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Ensign

Navy Lieutenant Junior Grade

O-2 Junior Officer, U.S. Navy
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Lieutenant

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How to get promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade History of the Navy Lieutenant Junior Grade Rank

A Lieutenant Junior Grade is a Junior Officer in the United States Navy at DoD paygrade O-2.

"Ensign" is a synonym for flag or pennant. The word is derived from the Latin, "insignia", as Roman infantry flag-bearers ranked above NCOs but below other officers. This title has been used for the most junior of Naval Officers for nearly a millenium, and is used for Navies throughout the world. Ensigns are notorious for their lack of knowing their way around a ship, such that the most junior officer onboard a ship is known as the JORG (pronounced "George", short for Junior Officer Requiring Guidance), and wears red and green collar insignia to remind themselves which sides of a ship are port and starboard. The most senior Ensign on a ship is known as the BULL Ensign and wears very large versions of their collar devices.

Want to learn more? Read about the Navy's Lieutenant Junior Grade rank on Military-Ranks.org.


History of the Navy

The Navy traces its heritage back to the Revolutionary War, when Congress funded the construction of several warships to repel the British Empire. Nowadays, much of the Navy's mission is to defend international "freedom of the seas." The Navy considers itself to be more technology-centric than the Army, but more traditional than the Air Force. Surface ships patrol the seas, conducting diplomatic relations with all nations of the world, while also enforcing the law against pirates and drug smugglers. Aircraft Carriers are the most powerful individual assets in America's arsenal, with a single unit being able move and be a major player in an armed conflict. Submarines conduct clandestine intelligence-gathering operations. SEALs are internationally reknown for counter-terrorism and irregular warfare in every possible environment. All Sailors are both warfighters and technical specialists.