inconsistent

me:  'which rank is higher, 1st lieutenant or 2nd lieutenant?'

military dad in a you-don't-know-that?!-tone:  'of course, 1st lieutenant!'

ooops...  hehe...  sorry...  :"}

a two-star general is higher than a one-star, right?  but yeah, in ships, the first mate is higher than the second mate...