Military ranks and insignia of Norway

Military ranks and rank insignia of Norway were changed June 1, 2016, with the reintroduction of the Non-Commissioned Officer Corps, and the abolishment of the one-tier officer system in place since 1975.[1]

New system of 2016

The Storting adopted in 2015 the new scheme for military personnel, Militærordningen.[1] From 2016, the Norwegian Defence Forces have two career ladders for the military personnel; one officer scheme for personnel with a degree from the military academy, or a university degree and qualification courses, and a non-commissioned officer scheme for personnel with non-commissioned officer school.[2][3]

Commissioned officers

The rank insignia for commissioned officers for the army, navy and air force respectively.

NATO codeOF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D)Student officer
 Norwegian Army[4]
General Generalløytnant Generalmajor Brigader Oberst Oberstløytnant Major Kaptein/
Rittmester
Løytnant Fenrik Kadett
 Royal Norwegian Navy[4]
Admiral Viseadmiral Kontreadmiral Flaggkommandør Kommandør Kommandørkaptein Orlogskaptein Kapteinløytnant Løytnant Fenrik Kadett
 Royal Norwegian Air Force[4]
General Generalløytnant Generalmajor Brigader Oberst Oberstløytnant Major Kaptein/
Rittmester
Løytnant Fenrik Kadett
NATO codeOF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D)Student officer

Enlisted

The following are the rank insignia for enlisted for the army, navy and air force respectively.

NATO codeOR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1
 Norwegian Army[4]
Sjefssersjant Sersjantmajor Kommandérsersjant Stabssersjant Oversersjant Sersjant 1. klasse Sersjant Korporal 1. klasse Korporal Visekorporal 1. klasse Visekorporal Ledende menig Menig
 Royal Norwegian Navy[4]
Sjefsmester Flaggmester Orlogsmester Flotiljemester Skvadronmester Senior kvartermester Kvartermester Ledende konstabel Konstabel Senior visekonstabel Visekonstabel Ledende menig Menig
Translation Command Master Chief Petty Officer Master Chief Petty Officer Senior Chief Petty Officer Flotilla Chief Petty Officer Petty Officer Senior Quartermaster Quartermaster Leading Constable Constable Senior Vice Constable Vice Constable Leading Seaman Seaman
 Royal Norwegian Air Force[4]
Sjefssersjant Sersjantmajor Kommandérsersjant Stabssersjant Oversersjant Vingsersjant Sersjant Seniorspesialist Ledende spesialist Spesialist Visespesialist Ledende flysoldat Flysoldat
Translation Command Sergeant Major Sergeant Major First Sergeant Master Sergeant Technical Sergeant Flight Sergeant Sergeant Corporal Lance Corporal Specialist Senior airman Leading Airman Airman
NATO codeOR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1

Historic ranks

System 1916–1930

Rank insignia of Norwegian Army and Navy in 1928

Officers

Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
Norway Norway
Army
[5]
Shoulder boards were only worn on the greatcoat.
General Generalløjtnant Generalmajor Oberst Oberstløitnant Major Kaptein/
Rittmester
Premierløitnant Sekondløitnant
Norway
Navy
[6]
Admiral Viseadmiral Kontreadmiral Kommandør Kommandørkaptein Kaptein Kapteinløytnant Premierløitnant Sekondløitnant

System ?–1975

Norwegian ranks 1962.

Officers

Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
Norway Army
General Generalløjtnant Generalmajor Oberst Oberstløitnant Major Kaptein/
Rittmester
Premierløitnant Sekondløitnant
Norway Navy
Admiral Viseadmiral Kontreadmiral Kommandør Kommandørkaptein Kaptein Premierløitnant Sekondløitnant Kadet

System 1975–2016

Norway did not have a non-commissioned officer system and thus Sergeant and Petty officer 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 brigadier inclusive), and the generals (Major General to General inclusive).

Fenrik (Ensign) used to be 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 used to be 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 (Rittmeister) instead of Kaptein (Captain).

The ranks of Grenader and Matros were bestowed upon soldiers who have finished the 12 months compulsory service and had signed one or more three-year contracts to continue serving. The ranks of Visekorporal/Visekonstabel/Vingsoldat (Corporal/Leading Rate) were 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) was a soldier who has finished the UB course (Utskrevet Befalskurs), a course intended to prepare conscripted soldiers for non-commissioned officer duties, but still under training in "the field". After one-year course and service these soldiers were qualified for the rank of Sersjant or Kvartermester.

Officers

NATO codeOF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D)Student officer
Norway Army &
Air force
General Generalløytnant Generalmajor Brigader Oberst Oberstløytnant Major Kaptein/
Rittmester
Løytnant Fenrik
Norway Navy
Admiral Viseadmiral Kontreadmiral Flaggkommandør Kommandør Kommandørkaptein Orlogskaptein Kapteinløytnant Løytnant Fenrik

Enlisted

The rank insignia for enlisted for the army, navy and air force respectively.

NATO codeOR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1
 Norwegian Army
Sersjant Korporal Visekorporal 1. klasse Visekorporal Menig
Sergeant Corporal Master Lance Corporal Lance Corporal Private
 Royal Norwegian Navy
Kvartermester Konstabel Visekonstabel Menig
Sergeant Corporal Seaman Junior Seaman
 Royal Norwegian Air Force
Sersjant Korporal Visekorporal 1. klasse Visekorporal Flysoldat
Sergeant Corporal Master Lance Corporal Lance Corporal Aircraftman

References

  1. "Forsvaret innfører ny personellordning" (in Norwegian). Regjeringen. 12 June 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  2. "Her er de nye gradene" (in Norwegian). Forsvaret. 11 December 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  3. "TJ 12-3-2 Bestemmelse for Hærens distinksjoner og andre uniformstegn, s. 10" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Forsvaret. 26 April 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  4. "Militære grader". forsvaret.no (in Norwegian). Norwegian Armed Forces. 4 February 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  5. Rühl, Moritz. "The Army of Norway 1939". Uniformology. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  6. Mollo, Andrew (1981). The Armed Forces of World War II. New York, p. 38.
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