🇦🇹
Austria vs Switzerland Military Ranks
The Austrian Army has 21 ranks — 11 officer and 10 enlisted — from Rekrut up to General. Below: all 21 ranks across 1 branch (Army), aligned tier by tier with their Swiss equivalents.
Branches
1
Ranks documented
21
Active personnel
22K
Army
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 20 of 21 matched
| 🇦🇹 Austria · Army | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
General
|
OF-9 General |
General / Général / Generale / General
|
Generalleutnant
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Korpskommandant / Commandant de corps / Comandante di corpo / Cumandant da corp
|
Generalmajor
|
OF-7 Major General |
Divisionär / Divisionnaire / Divisionario / Divisionar
|
Brigadier
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Brigadier / Brigadier / Brigadiere / Brigadier
|
Oberst
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Oberst / Colonel / Colonnello / Colonel
|
Oberstleutnant
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Oberstleutnant / Lieutenant-colonel / Tenente colonnello / Litinent colonel
|
Major
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Major / Major / Maggiore / Maior
|
Hauptmann
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Hauptmann / Capitaine / Capitano / Chapitani
|
Oberleutnant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Oberleutnant / Premier-lieutenant / Primo tenente / Primlitenant
Leutnant / Lieutenant / Tenente / Litenet
|
Leutnant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Oberleutnant / Premier-lieutenant / Primo tenente / Primlitenant
Leutnant / Lieutenant / Tenente / Litenet
|
Fähnrich
|
OF-D Student Officer | – |
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Vizeleutnant
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Chefadjutant / Adjudant-chef / Aiutante capo / Schefadjutant
Hauptadjutant / Adjudant-major / Aiutante maggiore / Adjutant principal
|
Offiziersstellvertreter
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Chefadjutant / Adjudant-chef / Aiutante capo / Schefadjutant
Hauptadjutant / Adjudant-major / Aiutante maggiore / Adjutant principal
|
Oberstabswachtmeister
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Stabsadjutant / Adjudant d'état-major / Aiutante di stato maggiore / Adjutant da stab
Adjutant Unteroffizier / Adjudant sous-officier / Aiutante sottufficiale / Adjutant sutuffizier
|
Stabswachtmeister
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Hauptfeldweibel / Sergent-major chef / Sergente maggiore capo / Capoprimsergent
Fourier / Fourrier / Furiere / Furier
|
Oberwachtmeister
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Feldweibel / Sergent-major / Sergente maggiore / Primsergent
|
Wachtmeister
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Oberwachtmeister / Sergent chef / Sergente capo / Caposergent
Wachtmeister / Sergent / Sergente / Sergent
|
Zugsführer
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Korporal / Caporal / Caporale / Caporal
|
Korporal
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Obergefreiter / Appointé-chef / Appuntato capo / Primappuntà
|
Gefreiter
|
OR-2 Private |
Gefreiter / Appointé / Appuntato / Appuntà
|
Rekrut
|
OR-1 Private |
Soldat / Soldat / Soldato / Schuldà
|
Overview
- Land Forces (Landstreitkräfte): Conducts ground operations, mechanized warfare, and territorial defense. The component is organized into four combat brigades—including infantry, mechanized infantry, and mountain warfare units—and nine provincial military commands. It operates armored systems such as Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks and Ulan infantry fighting vehicles.
- Air Force (Luftstreitkräfte): Operates fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters to monitor national airspace and support ground maneuvers. Headquarters are located in Salzburg. Main platforms include Eurofighter Typhoon interceptors, C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, and AW169 multi-purpose helicopters.
- Special Forces (Spezialeinsatzkräfte): Conducts direct action, special reconnaissance, and counter-terrorism. Based in Wiener Neustadt, the component's operational core is the Jagdkommando. It deploys for hostage rescue and unconventional warfare missions both domestically and in international operations.
- Cyber Forces (Cyber-Kräfte): Secures and protects military information and communication technology networks. Managed by Directorate 6 (ICT & Cyber), the branch conducts electronic warfare and defensive cyber operations. It maintains secure data transmission and system integrity across all operational domains.
- Joint Force Organization: Austria has no navy, marine corps, or coast guard due to its landlocked geography. The military operates under constitutional neutrality, employing a militia-based reserve system (Miliz) and compulsory six-month conscription to support active-duty personnel.
Austria Military
Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) and other open sources.
Insignia image credits
- Skjoldbro — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Oberst, Oberstleutnant, Major, Hauptmann, Oberleutnant, Leutnant, Fähnrich, Vizeleutnant, Offiziersstellvertreter, Oberstabswachtmeister, Stabswachtmeister, Oberwachtmeister, Wachtmeister, Zugsführer, Korporal, Gefreiter, Rekrut
- SuperRicky1Bundesministerium für Landesverteidigung — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: General, Generalleutnant, Generalmajor, Brigadier