Military ranks of Estonia

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Present Estonian system of rank insignia is a direct descendant of various systems used in the past in the Estonian Defence Forces. Some of the grades trace their name back to the period of World Wars, for instance, the rank of aspirant literally means an officer in training in military academies or voluntaries, serving as temporary officers.

Contents

Most of the Estonian Army ranks were established during the Estonian War of Independence and in the 1920s. These include the rank of kapral, which is a derivate of Italian caporale – much like the English equivalent of corporal. After the Soviet occupation ended in 1991, a new rank was established, creating for the first time a brigadier general rank in the armed forces of Estonia. In Estonia, rank insignia is worn on the chest. Estonian Junior NCOs are considered as a rank of a conscript NCO or NCO in reserve. In full-time service, junior sergeants and petty officers 3rd class are filling in various soldier positions, and naval ratings and are not taken as NCOs.

Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

NATO codeOF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1
Flag of Estonian Land Forces.svg  Estonian Land Forces [1]
Estonia-Army-OF-9.svg Estonia-Army-OF-8.svg Estonia-Army-OF-7.svg Estonia-Army-OF-6.svg Estonia-Army-OF-5.svg Estonia-Army-OF-4.svg Estonia-Army-OF-3.svg ES-Army-OF14.svg ES-Army-OF13.svg ES-Army-OF1b.svg ES-Army-OF1c.svg
Kindral Kindralleitnant Kindralmajor Brigaadikindral Kolonel Kolonelleitnant Major Kapten Leitnant Nooremleitnant Lipnik
Naval Jack of Estonia.svg  Estonian Navy [2]
Generic-Navy-12.svg Generic-Navy-11.svg Generic-Navy-10.svg Generic-Navy-9.svg Generic-Navy-8.svg Generic-Navy-7.svg Generic-Navy-6.svg Generic-Navy-5.svg Generic-Navy-4.svg Generic-Navy-3.svg Generic-Navy-2.svg
Admiral Viitseadmiral Kontradmiral Kommodoor Mereväekapten Kaptenleitnant Kaptenmajor Vanemleitnant Leitnant Nooremleitnant Lipnik
Flag of the Estonia Air Force.png  Estonian Air Force [3]
Estonia-AirForce-OF-9.svg Estonia-AirForce-OF-8.svg Estonia-AirForce-OF-7.svg Estonia-AirForce-OF-6.svg Estonia-AirForce-OF-5.svg Estonia-AirForce-OF-4.svg Estonia-AirForce-OF-3.svg Estonia-AirForce-OF-2.svg Estonia-AirForce-OF-1b.svg Estonia-AirForce-OF-1a.svg Estonia-AirForce-OF-(D).svg
Kindral KindralleitnantKindralmajorBrigaadikindralKolonelKolonelleitnantMajorKaptenLeitnantNooremleitnantLipnik
NATO codeOF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1

Student officer ranks

Rank groupOfficer candidatesStudent officers
ES-Army-OC9.jpg ES-Army-OC8.jpg ES-Army-OC7.jpg ES-Army-OC6.jpg ES-Army-OC5.jpg ES-Army-OC4.jpg ES-Army-OC3.jpg ES-Army-OC2.jpg ES-Army-OC1.jpg
3. õppeaasta kadett-veebel2. õppeaasta kadett-veebel3. õppeaasta kadett-seersant2. õppeaasta kadett-seersant1. õppeaasta kadett-seersant3. õppeaasta kadett2. õppeaasta kadett1. õppeaasta kadett1. semestri noorkadett

Other ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

NATO code OR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1
Flag of Estonian Land Forces.svg  Estonian Land Forces [1]
Estonia-Army-OR-9b.svg Estonia-Army-OR-9a.svg Estonia-Army-OR-8.svg Estonia-Army-OR-7.svg Estonia-Army-OR-6.svg Estonia-Army-OR-5.svg Estonia-Army-OR-4b.svg Estonia-Army-OR-4a.svg Estonia-Army-OR-2.svg Estonia-Army-OR-1.svg
ÜlemveebelStaabiveebelVanemveebel Veebel NooremveebelVanemseersantSeersantNooremseersantKapralReamees
Naval Jack of Estonia.svg  Estonian Navy [2]
Estonia-Navy-OR-9b.svg Estonia-Navy-OR-9a.svg Estonia-Navy-OR-8.svg Estonia-Navy-OR-7.svg Estonia-Navy-OR-6.svg Estonia-Navy-OR-5.svg Estonia-Navy-OR-4b.svg Estonia-Navy-OR-4a.svg Estonia-Navy-OR-2.svg Estonia-Navy-OR-1.svg
ÜlemveebelStaabiveebelVanemveebel Veebel NooremveebelVanemmaat Maat NooremmaatVanemmadrusMadrus
Flag of the Estonia Air Force.png  Estonian Air Force [3]
Ohuvaeulemveebel.png Ohuvaestbveebel.png Ohuvaevanemveebel.png Ohuvaeveebel.png Ohuvaenooremveebel.png Ohuvaevanemseersant.png Ohuvaeseersant.png Ohuvaenooremseersant.png Ohuvaekapral.png Ohuvaelane.png
ÜlemveebelStaabiveebelVanemveebel Veebel NooremveebelVanemseersantSeersantNooremseersantKapralReamees
NATO codeOR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1

Reserve ranks

Rank groupReserve
ES-Army-OA2.jpg ES-Army-OA1.jpg
Ajateenijate reservrühmaülema kursuse lõpetanuAjateenijate reservrühmaülema kursusel õppija

Historical Estonian Defence League insignia

The separate rank system used for the Estonian Defence League was officially abolished in 2013, and it now uses ranks and insignia identical to the Land Forces. [4]

Rank groupHigher and staff positionsSenior field positionsJunior field positions
Flag of Estonia.svg Estonian Defence League Kaitseliidu uelem.jpg Kaitseliidu Peastaabi uelem.jpg Maleva pealik.jpg Maleva Vaneminstruktor.jpg Malevkonna pealik.jpg Kompanii pealik.jpg Ryhma pealik.jpg Ruhmapealik eriuksustes.jpg Ryhmapealiku abi.jpg Jaopealik.jpg Jaopealiku abi.jpg
Kaitseliidu ülemKaitseliidu Peastaabi ülemKaitseliidu maleva pealikMaleva vaneminstruktorMalevkonna pealikKompanii pealikRühma pealikRühmapealik eriüksustesRühmapealiku abiJaopealikJaopealiku abi
PositionsCommanderChief of StaffChief of MalevSenior instructorChief of MalevkondChief of CompanyPlatoon commanderPlatoon commander
in special forces
Assistant platoon commanderSection commanderAssistant section commander

Historic ranks

Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank groupGeneral / flag officersSenior officersJunior officers
Flag of Estonian Land Forces.svg  Estonian Land Forces
(1936–1940) [5]
Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg
Kindral KindralleitnantKindralmajorKolonelKolonelleitnantMajorKaptenLeitnantNooremleitnantLipnik

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "Sümboolika: Maaväe Auastmed". mil.ee (in Estonian). Estonian Defence Forces. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Sümboolika: Mereväe Auastmed". mil.ee (in Estonian). Estonian Defence Forces. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Sümboolika: Õhuväe Auastmed". mil.ee (in Estonian). Estonian Defence Forces. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  4. "Kaitseliidu eraldusmärgid" (in Estonian). Riigi Teataja.
  5. "Estonian Army & Navy Ranks 1936-1940". 25 January 2005. Retrieved 2 October 2024.