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

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

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] v t e
			General		Generalløytnant		Generalmajor		Brigader		Oberst		Oberstløytnant		Major		Kaptein/ Rittmester		Løytnant			Fenrik
Royal Norwegian Navy [4] v t e
			Admiral		Viseadmiral		Kontreadmiral		Flaggkommandør		Kommandør		Kommandørkaptein		Orlogskaptein		Kapteinløytnant		Løytnant			Fenrik
Royal Norwegian Air Force [4] v t e
			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

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

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] v t e
	Sersjantmajor						Kommandérsersjant		Stabssersjant		Oversersjant						Sersjant 1. klasse			Sersjant			Korporal				Visekorporal 1. klasse		Visekorporal						Ledende menig	Menig
Royal Norwegian Navy [4] v t e
	Flaggmester						Orlogsmester		Flotiljemester		Skvadronmester						Senior kvartermester			Kvartermester			Konstabel				Senior visekonstabel		Visekonstabel						Ledende menig	Menig
Royal Norwegian Air Force [4] v t e
	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

See also: Chief sergeant

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

System 1916–1930

Officers

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

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

Norwegian ranks 1962.

Officers

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

System 1975–2016

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

NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1
Army & Air force (1975–1997) [8]
			General		Generalløytnant		Generalmajor				Oberst I	Oberst II	Oberstløytnant		Major		Kaptein/ Rittmester		Løytnant			Fenrik
Navy (1975–1997) [9] [10]
			Admiral		Viseadmiral		Kontreadmiral				Kommandør I	Kommandør II	Kommandørkaptein		Orlogskaptein		Kapteinløytnant		Løytnant			Fenrik
Army & Air force (1997–2016)
			General		Generalløytnant		Generalmajor		Brigader		Oberst		Oberstløytnant		Major		Kaptein/ Rittmester		Løytnant			Fenrik
Navy (1997–2016)
			Admiral		Viseadmiral		Kontreadmiral		Flaggkommandør		Kommandør		Kommandørkaptein		Orlogskaptein		Kapteinløytnant		Løytnant			Fenrik

Enlisted

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 (c. 1988) [11]
																	Sersjant						Korporal						Visekorporal						Menig
Royal Norwegian Navy (c. 1988) [9]
											Flaggkvartermester						Kvartermester I Klasse			Kvartermester			Konstabel I Klasse						Konstabel II Klasse			Konstabel III Klasse			Menig
Royal Norwegian Air Force (c. 1988) [12]
																	Sersjant						Korporal						Vingsoldat						Flysoldat
Norwegian Army (–2016)
																	Sersjant						Korporal				Visekorporal 1. klasse		Visekorporal						Menig
Royal Norwegian Navy (–2016)
																	Kvartermester						Konstabel						Visekonstabel						Menig
Royal Norwegian Air Force (–2016)
																	Sersjant						Korporal				Visekorporal 1. klasse		Visekorporal						Flysoldat

System 2016–2023

NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
Norwegian Army [13]
	Sersjantmajor						Kommandérsersjant		Stabssersjant		Oversersjant						Sersjant 1. klasse			Sersjant			Korporal 1. klasse		Korporal		Visekorporal 1. klasse		Visekorporal						Ledende menig	Menig
Royal Norwegian Navy [13]
	Flaggmester						Orlogsmester		Flotiljemester		Skvadronmester						Senior kvartermester			Kvartermester			Ledende konstabel		Konstabel		Senior visekonstabel		Visekonstabel						Ledende menig	Menig
Royal Norwegian Air Force [13]
	Sersjantmajor						Kommandérsersjant		Stabssersjant		Oversersjant						Vingsersjant			Sersjant			Seniorspesialist		Ledende spesialist		Spesialist		Visespesialist						Ledende flysoldat	Flysoldat

References

1. "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. "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. "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. Davis 1988, pp. 124–125, 128–129.
9. Davis 1988, pp. 126–127.
10. Børresen, Jacob (22 February 2025). "kommandør". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Retrieved 10 August 2025.
11. Davis 1988, pp. 124–125.
12. Davis 1988, pp. 128–129.
13. "Militære grader". forsvaret.no (in Norwegian). Norwegian Armed Forces. 4 February 2021. Archived from the original on 13 February 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2021.

Works cited

• Davis, Brian L. (1988). NATO Forces: An Illustrated Reference to Their Organization and Insignia . Blandford Press. ISBN   0-7137-1737-8 . Retrieved 31 May 2025.

External links

• "Publikasjoner" [Publications]. Forsvarshistorisk museum (in Norwegian). Retrieved 10 August 2025.