The ranks of the Swiss Armed Forces have changed little over the centuries, except for the introduction, in 2004, of a new set of warrant officers .[citation needed ] The ranks are worn on shoulder boards with the appropriate background colour . Designations are given in the four national languages (German , French , Italian and Romansh ), with an English translation which is used during overseas missions.
Enlisted ranks
Enlisted troops
Rank insignia
Name
Description
Epaulette
Camouflage
German
French
Italian
Romansh[citation needed ]
English designation
No rank insignia
Rekrut (Rekr)
Recrue (recr)
Recluta
Recruit
Recruit
This rank is a position during the 4 months of Recruit School. A recruit gets promoted to E-1 after the Recruit School.
Soldat (Sdt)
Soldat (Sdt)
Soldato
Schuldà
Private E-1
Gefreiter (Gfr)
Appointé (App)
Appuntato
Appuntà
Private E-2
E-1 Privates can be promoted to E-2 after a minimum of 20 days' service in a refresher course, subject to good performance.[2] E-2 Privates also receive 6 CHF daily pay (as opposed to 5 CHF prior to promotion)[3]
Obergefreiter (Obgfr)
Appointé-chef (App chef)
Appuntato capo
Primappuntà
Lance Corporal
The rank "Obergefreiter" was removed as of 1 January 2019 with the WEA of the Swiss Army.[4] [full citation needed ] However those soldiers previously awarded this rank are able to keep it.
Non-commissioned officers (NCO)
Rank insignia
Name
Description
Epaulette
Camouflage
German
French
Italian
Romansh[citation needed ]
English designation
Korporal (Kpl)
Caporal (Cpl)
Caporale (Cpl)
Caporal (Cpl)
Corporal
Soldiers in this rank serve as specialist NCOs (e.g. arms specialization, CBRN specialization, postal soldiers)
Wachtmeister (Wm)
Sergent (Sgt)
Sergente (Sgt)
Sergent (Sgt)
Sergeant
Currently, the standard junior NCO rank
Oberwachtmeister (Obwm)
Sergent chef (Sgt chef)
Sergente capo (Sgt capo)
Caposergent (Csgt)
Sergeant first class
This rank is awarded to Sergeants who receive very good performance assessments. Holders of this rank are appointed to be the platoon leader's replacement and serve an additional 10 days compared to the standard Sergeant rank.[2]
Higher NCOs
Rank insignia
Name
Description
Epaulette
Camouflage
German
French
Italian
Romansh[citation needed ]
English designation
Feldweibel (Fw)
Sergent-major (Sgtm)
Sergente maggiore (Sgtm)
Primsergent (Psgt)
Sergeant major
Lowest rank of "Higher non-commissioned officers" (NCO); it used to be a higher rank than Feldweibel and to oversee unit-level military service and operations. Since the 2003 reform a specialist rank only. Nowadays, Feldweibel are mainly seen in military police, NBC and other specialist units.
Fourier (Four)
Fourrier (Four)
Furiere (Fur)
Furier (Fur)
Quartermaster sergeant
The higher NCO who administers a company's finances, subsistence and lodging.
Hauptfeldweibel (Hptfw)
Sergent-major chef (Sgtm chef)
Sergente maggiore capo (sgtm capo)
Capoprimsergent (cpsgt)
Chief sergeant major
The Hauptfeldweibel oversees unit-level military service and operations.
Adjutant Unteroffizier (Adj Uof)
Adjudant sous-officier (Adj Sof)
Aiutante sottufficiale (aiut suff)
Adjutant sutuffizier (Adj suff)
Warrant officer
Stabsadjutant (Stabsadj)
Adjudant d'état-major (Adj EM)
Aiutante di stato maggiore (aiut SM)
Adjutant da stab (Adj S)
Staff warrant officer
Hauptadjutant (Hptadj)
Adjudant-major (Adjm)
Aiutante maggiore (Aiut magg)
Adjutant principal (Adj prin)
Master warrant officer
Chefadjutant (Chefadj)
Adjudant-chef (Adj chef)
Aiutante capo (Aiut capo)
Chefadjutant (Schefadj)
Chief warrant officer
Officers
Subaltern officers and captains
Rank insignia
Name
Description
Epaulette
Camouflage
German
French
Italian
Romansh[citation needed ]
English designation
Leutnant (Lt)
Lieutenant (Lt)
Tenente (Ten)
Litenet (Lt)
Second lieutenant
Platoon's leader. Promotion to First Lieutenant occurs after a minimum of 3 refresher courses (subject to good performance) or after 6 years' service.[2]
Oberleutnant (Oblt)
Premier-lieutenant (Plt)
Primo tenente (I ten)
Primlitenant (Plt)
First lieutenant
Platoon's leader or future company commander.
Hauptmann (Hptm)
Capitaine (Cap)
Capitano (Cap)
Chapitani (Chap)
Captain
Company commander or officer in battalion's staff
Staff officers, specialist
Rank insignia
Name
Description
Epaulette
Camouflage
German
French
Italian
Romansh[citation needed ]
English designation
Major (Maj)
Major (Maj)
Maggiore (Magg)
Maior (Mai)
Major
Several assignments in a battalion's staff (deputy S1-7), under special circumstances appointment to battalion commander, teacher or staff officer on a military academy, commander of a HQ company, staff officer in large units (BDE).
Oberstleutnant (Oberstlt)
Lieutenant-colonel (Lt col)
Tenente colonnello (Ten col)
Litinent colonel (Lt col)
Lieutenant colonel
Battalion commander, staff officer in large units (BDE).
Oberst (Oberst)
Colonel (Col)
Colonnello (Col)
Colonel (Col)
Colonel
Under special circumstances appointment to battalion commander, deputy commander of a brigade, staff officer in larger units (BDE).
Fachoffizier (FachOf)
Officier spécialiste (Of spéc)
Ufficiale specialista (Uff spec)
Uffizier spezialist (Uff spez)
Specialist officer
"Specialist Officer", Duties authority and pay grade vary from OF-1 to OF-5.
Higher staff officers
Higher staff officers wear black lampasses on the outside seam of dress uniform trousers.
Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces
Rank insignia
Name
Description
Epaulette
Camouflage
Kepi[citation needed ]
German
French
Italian
Romansh[citation needed ]
English designation
General (Gen)
Général
Generale
Generale
General
The rank is assigned only during times of war, when the Federal Assembly chooses one general to command the entire Swiss military. Otherwise the word "general" is not used.[9]
Shoulder board colour
Colour
Branch
Black
Staff officers, engineers, intelligence, chaplaincy, sport,
Dark green
Infantry, military bands
Yellow
Armored Corps
Red
Artillery
Dark blue
Air Force
Light grey
Signal and command support corps
Royal Blue
Medical corps, Red Cross service
Burgundy
Rescue corps
Plum
Logistic corps
Terracota
Territorial service
Dark grey
Military police
Khaki
Special Forces
Purple
Armed Forces Legal Service
Khaki yellow
NBC defense
Blue
Peace Support Operation
References
Sources
External links
Media related to Military rank insignia of Switzerland at Wikimedia Commons
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