🇪🇪
Estonian Military Ranks
The Estonian Army has 21 ranks — 11 officer and 10 enlisted — from Reamees up to Kindral. Below: all 63 ranks across 3 branches (Army, Navy, Air Force), with insignia and NATO-code equivalents.
Branches
3
Ranks documented
63
Active personnel
7K
Army
| Rank name | Insignia | NATO code | US Army equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kindral |
|
OF-9 | General |
| Kindralleitnant |
|
OF-8 | Lieutenant General |
| Kindralmajor |
|
OF-7 | Major General |
| Brigaadikindral |
|
OF-6 | Brigadier General |
| Kolonel |
|
OF-5 | Colonel |
| Kolonelleitnant |
|
OF-4 | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Major |
|
OF-3 | Major / Commandant |
| Kapten |
|
OF-2 | Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
| Leitnant |
|
OF-1 | Lieutenant |
| Nooremleitnant |
|
OF-1 | Lieutenant |
| Lipnik |
|
OF-1 | Lieutenant |
| Ülemveebel |
|
OR-9 | Sergeant Major |
| Staabiveebel |
|
OR-9 | Sergeant Major |
| Vanemveebel |
|
OR-8 | 1st Sergeant |
| Veebel |
|
OR-7 | Sergeant 1st Class |
| Nooremveebel |
|
OR-6 | Staff Sergeant |
| Vanemseersant |
|
OR-5 | Sergeant |
| Seersant |
|
OR-4 | Corporal |
| Nooremseersant |
|
OR-4 | Corporal |
| Kapral |
|
OR-2 | Private |
| Reamees |
|
OR-1 | Private |
Navy
| Rank name | Insignia | NATO code | US Army equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admiral |
|
OF-9 | General |
| Viitseadmiral |
|
OF-8 | Lieutenant General |
| Kontradmiral |
|
OF-7 | Major General |
| Kommodoor |
|
OF-6 | Brigadier General |
| Mereväekapten |
|
OF-5 | Colonel |
| Kaptenleitnant |
|
OF-4 | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Kaptenmajor |
|
OF-3 | Major / Commandant |
| Vanemleitnant |
|
OF-2 | Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
| Leitnant |
|
OF-1 | Lieutenant |
| Nooremleitnant |
|
OF-1 | Lieutenant |
| Lipnik |
|
OF-1 | Lieutenant |
| Ülemveebel |
|
OR-9 | Sergeant Major |
| Staabiveebel |
|
OR-9 | Sergeant Major |
| Vanemveebel |
|
OR-8 | 1st Sergeant |
| Veebel |
|
OR-7 | Sergeant 1st Class |
| Nooremveebel |
|
OR-6 | Staff Sergeant |
| Vanemmaat |
|
OR-5 | Sergeant |
| Maat |
|
OR-4 | Corporal |
| Nooremmaat |
|
OR-4 | Corporal |
| Vanemmadrus |
|
OR-2 | Private |
| Madrus |
|
OR-1 | Private |
Air Force
| Rank name | Insignia | NATO code | US Army equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kindral |
|
OF-9 | General |
| Kindralleitnant |
|
OF-8 | Lieutenant General |
| Kindralmajor |
|
OF-7 | Major General |
| Brigaadikindral |
|
OF-6 | Brigadier General |
| Kolonel |
|
OF-5 | Colonel |
| Kolonelleitnant |
|
OF-4 | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Major |
|
OF-3 | Major / Commandant |
| Kapten |
|
OF-2 | Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
| Leitnant |
|
OF-1 | Lieutenant |
| Nooremleitnant |
|
OF-1 | Lieutenant |
| Lipnik |
|
OF-1 | Lieutenant |
| Ülemveebel |
|
OR-9 | Sergeant Major |
| Staabiveebel |
|
OR-9 | Sergeant Major |
| Vanemveebel |
|
OR-8 | 1st Sergeant |
| Veebel |
|
OR-7 | Sergeant 1st Class |
| Nooremveebel |
|
OR-6 | Staff Sergeant |
| Vanemseersant |
|
OR-5 | Sergeant |
| Seersant |
|
OR-4 | Corporal |
| Nooremseersant |
|
OR-4 | Corporal |
| Kapral |
|
OR-2 | Private |
| Reamees |
|
OR-1 | Private |
Overview
The armed forces of Estonia, known as the "Estonian Defense Forces" or "Eesti Kaitsevägi," consist of several branches, each with specific responsibilities:
- Estonian Ground Forces (Eesti Maavägi): The Estonian Ground Forces are responsible for land-based military operations, including infantry, armored units, artillery, and support units. They play a crucial role in national defense and security.
- Estonian Navy (Eesti Merevägi): The Estonian Navy focuses on maritime defense and security, operating various vessels, including patrol boats and mine countermeasure vessels, to protect Estonia's coastline and maritime interests in the Baltic Sea.
- Estonian Air Force (Eesti Õhuvägi): The Estonian Air Force is responsible for aerial defense and operations, with aircraft ensuring air surveillance and defense capabilities.
Estonia Military
Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) and other open sources.
Insignia image credits
- Skjoldbro — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Kindral (Army), Kindralleitnant (Army), Kindralmajor (Army), Brigaadikindral (Army), Kolonel (Army), Kolonelleitnant (Army), Major (Army), Ülemveebel (Army), Staabiveebel (Army), Vanemveebel (Army), Veebel (Army), Nooremveebel (Army), Vanemseersant, Seersant, Kapral, Reamees, Admiral, Viitseadmiral, Kontradmiral, Kommodoor, Mereväekapten, Kaptenleitnant, Kaptenmajor, Vanemleitnant, Leitnant (Navy), Nooremleitnant (Navy), Lipnik (Navy), Ülemveebel (Navy), Staabiveebel (Navy), Vanemveebel (Navy), Veebel (Navy), Nooremveebel (Navy), Vanemmaat, Maat, Nooremmaat, Vanemmadrus, Madrus, Kindral (Air Force), Kindralleitnant (Air Force), Kindralmajor (Air Force), Brigaadikindral (Air Force), Kolonel (Air Force), Kolonelleitnant (Air Force), Major (Air Force), Kapten, Leitnant (Air Force), Nooremleitnant (Air Force), Lipnik (Air Force)
- Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons: Kapten, Leitnant, Nooremleitnant, Lipnik, Nooremseersant (Army), Ülemveebel, Staabiveebel, Vanemveebel, Veebel, Nooremveebel, Vanemseersant, Seersant, Nooremseersant (Air Force), Kapral, Reamees