🇪🇪
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 Ladder
Highest first · 21 of 21 matched
| 🇪🇪 Estonia · Army | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Kindral
|
OF-9 General |
General
|
Kindralleitnant
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Lieutenant general
|
Kindralmajor
|
OF-7 Major General |
Major general
|
Brigaadikindral
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Brigadier general
|
Kolonel
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Colonel
|
Kolonelleitnant
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Lieutenant colonel
|
Major
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Major
|
Kapten
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Captain
|
Leitnant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
First lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
Nooremleitnant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
First lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
Lipnik
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
First lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Ülemveebel
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Command sergeant major
Sergeant major
|
Staabiveebel
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Command sergeant major
Sergeant major
|
Vanemveebel
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
First sergeant
Master sergeant
|
Veebel
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Sergeant first class
|
Nooremveebel
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Staff sergeant
|
Vanemseersant
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Sergeant
|
Seersant
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Specialist
Corporal
|
Nooremseersant
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Specialist
Corporal
|
Kapral
|
OR-2 Private |
Private
|
Reamees
|
OR-1 Private | Private |
Navy
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 21 of 21 matched
| 🇪🇪 Estonia · Navy | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Admiral
|
OF-9 General |
Admiral
|
Viitseadmiral
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Vice admiral
|
Kontradmiral
|
OF-7 Major General |
Rear admiral
|
Kommodoor
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Rear admiral (lower half)
|
Mereväekapten
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Captain
|
Kaptenleitnant
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Commander
|
Kaptenmajor
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Lieutenant commander
|
Vanemleitnant
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Lieutenant
|
Leitnant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant (junior grade)
Ensign
|
Nooremleitnant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant (junior grade)
Ensign
|
Lipnik
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Lieutenant (junior grade)
Ensign
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Ülemveebel
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Command master chief petty officer
Master chief petty officer
|
Staabiveebel
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Command master chief petty officer
Master chief petty officer
|
Vanemveebel
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Command senior chief petty officer
Senior chief petty officer
|
Veebel
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Chief petty officer
|
Nooremveebel
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Petty officer first class
|
Vanemmaat
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Petty officer second class
|
Maat
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Petty officer third class
|
Nooremmaat
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Petty officer third class
|
Vanemmadrus
|
OR-2 Private |
Seaman apprentice
|
Madrus
|
OR-1 Private | Seaman recruit |
Air Force
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 21 of 21 matched
| 🇪🇪 Estonia · Air Force | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Kindral
|
OF-9 General |
General
|
Kindralleitnant
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Lieutenant general
|
Kindralmajor
|
OF-7 Major General |
Major general
|
Brigaadikindral
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Brigadier general
|
Kolonel
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Colonel
|
Kolonelleitnant
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Lieutenant colonel
|
Major
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Major
|
Kapten
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Captain
|
Leitnant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
First lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
Nooremleitnant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
First lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
Lipnik
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
First lieutenant
Second lieutenant
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Ülemveebel
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Command chief master sergeant
First sergeant
Chief master sergeant
|
Staabiveebel
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Command chief master sergeant
First sergeant
Chief master sergeant
|
Vanemveebel
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
First sergeant
Senior master sergeant
|
Veebel
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
First sergeant
Master sergeant
|
Nooremveebel
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Technical sergeant
|
Vanemseersant
|
OR-5 Sergeant |
Staff sergeant
|
Seersant
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Senior airman
|
Nooremseersant
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Senior airman
|
Kapral
|
OR-2 Private |
Airman
|
Reamees
|
OR-1 Private | Airman basic |
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