UK is the Star of "The Order Of The Bath" except for some Guards Regiments.
a sergeant will over rule a second lieutenant and lieutenant a captain he will support... this is just respect, you video you used in the back ground was me in combate in afgan at brigader lvl loool yoooooooo!!! yerrrrr boi lool we dont have a current field marshal would only be a time of war that we would use one if the UK appoints a FM then its ww3
The video isn't quite accurate in many places. There are better ones out there. For instance, a LCpl doesn't supervise a "section" of four soldiers, but a "fire team" (to take the infantry model as a reference point).
The way to think of the officer ranks is to consider that there are three "divisions" of officer ranks: "company" officers, "field" officers and "general" officers.
"Company" officers (2Lt - Capt") have pips; "Field" officers have crowns and pips; and "General" officers have the crossed sword and baton. From there, the number of pips indicate seniority within that division.
There are some differences that were not pointed out as a ex member of a multinational Corps there were many time that Amaricans saluted a warrant Officer class two this was mainly because the Insignia of the Rank is a Crown the warrant office userly in Barracks while not in combat uniform nower days wears the crown on a strap like a leather watch strap on the right wrist this can be made of leather strap with a brass or metal crown . The warrant officer class one wears the Royal coat of arms in the same place and made of metal and painted in the colours of the coat of arms both the WO 1 and WO 2 also have a cloth variation both the strap and badge of office are cloth normally a olive green wrist strap with a white and karki badge officers in Barracks wear the rank on there shoulders when in Barrack dress now today both WOs and Officers wear them while in combat uniform on chest side attached to basically an epolet original when these were first used on artic smocks they were placed there because the use of heavy Burgains would eventually ripped them off the shoulders so one was placed on the chest and one on the back the one on the back lasted about five minutes before out came the raizer blade and it was removed in the lat 90s when bargains were now a standed issue amongst the army and not just for special use the chest slide and placement of the epolet became standard on combat uniforms so here comes a problem a privet would now have a slide with a short hand Abbreviation of his her rank like a trooper would have TP a Gunner in the Artillery depending on which branch will have eather RA Royal Artillery or RHA for Royal Horse Artillery these units have slightly different forms of usage and types of equipment but are basicly Artilley now back to the mistakes a WO2 has on his side a crown so does a Major the difference is now the Warrent Officer will have the letters of WO 2 or WO 1 under the crown or coat of arms or crown so you don't need to salute them call them sir if you have to talke to them some mite tell you off with what thay think is humour Bay asking you do I look like an Officer well iam not I work for a living this is an old saying even Moses has hurd as its that old basicly in years gone by Officers could buy there ranks in a Regerment whereas NCOs had to work there way up the rank system
Footguards don't have corporals and Household cavalry don't have sergeants. You'll need to research those further.
In the artillery a Lance Corporal is called Lance Bombadier and Corporal is Bombadier.
In the footguards a Lance Corporal has 2 cheverons, a Lance Sergeant (corporal) has 3 cheverons, Sergeant has 3 gold cheverons.
The 2 regiments of Household Cavalry have a completly different ranking system, Lance Corporal, 2 cheverons with crown above, Lance Corporal of Horse, 3 cheverons with cloth crown above, Corporal of Horse, 3 cheverons with brass crown above, Staff Corporal, 4 inverted cheverons with crown above worn on lower sleeve ot wrist, Squadron Corporal Major, crown worn on lower sleeve or wrist, Regimental Corporal Major, coat of arms. In The Blues and Royals the 2nd Lieutenant is called Cornet.
All ranks of Household Cavalry call Lt. Colonel and above by their rank.
On their ceremonial uniform normal ranks symbols are not worn, rank is denoted by augiletts, officer's from the right shoulder and NCO'S from the left.
Thanks for that, it saved me the job. The Blues and Royals have an unusual tradition is that they are allowed to salute without headgear. An excellent way of winding up officers from other units. 🤣🤣
@@RogersRamblings also where other units have a corporals mess, a sergeant's mess, a senior Nco and warrant officer's mess, The Household Cavalry only have a NCO'S and warrant officer's mess and a officer's mess, a Lance Corporal will socialise with the RCM.
@@peterbrown1012 Unless the said Lance Jack has upset the RCM. 😂😂
8:02 A 'pip'
Bath Stars are also used in the rank insignia of the British police service, although the police service and its rank structure has absolutely nothing to do with the military.
The fire and ambulance services also use them in their rank structure..
The Royal Air Force has 2 Air Vice-Marshal Marshalls!
it isn't a crown, in the British Army its called a PIP, a crown defines the rank of Major as is in the explanation.
A Crown is a Crown, not a "Pip" a "Pip" is a Star of the order of the bath (or other Order depending on Regiment) so a Lt Col has a "Crown over one Pip"
Generally, 4 soldiers (under a Lance Corporal) would lead a 'fireteam', which is one half of a section (8 soldiers on average with a Corporal in command).
Sappers are combat engineers…. After they do the basic engineering course
The Lance Corporal is wrong to an extent, the group of 4 is a fire team not a section, section is lead by the corporal and is 8 people
warrent officers (Class 1 - 4) in the US are a completly different class of ranks between Ncos and officers. which dosnt exist in the UK forces. UK Warrent officers are the Senior NCOs so Master Sgt to Command Sgt Maj equiv