Editing Private (rank) (section)

==Europe==
{{unreferenced section|date=March 2024}}

=== Belgium ===
Upon enlistment to the [[Belgian army]], one is given the rank of {{lang|nl|soldaat}} (Dutch) or {{lang|fr|soldat}} (French), whether one wishes to be a volunteer, non-commissioned officer or officer. Subsequent rank depends on the branch of the service: for example, at the [[Royal Military Academy (Belgium)|Royal Military Academy]] (for officer training) one is soon promoted to the rank of {{lang|nl|korporaal}} (Dutch) or {{lang|fr|caporal}} (French) i.e. "corporal". The insignia is a simple black mark or the simplified version of the Royal Military Academy's coat of arms for candidate officers.

===Finland===
[[File:Sotamies kauluslaatta.svg|thumb|120px|Military rank insignia of ''sotamies'' (private) of the Finnish Army and Air Force.]]
The Finnish equivalent rank is ''sotamies'' (literally "war man"), although since 1973 this has been purely a paper term as all infantry troopers were renamed as ''jääkäri'' troops, previously reserved only to mobile light infantry. As in the British army, the various branches use different names:

* [[Infantry]] – ''jääkäri'' ("jaeger")
* [[Military engineers]] – ''pioneeri'' ("pioneer")
* [[Military communications|Signal corps]] – ''viestimies'' ("signaller")
* [[Cavalry]] – ''rakuuna'' ("dragoon")
* [[Artillery]] – ''tykkimies'' ("artilleryman")
* [[Tank]] corps – ''panssarimies'' ("tankman")

In the [[Finnish Air Force]], the basic rank is ''lentosotamies'' ("airman"). In the [[Finnish Navy]], the basic rank is ''matruusi'' ("seaman") or ''tykkimies'' ("artilleryman") in the marine infantry.

Special corps troopers may be referred by their function or unit, such as ''kaartinjääkäri'' (Guards jaeger), ''panssarijääkäri'' (armored jaeger), ''laskuvarjojääkäri'' (paratroop jaeger), ''rajajääkäri'' (border jaeger) or ''rannikkojääkäri'' (coastal jaeger).

===France===
In the French army, ''soldat de seconde classe'' is the lowest military rank. This rank is also referred to as ''recrue'' ("recruit").

===Hungary===
The name of the lowest rank in the Hungarian army (''[[Magyar Honvédség]]'') is the ''honvéd'' which means "homeland defender". The word is also used informally for a soldier in general of any rank (i.e. "our ''honvéds''" or an officer referred as a ''honvédtiszt'', ''honvéd'' officer). This is because Hungarian military traditions are strictly defensive, despite the Hungarian army participating in offensives on foreign soil in both world wars. The word ''honvéd'' has been in use since the [[Hungarian Revolution of 1848]]. The term is not used for soldiers of foreign armies: a foreign soldier with no rank is called ''közlegény'', literally "common lad" or "common man".

===Ireland===
{| style="float:right;"
|[[File:IE-Army-OR2.png|70px|right|thumb|2* private]]
|[[File:IE-Army-OR3.png|70px|right|thumb|3* private]]
|}

Private (Pte) (''saighdiúr singil'' in Irish), is the lowest enlisted rank in the [[Irish Army]]. Soldiers enlist as recruits then undergo a basic course of instruction. There are three grades of private in the army. After basic training the soldier is upgraded (rather than promoted) from recruit to private 2 star (Pte 2*) (''saighdiúr singil, 2 réalta''). After more corps-specific training (usually lasting eight weeks) the soldier is upgraded to private 3 star (Pte 3*) (''saighdiúr singil, 3 réalta''). All are usually just addressed as "private", although before being upgraded, recruits may be addressed as "recruit".

In corps units, the rank designation changes. In the artillery, the rank is known as [[Gunner (rank)|gunner]] (Gnr), but usually only after the completion of a gunners' course, and in the cavalry it is known as [[Trooper (rank)|trooper]] (Tpr). Communications and Information Services privates are known as [[Signalman (rank)|signalman]] or [[Signalman (rank)|signalwoman]]. Medical orderlies are sometimes referred to as medic, although this can apply to privates and [[corporal]]s.

===Italy===
In the [[Italian Army]] {{lang|it|soldato}} is the lowest military rank. This rank is also referred to as {{lang|it|recluta}} (meaning [[Military recruitment|recruit]]).
{{lang|it|Soldato}} is the generic term for private. But in many specialized corps this term is never used, as a more specific, corp related, term is preferred. For instance the lowest rank in Alpine troops is {{lang|it|alpino}}, and the lowest rank in the artillery is {{lang|it|artigliere}}. In the air force this is ranked as {{lang|it|aviere}} and in the navy as {{lang|it|marinaio}}.

===Netherlands===
In the Royal Netherlands Army, the ''[[Landmacht]]'', the equivalent ranks are ''soldaat'' (soldier), similar to the original French, with different classes:

* ''Soldaat der derde klasse'' (soldier/private 3rd class), for soldiers in Algemene Militaire Opleiding or AMO (General Military Training), with insignia.
* ''Soldaat der tweede klasse'' (soldier/private 2nd class), the basic infantry rank, an insignia single striped red band, obtained after AMO but before completion of ''Initiële Functie Opleiding'' or IFO (initial job training).
* ''Soldaat der eerste klasse'' (soldier/private 1st class), comparable to [[private first class]], with an insignia with two neighbouring striped red bands, obtained automatically a year after completion of IFO.

Depending on where the ''soldaat'' serves, he may be deemed a ''kanonnier'' (gunner in the artillery), ''huzaar'' (hussar in the cavalry) or ''fuselier'' (rifleman in the rifles) as well as ''commando'', ''jager'' (hunter) or ''rijder'' (rider). A ''soldaat'' can be promoted to ''korporaal'' ([[corporal]]).

===Russia===
{{see also|Army ranks and insignia of the Russian Federation}}
{| style="float:right;"
|[[image:Russia-Army-OR-1-2010.svg|thumb|right|60px|Ground forces version]]
|[[image:Russia-Airforce-OR-1-2010.svg|thumb|60px|right|Air force version]]
|}
[[image:Russia-Army-OR-1-camo (2010).svg|thumb|right|50px|Field version]]
The beginning of military service in the Armed Forces of Russia for citizens who are not in the reserve of the [[Russian Armed Forces]], called up for military service, is considered to be the day of assignment of the military rank - Private (Sailor).

The word "guards" is added before the military rank of a serviceman serving in a [[Russian Guards|guards military unit]], on a guards ship.

The words "justice" or "medical service" are added to the military rank of a serviceman or citizen in the reserve, who has a military registration speciality in a legal or medical profile, respectively.

The words "reserve" or "retired" are added to the military rank of a citizen in the reserve or retired, respectively.

In the category of military personnel of the ship composition of the [[Russian Navy]], the rank of private corresponds to the ship military rank of sailor.

Students of [[Military academies in Russia|military schools]] are called "cadets". During their training, they are awarded the military ranks of private or sailor, and in the event of successful completion of a military educational institution, they are immediately awarded the officer rank of junior lieutenant or lieutenant, depending on the school.