The
German Air Force (Luftwaffe) as the German Army (Heer) distinguishes three
career paths: officers (Offiziere), NCO's (Unteroffiziere) and enlisted
men (Mannschaften). Rank insignia are worn on both shoulders.
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ENLISTED PRESONNEL
VOJNICI Mannschaften |
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AVIATOR |
PRIVATE |
PRIVATE 1st CLASS |
Flieger |
Gefreiter |
Obergefreiter |
Vojnik |
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LANCE CORPORAL |
CORPORAL |
SPECIALIST |
Hauptgefreiter |
Stabsgefreiter |
Oberstabsgefreiter |
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Gefreiter
is the equivalent for Private (OR-2) in the armed services. Gefreiter was
the lowest rank to which an ordinary soldier could be promoted. As a
military rank it has existed since at least the 16th century. From the
1920s on Gefreiter has expanded into several additional ranks,
those being Obergefreiter, Hauptgefreiter, Stabsgefreiter and
Oberstabsgefreiter. A similar rank exists in Russia ("Ефрейтор"; yefreytor,
efreitor), Ukraine (Єфрейтор, ; yefreytor, efreitor) and Belarus and
existed in late Soviet Union. In today's German Federal Armed Forces,
almost every soldier or sailor successfully passing the 12 weeks basic
training is promoted to Gefreiter. |
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NCO'S CANDIDATES
KANDIDATI ZA PODOFICIRE
Unterffiziereanwärter |
Unteroffizieranwärter may be combined with any enlisted
rank. Čin podoficirskog kandidata može biti kombiniran sa svakim
vojničkim činom. |
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NCO CANDIDATE |
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Unteroffizieranwärter |
Gefreiter - Unteroffizieranwärter |
Gefreiter - Unteroffizieranwärter |
Kadet podoficir |
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Obergefreiter -
Unteroffizieranwärter |
Stabsgefreiter -
Unteroffizieranwärter |
Stabsgefreiter -
Unteroffizieranwärter |
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NCO's
PODOFICIRI
Unteroffiziere |
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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 Feldwebels
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. |
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LANCE SERGEANT |
SERGEANT |
STAFF SERGEANT |
Unteroffizier |
Stabsunteroffizier |
Feldwebel |
Podoficir |
Štabni
podoficir |
Stožerni narednik |
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SERGEANT 1st CLASS |
MASTER SERGEANT |
MASTER SERGEANT |
Oberfeldwebel |
Hauptfeldwebel |
Hauptfeldwebel |
Narednik 1. klase |
Glavni narednik |
Glavni narednik |
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STAFF SERGEANT |
SERGEANT MAJOR |
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Stabsfeldwebel |
Oberstabsfeldwebel |
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Štabni narednik |
Viši štabni narednik |
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OFFICERS CANDIDATES
KANDIDATI ZA OFICIRE
Offiziereanwärter |
Offizieranwärter may be combined with any enlisted rank.
Čin oficirskog kandidata može biti kombiniran sa svakim vojničkim činom. |
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CADET |
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Obergefraiter |
Fahnenjunker |
Fähnrich |
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Oberfähnrich |
Unteroffizier |
Feldwebel |
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Hauptfeldwebel |
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OFFICERS
OFICIRI
Offiziere |
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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 air force
training regiment (Luftwaffenausbildungsregiment) as a deputy
instructor with the rank of Obergefreiter OA. With the completion of the
Air Force officersschool (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. |
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SECOND LIEUTENANT |
SECOND LIEUTENANT |
FIRST LIEUTENANT |
Leutnant |
Leutnant |
Oberleutnant
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Potoručnik (Poručnik) |
Potporučnik (Poručnik) |
Poručnik (Nadporučnik) |
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FIRST LIEUTENANT |
FIRST LIEUTENANT |
CAPTAIN |
Oberleutnant
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Oberleutnant
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Hauptmann |
Poručnik (Nadporučnik) |
Poručnik (Nadporučnik) |
Kapetan |
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STAFF CAPTAIN |
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Stabshauptmann |
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Štabni
kapetan |
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Staff captain (Stabshauptmann) is very rear rank,mainly in specialist
careers. Ovaj je čin vrlo rijedak, uglavnom u specijalističkim službama. |
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In order to be promoted to Major (major; a rank only
career officers can achieve), the officers have to complete successfully a
course called field grade officer basic course (Stabsoffizierlehrgang
SOL). It takes a minimum of 10 years of officer's service to become a
major. Lt. colonel (Oberstleutnant) is the standard final rank for career
officers which can be awarded after 17 years of service. Colonel (Oberst)
is the highest field grade rank (promotion requires a minimum of 17 years
of officer's service, i.e. 20 years of service overall). |
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MAJOR |
MAJOR |
LIEUTENANT COLONEL |
Major |
Major |
Oberstleutnant
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Major |
Major |
Potpukovnik |
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LIEUTENANT COLONEL |
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Oberstleutnant
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Potpukovnik |
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About 1.5 per cent of each crew are chosen to take
part in the general staff course (Generalstabslehrgang) at the military
academy (Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr) at Hamburg. This course
lasts two years after the completion of which the participants put a
"i.G." after their rank, meaning in general staff service (im
Generalstabsdienst). Having completed this course, the minimum rank those
officers achieve is usually colonel (Oberst). The Generalstabslehrgang is
a necessary requirement for the promotion to a General's rank. |
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COLONEL |
COLONEL |
BRIGADIER |
Oberst |
Oberst |
Brigadegeneral |
Pukovnik |
Pukovnik |
Brigadni general |
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BRIGADIER |
MAJOR GENERAL |
LIEUTENANT GENERAL |
Brigadegeneral |
Generalmajor |
Generalleutnant |
Brigadni general |
General major |
General pukovnik |
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GENERAL |
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General |
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General |
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