Second lieutenant (O-1)

How to read it

Second lieutenant is the lowest of the company grade officers, O-1 to O-3, and comes before first lieutenant (O-2). Marine officers hold a commission issued in the name of the president; the Department of Defense adds that commissioned officers are confirmed at their ranks by the Senate. Military.com gives the nickname butterbar, from the single gold bar.

Also searched as: 2ndLt, O-1 marines.

Gold bar or silver bar?

The gold bar is the lower rank. The first lieutenant’s bar is the same shape in silver. A gold bar with scarlet blocks across it is a warrant officer or chief warrant officer 2.

In the field

Marine uniform regulations allow subdued insignia on field uniforms, where the second lieutenant’s gold bar becomes drab brown and silver insignia become flat black.