Which insignia represents a First Lieutenant?

• A. A silver bar
• B. Two connected silver bars
• C. Gold oak leaf
• D. Silver eagle

Answer: (A)

In the Marine Corps, officer rank is shown by a specific insignia on the collar. A first lieutenant is indicated by a single silver bar. This device sits between the gold bar for a second lieutenant and the silver oak leaf used for a captain, with higher ranks using a gold oak leaf (major), a silver oak leaf (lieutenant colonel), and a silver eagle (colonel). So the single silver bar uniquely identifies the rank of first lieutenant. The other symbols correspond to different ranks or services—two connected bars would signal a captain in many other services, a gold oak leaf signals major, and a silver eagle signals colonel.