2LT
Military abbreviation · US Army Rank
| Stands for | Second Lieutenant (US Army) |
|---|---|
| Categories | Military |
2LT stands for Second Lieutenant (US Army), a US Army rank abbreviation.
Entry-level Army commissioned officer rank, pay grade O-1, marked by a single gold bar. New 2LTs come mostly from ROTC, West Point and Officer Candidate School and, after the Basic Officer Leader Course, usually lead a platoon of roughly 16 to 40 soldiers.
Example: 2LT Morgan took over 3rd Platoon two weeks after finishing the Infantry Basic Officer Leader Course.
Usage notes
Soldiers nickname the gold bar the "butter bar." Army style writes 2LT; the Air Force writes 2d Lt, the Marine Corps 2ndLt, the British Army 2Lt and AP style 2nd Lt. Promotion to 1LT normally follows after 18 months. In speech both second and first lieutenants are addressed as "Lieutenant."
Related abbreviations
More US Army rank abbreviations
- 1LT – First Lieutenant (US Army)
- 1SG – First Sergeant (US Army)
- BG – Brigadier General (US Army)
- CDT – Cadet (US Army)
- COL – Colonel (US Army)
- Cpl – Corporal (US Marine Corps)
- CPT – Captain (US Army)
- CSM – Command Sergeant Major (US Army)
- CW2 – Chief Warrant Officer 2
- CW3 – Chief Warrant Officer 3
- CW4 – Chief Warrant Officer 4
- CW5 – Chief Warrant Officer 5