View source for Private first class

{{Short description|Military rank}}
{{for|the Commonwealth equivalent|Lance corporal}}
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{{military ranks}}
'''Private first class''' ({{langx|fr|Soldat de 1{{sup|re}} classe}}; {{langx|es|Soldado de primera}}) is a [[military rank]] held by junior [[Enlisted rank|enlisted personnel]] in many armed forces.

==French speaking countries==
In France and other French speaking countries, the rank '''{{lang|fr|Soldat de première classe}}''' ({{literally|soldier of the first class}}; {{translation|private first class}}) is used.

==Poland==
In Poland, the rank is called {{lang|pl|Starszy szeregowy}} ({{translation|Senior private}}).<ref name="Poland_Army&AirForce">{{cite web |title=Sposób noszenia odznak stopni wojskowych na umundurowaniu wojsk Lądowych i sił Powietrznych |url=https://www.wojsko-polskie.pl/iwsp/u/14/fc/14fc23f7-28a0-4a42-9ac0-287d512ffcb9/08b_oznaki_stopni_wojskowych_na_umundurowaniu_wl_i_sp_ok.pdf |website=wojsko-polskie.pl |publisher=Armed Forces Support Inspectorate |access-date=7 June 2021 |language=pl}}</ref>

== Singapore ==
{{see also|Singapore Armed Forces ranks}}

Introduced in 1983, the [[honorific]] rank is awarded to hardworking conscript citizen-soldiers who performed well in their National Service term. Private First Class (PFC) wear a rank insignia of a single chevron pointing down.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/portal/mindef/about-us/saf-rank-insignias|title = MINDEF Singapore}}</ref>
 
The Private First Class (PFC) rank is rarely awarded nowadays by the [[Singapore Armed Forces]]. All private enlistees can be promoted directly to [[Lance Corporal]] (LCP) should they meet the minimum qualifying requirements, conduct appraisal and work performance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/portal/mindef/about-us/saf-rank-insignias|title = MINDEF Singapore}}</ref>

==United States==

===United States Army===

In the [[United States Army]], recruits usually enter service as a [[Private (rank)#United States Army|private]] in pay grade E-1. Private (E-2), designated by a single chevron, is typically an automatic promotion after six months of service. Private first class (E-3), equivalent to [[NATO]] grade OR-3, is designated by a single chevron with one arc or "rocker," and is more common among soldiers who have served in the U.S. Army for one year or more. Soldiers who have achieved an [[associate degree]] or its equivalent are entitled to enter the Army at this pay grade.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r601_210.pdf|title=Site Moved}}</ref> Advancement from private first class is to [[Specialist (rank)#United States Army|specialist]] (E-4); advancement to [[Corporal#United States Army|corporal]] (also at the E-4 pay grade) requires that the soldier also complete the [[Basic Leader Course]] (BLC), the first course of study in a [[Noncommissioned officer#United States|US Army noncommissioned officer]]'s professional development course.<ref name= venhuizen >[https://www.armytimes.com/2021/06/07/all-soldiers-must-now-serve-as-corporals-before-promotion-to-sergeant/ Harm Venhuizen (7 Jun 2021) All soldiers must now serve as corporals before promotion to sergeant]</ref> Thus, in order to qualify for leadership posts such as team leader, the soldier must have first served as a corporal; a team leader is nominally a sergeant (E-5).

The rank of private first class has existed since 1846<ref>{{Cite web|title = A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774 - 1875|url = https://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsl&fileName=009/llsl009.db&recNum=39|website = memory.loc.gov|access-date = 2016-02-18}}</ref> and, prior to 1919, its insignia consisted of the branch of service insignia without any arcs or chevrons. The Secretary of War approved "an arc of one bar" (i.e., a "rocker") under the branch of service or trade insignia for privates first class on 22 July 1919. From August 5, 1920, to May 28, 1968, the rank insignia for private first class was a single chevron, per War Department Circular No. 303. On May 28, 1968, the insignia was changed to its current form, consisting of a single chevron with one arc.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Rank_page/History_of_Enlisted_Ranks.htm |title=History of Enlisted Ranks |author=United States Army Institute of Heraldry |year=2006 |publisher=United States Army |access-date=December 31, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061231145748/http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Rank_page/History_of_Enlisted_Ranks.htm |archive-date=December 31, 2006 }}</ref>

===United States Marine Corps===

In the [[United States Marine Corps]], the rank of private first class is the second lowest, just under [[Lance corporal#Marine Corps|lance corporal]] and just above [[Private (rank)|private]], equivalent to [[ranks and insignia of NATO armies enlisted|NATO grade]] OR-2, being pay grade E-2. It was established on July 1, 1918,<ref>40stat714</ref> to match the already existing Army rank, primarily because US Marine units were "often called upon to serve" with US Army organizations, such as in the [[American Expeditionary Force]] that served in Europe during [[World War I]] (e.g. 4th Marine Brigade of the U.S. Army's 2nd Infantry Division). At the time the two ranks were directly equivalent. However, the USMC rank of PFC is one grade lower (E-2) than the similarly titled US Army rank.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/estimatessubmit00affagoog|page=[https://archive.org/details/estimatessubmit00affagoog/page/n266 240]|quote=secretary of the navy private first class 1918.|title=Hearings Before Committee on Naval Affairs of the House of Representatives, on Estimates Submitted by the Secretary of the Navy, 1918|first1=United States Congress House Committee on Naval|last1=Affairs|first2=Lemuel Phillips|last2=Padgett|date=1 January 1918|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|via=Internet Archive}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery class="center">
File:Benin Army OR-2.svg|{{lang|fr|Soldat de 1<sup>re</sup> classe}}<br />([[Benin Armed Forces|Benin Army]])<ref name="Benin">{{cite web |title=LOI N° 2005-43 DU 26 JUIN 2006 |url=https://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/ELECTRONIC/94851/111467/F-404511779/BEN-94851.pdf |website=ilo.org |publisher=National Assembly (Benin) |access-date=13 June 2021 |pages=19-20, 35-36 |language=fr |date=26 June 2006}}</ref>
File:01. Burkina Faso Army - PFC.svg|{{lang|fr|Soldat de 1<sup>re</sup> classe}}<br />([[Burkina Faso Armed Forces|Burkina Faso Ground Forces]])<ref name="BurkinaFaso1">{{cite web |title=LOI N° 037-2016/AN PORTANT CONDITIONS D'AVANCEMENT DES PERSONNELS D'ACTIVE DES FORCES ARMEES NATIONALES |url=https://lavoixdujuristebf.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/loi_037_avancement_personnel_fan.pdf |date=2015 |access-date=3 June 2021 |pages=17–21 |language=fr}}</ref><ref name="BurkinaFaso2">{{cite web |title=LOI N° 019-2015/CNT PORTANT STATUT GENERAL DES PERSONNELS DES FORCES ARMEES NATIONALES |url=https://archives.assembleenationale.bf/IMG/pdf/loi_019_portant_statut_militaire_fan-2.pdf |date=2014 |access-date=3 June 2021 |language=fr}}</ref>
File:blank.svg|{{lang|fr|Soldat de 1{{sup|re}} classe}}<br />{{small|({{langx|rn|Umusoda wo mu murwi wa mbere}})}}<br />([[Burundi Army]])<ref name="Burundi">{{cite web |title=Loi organique N°1/ 04 du 20 février 2017 portant Missions, Organisation, Composition, Instruction, Conditions de service et Fonctionnement de la Force de Défense Nationale du Burundi |url=http://fdnb.bi/sites/default/files/loi-04-2017.pdf |website=fdnb.bi/ |publisher=Government of Burundi |access-date=27 June 2021 |page=45 |language=fr}}</ref>
File:Cameroon-Army-OR-2.svg|{{lang|fr|Soldat première}}<br />([[Cameroon Armed Forces|Cameroon Ground Forces]])
File:01.CAGF-PFC.svg|{{lang|fr|Soldat première}}<br />([[Central African Armed Forces|Central African Ground Forces]])
File:Chad-Army-OR-2.svg|{{lang|fr|Soldat première}}<br />([[Chadian Ground Forces]])
File:Comoros-Army-OR-2.svg|{{lang|fr|Soldat de 1{{sup|re}} classe}}<br />([[Comorian Armed Forces|Comorian Army]])
File:01.DRC-PFC.svg|{{lang|fr|Soldat de 1{{sup|re}} classe}}<br />([[Land Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo|Land Forces of the DR Congo]])
File:01-ROCongo Army-PFC.svg|{{lang|fr|Soldat de 1{{sup|re}} classe}}<br />([[Armed Forces of the Republic of the Congo|Congolese Ground Forces]])<ref name="RepublicoftheCongo">{{cite web |title=Grades appellations distinctions |url=https://defense.gouv.cg/gradesappellationsdistinctions/ |website=defense.gouv.cg |publisher=Ministry of National Defense (Republic of the Congo) |access-date=7 June 2021 |language=fr}}</ref>
File:Djibouti-Army-OR-2.svg|{{lang|fr|Soldat première}}<br />([[Djiboutian Army]])
File:01.GLF-PFC.svg|{{lang|fr|Soldat première}}<br />([[Gabonese Army]])
File:Haiti-Army-OR-2.svg|{{lang|es|Soldado de primera}}<br />([[Guatemalan Army]])<ref name="Guatemala">{{cite web |title=Grados Militares |url=https://www.mindef.mil.gt/grados_militares/grados_militares.html |website=mindef.mil.gt |publisher=Ministry of Defence (Guatemala) |access-date=29 May 2021 |language=es}}</ref>
File:blank.svg|{{lang|fr|Soldat de 1{{sup|re}} classe}}<br />([[Republic of Guinea Armed Forces|Guinea Ground Forces]])
File:Guinea-Bissau-Army-OR-2.svg|{{lang|pt|Primeiro-soldado}}<br />([[Military of Guinea-Bissau|Army of Guinea-Bissau]])
File:Ivory_Coast-Army-OR-2.svg|{{lang|fr|Soldat de 1{{sup|re}} classe}}<br />([[Armed Forces of the Republic of Ivory Coast|Ivory Coast Ground Forces]])<ref name="IvoryCoast">{{cite web |title=GRADES / APPELLATIONS / DISTINCTIONS |url=http://www.defense.gouv.ci/culture/grades |website=defense.gouv.ci |publisher=Ministère de la Défense |access-date=23 September 2020 |language=fr}}</ref>
File:Army-USA-OR-03.svg|Private first class<br />([[Armed Forces of Liberia|Liberian Ground Forces]])<ref name="Liberia">{{cite web |url=http://www.vertic.org/media/National%20Legislation/Liberia/LR_Defense%20Act%20of%202008.pdf |title=Defense Act of 2008 |date=3 September 2008 |page=8 |access-date=20 November 2017}}</ref>
File:01.Mali Army-PFC.svg|{{lang|fr|Soldat de 1{{sup|re}} classe}}<br />([[Malian Army]])<ref name="Mali">{{cite web|title=2011 - Plaquette sur les insignes et blasons des Forces Armées du Mali|url=http://www.memoriamali.com/webdossier/2011-parcours-historique-de-la-region-de-segou/|language=fr|date=23 April 2011 |access-date=17 October 2020 }}</ref>
File:blank.svg|{{lang|es|Soldado de primera}}<br />([[Mexican Army]])<ref name="Mexico_Army&AirForce">{{cite web |author1=Secretary of National Defense  |author1-link=Secretariat of National Defense (Mexico) |title=Manual gráfico para el uso de Uniformes, Divisas y Equipo del Ejército y F.A.M. |trans-title=Graphic manual for the use of Uniforms, Badges and Equipment of the Army and Air Force |url=http://www.sedena.gob.mx/pdf/MGUDEFAM_2019.pdf |access-date=22 May 2021 |language=es |date=27 June 2019}}</ref>
File:02-Moroccan Army-PFC.svg|{{lang|fr|Soldat de 1{{sup|re}} classe}}<br />([[Royal Moroccan Army]])<ref name="Morocco">{{cite book |last1=Ehrenreich |first1=Frederich |editor1-last= Nelson |editor1-first=Harold D. |title=Morocco: a country study |series=Area Handbook |date=1985 |location=Washington, D.C. |lccn=85600265 |pages=350–351 |edition=5th |chapter=National Security}}</ref>
File:Mozambique-Army-OR-2.svg|{{lang|pt|Primeiro soldado}}<br />([[Mozambique Defence Armed Forces|Mozambican Army]])
File:01-Nicaragua Army-PVT.svg|{{lang|es|Soldado de primera}}<br />([[Nicaraguan Army]])<ref name="Nicaragua">{{cite web |title=Insignias de Grados Militares |url=https://www.ejercito.mil.ni/contenido/ejercito/grados/grados.html |website=ejercito.mil.ni |publisher=Nicaraguan Armed Forces |access-date=29 May 2021 |language=es}}</ref>
File:blank.svg|{{lang|fr|Soldat de 1{{sup|re}} classe}}<br />([[Niger Army]])<ref name="Niger">{{cite web |author1=Bureau international des droits des enfants |title=État des Lieux: Formation des forces de défense et de sécurité sur les droit de l'enfant au Niger |url=http://www.ibcr.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/%C3%89tat-des-lieux-Niger.pdf |access-date=28 September 2020 |page=34 |language=fr |date=December 2012}}</ref>
File:PHIL ARMY PFC WOODLAND.svg|Private first class<br />([[Philippine Army]])<ref name="Philippines_Army">{{cite web |title=Ranks and insignia |url=http://www.army.mil.ph/About_the_army/army/history/Ranks_and_Insignias.html |website=army.mil.ph |publisher=Philippine Army |access-date=20 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100428163644/http://www.army.mil.ph/About_the_army/army/history/Ranks_and_Insignias.html |archive-date=28 April 2010}}</ref>
File:Senegal-Army-OR-2.svg|{{lang|fr|Soldat de 1{{sup|ère}} classe}}<br />([[Armed Forces of Senegal|Senegalese Army]])
File:Army-SGP-OR-2.svg|Private first class<br />([[Singapore Army]])<ref name="Singapore">{{cite web |title=SAF Rank Insignias |url=https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/portal/mindef/about-us/saf-rank-insignias |website=mindef.gov.sg |publisher=Ministry of Defence (Singapore) |access-date=7 June 2021}}</ref>
File:Nl-landmacht-soldaat der 2e klasse.svg|{{lang|nl|Soldaat der 1e klasse}}<br />([[Suriname National Army|Suriname Army]])
File:blank.svg|{{lang|fr|Soldat de 1{{sup|re}} classe}}<br />([[Togolese Armed Forces|Togolese Army]])<ref name="Togo">{{cite web |title=Journal officiel de la république togolaise |date=12 February 2008 |volume=5 |url=http://jo.gouv.tg/sites/default/files/annee/2008/jo%202008-5.pdf |access-date=16 June 2021 |language=fr}}</ref>
File:Grade Marine tunisienne E1.png|{{lang|fr|Soldat de 1{{sup|re}} classe}}<br />{{small|({{langx|ar|جندي أول|Jundiun awwal}})}}<br />([[Tunisian Army]])<ref name="Tunisia">{{cite web |title=Décret n° 72-380 du 6 décembre 1972, portant Statut particulier des militaires |url=https://legislation-securite.tn/law/40982 |website=legislation-securite.tn |publisher=Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance |access-date=22 December 2021 |language=fr |date=6 December 1972}}</ref>
File:Army-USA-OR-03 (Army greens).svg|Private first class<br />([[United States Army]])<ref name="US_Army">{{cite web |title=U.S. Army Ranks |url=https://www.army.mil/ranks/ |website=army.mil |publisher=United States Army |access-date=27 May 2021}}</ref>
</gallery>

==See also==

* [[Comparative military ranks]]
* [[Gefreiter]]
* [[U.S. Army enlisted rank insignia]]
* [[U.S. Marine Corps enlisted rank insignia]]
* [[U.S. uniformed services pay grades]]
* [[United States military pay]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{US enlisted ranks}}

[[Category:Military ranks of Singapore]]
[[Category:Military ranks of the United States Army]]
[[Category:Military ranks of the United States Marine Corps]]
[[Category:United States military enlisted ranks]]