Military ranks of the Swedish Armed Forces

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.

Current ranks

1 October 2019 a new rank system was introduced in the Swedish Armed Forces. The rank insignia below are as worn on the field uniform. Army, navy and air force rank titles are shown below.[1]

Rank insignia

Officers
Equivalent
NATO code
OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D) and student officer
 Swedish Army
No equivalent
General Generallöjtnant Generalmajor Brigadgeneral Överste Överstelöjtnant Major Kapten Löjtnant Fänrik Kadett
 Swedish Navy
No equivalent
Amiral Viceamiral Konteramiral Flottiljamiral Kommendör Kommendörkapten Örlogskapten Kapten Löjtnant Fänrik Kadett
Swedish Amphibious Corps
No equivalent
General Generallöjtnant Generalmajor Brigadgeneral Överste Överstelöjtnant Major Kapten Löjtnant Fänrik Kadett
 Swedish Air Force
No equivalent
General Generallöjtnant Generalmajor Brigadgeneral Överste Överstelöjtnant Major Kapten Löjtnant Fänrik Kadett
Equivalent
NATO code
OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D) and student officer
Others
Equivalent
NATO code
OR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1
 Swedish Army
Menig 2 Menig 1 Menig
Regementsförvaltare Förvaltare Fanjunkare Översergeant Sergeant Överfurir Furir Korpral Vicekorpral Menig 4 Menig 3
 Swedish Navy
Menig 2 Menig 1 Menig
Flottiljförvaltare Förvaltare Fanjunkare Översergeant Sergeant Överfurir Furir Korpral Vicekorpral Menig 4 Menig 3
Swedish Amphibious Corps
Menig 2 Menig 1 Menig
Regementsförvaltare Förvaltare Fanjunkare Översergeant Sergeant Överfurir Furir Korpral Vicekorpral Menig 4 Menig 3
 Swedish Air Force
Menig 2 Menig 1 Menig
Flottiljförvaltare Förvaltare Fanjunkare Översergeant Sergeant Överfurir Furir Korpral Vicekorpral Menig 4 Menig 3
Equivalent
NATO code
OR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1

Relative rank

OR- level ARMY
AMPHIBIOUS CORPS
NAVY
AIR FORCE
OF- level ARMY
AMPHIBIOUS CORPS
AIR FORCE
NAVY
OR 1 Menig, Menig 1-2 Menig, Menig 1-2
OR 2 Menig 3-4 Menig 3-4
OR 3 Vicekorpral Vicekorpral
OR 4 Korpral Korpral
OR 5 Furir Furir
Överfurir Överfurir
Kadett Kadett
OR 6 Sergeant Sergeant
Översergeant Översergeant OF 1 Fänrik Fänrik
OR 7 Fanjunkare Fanjunkare Löjtnant Löjtnant
OR 8 Förvaltare Förvaltare OF 2 Kapten Kapten
OF 3 Major Örlogskapten
OR 9 Regementsförvaltare Flottiljförvaltare OF 4 Överstelöjtnant Kommendörkapten
OF 5 Överste Kommendör
OF 6 Brigadgeneral Flottiljamiral
OF 7 Generalmajor Konteramiral
OF 8 Generallöjtnant Viceamiral
OF 9 General Amiral

Seniority for officers with the same relative rank are determined according to time-in-grade.

Source:[2]

Former ranks

Ranks 2009–2019

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.

OF
(Officer Ranks)
Other Ranks
(Specialistofficerare)
OF-9 (General, Amiral)
OF-8 (Generallöjtnant, Viceamiral)
OF-7 (Generalmajor, Konteramiral)
OF-6 (Brigadgeneral, Flottiljamiral)
OF-5 (Överste, Kommendör)
OF-4 (Överstelöjtnant, Kommendörkapten)
  OR-9 (Regements-/Flottiljförvaltare)
OF-3 (Major, Örlogskapten)  
OF-2 (Kapten)
  OR-8 (Förvaltare)
OF-1 (Löjtnant)
  OR-7 (Fanjunkare)
OF-1 (Fänrik)  
  OR-6 (Förste Sergeant)
GSS - Squad leaders, soldiers and seamen
OR-5 (Sergeant)
OR-4 (Korpral)
OR-3 (Vice korpral)
OR-2 (Menig 1kl)
OR-1 (Menig)
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.[3] Military ranks of (primarily) Great Britain have been used as a basis for harmonization with NATO.

Equivalent
NATO code
OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D) and student officer
 Swedish Army
(2009-2019)
No equivalent

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)
No equivalent
Amiral Viceamiral Konteramiral Flottiljamiral Kommendör Kommendörkapten Örlogskapten Kapten Löjtnant Fänrik Kadett
Swedish Amphibious Corps
(2009-2019)
No equivalent
General Generallöjtnant Generalmajor Brigadgeneral Överste Överstelöjtnant Major Kapten Löjtnant Fänrik Kadett
 Swedish Air Force
(2009-2019)
No equivalent
General Generallöjtnant Generalmajor Brigadgeneral Överste Överstelöjtnant Major Kapten Löjtnant Fänrik Kadett
Swedish Home Guard
(2009-2019)
No equivalent

No equivalent
Major Kapten Löjtnant Fänrik
Equivalent
NATO code
OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D) and student officer
Equivalent
NATO code
OR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1
 Swedish Army
(2009-2019)


No insignia
Menig 4 Menig 3 Menig 2 Menig 1
Regementsförvaltare Förvaltare Fanjunkare Sergeant Furir Korpral Vicekorpral Menig
 Swedish Navy
(2009-2019)
Sjoman 4 Sjoman 3 Sjoman 2 Sjoman 1
Flottiljförvaltare Förvaltare Fanjunkare Sergeant Furir Korpral Vicekorpral Sjoman
Swedish Amphibious Corps
(2009-2019)
Menig 4 Menig 3 Menig 2 Menig 1
Regementsförvaltare Förvaltare Fanjunkare Sergeant Furir Korpral Vicekorpral Menig
 Swedish Air Force
(2009-2019)
Menig 4 Menig 3 Menig 2 Menig 1
Flottiljförvaltare Förvaltare Fanjunkare Sergeant Furir Korpral Vicekorpral Menig
Swedish Home Guard
(2009-2019)
No equivalent

No equivalent
No insignia
Förvaltare Fanjunkare Sergeant Furir Korpral Menig 1 Menig
Equivalent
NATO code
OR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1
Branch insignia worn by OR-1 in the Army
InfantryCavalryArtilleryArmourAir-DefenseEngineerSignalSupplyArmy
(generic)

Ranks 1983–2009

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.

National Servicemen
Värnpliktiga
National Service Officers
Värnpliktsofficerare
Professional Officers (one-track officer system)
Yrkesofficerare (enhetsbefäl)
Army
Trainee
ranks
Menig3

Korpral
Furir

Cadet1
Överfurir4Sergeant

Cadet2
1st year
Fanjunkare4

Cadet2
2nd year
FänrikLöjtnantKaptenMajorÖverste-
löjtnant
ÖversteÖverste 1grBrigad-
general
General-
major
General-
löjtnant
General
  • (1) Specialist school where aspirants graduate as Sergeant (Specialist Officer) (year 2008)
  • (2) Military Academy, cadets graduate as Fänrik
  • (3) Privates wear insignia of branch. In this case the infantry.
  • (4) No new permanent appointments to these ranks after 1990.

Ranks 1972–1983

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
FurirÖverfurir

Kadett1
Sergeant

Kadett2-3
FanjunkareFänrikLöjtnantKaptenMajor
Örlogs-
kapten
Överste-
löjtnant

Kommendör-
kapten
Överste
Kommendör
Överste
1gr

Kommendör
1gr
General-
major

Konter-
amiral
General-
löjtnant

Viceamiral
General
Amiral

Ranks 1957–1972

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
KorpralFurirÖverfurirRustmästareSergeant

Kadett1-2
FanjunkareFörvaltareFänrikLöjtnantKaptenMajor
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.

Field uniform model 1958/1959 - rank structure of 1949

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

Uniform model 1939 - rank structure of 1949

In 1949 the relative rank of the warrant officers were elevated further so that

i. The lowest warrant officer, sergeant, had relative rank just below the lowest officer rank, fänrik. ii. The second warrant officer rank, fanjunkare, had relative rank between fänrik and löjtnant. iii. 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

Uniform model 1939

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
1942
Furir Korpral
Konstapel
Vicekorpral
Vicekonstapel
Menig

Uniform model 1923

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

Uniform model 1910

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

Notes

  1. Equivalent to OR-5
  2. Equivalent to OR-4
  3. Equivalent to OR-3
  4. Equivalent to OR-2

References

  1. "Nya gradbeteckningar införs". Försvarsmakten. 2019-10-01. Retrieved 2019-10-02.
  2. "Försvarsmaktens föreskrifter om personaltjänst. 27 november 2019." Försvarets författningssamling. FFS 2019:6, 2 § 8.
  3. Lieutenant Colonel Landström, Matthias (April 2008). "Utveckling av tvåbefälssystemet i Försvarsmakten 16100:66576": 5. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • Research: Ph.D. thesis in "War and the career system", Dagens Nyheter by Professor Mats Alvesson, researcher of military organization at Lunds University, and Karl Ydén at the University of Göteborg.
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