Ensign (rank)
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| Naval forces | Land / Air forces | Commonwealth air forces |
|---|---|---|
| This table shows the hierarchy of widely recognized military rank titles. Not all variants ranks in between are included. If "broadly" equivalent ranks do not appear alongside each other, they are indicated by matching numerical notation. | ||
Ensign is a junior rank of commissioned officer in the militaries of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name. When navies began, the junior naval officer took the same name.
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[edit] Argentina
In Argentina, the rank of ensign is used by both the air force and the gendarmerie. It is, however, used differently in the two services. The air force uses the rank to designate officer cadets, while the gendarmerie uses "ensign" ranks as an equivalent for the army's "lieutenant" ranks. The other armed forces of Argentina do not use the rank of ensign.
| Argentine Air Force Rank | Argentine Gendarmerie Rank | Equivalent Commonwealth Ranks for comparison |
|---|---|---|
| ------------- | ------------- | ------------- |
| Ensign | Sub-Ensign | Officer Cadet |
| Lieutenant | Ensign | Pilot Officer / 2nd Lieutenant |
| First Lieutenant | First Ensign | Flying Officer / Lieutenant |
[edit] France
In France, like in other countries, the ensign (enseigne) was the banner of a regiment, particularly of the infantry regiments of the ancien regime. Also like in other countries, the name began to be used for the officers who carried the ensign.
The term is no longer used in the army, being replaced entirely by the rank of sub-lieutenant (sous-lieutenant). However, the rank is used in the navy: Enseigne de vaisseau (literally "ensign of ship-of-the-line") is the name of the two lowest officer ranks (which are distinguished as from one another as "first class", equal to an army lieutenant, and "second class", equal to an army sub-lieutenant.) The term enseigne de marine ("naval ensign") is also sometimes used, but is not the official title.
| French Ship-of-the-line Ensigns | ||||
| Image:Grade-enseigne-1classe.jpg | Image:Grade-enseigne-2classe.jpg | |||
| Ship-of-the-line Ensign, First Class | Ship-of the-line Ensign, Second Class | |||
| Enseigne de vaisseau de première classe | Enseigne de vaisseau de deuxième classe | |||
[edit] New Zealand
The Royal New Zealand Navy, unlike the Royal Navy—whose uniforms, insignia, and traditions it copies—created the Ensign grade to equal the lowest commissioned RNZAF grade of Pilot Officer and the New Zealand Army grade of Second Lieutenant. It ranks above the grade of Midshipman. Like the grade of Pilot Officer, it uses a single thin strip of braid. The fact that the Royal Navy has no real equivalent to the lowest commissioned Royal Air Force and British Army grades was the driving factor behind the RNZN's decision to create the Ensign grade, as well as the fact that at the time New Zealand was actively involved with the United States Armed Forces, it also made sense to balance the rank system out with that used by the United States Navy.
[edit] United Kingdom
Until 1871, when it was replaced by Second Lieutenant, Ensign was the lowest rank of commissioned officer in infantry regiments of the British Army (except fusilier regiments, which always used Second Lieutenant). It was the duty of officers of this rank to carry the colours of the regiment. In the 16th century "ensign" was corrupted into "ancient," and was used in the two senses of a banner and the bearer of the banner. Today, the term "Ensign" is still used by the Foot Guards regiments, for instance during the ceremony of Trooping the Colour. The equivalent cavalry rank was Cornet, also being derived from the name of a banner.
[edit] United States
In the United States Navy, the rank of "Ensign" superseded in 1862 that of "Passed Midshipman". It designates an officer in the United States Navy or the United States Coast Guard ranking with a Second Lieutenant in the army. A typical Ensign is at specialty training for up to two years after receipt of the commission, depending on specialty, and after that is a division officer, leading a group of petty officers and enlisted personnel in a division. Even this billet, however, is for training purposes, as the division officer's duties and responsibilities are specifically designed to familiarize the "Div-O" with the appropriate naval systems, programs, and polices, under the guidance of their divisions' Chief Petty Officers. U.S. Navy and Coast Guard Ensigns wear a collar insignia of a single gold bar, hence their nickname of "butterbars" (shared with Army, Air Force and Marine 2nd Lieutenants).
Until achieving the rank of Commander, it is customary to address junior naval officers as "Mister." For example, Ensign Rogers might also be addressed as "Mister Rogers."
The most senior U.S. Navy ensign on board ship or in a naval aviation squadron, receives an enlarged collar insignia, often engraved with the word "BULL", and is known as the "Bull Ensign". By tradition, this officer is responsible for guiding and mentoring the other ensigns of a ship or squadron's wardroom. The Bull Ensign is also the direct social superior to the J.O.R.G. Ensign, or "George" (Junior Officer Requiring Guidance) who is the most junior officer in a naval command. The "George" normally serves as the Vice-President of the mess at formal military dinners, or "mess nights", and has key responsiblities for the success of this important military social event.
While officer rank is determined based on date of rank and line number precedence, not all ensigns typically receive the same prejudice as demonstrated by the JORG and Bull traditions. Limited Duty Officer or other prior enlisted, are often viewed as being a bit more knowledgeable and experienced as freshly commissioned officers. As such these members often referred to as "Mustangs," who are typically given tougher assignments commensurate with those appropriate for an Ensign. They are also designated as an O1E versus an O-1 in regard to pay and benefits.
[edit] See also
es:alférez fr:Aspirant it:Guardiamarina nl:Vaandrig ru:Прапорщик sv:Fänrik
