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Military ranks of Switzerland

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The ranks of the Swiss Armed Forces have changed little over the centuries, except for the introduction, in 2008, of new senior enlisted and non-commissioned officer ranks. The ranks are worn on shoulder boards with the appropriate background colour. Designations are given in the four national languages (German, French, Italian and Romansh), with an English translation which is used during overseas missions.

Enlisted ranks

Enlisted troops

Rank insignia[1] Name[1] Description
Epaulette Camouflage German French Italian Romansh
 English designation
No rank insignia Rekrut
(Rekr)		 Recrue
(recr)		 Recluta Recruit Recruit This rank is a position during the 4 months of Recruit School. A recruit gets promoted to E-1 after the Recruit School.
OR-1 - Private E-1 OR-1 - Private E-1 Soldat
(Sdt)		 Soldat
(Sdt)		 Soldato Schuldà Private E-1
OR-2 - Private E-2 OR-2 - Private E-2 Gefreiter
(Gfr)		 Appointé
(App)		 Appuntato Appuntà Private E-2 E-1 Privates can be promoted to E-2 after a minimum of 20 days' service in a refresher course, subject to good performance.[2] E-2 Privates also receive 7.5 CHF daily pay (as opposed to 6 CHF prior to promotion)[3]
OR-3 - Private first class OR-3 - Private first class Obergefreiter
(Obgfr)		 Appointé-chef
(App chef)		 Appuntato capo Primappuntà Private first class The rank "Obergefreiter" was removed as of 1 January 2019 with the WEA of the Swiss Army.[4] However those soldiers previously awarded this rank are able to keep it.

Non-commissioned officers (NCO)

Rank insignia[1] Name[1] Description
Epaulette Camouflage German French Italian Romansh
 English designation
OR-4 - Corporal OR-4 - Corporal Korporal
(Kpl)		 Caporal
(Cpl)		 Caporale
(Cpl)		 Caporal
(Cpl)		 Corporal Soldiers in this rank serve as specialist NCOs (e.g. arms specialization, CBRN specialization, postal soldiers). Since 2019, no new promotions into this rank are being issued anymore due to the Development of the Swiss Army project.
OR-5a - Sergeant OR-5a - Sergeant Wachtmeister
(Wm)		 Sergent
(Sgt)		 Sergente
(Sgt)		 Sergent
(Sgt)		 Sergeant Currently, the standard junior NCO rank
OR-5b - Sergeant first class OR-5b - Sergeant first class Oberwachtmeister
(Obwm)		 Sergent chef
(Sgt chef)		 Sergente capo
(Sgt capo)		 Caposergent
(Csgt)		 Sergeant first class This rank is awarded to Sergeants who receive very good performance assessments. Holders of this rank are appointed to be the platoon leader's replacement and serve an additional 10 days compared to the standard Sergeant rank.[5]

Higher NCOs

Rank insignia[6] Name[6] Description
Epaulette Camouflage German French Italian Romansh
 English designation
OR-6 - Sergeant major OR-6 - Sergeant major Feldweibel
(Fw)		 Sergent-major
(Sgtm)		 Sergente maggiore
(Sgtm)		 Primsergent
(Psgt)		 Sergeant major Lowest rank of "Higher non-commissioned officers" (NCO); it used to be a higher rank than Feldweibel and to oversee unit-level military service and operations. Since the 2003 reform a specialist rank only. Nowadays, Feldweibel are mainly seen in military police, NBC and other specialist units.
OR-7a - Quartermaster sergeant OR-7a - Quartermaster sergeant Fourier
(Four)		 Fourrier
(Four)		 Furiere
(Fur)		 Furier
(Fur)		 Quartermaster sergeant The higher NCO who administers a company's finances, subsistence and lodging.
OR-7b - Chief sergeant major OR-7b - Chief sergeant major Hauptfeldweibel
(Hptfw)		 Sergent-major chef
(Sgtm chef)		 Sergente maggiore capo
(sgtm capo)		 Capoprimsergent
(cpsgt)		 Chief sergeant major The Hauptfeldweibel oversees unit-level military service and operations.
WO-1 - Warrant officer WO-1 - Warrant officer Adjutant Unteroffizier
(Adj Uof)		 Adjudant sous-officier
(Adj Sof)		 Aiutante sottufficiale
(aiut suff)		 Adjutant sutuffizier
(Adj suff)		 Warrant officer
WO-2 - Staff warrant officer WO-2 - Staff warrant officer Stabsadjutant
(Stabsadj)		 Adjudant d'état-major
(Adj EM)		 Aiutante di stato maggiore
(aiut SM)		 Adjutant da stab
(Adj S)		 Staff warrant officer Battalion warrant officer
WO-3 - Master warrant officer WO-3 - Master warrant officer Hauptadjutant
(Hptadj)		 Adjudant-major
(Adjm)		 Aiutante maggiore
(Aiut magg)		 Adjutant principal
(Adj prin)		 Master warrant officer Brigade warrant officer
WO-4 - Chief warrant officer WO-4 - Chief warrant officer Chefadjutant
(Chefadj)		 Adjudant-chef
(Adj chef)		 Aiutante capo
(Aiut capo)		 Schefadjutant
(Schefadj)		 Chief warrant officer Division warrant officer

Officers

Subaltern officers and captains

Rank insignia[7] Name[7] Description
Epaulette Camouflage German French Italian Romansh
 English designation
OF-1a - Second lieutenant OF-1a - Second lieutenant Leutnant
(Lt)		 Lieutenant
(Lt)		 Tenente
(Ten)		 Litenet
(Lt)		 Second lieutenant Platoon's leader. Promotion to First Lieutenant occurs after a minimum of 3 refresher courses (subject to good performance) or after 6 refresher courses.[8]
OF-1b - First lieutenant OF-1b - First lieutenant Oberleutnant
(Oblt)		 Premier-lieutenant
(Plt)		 Primo tenente
(I ten)		 Primlitenant
(Plt)		 First lieutenant Platoon's leader, future company commander or new officers in battalion's staff (S1, 2, 4 & 6).
OF-2 - Captain OF-2 - Captain Hauptmann
(Hptm)		 Capitaine
(Cap)		 Capitano
(Cap)		 Chapitani
(Chap)		 Captain Company commander or officer in battalion's staff (S1, 2, 4 & 6).

Staff officers, specialist

Rank insignia[9] Name[9] Description
Epaulette Camouflage German French Italian Romansh
 English designation
OF-3 - Major OF-3 - Major Major
(Maj)		 Major
(Maj)		 Maggiore
(Magg)		 Maior
(Mai)		 Major Several assignments in a battalion's staff (Chief of Staff or S3), under special circumstances appointment to battalion commander, teacher or staff officer on a military academy, commander of a HQ company, staff officer in large units (BDE).
OF-4 - Lieutenant colonel OF-4 - Lieutenant colonel Oberstleutnant
(Oberstlt)		 Lieutenant-colonel
(Lt col)		 Tenente colonnello
(Ten col)		 Litinent colonel
(Lt col)		 Lieutenant colonel Battalion commander, staff officer in large units (BDE).
OF-5 - Colonel OF-5 - Colonel Oberst
(Oberst)		 Colonel
(Col)		 Colonnello
(Col)		 Colonel
(Col)		 Colonel Under special circumstances appointment to battalion commander, deputy commander of a brigade, staff officer in larger units (BDE).
Specialist officer Specialist officer Fachoffizier
(FachOf)		 Officier spécialiste
(Of spéc)		 Ufficiale specialista
(Uff spec)		 Uffizier spezialist
(Uff spez)		 Specialist officer "Specialist Officer", Duties authority and pay grade vary from OF-1 to OF-5.

Higher staff officers

Higher staff officers wear black lampasses on the outside seam of dress uniform trousers.

Rank insignia[10] Name[10] Description
Epaulette Camouflage Kepi[11] German French Italian Romansh
 English designation
OF-6 - Brigadier general OF-6 - Brigadier general Brigadier
(Br)		 Brigadier
(Br)		 Brigadiere Brigadier Brigadier general One-star rank, commander of a brigade, also military attaché
OF-7 - Major general OF-7 - Major general Divisionär
(Div)		 Divisionnaire
(div)		 Divisionario Divisionar Major general Two-star rank, commander of territorial division, also in an Army HQ or staff.
OF-8 - Lieutenant general OF-8 - Lieutenant general Korpskommandant
(KKdt)		 Commandant de corps
(cdt C)		 Comandante di corpo Cumandant da corp Lieutenant general Three-star rank, also the rank of the Chief of the Armed Forces, highest rank in peacetime.

Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces

Rank insignia[10] Name[10] Description
Epaulette Camouflage Kepi[11] German French Italian Romansh
 English designation
OF-9 - General of the Army OF-9 - General of the Army General
(Gen)		 Général Generale General General The rank is assigned only during times of war, when the Federal Assembly chooses one general to command the entire Swiss military. Otherwise the word "general" is not used.[12]

Shoulder board colour

Colour Branch[13]
Black Staff officers, engineers, intelligence, chaplaincy, sport, NBC defense
Dark green Infantry, military bands
Yellow Armored Corps
Red Artillery
Dark blue Air Force
Light grey Signal and command support corps
Royal Blue Medical corps, Red Cross service
Burgundy Rescue corps
Plum Logistic corps
Orange Territorial service
Dark grey Military police
Khaki Special Forces
Purple Armed Forces Legal Service
Blue Peace Support Operation

Timeline of ranks

Officers
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
(c. 1926)[14]
General[1]
General[1]
Corps General
Corps General
Division General
Division General
Colonel
Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel
Major
Major
Captain
Captain
First Lieutenant
First Lieutenant
Lieutenant
Lieutenant
(c. 1941)[15]
General[1]
General[1]
Corps General
Corps General
Division General
Division General
Brigade General
Brigade General
Colonel
Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel
Major
Major
Captain
Captain
First Lieutenant
First Lieutenant
Lieutenant
Lieutenant
General Oberstkorps­kommandant Oberstdivisionär Oberstbrigadier Oberst Oberst­leutnant Major Hauptmann Oberleutnant Leutnant
Général Colonel commandant de corps Colonel divisionnaire Colonel brigadier Colonel Lieutenant-colonel Major Capitaine Premier-lieutenant Lieutenant
Generale Colonnello comandante di corpo Colonnello divisionario Colonnello brigadiere Colonnello Tenente colonnello Maggiore Capitano Primo tenente Tenente
(1974–1996)[16]
General[1]
General[1]
Corps General
Corps General
Division General
Division General
Brigade General
Brigade General
Colonel
Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel
Major
Major
Captain
Captain
First Lieutenant
First Lieutenant
Lieutenant
Lieutenant
(1997–present)[17][9]
General[1]
General[1]
Corps General
Corps General
Division General
Division General
Brigade General
Brigade General
Colonel
Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel
Major
Major
Captain
Captain
First Lieutenant
First Lieutenant
Lieutenant
Lieutenant
General Korps­kommandant Divisionär Brigadier Oberst Oberst­leutnant Major Hauptmann Oberleutnant Leutnant
Général Commandant de corps Divisionnaire Brigadier Colonel Lieutenant-colonel Major Capitaine Premier-lieutenant Lieutenant
Generale Comandante di corpo Divisionario Brigadiere Colonnello Tenente colonnello Maggiore Capitano Primo tenente Tenente
Enlisted
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
(c. 1914)[18]
(c. 1926)[14]
(c. 1941)[19]
(1974–1996)[20]
(1997–2008)[21]
Stabsadjutant Adjutant unteroffizier Feldweibel Fourier Wachtmeister Korporal Gefreiter Soldat
Adjudant d'état-major Adjudant sous-officier Sergent-major Fourrier Sergent Caporal Appointé Soldat
Aiutante di stato maggiore Aiutante sottufficiale Sergente maggiore Furiere Sergente Caporale Appuntato Soldato
(2008–present)[22]
Chefadjutant Hauptadjutant Stabsadjutant Adjutant unteroffizier Hauptfeldweibel Fourier Feldweibel Oberwachtmeister Wachtmeister Korporal Obergefreiter[a] Gefreiter Soldat
Adjudant-chef Adjudant-major Adjudant d'état-major Adjudant sous-officier Sergent-major chef Fourrier Sergent-major Sergent chef Sergent Caporal Appointé-chef Appointé Soldat
Aiutante capo Aiutante maggiore Aiutante di stato maggiore Aiutante sottufficiale Sergent-major capo Furiere Sergente maggiore Sergent capo Sergente Caporale Appuntato capo Appuntato Soldato
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted

Notes

  1. No new appointments from 2019[4]

References

  1. AFLO 2008, p. 28.
  2. AFLO 2021, p. 5.
  3. "Sold und Erwerbsersatz (EO)" [Wages and income compensation]. vtg.admin.ch (in German). Swiss Armed Forces. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  4. "Bundesgesetz über die Armee und die Militärverwaltung: Artikel 102 Grade" [Federal Law on the Army and Military Administration: Article 102 Grades]. Fedlex: Die Publikationsplattform des Bundesrechts (in German). 3 February 1995. Archived from the original on 22 June 2026.
  5. AFLO 2021, p. 9.
  6. AFLO 2008, p. 29.
  7. AFLO 2008, p. 30.
  8. AFLO 2021, p. 16.
  9. AFLO 2008, pp. 30–31.
  10. AFLO 2008, p. 31.
  11. AFLO 1974, p. 13.
  12. McPhee, John (31 October 1983). "La Place de la Concorde Suisse-I". The New Yorker. p. 50. Archived from the original on 22 June 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  13. AFLO 2008, pp. 32–34.
  14. Mars-Verlag 1926, p. 2.
  15. Verlag Schoch & Ruchti 1941, Gradabzeichen der Offiziere.
  16. AFLO 1974, pp. 12–13.
  17. AFLO 1997, p. 5.
  18. Hofer & Co A.G. 1914, p. 1.
  19. Verlag Schoch & Ruchti 1941, p. 24.
  20. AFLO 1974, p. 14.
  21. AFLO 1997, pp. 4–5.
  22. AFLO 2008, pp. 28–29.
Sources

Wikimedia Commons logo Media related to Military rank insignia of Switzerland at Wikimedia Commons