Military ranks and insignia of Norway

Military of Norway

Components
Army
Navy
(Coast Guard)
Air Force
Home Guard
Cyber Defence Force
Ranks
Norwegian military ranks
Bugle calls
Bugle calls of the Norwegian Army
Armed Forces equipment
Army equipment
Naval ships (active)
Norwegian military aircraft

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Military ranks and rank insignia of Norway were changed June 1, 2016, with the reintroduction of the Non-Commissioned Officer Corps, and the abolishment of the one-tier officer system in place since 1975.[1]

## New system of 2023

[edit]

The Storting adopted in 2015 the new scheme for military personnel, Militærordningen.[1] From 2016, the Norwegian Defence Forces have two career ladders for the military personnel; one officer scheme for personnel with a degree from the military academy, or a university degree and qualification courses, and a non-commissioned officer scheme for personnel with non-commissioned officer school.[2][3] In 2023 the ranks of Korporal 1. klasse, Ledende konstabel, and Seniorspesialist were removed and the navy adopted new enlisted rank insignia.

### Commissioned officers

[edit]

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1

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Norwegian Army[4]

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General | Generalløytnant | Generalmajor | Brigader | Oberst | Oberstløytnant | Major | Kaptein/
Rittmester | Løytnant | Fenrik
Royal Norwegian Navy[4]

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|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Admiral | Viseadmiral | Kontreadmiral | Flaggkommandør | Kommandør | Kommandørkaptein | Orlogskaptein | Kapteinløytnant | Løytnant | Fenrik
Royal Norwegian Air Force[4]

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|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
General | Generalløytnant | Generalmajor | Brigader | Oberst | Oberstløytnant | Major | Kaptein | Løytnant | Fenrik
NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1

#### Student officer ranks

[edit]

NATO code | OF-1

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Norwegian Army[5] |  |  |  |
Kadett i 3.avdeling | Kadett i 2. avdeling | Kadett i 1.avdeling | Kadett i KS Gjennomgående

### Other ranks

[edit]

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

NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1

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Norwegian Army[4]

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|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sersjantmajor | Kommandérsersjant | Stabssersjant | Oversersjant | Sersjant 1. klasse | Sersjant | Korporal | Visekorporal 1. klasse | Visekorporal | Ledende menig | Menig
Royal Norwegian Navy[4]

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|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Flaggmester | Orlogsmester | Flotiljemester | Skvadronmester | Senior kvartermester | Kvartermester | Konstabel | Senior visekonstabel | Visekonstabel | Ledende menig | Menig
Royal Norwegian Air Force[4]

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|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sersjantmajor | Kommandérsersjant | Stabssersjant | Oversersjant | Vingsersjant | Sersjant | Ledende spesialist | Spesialist | Visespesialist | Ledende flysoldat | Flysoldat
NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1

#### Chief NCOs

[edit]

See also: Chief sergeant

NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6

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Norwegian Army[5] |  |  |  |
Sersjantmajor | Kommandérsersjant | Stabssersjant | Oversersjant
Royal Norwegian Navy |  |  |  |
Flaggmester | Orlogsmester | Flotiljemester | Skvadronmester
Royal Norwegian Air Force |  |  |  |
Sersjantmajor | Kommandérsersjant | Stabssersjant | Oversersjant

## Historic ranks

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### System 1916–1930

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#### Officers

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Rank group  | General / flag officers  | Senior officers  | Junior officers

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Norwegian Army
Shoulder boards were only worn on the greatcoat.[6] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
General | Generalløjtnant | Generalmajor | Oberst | Oberstløitnant | Major | Kaptein/
Rittmester | Premierløitnant | Sekondløitnant
Royal Norwegian Navy[7] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Admiral | Viseadmiral | Kontreadmiral | Kommandør | Kommandørkaptein | Kaptein | Kapteinløytnant | Premierløitnant | Sekondløitnant

#### Enlisted

[edit]

Rank group  | Non-commissioned officer  | Enlisted

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Norwegian Army |  |  |  |  |  |  | No insignia
Fanejunker | Kommandersersjant | Furer | Sersjant | Korporal | Menig
Royal Norwegian Navy |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Underofficer 2den grad | Underofficer 3dje grad | Underofficer 4de grad | Underofficer 5te grad | Menig I klasse | Menig I klasse | Menig III klasse

### System ?–1975

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Norwegian ranks 1962.

#### Officers

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Rank group  | General / flag officers  | Senior officers  | Junior officers

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Army |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
General | Generalløjtnant | Generalmajor | Oberst | Oberstløitnant | Major | Kaptein/
Rittmester | Premierløitnant | Sekondløitnant
Navy  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Admiral | Viseadmiral | Kontreadmiral | Kommandør | Kommandørkaptein | Kaptein | Premierløitnant | Sekondløitnant | Kadet

#### Enlisted

[edit]

### System 1975–2016

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Norway did not have a non-commissioned officer system and thus Sergeant and Petty officer are grouped with the officers under the common designation befal. The officers are divided into three groups: The befal (company officers, ranks Ensign to Captain inclusive), the staff officers (stabsoffiser, ranks Major to brigadier inclusive), and the generals (Major General to General inclusive).

Fenrik (Ensign) used to be referred to as Second Lieutenant (Norwegian: Fenrik), while the rank of lieutenant went by First Lieutenant. The rank of Brigadier is not an old tradition in the Norwegian armed forces and was instated as a replacement for Oberst I (First Colonel); what is now Oberst used to be Oberst II (Second Colonel). As shown, the Cavalry have two ranks which differ from the regular Army: Dragon (Dragoon) instead of Menig (Private), and Rittmester (Rittmeister) instead of Kaptein (Captain).

The ranks of Grenader and Matros were bestowed upon soldiers who have finished the 12 months compulsory service and had signed one or more three-year contracts to continue serving. The ranks of Visekorporal/Visekonstabel/Vingsoldat (Corporal/Leading Rate) were usually ascribed to soldiers with long and/or outstanding service, though may be bestowed on soldiers with extra responsibilities (e.g. the shift-commander among a group of soldiers on guard-duty). A UB-Korporal/Kvartermesteraspirant (Rate Corporal/Petty Officer-in-training) was a soldier who has finished the UB course (Utskrevet Befalskurs), a course intended to prepare conscripted soldiers for non-commissioned officer duties, but still under training in "the field". After one-year course and service these soldiers were qualified for the rank of Sersjant or Kvartermester.

#### Officers

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NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1

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Army &
Air force  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
General | Generalløytnant | Generalmajor | Brigader | Oberst | Oberstløytnant | Major | Kaptein/
Rittmester | Løytnant | Fenrik
Navy  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Admiral | Viseadmiral | Kontreadmiral | Flaggkommandør | Kommandør | Kommandørkaptein | Orlogskaptein | Kapteinløytnant | Løytnant | Fenrik

#### Enlisted

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The rank insignia for enlisted for the army, navy and air force respectively.

NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1

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Norwegian Army |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sersjant | Korporal | Visekorporal 1. klasse | Visekorporal | Menig
Royal Norwegian Navy |  |  |  |  |  |
Kvartermester | Konstabel | Visekonstabel | Menig
Royal Norwegian Air Force |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sersjant | Korporal | Visekorporal 1. klasse | Visekorporal | Flysoldat

### System 2016–2023

[edit]

NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1

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Norwegian Army[8] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sersjantmajor | Kommandérsersjant | Stabssersjant | Oversersjant | Sersjant 1. klasse | Sersjant | Korporal 1. klasse | Korporal | Visekorporal 1. klasse | Visekorporal | Ledende menig | Menig
Royal Norwegian Navy[8] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Flaggmester | Orlogsmester | Flotiljemester | Skvadronmester | Senior kvartermester | Kvartermester | Ledende konstabel | Konstabel | Senior visekonstabel | Visekonstabel | Ledende menig | Menig
Royal Norwegian Air Force[8] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sersjantmajor | Kommandérsersjant | Stabssersjant | Oversersjant | Vingsersjant | Sersjant | Seniorspesialist | Ledende spesialist | Spesialist | Visespesialist | Ledende flysoldat | Flysoldat

## References

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1. ^ a b "Forsvaret innfører ny personellordning" [The armed forces are introducing a new personnel system] (in Norwegian). Regjeringen. 12 June 2015. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
2. ^ "Her er de nye gradene" [Here are the new grades] (in Norwegian). Forsvaret. 11 December 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
3. ^ "TJ 12-3-2 Bestemmelse for Hærens distinksjoner og andre uniformstegn, s. 10" [TJ 12-3-2 Provision for the Army's distinctions and other uniform insignia, p. 10] (PDF) (in Norwegian). Forsvaret. 26 April 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
4. ^ a b c d e f "Militære grader" [Military ranks]. forsvaret.no (in Norwegian). Norwegian Armed Forces. 13 October 2023. Archived from the original on 26 November 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
5. ^ a b "TJ 12-3-2 Bestemmelse for Hærens distinksjoner og andre uniformstegn" [TJ 12-3-2 Provision for the Army's distinctions and other uniform insignia] (PDF). forsvaret.no (in Norwegian). 26 April 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 November 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
6. ^ Rühl, Moritz. "The Army of Norway 1939". Uniformology. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
7. ^ Mollo, Andrew (1981). The Armed Forces of World War II. New York, p. 38.
8. ^ a b c "Militære grader". forsvaret.no (in Norwegian). Norwegian Armed Forces. 4 February 2021. Archived from the original on 13 February 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2021.

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Military ranks and insignia by country

* List of comparative military ranks

Africa|

* Algeria
* Angola
* Benin
* Botswana
* Burkina Faso
* Burundi
* Cameroon
* Cape Verde
* Central African Republic
* Chad
* Comoros
* DR Congo
* Republic of the Congo
* Djibouti
* Egypt
* Equatorial Guinea
* Eritrea
* Eswatini
* Ethiopia
* Gabon
* Gambia
* Ghana
* Guinea
* Guinea-Bissau
* Ivory Coast
* Kenya
* Lesotho
* Liberia
* Libya
* Madagascar
* Malawi
* Mali
* Mauritania
* Morocco
* Mozambique
* Namibia
* Niger
* Nigeria
* Rwanda
* São Tomé and Príncipe
* Senegal
* Seychelles
* Sierra Leone
* Somalia
* South Africa
* South Sudan
* Sudan
* Tanzania
* Togo
* Tunisia
* Uganda
* Zambia
* Zimbabwe

States with
limited recognition|

* Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
* Somaliland

Former|

* People's Republic of Angola
* Biafra
* Bophuthatswana
* Ciskei
* Kingdom of Egypt
* Ethiopian Empire
* Katanga
* People's Republic of Mozambique
* Rhodesia
* South West Africa
* Transkei
* Venda
* Zaire

Comparative|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Apartheid States in Southern Africa

Americas|

* Antigua and Barbuda
* Argentina
* Bahamas
* Barbados
* Belize
* Bolivia
* Brazil
* Canada
* Chile
* Colombia
* Cuba
* Dominican Republic
* Ecuador
* El Salvador
* Guatemala
* Guyana
* Haiti
* Honduras
* Jamaica
* Mexico
* Nicaragua
* Paraguay
* Peru
* Saint Kitts and Nevis
* Suriname
* Trinidad and Tobago
* United States
* Officers:
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Coast Guard
* Enlisted:
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Coast Guard
* Other:
* Marine Corps
* Space Force
* Warrant officer
* Opposing forces
* Uruguay
* Venezuela

Former|

* Canada (pre-Unification)
* Confederate States of America
* Union
* Army
* Navy
* Costa Rica
* Empire of Brazil
* Panama
* Republic of Texas
* Army
* Navy
* United States Army enlisted
* World War I
* World War II

Comparative|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Asia|

* Afghanistan
* Bahrain
* Bangladesh
* Bhutan
* Brunei
* Cambodia
* PR of China
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* East Timor
* India
* Army
* Air Force
* Navy
* Coast Guard
* Border Roads Organisation
* Paramilitary forces
* Indonesia
* Iran
* Iraq
* Israel
* Japan
* Jordan
* Kazakhstan
* Korea
* North
* South
* Kuwait
* Kyrgyzstan
* Laos
* Lebanon
* Malaysia
* Maldives
* Mongolia
* Myanmar
* Nepal
* Oman
* Pakistan
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Marines
* Civil Armed Forces
* Maritime Security Agency
* Philippines
* Qatar
* Saudi Arabia
* Singapore
* Sri Lanka
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Coast Guard
* Syria
* Tajikistan
* Thailand
* Turkmenistan
* United Arab Emirates
* Uzbekistan
* Vietnam
* Yemen

States with
limited recognition|

* Abkhazia
* Artsakh
* Palestine
* South Ossetia
* Taiwan (Republic of China)

Former|

* China
* Empire
* Republic (1912–1949)
* Dutch East Indies
* East Turkestan (Second Republic)
* People's Republic of Kampuchea
* Imperial Iran
* Imperial Japan
* Army
* Navy
* Korea
* Empire
* Liberation Army
* Kingdom of Laos
* Manchukuo
* Mengjiang
* Mongolian People's Republic
* Vietnam
* State
* South
* South Yemen
* Tibet
* Tuva

Comparative|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Europe|

* Albania
* Armenia
* Austria
* Azerbaijan
* Belarus
* Belgium
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Home Guard
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Army
* Navy
* Gendarmerie
* Air and Space Force
* Foresters
* Germany
* Georgia
* Greece
* Hungary
* Iceland
* Land Forces
* Coast Guard
* Ireland
* Italy
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Carabinieri
* Finance Guard
* Latvia
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* North Macedonia
* Malta
* Moldova
* Monaco
* Montenegro
* Netherlands
* Norway
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Russia
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Cossacks
* Between 1994 and 2010
* San Marino
* Serbia
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Spain
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Turkey
* Ukraine
* United Kingdom
* Army officers
* Army other ranks
* Navy officers
* Navy ratings
* Air Force officers
* Air Force other ranks
* Vatican

States with
limited recognition|

* Kosovo
* Northern Cyprus
* Transnistria

Former|

* Albania
* Kingdom
* People's Socialist Republic
* Austria–Hungary
* Army
* Navy
* Bulgaria
* Kingdom
* People's Republic
* Independent State of Croatia
* Czechoslovakia
* German Empire
* Weimar Republic
* Nazi Germany
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* East Germany
* Kingdom of Greece
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* France
* Napoleonic Grand Army
* Hungary
* Kingdom
* People's Republic
* Italy
* Kingdom
* Social Republic
* Ottoman Empire
* Polish People's Republic
* Republika Srpska
* Romania
* Kingdom
* Socialist Republic
* Russian Empire
* White Movement
* Slovakia (First Republic)
* Soviet Union
* 1918–35
* 1935–40
* 1940–43
* 1943–55
* 1955–91
* Spain
* 2nd Republic
* State
* Yugoslavia
* Kingdom
* Socialist Federal Republic
* Federal Republic

Comparative|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Oceania|

* Australia
* Fiji
* New Zealand
* Papua New Guinea
* Tonga
* Vanuatu

Comparative|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Language|

| Anglophone|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

|

Arabophone|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Francophone|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Hispanophone|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Lusophone|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Military police
* Officers
* Enlisted

Post-Soviet states|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Commonwealth of Nations|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

European Union|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

NATO|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air Force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Comparative ranks of

* Highest ranks
* Star ranking
* Officers of World War I
* Officers of World War II
* Women's Services in World War II
* Marine forces
* Space forces
* Gendarmeries
* UK and US

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