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#REDIRECT [[Rank insignia of the Bundeswehr#Basic structure of shoulder straps and sleeve insignias]]
{{Unreferenced|date=October 2008}}
The German [[German Army|Heer]] (as the German [[German Air Force|Luftwaffe]]) distinguishes three career paths: officers (''Offiziere''), [[non-commissioned officers|NCOs]] (''Unteroffiziere'') and enlisted men (''Mannschaften'').

Rank insignia are worn on both shoulders.

==Officers==
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; font-size: 80%; float: right; margin-right: 1em; margin-left: 1em; width:100px; " cellpadding="10"
! Shoulder insignia
! Abbr.
! Rank (American Equivalent)
! [[Army officer ranks|NATO equivalent]]
|-
| | [[image:GE-Army-OF9.gif|45px]]
| G
Gen
| [[General]]
| OF-9
|-
| [[Image:GE-Army-OF8.gif|45px]]
| GL
GenLt
| [[Generalleutnant]] ([[Lieutenant General]])
| OF-8
|-
| [[image:GE-Army-OF7.gif|45px]]
| GM
GenMaj
| [[Generalmajor]] ([[Major General]])
| OF-7
|-
| [[image:GE-Army-OF6.gif|45px]]
| BG
BrigGen
| [[Brigadegeneral]] ([[Brigadier General]])
| OF-6
|-
| [[image:GE-Army-OF5.gif|45px]]
| O
Oberst
| [[Oberst]] ([[Colonel]])
| OF-5
|-
| [[image:GE-Army-OF4.gif|45px]]
| OTL
OberstLt
| [[Oberstleutnant]] ([[Lieutenant Colonel]])
| OF-4
|-
| [[image:GE-Army-OF3.gif|45px]]
| M
Maj
| [[Major]] ([[Major]])
| OF-3
|-
| [[image:GE-Army-OF2a.gif|45px]]
| SH
StHptm
| [[Senior Captain|Stabshauptmann]] (Staff [[Captain (land and air)|Captain]]; rare rank, mainly in specialist careers)
| OF-2
|-
| [[image:GE-Army-OF2b.gif|45px]]
| H
Hptm
| [[Hauptmann]] ([[Captain (land and air)|Captain]])
| OF-2
|-
| [[image:GE-Army-OF1a.gif|50px]]
| OL
OLt
| [[Oberleutnant]] ([[First Lieutenant]])
| OF-1
|-
| [[image:OF1a BW LT Luftwaffe.gif|50px]]
| L
Lt
| [[Leutnant]] ([[Second Lieutenant]])
| OF-1
|-
| colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1px solid #8888aa;" | officer candidates
| style="border-bottom:1px solid #8888aa;" | '''NCO equivalent'''
|-
| [[image:GE-Army-OR8b.gif|45px]]
| OFR
OFähnr
| Oberfähnrich
| Hauptfeldwebel
|-
| [[image:GE-Army-OR6b.gif|45px]]
| FR
Fähnr
| [[Fähnrich]]
| Feldwebel
|-
| [[image:GE-Army-OR5b.gif|45px]]
| FJ
Fhj
| Fahnenjunker
| [[Unteroffizier]]
|-
| [[image:GE-Army-OR2a.gif|45px]]
| G (OA)
Gefr (OA)
| [[Gefreiter]] (Offizieranwärter)
| ''(OA) may be combined with any enlisted rank''
|}

=== Officer education in the army===

Career officers usually start as enlisted personnel with the lowest rank in one of the three Officer Candidate Battalions of the German Army located in [[Hammelburg]], [[Idar-Oberstein]] and [[Munster, Lower Saxony|Munster]]. After six months of officer candidate training course in these Battalions which contains basic military drill, but also theoretical content like basic military law and history, the officer candidates proceed in their schooling with the Officer's Course 1 lasting three months at the Officer's School in [[Dresden]], a 10-week-long English course in Idar-Oberstein and three months in a unit called ''Truppenkommando'' as a normal soldier to get an idea about how it is in the military unit.
After 15 months, the officer candidates start with their studies at one of the two [[University of the German Federal Armed Forces|Universities of the German Federal Armed Forces]] in Munich and Hamburg which normally finishes with a Master's degree after four years of study. Having finished the academic part the now ''Leutnants'' (second lieutenants) go on with the Officer's Course 2 at the Army Officer's School and the Officer's Course 3 at the special schools of the different divisions (like Infantry School or Psychological Operations School). Furthermore they get some shorter special courses like a survival course and driving school for the different vehicles. After six to seven years of training the ''Oberleutnants'' are ready for their final deployment in the army.

=== Officer education in the air force===

In the air force the career starts at the air force academy in [[Fürstenfeldbruck]] (Fursty) near [[Munich]]. The basic officers training consists of 11 months of basic training, military drill, theoretical education and a few weeks in a ''Luftwaffenausbildungsregiment'' (air force training regiment) as a deputy instructor with the rank of ''Obergefreiter OA''. With the completion of the ''Offizierschule der Luftwaffe (OSLw)'' they are promoted to ''Fahnenjunker'' and either start with their studies at one of the two University in Munich and Hamburg or start with their basic flight training in the OSLw.

=== Field grade officers ===

In order to be promoted to ''Major'' (major; a rank only career officers can achieve), the officers have to complete successfully a course called ''Stabsoffizierlehrgang (SOL)'' (field grade officer basic course). It takes a minimum of 10 years of officer's service to become a major. ''Oberstleutnant'' '(lt.-col.) is the standard final rank for career officers which can be awarded after 17 years of service. The salary of this rank depends on the respective function (A 14 or A 15 in the German salary scheme). ''Oberst'' (colonel) is the highest field grade rank (promotion requires a minimum of 17 years of officer's service, i.e. 20 years of service overall).

=== Officers in General Staff Service ===

About 1.5 per cent of each crew are chosen to take part in the Generalstabslehrgang (general staff course) at the ''Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr'' (military academy) at [[Hamburg]]. This course lasts two years after the completion of which the participants put a "i.G." after their rank, meaning ''im Generalstabsdienst'' (in general staff service). Having completed this course, the minimum rank those officers achieve is usually ''Oberst'' (colonel). The ''Generalstabslehrgang'' is a necessary requirement for the promotion to a General's rank.

<br style="clear:both" />

==Non-commissioned officers==
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; font-size: 80%; float: right; margin-left: 1em; width:100px; margin-right: 1em; width:100px;" cellpadding="10"
! Shoulder insignia
! Abbr.
! Rank
! NATO equivalent
|-
| [[image:GE-Army-OR9.gif|45px]]
| OSF
OStFw
| Oberstabsfeldwebel
| OR9
|-
| [[image:GE-Army-OR8a.gif|50px]]
| SF
StFw
| Stabsfeldwebel
| OR8
|-
| [[image:GE-Army-OR7.gif|45px]]
| HF
HptFw
| Hauptfeldwebel
| OR7 / OR8
|-
| [[image:GE-Army-OR6a.gif|45px]]
| OF
OFw
| Oberfeldwebel
| OR6
|-
| [[image:GE-Army-OR6c.gif|45px]]
| F
Fw
| [[Feldwebel]]
| OR6
|-
| [[image:GE-Army-OR5a.gif|50px]]
| SU
StUffz
| Stabsunteroffizier
| OR5
|-
| [[image:GE-Army-OR5c.gif|45px]]
| U
Uffz
| [[Unteroffizier]]
| OR5
|-
| colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1px solid #8888aa;" | NCO candidates
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[image:GE-Army-OR2b.gif|45px]]
| G (UA)
Gefr (UA)
| [[Gefreiter]] (Unteroffizieranwärter)
| OR2
|-
| colspan="2" | ''(UA) may be combined with any enlisted rank''
|}
NCOs (''Unteroffiziere'') play an important role in the Heer as they are entrusted the command of most sub-company units. They often are referred to as the backbone of the army. Especially ''[[Feldwebel]]''s and above carry similar responsibilities officers have. This is largely due to the German military doctrine of ''[[Auftragstaktik]]'': German orders usually do not include specific instructions, but rather a task, the available time and the available means. This gives leaders of smaller units a great deal of freedom and responsibility.

Since the ancient time of Prussian Army, the non-commissioned officers or subofficers of German armies are distinguished into
a) Unteroffiziere ohne Portepee (sub-officers without sword-knot)
b) Unteroffiziere mit Portepee (sub-officers with sword-knot)

Sub-officers from Feldwebel upwards were entitled to bear a sword-knot at their sabre.

<br style="clear:both;" />

==Enlisted personnel==
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; font-size: 80%; float: right; margin-left: 1em; width:100px; " cellpadding="10"
! Shoulder insignia
! Abbr.
! Rank
! NATO equivalent
|-
| [[image:GE-Army-OR4a.gif|45px]]
| OSG
OStGefr
| Oberstabsgefreiter
| OR4
|-
| [[image:GE-Army-OR4b.gif|50px]]
| SG
StGefr
| Stabsgefreiter
| OR4
|-
| [[image:GE-Army-OR3a.gif|45px]]
| HG
HptGefr
| Hauptgefreiter
| OR3
|-
| [[image:GE-Army-OR3b.gif|45px]]
| OG
OGefr
| Obergefreiter
| OR3
|-
| [[image:GE-Army-OR2c.gif|45px]]
| G
Gefr
| [[Gefreiter]]
| OR2
|-
| [[image:GE-Army-OR1.gif|45px]]
| S
| Soldat (Heer)<br />Flieger (Luftwaffe)
| OR1
|}
Enlisted personnel are largely made up of [[Conscription in Germany|conscripts]] serving their nine months of mandatory service. Starting as ''Schütze'' or trooper a promotion to ''Gefreiter'' is mandatory after basic training (first three months of service). After an additional three months of service (usually consisting of special training required for their branch of service) any soldier is promoted to ''Obergefreiter'' unless they fail even most basic requirements. Conscripts leaving the army after nine months of service may be promoted to ''Hauptgefreiter der Reserve'' (lance-corporal in reserve) effective the day of their discharge to award outstanding performance. Longer serving enlisted soldiers will receive their ''Hauptgefreiter'' promotion after nine months to award outstanding performance or after twelve months of service.

To be promoted ''Stabsgefreiter'' a soldier requires at least four years of enlisted service and has had to be a soldier for three years. Soldiers may opt to sign long-term contracts as enlisted soldiers, but most enlisted soldiers serving long terms in fact applied for NCO careers but failed their training requirements and opted to serve their term as enlisted soldiers rathern than being released from service immediately.

To be promoted to ''Oberstabsgefreiter'' a soldier requires at least six years of enlisted service and has to have been a soldier for five years.

The most important distinction between NCOs and enlisted men is that the latter cannot give any order even to lower-ranking soldiers unless specific circumstances apply (e.g. while on guard duty or to soldiers ordered to do so by their regular chain of command).

The rank ''Soldat'' is replaced by ranks specific to their ''Truppengattung'' (branch of service):
* Flieger (Flg) ''Aviator''
* Funker (Fu) ''[[Signaller]]''
* [[Grenadier]] (Gren) ''[[Infantry]]man''
* [[Jäger (military)|Jäger]] (Jg) ''Light Infantryman''
* Kanonier (Kan) ''Gunner''
* Matrose (Matr) ''Sailor''
* Pionier (Pi) ''[[pioneer (military)|Military Engineer]]''
* Panzerfunker (PzFu) ''[[Armoured-Signaller]]''
* [[Panzergrenadier]] (PzGren) ''Armoured-Infantryman''
* Panzerjäger (PzJg) ''Tank Destroyer''
* Panzerkanonier (PzKan) ''[[Armoured-Gunner]]''
* Panzerpionier (PzPi) ''Armoured-Sapper''
* Panzerschütze (PzSchtz) ''Tanker''
* Panzersoldat (PzSdt) ''Tanker''
* Sanitätssoldat (SanSdt) ''[[Medic]]''
* Schütze (Schtz) ''[[Rifleman]]''

[[Category:Military ranks of Germany]]
[[Category:Military insignia]]

[[de:Dienstgrade in der Bundeswehr]]
[[ru:Воинские звания в Бундесвере]]
[[uk:Військові звання в Бундесвері]]

Latest revision as of 05:47, 10 October 2024

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