Oberstabsfeldwebel

Oberstabsfeldwebel (OStFw or OSF) is the highest Non-commissioned officer (NCO) rank in German Army and German Air Force. It is grouped as OR9 in NATO, equivalent to a Sergeant Major in the United States Army and a Warrant Officer Class 1 in the British Army. Attainment of this rank requires at least sixteen years since promotion to feldwebel and at least six years since promotion to hauptfeldwebel[1]

Not to be confused with the junior Austrian NCO-rank Oberstabswachtmeister.
Oberstabsfeldwebel
Heer and Luftwaffe shoulder insignia
Country Germany
Service branch German Army
 German Air Force
AbbreviationOStFw
RankGerman NCO rank
NATO rank codeOR-9
Non-NATO rankE-9
Formation1955
Next higher rankLeutnant
Next lower rankStabsfeldwebel
Equivalent ranksOberstabsbootsmann

In army/ air force context NCOs of this rank were formally addressed as Herr Oberstabsfeldwebel also informally / short Oberstaber.

The rank was introduced in the German Heer equivalent to the Marine grade Oberstabsbootsmann in 1955, and belongs to the grad group Unteroffiziere mit Portepee.

History

The rank is a comparatively new rank, and had not been used by any German military prior to in 1955. The Kriegsmarine, did however have a Stabsoberfeldwebel, used from 1939 to 1945.

Rank sequence

The sequence of ranks (top-down approach) in that particular group (Senior NCOs with portepee) is as follows:

References
  1. https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/slv_2002/__18.html

Sources
  • BROCKHAUS, Die Enzyklopädie in 24 Bänden (1796–2001), Band 5: 3-7653-3665-3, S. 487, Definition: Oberstabsfeldwebel
  • BROCKHAUS, Die Enzyklopädie in 24 Bänden (1796–2001), Band 7: 3-7653-3676-9, S. 185, Oberstabsfeldwebel
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