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Ranks· 🇨🇭 Switzerland

Swiss Military Ranks

The Swiss Army has 23 ranks — 10 officer and 13 enlisted — from Soldat / Soldat / Soldato / Schuldà up to General / Général / Generale / General. Below: all 23 ranks across 1 branch (Army), with insignia and NATO-code equivalents.

Branches

Ranks documented

Active personnel

19K

Army

Rank Ladder Highest first · 23 of 23 matched

🇨🇭 Switzerland · Army	NATO code	Equivalent in
Officers
General / Général / Generale / General	OF-9 General	General
Korpskommandant / Commandant de corps / Comandante di corpo / Cumandant da corp	OF-8 Lieutenant General	Lieutenant general
Divisionär / Divisionnaire / Divisionario / Divisionar	OF-7 Major General	Major general
Brigadier / Brigadier / Brigadiere / Brigadier	OF-6 Brigadier General	Brigadier general
Oberst / Colonel / Colonnello / Colonel	OF-5 Colonel	Colonel
Oberstleutnant / Lieutenant-colonel / Tenente colonnello / Litinent colonel	OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel	Lieutenant colonel
Major / Major / Maggiore / Maior	OF-3 Major / Commandant	Major
Hauptmann / Capitaine / Capitano / Chapitani	OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant	Captain
Oberleutnant / Premier-lieutenant / Primo tenente / Primlitenant	OF-1 Lieutenant	First lieutenant Second lieutenant
Leutnant / Lieutenant / Tenente / Litenet	OF-1 Lieutenant	First lieutenant Second lieutenant
Enlisted ranks
Chefadjutant / Adjudant-chef / Aiutante capo / Schefadjutant	OR-9 Sergeant Major	Command sergeant major Sergeant major
Hauptadjutant / Adjudant-major / Aiutante maggiore / Adjutant principal	OR-9 Sergeant Major	Command sergeant major Sergeant major
Stabsadjutant / Adjudant d'état-major / Aiutante di stato maggiore / Adjutant da stab	OR-8 1st Sergeant	First sergeant Master sergeant
Adjutant Unteroffizier / Adjudant sous-officier / Aiutante sottufficiale / Adjutant sutuffizier	OR-8 1st Sergeant	First sergeant Master sergeant
Hauptfeldweibel / Sergent-major chef / Sergente maggiore capo / Capoprimsergent	OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class	Sergeant first class
Fourier / Fourrier / Furiere / Furier	OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class	Sergeant first class
Feldweibel / Sergent-major / Sergente maggiore / Primsergent	OR-6 Staff Sergeant	Staff sergeant
Oberwachtmeister / Sergent chef / Sergente capo / Caposergent	OR-5 Sergeant	Sergeant
Wachtmeister / Sergent / Sergente / Sergent	OR-5 Sergeant	Sergeant
Korporal / Caporal / Caporale / Caporal	OR-4 Corporal	Specialist Corporal
Obergefreiter / Appointé-chef / Appuntato capo / Primappuntà	OR-3 Private 1st Class	Private first class
Gefreiter / Appointé / Appuntato / Appuntà	OR-2 Private	Private
Soldat / Soldat / Soldato / Schuldà	OR-1 Private	Private

Overview

Land Forces (Heer): Conducts ground operations, maneuver warfare, and territorial defense. Under the Swiss militia system, it relies on conscripted citizens supported by a small cadre of professional officers. Units are organized into three mechanized brigades (1, 4, and 11) and four territorial divisions, incorporating armored, infantry, artillery, and engineering assets.
Air Force (Luftwaffe): Performs air defense, air transport, and tactical reconnaissance. It operates combat aircraft, including F/A-18 Hornets, alongside transport helicopters and ground-based air defense systems. Main airbases are situated at Payerne, Meiringen, Emmen, Alpnach, Locarno, and Dübendorf.
Cyber Command (Kommando Cyber): Conducts defensive and offensive cyber operations, electronic warfare, and military communications. It incorporates the 41st Command Support Brigade and coordinates digital defense across all networks. The command operates to counter threats in the electromagnetic and information domains.
Special Forces Command (Kommando Spezialkräfte): Directs military special operations, reconnaissance, and rescue missions. It commands professional units, such as the Army Reconnaissance Detachment 10 (AAD 10), alongside specialized militia grenadier and parachute reconnaissance units. The command is headquartered in Rivera and reports to the Joint Operations Command.
Military Police Command (Militärpolizeikommando): Serves as the professional and militia police corps of the armed forces, carrying out security, traffic, and criminal police duties. It provides protective security for military assets and supports civilian authorities during emergencies. Headquartered in Sion, the command manages operations through four geographical regions.

Switzerland Military

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Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) and other open sources.

Insignia image credits

CC0, via Wikimedia Commons: General / Général / Generale / General, Korpskommandant / Commandant de corps / Comandante di corpo / Cumandant da corp, Divisionär / Divisionnaire / Divisionario / Divisionar, Brigadier / Brigadier / Brigadiere / Brigadier, Oberst / Colonel / Colonnello / Colonel, Oberstleutnant / Lieutenant-colonel / Tenente colonnello / Litinent colonel, Major / Major / Maggiore / Maior, Hauptmann / Capitaine / Capitano / Chapitani, Oberleutnant / Premier-lieutenant / Primo tenente / Primlitenant, Leutnant / Lieutenant / Tenente / Litenet, Chefadjutant / Adjudant-chef / Aiutante capo / Schefadjutant, Hauptadjutant / Adjudant-major / Aiutante maggiore / Adjutant principal, Stabsadjutant / Adjudant d'état-major / Aiutante di stato maggiore / Adjutant da stab, Adjutant Unteroffizier / Adjudant sous-officier / Aiutante sottufficiale / Adjutant sutuffizier, Hauptfeldweibel / Sergent-major chef / Sergente maggiore capo / Capoprimsergent, Fourier / Fourrier / Furiere / Furier, Feldweibel / Sergent-major / Sergente maggiore / Primsergent, Oberwachtmeister / Sergent chef / Sergente capo / Caposergent, Wachtmeister / Sergent / Sergente / Sergent, Korporal / Caporal / Caporale / Caporal, Obergefreiter / Appointé-chef / Appuntato capo / Primappuntà, Gefreiter / Appointé / Appuntato / Appuntà, Soldat / Soldat / Soldato / Schuldà