Norwegian military ranks
Encyclopedia
The green part represents soldier
s and the equivalent of non-commissioned officer
s. The blue part represents officers. Norway
does not have a NCO-system and thus Sergeant
and Quartermaster
are grouped with the officers under the common designation befal. The officers
are divided into three groups: The befal (company officers, ranks Ensign
to Captain inclusive), the staff officers (stabsoffiser, ranks Major to Brigader inclusive), and the generals (Major General to General inclusive).
Fenrik (ensign
) was previously referred to as Second Lieutenant
(Norwegian: Fenrik), while the rank of lieutenant went by First Lieutenant. The rank of Brigadier is not an old tradition in the Norwegian armed forces and was instated as a replacement for Oberst I (First Colonel); what is now Oberst was previously Oberst II (Second Colonel).
As shown, the Cavalry
have two ranks which differ from the regular Army
: Dragon (Dragoon
) instead of Menig (Private
), and Rittmester (Master of the Horse
) instead of Kaptein (Captain).
The ranks of Grenader and Matros are bestowed upon soldiers who have finished the 12 months compulsory service and have signed one or more three-year contracts to continue serving. The ranks of Korporal/Utskrevet ledende menig (Corporal
/Leading Rate) are usually ascribed to soldiers with long and/or outstanding service, though may be bestowed on soldiers with extra responsibilities (e.g. the shift-commander among a group of soldiers on guard-duty). A UB-Korporal/Kvartermesteraspirant (Rate Corporal/Petty Officer-in-training) is a soldier who has finished the UB course (Utskrevet Befalskurs), a course intended to prepare conscripted soldiers for non-commissioned officer duties, but is still under training in "the field". After one year course and service these soldiers are qualified for the rank of Sersjant or Kvartermester.
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Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
s and the equivalent of non-commissioned officer
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
s. The blue part represents officers. Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
does not have a NCO-system and thus Sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
and Quartermaster
Quartermaster
Quartermaster refers to two different military occupations depending on if the assigned unit is land based or naval.In land armies, especially US units, it is a term referring to either an individual soldier or a unit who specializes in distributing supplies and provisions to troops. The senior...
are grouped with the officers under the common designation befal. The officers
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
are divided into three groups: The befal (company officers, ranks Ensign
Ensign
An ensign is a national flag when used at sea, in vexillology, or a distinguishing token, emblem, or badge, such as a symbol of office in heraldry...
to Captain inclusive), the staff officers (stabsoffiser, ranks Major to Brigader inclusive), and the generals (Major General to General inclusive).
Fenrik (ensign
Ensign
An ensign is a national flag when used at sea, in vexillology, or a distinguishing token, emblem, or badge, such as a symbol of office in heraldry...
) was previously referred to as Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
(Norwegian: Fenrik), while the rank of lieutenant went by First Lieutenant. The rank of Brigadier is not an old tradition in the Norwegian armed forces and was instated as a replacement for Oberst I (First Colonel); what is now Oberst was previously Oberst II (Second Colonel).
As shown, the Cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
have two ranks which differ from the regular Army
Regular Army
The Regular Army of the United States was and is the successor to the Continental Army as the country's permanent, professional military establishment. Even in modern times the professional core of the United States Army continues to be called the Regular Army...
: Dragon (Dragoon
Dragoon
The word dragoon originally meant mounted infantry, who were trained in horse riding as well as infantry fighting skills. However, usage altered over time and during the 18th century, dragoons evolved into conventional light cavalry units and personnel...
) instead of Menig (Private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
), and Rittmester (Master of the Horse
Master of the Horse
The Master of the Horse was a position of varying importance in several European nations.-Magister Equitum :...
) instead of Kaptein (Captain).
The ranks of Grenader and Matros are bestowed upon soldiers who have finished the 12 months compulsory service and have signed one or more three-year contracts to continue serving. The ranks of Korporal/Utskrevet ledende menig (Corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
/Leading Rate) are usually ascribed to soldiers with long and/or outstanding service, though may be bestowed on soldiers with extra responsibilities (e.g. the shift-commander among a group of soldiers on guard-duty). A UB-Korporal/Kvartermesteraspirant (Rate Corporal/Petty Officer-in-training) is a soldier who has finished the UB course (Utskrevet Befalskurs), a course intended to prepare conscripted soldiers for non-commissioned officer duties, but is still under training in "the field". After one year course and service these soldiers are qualified for the rank of Sersjant or Kvartermester.
Norwegian military ranks
| Norwegian Army Norwegian Army Norway achieved full independence in 1905, and in the first century of its short life has contributed to two major conflicts, the Cold War and the War on Terror. The Norwegian Army currently operates in the north of Norway and in Afghanistan as well as in Eastern Europe. The Army is the oldest of... | Royal Norwegian Air Force Royal Norwegian Air Force The Royal Norwegian Air Force is the air force of Norway. It was established as a separate arm of the Norwegian armed forces on 10 November 1944. The RNoAF's peace force is approximately 1,430 employees . 600 personnel also serve their draft period in the RNoAF... | Royal Norwegian Navy Royal Norwegian Navy The Royal Norwegian Navy is the branch of the Norwegian Defence Force responsible for naval operations. , the RNoN consists of approximately 3,700 personnel and 70 vessels, including 5 heavy frigates, 6 submarines, 14 patrol boats, 4 minesweepers, 4 minehunters, 1 mine detection vessel, 4 support... | NATO Ranks and insignia of NATO Ranks and insignia of NATO are combined military insignia used by the member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.The rank scale is used for specifying posts within NATO.-Definitions:... |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menig Dragon (Cavalry) Gardist (His Majesty the Kings Guard) Grensejeger (GSV border service) Private | Flysoldat Airman | Utskrevet menig Seaman Recruit | OR1 |
| Korporal Korporal Korporal is a rank in the Norwegian army, air force and the Swiss army. It is the equivalent of corporal.There are three categories of korporal:# Utskrevet befalskorporal, a conscript who has completed a training course and serves as befal .... Corporal | Korporal Corporal | Visekonstabel utskrevet Petty Officer Third Class | OR4 |
| Grenader (Enlisted) | Grenader (Enlisted) | Konstabel første klasse (Enlisted) | OR1 |
| UB-Korporal (In training) | UB-Korporal (In training) | Kvartermesteraspirant (In training) | - |
| Sersjant Sergeant | Sersjant Sergeant | Kvartermester Petty Officer Second Class | OR5 |
| Fenrik Second Lieutenant | Fenrik Second Lieutenant | Fenrik Ensign | OF1 |
| Løytnant First Lieutenant | Løytnant First Lieutenant | Løytnant Lieutenant, Junior Grade | OF1 |
| Kaptein Rittmester (Cavalry) Captain | Kaptein Captain | Kapteinløytnant Lieutenant (Navy) | OF2 |
| Major Major | Major Major | Orlogskaptein Lieutenant Commander | OF3 |
| Oberstløytnant Lieutenant Colonel | Oberstløytnant Lieutenant Colonel | Kommandørkaptein Commander | OF4 |
| Oberst Colonel | Oberst Colonel | Kommandør Captain (Navy) | OF5 |
| Brigader Brigadier | Brigader Brigadier | Flaggkommandør Rear Admiral (Lower half) | OF6 |
| Generalmajor Major General | Generalmajor Major General | Kontreadmiral Rear Admiral (Upper half) | OF7 |
| Generalløytnant Lieutenant General | Generalløytnant Lieutenant General | Viseadmiral Vice Admiral | OF8 |
| General General | General General | Admiral Admiral | OF9 |
Army
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