Military ranks of the Swedish Armed Forces

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Military ranks of the Swedish Armed Forces shows the rank system used in the Swedish Armed Forces today, as well as changes during the 20th century due to changes in the personnel structure.

On 1 October 2019 a new rank system was introduced in the Swedish Armed Forces. The system is unique and does not follow the conventional system used by most of the World's armed forces. The ranks are grouped as officers (OF1 - OF9), specialist officers (OR6 - OR9), and as section commanders, soldiers and sailors (GSS in Swedish) (OR1 - OR5). Specialist officers are more like warrant officers in the US ranking systems as they mostly hold technical positions. The rank insignia below are worn on the field uniform. Army, navy and air force rank titles are shown below.^[1]

From 2023, the rank of Överfanjunkare has been introduced in the Swedish Armed Forces.^[2]

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
Field uniform[3]
Swedish Army[3] v t e
			General		Generallöjtnant		Generalmajor		Brigadgeneral		Överste		Överstelöjtnant		Major		Kapten		Löjtnant			Fänrik
Swedish Navy[3] v t e
			Amiral		Viceamiral		Konteramiral		Flottiljamiral		Kommendör		Kommendörkapten		Örlogskapten		Kapten		Löjtnant			Fänrik
Swedish Amphibious Corps[3] v t e
			General		Generallöjtnant		Generalmajor		Brigadgeneral		Överste		Överstelöjtnant		Major		Kapten		Löjtnant			Fänrik
Swedish Air Force[3] v t e
			General		Generallöjtnant		Generalmajor		Brigadgeneral		Överste		Överstelöjtnant		Major		Kapten		Löjtnant			Fänrik
NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1

NATO code	OR-5
Field uniform[3]
Swedish Army[3]
Swedish Navy[3]
Swedish Amphibious Corps[3]
Swedish Air Force[3]
Name	Kadett

The rank insignia of specialist officers (OR6 - OR9) and enlisted personnel (OR1 - OR5).

NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
Field uniform[3]
Swedish Army[3] v t e
	Regementsförvaltare						Förvaltare		Överfanjunkare	Fanjunkare	Översergeant			Sergeant			Överfurir			Furir			Korpral				Vicekorpral		Menig 4		Menig 3		Menig 2	Menig 1	Menig
Swedish Navy[3] v t e
	Flottiljförvaltare						Förvaltare		Överfanjunkare	Fanjunkare	Översergeant			Sergeant			Överfurir			Furir			Korpral				Vicekorpral		Menig 4		Menig 3		Menig 2	Menig 1	Menig
Swedish Amphibious Corps[3] v t e
	Regementsförvaltare						Förvaltare		Överfanjunkare	Fanjunkare	Översergeant			Sergeant			Överfurir			Furir			Korpral				Vicekorpral		Menig 4		Menig 3		Menig 2	Menig 1	Menig
Swedish Air Force[3] v t e
	Flottiljförvaltare						Förvaltare		Överfanjunkare	Fanjunkare	Översergeant			Sergeant			Överfurir			Furir			Korpral				Vicekorpral		Menig 4		Menig 3		Menig 2	Menig 1	Menig
NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1

Since 2009, there are three categories of ranks, Officerare, Specialistofficerare and GSS- Gruppbefäl, soldater och sjömän

Officerare (Officers)

Officers lead units from platoon and up. They are trained at the Military Academy Karlberg in a three-year academic program(180 ECTS credits) and graduate as fänrik. Cadets with no prior service must complete a 6-9 months preparatory course before they start at the academy.

Specialistofficerare (Senior NCOs, lit. Specialist Officers)

Specialistofficerare are educated at specialist schools and centres for 1,5 years and graduate as Förste Sergeant. Experienced soldiers who have served as corporals and sergeants may take a shortened course. Civilians must complete a preparatory course before the 1.5 year specialist training starts.

GSS - Gruppbefäl, soldater och sjömän (junior NCOs, soldiers and seamen, lit. Squad leaders, soldiers and seamen)

The two highest ranks in this category, korpral and sergeant, form their own sub-category, gruppbefäl. They command squads of approx. 8 men. Ordinary soldiers are given the rank menig 1 klass with different insignia depending on how long they have served.

When the professional NCO corps was reintroduced in 2009 it was decided that some ranks in this category should, like the old underofficerare ranks in 1960–1972, have a relative rank higher than the most junior officers. The current relative ranks are shown in the table below.

Rank insignia

The table below shows ranks according to seniority, with the most senior to the left. OF denotes officers, OR other ranks (as per STANAG 2116). Those ranks were ratified by the supreme commander on October 24, 2008, and became effective as of January 1, 2009.^[4] Military ranks of (primarily) Great Britain have been used as a basis for harmonization with NATO.

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Swedish Army (2009-2019) v t e																																		No insignia
			General		Generallöjtnant		Generalmajor		Brigadgeneral		Överste		Överstelöjtnant		Major		Kapten		Löjtnant			Fänrik			Kadett 3rd year[note 1]			Kadett 2nd year[note 2]			Kadett 1st year[note 3]			Kadett Officer Candidate[note 4]
Swedish Navy (2009-2019) v t e
			Amiral		Viceamiral		Konteramiral		Flottiljamiral		Kommendör		Kommendörkapten		Örlogskapten		Kapten		Löjtnant			Fänrik			Kadett
Swedish Amphibious Corps (2009-2019) v t e
			General		Generallöjtnant		Generalmajor		Brigadgeneral		Överste		Överstelöjtnant		Major		Kapten		Löjtnant			Fänrik			Kadett
Swedish Air Force (2009-2019) v t e
			General		Generallöjtnant		Generalmajor		Brigadgeneral		Överste		Överstelöjtnant		Major		Kapten		Löjtnant			Fänrik			Kadett
Swedish Home Guard (2009-2019) v t e
															Major		Kapten		Löjtnant			Fänrik
Rank group	General/flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Swedish Army (2009-2019) v t e																											No insignia
																													Menig 4 Menig 3 Menig 2 Menig 1
	Regementsförvaltare						Förvaltare		Fanjunkare		Förste Sergeant						Sergeant						Korpral				Vicekorpral								Menig
Swedish Navy (2009-2019) v t e																													Sjoman 4 Sjoman 3 Sjoman 2 Sjoman 1
	Flottiljförvaltare						Förvaltare		Fanjunkare		Förste Sergeant						Sergeant						Korpral				Vicekorpral								Sjoman
Swedish Amphibious Corps (2009-2019) v t e																													Menig 4 Menig 3 Menig 2 Menig 1
	Regementsförvaltare						Förvaltare		Fanjunkare		Förste Sergeant						Sergeant						Korpral				Vicekorpral								Menig
Swedish Air Force (2009-2019) v t e																													Menig 4 Menig 3 Menig 2 Menig 1
	Flottiljförvaltare						Förvaltare		Fanjunkare		Förste Sergeant						Sergeant						Korpral				Vicekorpral								Menig
Swedish Home Guard (2009-2019) v t e																													No insignia
							Förvaltare		Fanjunkare		Förste Sergeant						Sergeant						Korpral						Menig 1						Menig
Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted

Branch insignia worn by OR-1 in the Army
Infantry	Cavalry	Artillery	Armour	Air-Defense	Engineer	Signal	Supply	Army (generic)

A major change in the personnel structure in 1983 (NBO 1983), merged the three professional corps of platoon officers, company officers, and regimental officers into a one-track career system within a single corps called professional officers (yrkesofficerare). The three messes were also merged to one.

Officers

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
																	National Service Officers Värnpliktsofficerare
			Professional Officers (one-track officer system) Yrkesofficerare (enhetsbefäl)
Swedish Army (1983-2009) v t e
			General		Generallöjtnant		Generalmajor		Brigadgeneral		Överste av 1. graden	Överste	Överstelöjtnant		Major		Kapten		Löjtnant			Fänrik			Kadett 2nd year[note 5]						Kadett 1st year[note 6]

Others

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
									National Servicemen Värnpliktiga
Swedish Army (1983-2009) v t e																													No insignia
									Fanjunkare		Sergeant						Kadett[note 7]		Överfurir[note 8]		Furir		Korpral[note 9]						Menig[note 10]

In 1972 the personnel structure changed, reflecting increased responsibilities of warrant and non-commissioned officers, renaming the underofficerare as kompaniofficerare, giving them the same ranks as company grade officers (fänrik, löjtnant, kapten). Underbefäl was renamed plutonsofficerare and given the rank titles of sergeant and fanjunkare, although their relative ranks were now placed below fänrik. The commissioned officers were renamed regementsofficerare, beginning with löjtnant. The three-track career system was maintained, as well as three separate messes.

National Servicemen (Värnpliktiga)						National Service Officers (Värnpliktsofficerare)
			Platoon Officers (Plutonsofficerare NCO)			Company Officers (Kompaniofficerare Limited Duty Officers)
							Regimental Officers (Regementsofficerare Officers)
Regular ranks
Trainee ranks	Menig Korpral	Furir	Överfurir Kadett 1	Sergeant Kadett 2-3	Fanjunkare	Fänrik	Löjtnant	Kapten	Major Örlogs- kapten	Överste- löjtnant Kommendör- kapten	Överste Kommendör	Överste 1gr Kommendör 1gr	General- major Konter- amiral	General- löjtnant Viceamiral	General Amiral

National Servicemen (Värnpliktiga)						National Service W.O. (Värnpliktiga underofficerare)			National Service Officers (Värnpliktiga officerare)
		Underbefäl (NCO)				Underofficerare (Warrant Officers)			Officerare (Commissioned Officers)
Regular ranks
Trainee ranks	Menig Vicekorpral	Korpral	Furir	Överfurir	Rustmästare	Sergeant Kadett1-2	Fanjunkare	Förvaltare	Fänrik	Löjtnant	Kapten	Major Örlogs- kapten	Överste- löjtnant Komendör- kapten	Överste Komendör	General- major Konter- amiral	General- löjtnant Viceamiral	General Amiral

Note that the rank of Fältmarskalk (Field Marshal) was a de jure rank before the reform of 1972, even though it has not been used since 1824.^{[citation needed]}

	Officerare
Rank insignia on collar patch
Rank	General	Generallöjtnant	Generalmajor	Överste	Överstelöjtnant	Major	Kapten Ryttmästare	Löjtnant	Fänrik

	Underofficerare			Kadetter		Underbefäl					Meniga
Rank insignia on collar patch
Rank	Förvaltare	Fanjunkare Styckjunkare	Sergeant	Sergeant Senior Year at Karlberg	Sergeant Junior Year at Karlberg	Rustmästare	Överfurir	Furir	Korpral Konstapel	Vicekorpral Vicekonstapel	Menig Infantry

In 1949 the relative rank of the warrant officers were elevated further so that to the following effect:

1. The lowest warrant officer, sergeant, had relative rank just below the lowest officer rank, fänrik.
2. The second warrant officer rank, fanjunkare, had relative rank between fänrik and löjtnant.
3. The highest warrant officer rank, förvaltare, had relative rank between first lieutenant and captain.

	Officerare
Badge m/46 to field cap
Rank insignia
Rank	General	Generallöjtnant	Generalmajor	Överste	Överstelöjtnant	Major	Kapten Ryttmästare	Löjtnant	Fänrik

	Underofficerare			Kadetter	Underbefäl					Meniga
Badge to field cap	m/46	m/46	m/46		m/46-57	m/46-52	m/46-52	m/46-52	m/46-52
Rank insignia
Rank	Förvaltare	Fanjunkare Styckjunkare	Sergeant	Sergeant Junior Year at Karlberg	Rustmästare 1957	Överfurir	Furir	Korpral Konstapel	Vicekorpral Vicekonstapel	Menig

	Officerare
Badge m/40 to field cap
Rank insignia m/39
Rank	General	Generallöjtnant	Generalmajor	Överste	Överstelöjtnant	Major	Kapten Ryttmästare	Löjtnant	Fänrik

	Underofficerare			Manskap
Badge m/40 to field cap
Rank insignia m/39
Rank	Förvaltare	Fanjunkare Styckjunkare	Sergeant	Överfurir created 1942	Furir	Korpral Konstapel	Vicekorpral Vicekonstapel	Menig

In a reform 1926 the relative rank of the then senior warrant officer, fanjunkare, was increased to be equal with the junior officer rank underlöjtnant and above the most junior officer rank fänrik.

	Officerare
Cap m/23
Rank insignia
Rank insignia on greatcoat
Rank	General	Generallöjtnant	Generalmajor	Överste	Överstelöjtnant	Major	Kapten Ryttmästare	Löjtnant	Underlöjtnant Abolished 1937	Fänrik Also a crown in silver on each lower sleeve until 1937.

	Underofficerare			Manskap
Cap m/23
Rank insignia
Rank insignia on greatcoat
Rank	Fanjunkare Styckjunkare with relative rank as Underlöjtnant	Fanjunkare Styckjunkare	Sergeant	Furir	Korpral Konstapel	Vicekorpral	Menig

When an army based on national service (conscription) was introduced in 1901 all commissioned officers had ranks that were senior to the warrant officers (underofficerare) and non-commissioned officers (underbefäl).

	Officerare
Badge m/14 for fur cap
Badge m/10-14 for hat
Rank insignia m/10
Rank	General	Generallöjtnant	Generalmajor	Överste	Överstelöjtnant	Major	Kapten Ryttmästare	Löjtnant	Underlöjtnant Fänrik 1915

	Underofficerare		Manskap
Badge m/14 for fur cap			-
Badge m/10-14 for hat
Rank insignia m/10
Rank	Fanjunkare Styckjunkare	Sergeant	Distinktionskorpral Förste konstapel Furir 1915	Korpral Konstapel	Vicekorpral	Menig

• Alvesson, Mats; Yden, Karl (2008-11-06). "Karriärstyrda officerare skapar inkompetent försvar" (PhD in "War and the career system" thesis) (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 2008-12-10. Retrieved 2024-03-08.

• Military Ranks of Kingdom of Sweden