View source for Ensign (rank)

{{short description|Lowest-ranking commissioned officer, etymologically the carrier of the ensign flag}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2008}}
{{Military ranks}}
{{Navalranks}}
'''Ensign''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɛ|n|s|ən}};<ref>{{cite Merriam-Webster|ensign|access-date=4 April 2019}}</ref> [[Middle English#Late Middle English|Late Middle English]], from [[Old French]] {{lang|fr|enseigne}} ["mark", "symbol", "signal"; "flag", "standard", "pennant"], from [[Latin]] {{lang|la|insignia}} [plural]) is a junior rank of a [[Officer (armed forces)#Commissioned officers|commissioned officer]] in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the [[infantry]] or [[navy]]. 

As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the [[Military colours, standards and guidons|regimental colors]], the rank acquired the name "ensign". This rank has generally been replaced in army ranks by [[second lieutenant]].<ref name=rnza>{{cite web|title=Subaltern|url=http://rnza.co.nz/artillery_heritage/military_rank/subaltern.htm|work=Ranks|publisher=Southern Gunners|access-date=31 January 2013|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030349/http://rnza.co.nz/artillery_heritage/military_rank/subaltern.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> An ensign was generally the lowest-ranking commissioned officer, except where the rank of [[Subaltern (military)|subaltern]] existed.<ref name=ae>{{cite web|last=Troy|first=Michael|title=Rank of Ensign in Revolutionary Army|url=http://en.allexperts.com/q/U-S-History-672/2011/10/rank-ensign-revolutionary-army.htm |work=All Experts: U.S. History |publisher=About.com |access-date=31 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629023405/http://en.allexperts.com/q/U-S-History-672/2011/10/rank-ensign-revolutionary-army.htm |archive-date=29 June 2013}}</ref> 

In contrast, the Arab rank of ensign, لواء, ''[[liwa (Arabic)|liwa']]'', derives from the command of a unit with an ensign, not from the carrier of the unit's ensign, and is today the equivalent of [[major general]].

According to Thomas Venn's 1672 ''Military and Maritime Discipline in Three Books'', an ensign's duties included not only carrying the colors but assisting the captain and lieutenant of a company and, in their absence, exercising their authority.<ref>Venn, Thomas; Tacquet, Andrew & (tr) Lacey, John (translator) ''Military and Maritime Discipline in Three Books'' R. Pawlet, 1672.</ref>

"Ensign" is ''enseigne'' in French, and ''[[chorąży]]'' in Polish, each of which derives from a term for a [[flag]]. The Spanish ''[[Alférez (rank)|alférez]]'' and Portuguese ''[[Alférez (rank)|alferes]]'' is a junior-officer rank below lieutenant associated with carrying the flag, and so is often translated as "ensign". Unlike the rank in other languages, its etymology has nothing to do with flags, but instead comes from the [[Arabic]] for "cavalier" or "knight". 

''[[Fähnrich]]'', in German, comes from an older German military title, ''Fahnenträger'' (flag-bearer); however, it is an officer-cadet rank, not a junior officer. The same applies to the Dutch ''[[vaandrig]]'', which has a parallel [[etymology]]. 

The Finnish ''[[vänrikki]]'' derives from the same Germanic [[root word]] through the Swedish ''[[fänrik]]'', but denotes the lowest rank of reserve officer in the Finnish ground forces, and is distinct from cadet ranks. 

In the Swedish armed forces, ''fänrik'' is the lowest commissioned rank. 

In the German ''[[Landsknecht]]'' armies (ca. 1480), there existed the equivalent rank of [[Cornet (military rank)|cornet]], for men who carried the troop standard (known as a "cornet"). The [[cognate]] Dutch term ''kornet'' is still used in the [[Netherlands]]' artillery and cavalry units.

== Canada ==
In the [[Royal Canadian Navy]], as explained below, the ranks ''Enseigne de vaisseau de 1re classe'' and ''Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe'' are the French equivalents for Sub-Lieutenant and Acting Sub-Lieutenant, respectively.

In the [[Canadian Army]], Ensign ''(Enseigne)'' is the distinctive rank for Second-Lieutenant in the Guards Regiments.

== Estonia ==
In [[Estonian Defence Forces]] the equivalent of “ensign” is ''lipnik''. It is used mainly as a rank for reserve officers.

==French speaking countries <span class="anchor" id="France and Canada"></span>==
{{see also|Comparative navy officer ranks of Francophone countries}}
During the ''[[Ancien Régime]]'' in France, as in other countries, the ensign (''enseigne'') was the banner of an infantry regiment.<ref>The cavalry regiments used the term ''cornette'' ([[cornet (military rank)|cornet]]) and the dragoon regiments used ''guidon''.</ref> As in other countries, the name began to be used for the officers who carried the ensign. It was renamed [[sub-lieutenant]] (''sous-lieutenant'') at the end of the 18th century.
The Navy used a rank of ship-of-the-line ensign (''enseigne de vaisseau''), which was the first officer rank. It was briefly renamed ship-of-the-line sub-lieutenant (''sous-lieutenant de vaisseau'') in the end of the 18th century, but its original name was soon restored.

Within many French speaking countries, the rank is still used in the naval forces. The ranks are usually split into a first and second class ({{lang|fr|Enseigne de vaisseau de 1{{sup|re}} classe}} and {{lang|fr|Enseigne de vaisseau de 2{{sup|e}} classe}} respectively).

==New Zealand==
The [[Royal New Zealand Navy]], unlike the [[Royal Navy]] – whose uniforms, insignia, and traditions it inherited – created the ensign grade to equal the lowest commissioned [[Royal New Zealand Air Force|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 one of the driving factors behind the RNZN's decision to create the ensign grade. Another was that, at the time, New Zealand was actively involved with the United States Armed Forces, so it made sense to balance the rank system out with that used by the [[United States Navy]].{{Clear}}

==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]] and rifle regiments, and the Marines, which always used [[second lieutenant]]). It was the duty of officers of this rank to carry the [[regimental colours|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 (military rank)|cornet]], also being derived from the name of a banner.

<gallery>
File:British-Army-Ensign&SLt(1856-1880)-Collar Insignia.svg|1856 to 1871 British Ensign's collar rank insignia
</gallery>

==United States==
{{Infobox military rank
| name           = Ensign
| native_name    = 
| image          = {{nobreak| [[File:US Navy O1 insignia.svg|100px]] [[File:USCG O-1 insignia.svg|100px]]}}
| image_size     = 
| alt            =
| caption        = Navy and Coast Guard insignia 
| image2         = {{nobreak| [[File:US PHS O1 insignia.svg|100px]] [[File:US NOAA O1 insignia.svg|100px]]}}
| image_size2    = 
| alt2           =
| caption2       = PHS and NOAA insignia 
| image3         = 
| image_size3    = 
| alt3           =
| caption3       = 
| country        = {{flag|United States}}
| service branch = {{unbulleted list|[[United States Navy]]|[[United States Coast Guard]]|[[United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps]]|[[NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps]]}}
| abbreviation   = ENS
| rank group     = [[Junior officer]]
| rank           = 
| NATO rank      = OF-1
| Non-NATO rank  = 
| pay grade      = O-1
| formation      = 1789 {{small|(Army)}}<br />1862 {{small|(Navy)}}
| abolished      = 1815 {{small|(Army)}}
| higher rank    = [[Lieutenant (junior grade)]]
| lower rank     = [[Master chief petty officer]]
| equivalents    = [[Second lieutenant#United States|Second lieutenant]]
| history        = 
}}
===Army===
The rank of ensign was established in the U.S. Army by the act of September 29, 1789 (the first act of legislation after the adoption of the [[United States Constitution|U.S. Constitution]]); each of the eight companies in the [[First American Regiment|Regiment of Infantry]] was authorized one captain, one lieutenant and one ensign.<ref name="Heitman">{{cite book|last1=Heitman|first1=Francis B.|title=Historical register and dictionary of the United States Army : from its organization, September 29, 1789, to March 2, 1903|date=1903|page=1|edition=1|volume= 2|url=https://archive.org/stream/historicalregist02heitrich#page/n3/mode/2up|accessdate=9 October 2021|quote=This is the unofficial work of a private compiler, purchased and published by direction of Congress}}</ref>{{rp|560}} With the passage of the act of April 30, 1790, the number of companies in the regiment of infantry was increased to 12 and each of the companies was authorized the same number of officers.<ref name="Heitman"/>{{rp|560}} The act of March 3, 1791 added a [[1st Infantry Regiment (United States)|second regiment]] to the Army strength, doubling the total number of ensigns.<ref name="Heitman"/>{{rp|561}}

With the organization of the [[Legion of the United States]] authorized by the act of March 5, 1792, ensigns were retained in the companies of infantry and were included in the authorized strength of companies of rifles; in addition, [[Cornet (rank)|cornet]]s were added to the companies of dragoons.<ref name="Heitman"/>{{rp|562}}

The ranks of ensign and [[cornet (military rank)|cornet]] were abolished in the [[United States Army]] in the Army Organization Act of 1815.<ref>p. 970 Tucker, Spencer C.'' The Encyclopedia Of the War Of 1812'' ABC-CLIO, 25/04/2012</ref>

===Navy===
In the [[United States Navy]], the rank of ensign superseded [[passed midshipman]] in 1862. Ensign is the junior commissioned officer rank in the [[United States Navy]], the [[United States Coast Guard]], the [[United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps]], and the [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps]]. This rank is also used in the [[U.S. Maritime Service]] and the [[U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps]]. Ensign ranks below [[lieutenant junior grade]], and it is equivalent to a [[second lieutenant]] in the [[U.S. Army]], the [[U.S.M.C.|Marine Corps]], and the [[U.S.A.F.|Air Force]].

Where a newly commissioned ensign is assigned in the Navy is dependent on status as either an unrestricted line, restricted line, or staff corps officer.  For unrestricted line officers, depending on assignment to which [[list of Naval Officer Designators|warfare community]], prospective [[Surface Warfare Officer]]s (SWO) will spend 22 weeks at Surface Warfare Officer School followed by assignment to a warship for qualification as a SWO.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.usni.org/2018/06/28/new-career-path-surface-warfare-officers-stresses-fundamentals-training-first-ship-time-sea|title=New Navy Career Path for Surface Warfare Officers Stresses Fundamentals -|date=28 June 2018}}</ref> Prospective Submarine Warfare Officers will attend Naval Nuclear Power School for 26 weeks, followed by Nuclear Power Training Unit (Prototype) for 24 weeks and Submarine Officer Basic Course for 12 weeks before reporting to their first submarine.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.navy.com/careers/nuclear-submarine-officer|title=Become a Navy Nuclear Submarine Officer – Navy.com|website=www.navy.com|access-date=5 December 2018|archive-date=5 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205060752/https://www.navy.com/careers/nuclear-submarine-officer|url-status=dead}}</ref>  Prospective Naval Aviators and Naval Flight Officers have a 12 to 18 month flight training track to earn their wings, followed by a six to nine-month training track in a Fleet Replacement Squadron before being assigned to fly combat aircraft in a deployable Fleet aviation squadron.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.navy.com/careers/naval-aviator|title=Navy Pilot & Flight Officer (NFO) Careers – Navy.com|website=www.navy.com}}</ref>  Sea-Air-Land (SEAL) Special Warfare Officers attend a 6-month Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) course followed by a 4-month SEAL Qualification Training (SQT) course before assignment to a SEAL Team.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://navyseals.com/buds/become-a-seal-officer/|title=How to Become a SEAL Officer|website=Navy SEALs}}</ref>  Finally, Special Operations Officers, primarily Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) / Diver officers will have a training track similar in length to that of SEAL officers, to include schools for EOD, SCUBA, hard hat diving, airborne (parachutists) and combat arms skills training before assignment to their first operational assignment.

Restricted Line officers, depending on designator, may train, qualify and be assigned as naval intelligence officers, naval cryptographic officers, aircraft maintenance duty officers, meteorologists/oceanographers, information professionals, human resources professionals, public affairs officers, or a host of other specialties.

Still others may become staff corps officers in the Supply Corps, Civil Engineering Corps, Nurse Corps, Medical Service Corps, or be law school students or medical or dental school students in the Judge Advocate General's Corps, Medical Corps or Dental Corps, respectively.

===Coast Guard===
While the Coast Guard does not categorize its officers as unrestricted line, restricted line or staff corps, a similar career sorting and training process also takes place, ranging from those in operational fields such as cuttermen aboard Coast Guard cutters, Naval Aviators in Coast Guard Aviation, specialists in maritime safety and inspections, and a host of other Coast Guard officer career fields.
 
All ensigns will become branch officers or division officers in their first operational assignments, responsible for leading a group of [[petty officer]]s and [[enlisted men]] in one of the ship's, squadrons, team's or other organization's branches and divisions (for example, engineering, navigation, communications, sensors or weapons aboard a warship, or similar functions in the operations, aircraft maintenance, administrative or safety/NATOPS departments in a flying squadron) while at the same time receiving on-the-job training in leadership, naval systems, programs, and policies from higher-ranking officers and from senior enlisted men and women in the Chief Petty Officer rates.

Navy and Coast Guard ensigns wear collar insignia of a single gold bar and because of this share the nickname "butterbars" with Army, Air Force, Space Force, and Marine Corps second lieutenants, who wear the same insignia.

===Public Health Service Commissioned Corps===
In the [[United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps]] – a [[Uniformed services of the United States|uniformed service]] in the [[United States Public Health Service]] — those wearing the rank of ensign are part of a commissioned officer student training, and extern program (COSTEP), either junior, for those with more than a year remaining of education in a commissionable degree (JRCOSTEP), or senior, for those within one year of graduating with a commissionable degree (SRCOSTEP).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.usphs.gov/student/ |title=Student Opportunities |access-date=2010-08-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100724000938/http://www.usphs.gov/student/ |archive-date=2010-07-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Some officers may hold a permanent rank of ensign based on their experience and education, but then can hold the temporary rank of lieutenant, junior grade.

===NOAA Corps===
In the [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps]] (NOAA Corps) – a [[Uniformed services of the United States|uniformed service]] in the [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] — ensign is the most junior rank. All NOAA Corps officers become ensigns via [[Direct commission officer|direct commissions]].

==Gallery==
<gallery class="center">
<!-- In alphabetic order of Country please -->
File:Belize Coast Guard OF-1a.svg|Ensign<br />([[Belize Coast Guard]])
File:Generic-Navy-1.svg|Ensign<br />([[Republic of Fiji Navy]])
File:Generic-Navy-(star)-O1.svg|Ensign<br>{{small|({{langx|ga|Meirgire}})}}<br />([[Irish Naval Service]])<ref name="Ireland_Navy">{{cite web |title=Naval Service Rank Markings |url=http://www.military.ie/fileadmin/user_upload/images/Info_Centre/Posters/rank_markings/NS_Rank_Markings.png |website=military.ie |publisher=Defence Forces (Ireland) |access-date=26 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425021602/http://www.military.ie/fileadmin/user_upload/images/Info_Centre/Posters/rank_markings/NS_Rank_Markings.png |archive-date=25 April 2016}}</ref>
File:06-Nicaragua Navy-ENS.svg|Ensign<br />([[Liberian National Coast Guard]])<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:Generic-Navy-2.svg|Ensign<br />([[Namibian Navy]])<ref name="Namibia">{{cite magazine |title=Government Notice |magazine=Government Gazette of the Republic of Namibia |date=20 August 2010 |volume=4547 |pages=99–102 |url=http://www.lac.org.na/laws/2010/4547.pdf |access-date=20 December 2021}}</ref>
File:Generic-Navy-1.svg|Ensign<br />([[Royal New Zealand Navy]])<ref name="NewZealand">{{cite web |title=Badges of Rank |url=https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/corporate-documents/badges-of-rank/ |website=nzdf.mil.nz |publisher=New Zealand Defence Force |access-date=11 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703193648/https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/corporate-documents/badges-of-rank/ |archive-date=3 July 2020}}</ref>
File:PN ENS BlkDr-Slv.svg|Ensign<br />([[Philippine Navy]])
File:Generic-Navy-1.svg|Ensign<br />([[South African Navy]])<ref name="SouthAfrica_Navy">{{cite web |title=Rank Insignia |url=http://www.navy.mil.za/aboutus/Rank_Insignia.gif |website=navy.mil.za |publisher=Department of Defence (South Africa) |access-date=29 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518212959/http://www.navy.mil.za/aboutus/Rank_Insignia.gif |archive-date=18 May 2019}}</ref>
File:Generic-Navy-2.svg|Ensign<br />([[Tanzania Naval Command]])
File:Generic-Navy-(star v2)-O1.svg|Ensign<br />([[United States Navy]])<ref name="Dod_Ranks">{{cite web |title=U.S. Military Rank Insignia |url=https://www.defense.gov/Resources/Insignia/ |website=defense.gov |publisher=Department of Defense |access-date=13 January 2022}}</ref>
File:US-CoastGuard-O1.svg|Ensign<br />([[United States Coast Guard]])<ref name="Dod_Ranks" />
</gallery>

===French-speaking countries===
<gallery class="center">
<!-- In alphabetic order of Country please -->
File:Generic-Navy-3.svg|{{lang|fr|Enseigne de vaisseau de 1{{sup|re}} classe}}<br />{{small|([[Sub Lieutenant#Rank insignia: naval|Sub-lieutenant]])}}<br />([[Royal Canadian Navy]])<ref name="Canada">{{cite web |title=Ranks and appointment |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/services/defence/caf/military-identity-system/rank-appointment-insignia.html |website=canada.ca |date=23 November 2017 |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=28 May 2021}}</ref>
File:Generic-Navy-2.svg|{{lang|fr|Enseigne de vaisseau de 2{{sup|e}} classe}}<br />{{small|([[Sub-Lieutenant#Acting sub-lieutenant|Acting sub-lieutenant]])}}<br />(Royal Canadian Navy)<ref name="Canada" />
File:France-Navy-OF-1b Sleeve.svg|{{lang|fr|Enseigne de vaisseau de 1{{sup|re}} classe}}<br />([[French Navy]])<ref name="FranceNavy">{{cite web |title=Instruction n°1 DEF/EMM/RH/CPM relative aux uniformes et tenues dans la Marine du 15 juin 2004 |url=http://www.boc.sga.defense.gouv.fr/visu/boc_visu4.php?nor=B0451497J&id=2408 |archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/index2.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.boc.sga.defense.gouv.fr%2Fvisu%2Fboc_visu4.php%3Fnor%3DB0451497J%26id%3D2408 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-06-15 |access-date=4 June 2021 |pages=3793–3867 |language=fr |date=15 June 2004}}</ref>
File:France-Navy-OF-1a Sleeve.svg|{{lang|fr|Enseigne de vaisseau de 2{{sup|e}} classe}}<br />(French Navy)<ref name="FranceNavy" />
File:11. Madagascar Navy - SLT.svg|{{lang|fr|Enseigne de vaisseau de 1{{sup|re}} classe}}<br />([[Madagascar Navy]])<ref name="Madagascar">{{cite web |title=LOI N° 96-029 portant Statut Général des Militaires |url=http://www.defense.gov.mg/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/LOI-96-029.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710195555/http://www.defense.gov.mg/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/LOI-96-029.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 July 2021 |website=defense.gov.mg |publisher=Ministry of Defence (Madagascar) |access-date=10 July 2021 |pages=2 |language=fr |date=15 November 1996}}</ref>
File:10. Madagascar Navy - ENS.svg|{{lang|fr|Enseigne de vaisseau de 2{{sup|e}} classe}}<br />(Madagascar Navy)<ref name="Madagascar"/>
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[U.S. Navy officer rank insignia]]
* [[Comparative military ranks]]
* [[Sub-lieutenant]]
* ''[[Signifer]]''
* ''[[Vexillarius]]''
* [[Alférez (rank)|Alférez]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
*''Division Officer's Guide''. James Stavridis and Robert Girrier. Naval Institute Press, 2004. {{ISBN|1-59114-799-9}}.

==External links==
* [http://www.blackwells.ndo.co.uk/history2.htm#Chap. The Definition of Ensigns – Chapter I.]

{{US officer ranks|collapse=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ensign (Rank)}}
[[Category:Military ranks]]
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[[Category:Military ranks of the British Army]]
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[[Category:Naval ranks]]