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 2023

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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] In 2023 the ranks of Korporal 1. klasse, Ledende konstabel, and Seniorspesialist were removed and the navy adopted new enlisted rank insignia.

Commissioned officers

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The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

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

Student officer ranks

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NATO code OF-1
 Norwegian Army[5]
Kadett i 3.avdeling Kadett i 2. avdeling Kadett i 1.avdeling Kadett i KS Gjennomgående

Other ranks

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The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

NATO code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
 Norwegian Army[4]
Sersjantmajor Kommandérsersjant Stabssersjant Oversersjant Sersjant 1. klasse Sersjant Korporal Visekorporal 1. klasse Visekorporal Ledende menig Menig
 Royal Norwegian Navy[4]
Flaggmester Orlogsmester Flotiljemester Skvadronmester Senior kvartermester Kvartermester Konstabel Senior visekonstabel Visekonstabel Ledende menig Menig
 Royal Norwegian Air Force[4]
Sersjantmajor Kommandérsersjant Stabssersjant Oversersjant Vingsersjant Sersjant Ledende spesialist Spesialist Visespesialist Ledende flysoldat Flysoldat
NATO code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1

Chief NCOs

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NATO code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6
 Norwegian Army[5]
Sersjantmajor Kommandérsersjant Stabssersjant Oversersjant
 Royal Norwegian Navy
Flaggmester Orlogsmester Flotiljemester Skvadronmester
 Royal Norwegian Air Force
Sersjantmajor Kommandérsersjant Stabssersjant Oversersjant

Historic ranks

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System 1916–1930

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Officers

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Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
 Norwegian Army
Shoulder boards were only worn on the greatcoat.[6]
General Generalløjtnant Generalmajor Oberst Oberstløitnant Major Kaptein/
Rittmester
Premierløitnant Sekondløitnant
 Royal Norwegian Navy[7]
Admiral Viseadmiral Kontreadmiral Kommandør Kommandørkaptein Kaptein Kapteinløytnant Premierløitnant Sekondløitnant

Enlisted

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Rank group Non-commissioned officer Enlisted
 Norwegian Army No insignia
Fanejunker Kommandersersjant Furer Sersjant Korporal Menig
 Royal Norwegian Navy
Underofficer 2den grad Underofficer 3dje grad Underofficer 4de grad Underofficer 5te grad Menig I klasse Menig I klasse Menig III klasse

System ?–1975

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Norwegian ranks 1962.

Officers

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

Enlisted

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System 1975–2016

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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

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NATO code OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1
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

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

NATO code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
 Norwegian Army
Sersjant Korporal Visekorporal 1. klasse Visekorporal Menig
 Royal Norwegian Navy
Kvartermester Konstabel Visekonstabel Menig
 Royal Norwegian Air Force
Sersjant Korporal Visekorporal 1. klasse Visekorporal Flysoldat

System 2016–2023

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NATO code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
 Norwegian Army[8]
Sersjantmajor Kommandérsersjant Stabssersjant Oversersjant Sersjant 1. klasse Sersjant Korporal 1. klasse Korporal Visekorporal 1. klasse Visekorporal Ledende menig Menig
 Royal Norwegian Navy[8]
Flaggmester Orlogsmester Flotiljemester Skvadronmester Senior kvartermester Kvartermester Ledende konstabel Konstabel Senior visekonstabel Visekonstabel Ledende menig Menig
 Royal Norwegian Air Force[8]
Sersjantmajor Kommandérsersjant Stabssersjant Oversersjant Vingsersjant Sersjant Seniorspesialist Ledende spesialist Spesialist Visespesialist Ledende flysoldat Flysoldat

References

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  1. ^ a b "Forsvaret innfører ny personellordning" [The armed forces are introducing a new personnel system] (in Norwegian). Regjeringen. 12 June 2015. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  2. ^ "Her er de nye gradene" [Here are the new grades] (in Norwegian). Forsvaret. 11 December 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  3. ^ "TJ 12-3-2 Bestemmelse for Hærens distinksjoner og andre uniformstegn, s. 10" [TJ 12-3-2 Provision for the Army's distinctions and other uniform insignia, p. 10] (PDF) (in Norwegian). Forsvaret. 26 April 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Militære grader" [Military ranks]. forsvaret.no (in Norwegian). Norwegian Armed Forces. 13 October 2023. Archived from the original on 26 November 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  5. ^ a b "TJ 12-3-2 Bestemmelse for Hærens distinksjoner og andre uniformstegn" [TJ 12-3-2 Provision for the Army's distinctions and other uniform insignia] (PDF). forsvaret.no (in Norwegian). 26 April 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 November 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  6. ^ Rühl, Moritz. "The Army of Norway 1939". Uniformology. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  7. ^ Mollo, Andrew (1981). The Armed Forces of World War II. New York, p. 38.
  8. ^ a b c "Militære grader". forsvaret.no (in Norwegian). Norwegian Armed Forces. 4 February 2021. Archived from the original on 13 February 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2021.