As of 1 May 2001, the rank of lieutenant in the Salvation Army is longer be a commissioned officer's rank. All existing lieutenants were promoted to the rank of captain on that date. All cadets who are commissioned after that date will be commissioned with the rank of captain.
As of 1 May 2001, the new Lieutenants System came into force.
For information, following 1 May 2001, the auxiliary-captain system, as governed by Orders and Regulations for Auxiliary-Captains,remained operative, but it is expected that all Salvation Army territories would phase out Auxiliary-Captains
Following 1 May 2001 the full-time envoy system, or its equivalent, in each territory, will also remain in force. But territories were urged to phase out the full-time envoy system - or its equivalent - as soon as practicable and to replace it by the Lieutenants System, appointing existing envoys, wherever they fit the criteria, as lieutenants.
Lieutenants wear a silver 'S' on a red patch on the jacket lapels, together with plain red epaulettes, as for an officer without the stars. The epaulettes have a small metal bar to distinguish the trimmings from those of auxiliary-captains.
The Lieutenants System is part of the Army's leadership structure, but, as with the auxiliary-captain and envoy systems, is not part of the officer structure as such. Lieutenants are spiritual leaders but are not commissioned officers of The Salvation Army.
The new Lieutenants like Auxiliary-Captains are Salvation Army Non-Commissioned Officers the rank higher that all Local Commissioned Officer (Lay Leaders) but below all Current Commissioned Officers (Capt and above.