FYI, here is what's come in to the Blog that relates to this office/rank.
   For recent questions sent in, check out Robert Hickey's Blog.
   For specific offices/ranks, check out Robert Hickey's On-Line Guide.

Which Form of Rank Should I Use on an Invitation?
The Officer's Full Rank? Or the Short Version of Rank?
      Why is it that when you need a current military protocol handbook you can never find one?  My Department of State handbook mentions nothing about this particular question, so, a friend referred me to you.
      In particular, concerning how to write the name of a soon-to-be commissioned Second Lieutenant, USMC, onhis graduation and commissioning invitation,  the question is ... on the return/RSVP and on the personal "calling card" enclosed, which is more proper...Name, followed by Lieutenant, USMC or Second Lieutenant, USMC?
      Back in my youth, it was common for Lieutenants to abstain from including either "Second" or "First" in invitations, or on calling cards.  But, what is the current format?
      My brother, a West Point graduate, insists that simply "Lieutenant" is proper, while I, a former NCO, hold that the proper format is to include either "Second" or "First"  Lieutenant on all invitations or calling cards and related items.
      If you would, could you make a call on this and provide a reference or two...have to get these items off to the printers soonest and wish to make sure that the young officer gets off on the right foot?
      Thank you,
      -- Sincerely,
         JWE in Bowling Green, OH

Dear JWE in Bowling Green:
      FIRST about whether it's "Lieutenant" or "Second Lieutenant."
      CORRESPONDANCE: In the past, forms of address for USA lieutenants varied slightly from USAF and USMC lieutenants which I think is the source of the various “right forms” you are encountering.  But, current DOD directives show forms of address in writing for official correspondance to be identical for all services. Use the form I give on page 209 of my book:
        Second Lieutenant (full name), USMC
              (Address)
      1) E.g., The Air Force uses “full ranks” in writing, and “basic ranks” orally. So a (non-com) USAF Technical Sergeant is “Technical Sergeant (name) in writing, and “Sergeant (name)” orally.
      3) The Army, as your brother notes, had used “basic rank” in both instances, but the USA currently uses “full” and “basic” the same as everyone else.  FYI ... here's the current USA document .... see Table 6.1: http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/pdf/p600_60.pdf
      SECOND, ON INVITATIONS .. All that said .... On a formal invitation (like a wedding invitation) it is typical for junior officers to have their names presented as:

      Note that this is all spelled out (no abbreviations), on two lines.
     This sort of thing is one reason I prepared my book the way I did: I give you the answer, not the history of every form -- That would have made the book 1,576 pages rather than just 576!
         -- Robert Hickey

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For forms of address for invitations, place cards, name badges, introductions, conversation, and all other formal uses, see Honor & Respect: the Official Guide to Names, Titles, and Forms of Address.

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