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Military ranks of Estonia

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Present Estonian system of rank insignia is a direct descendant of various systems used in the past in the Estonian Defence Forces. Some of the grades trace their name back to the period of World Wars, for instance, the rank of aspirant literally means an officer in training in military academies or voluntaries, serving as temporary officers.

Most of the Estonian Army ranks were established during the Estonian War of Independence and in the 1920s. These include the rank of kapral, which is a derivate of Italian caporale – much like the English equivalent of corporal. After the Soviet occupation ended in 1991, a new rank was established, creating for the first time a brigadier general rank in the armed forces of Estonia. In Estonia, rank insignia is worn on the chest. Estonian Junior NCOs are considered as a rank of a conscript NCO or NCO in reserve. In full-time service, junior sergeants and petty officers 3rd class are filling in various soldier positions, and naval ratings and are not taken as NCOs.

Commissioned officer ranks

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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
 Estonian Land Forces[1]
Kindral Kindralleitnant Kindralmajor Brigaadikindral Kolonel Kolonelleitnant Major Kapten Leitnant Nooremleitnant Lipnik
 Estonian Navy[2]
Admiral Viitseadmiral Kontradmiral Kommodoor Mereväekapten Kaptenleitnant Kaptenmajor Vanemleitnant Leitnant Nooremleitnant Lipnik
 Estonian Air Force[3]
Kindral Kindralleitnant Kindralmajor Brigaadikindral Kolonel Kolonelleitnant Major Kapten Leitnant Nooremleitnant Lipnik
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

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Rank group Officer candidates Student officers
3. õppeaasta kadett-veebel 2. õppeaasta kadett-veebel 3. õppeaasta kadett-seersant 2. õppeaasta kadett-seersant 1. õppeaasta kadett-seersant 3. õppeaasta kadett 2. õppeaasta kadett 1. õppeaasta kadett 1. semestri noorkadett

Other ranks

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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
 Estonian Land Forces[1]
Ülemveebel Staabiveebel Vanemveebel Veebel Nooremveebel Vanemseersant Seersant Nooremseersant Kapral Reamees
 Estonian Navy[2]
Ülemveebel Staabiveebel Vanemveebel Veebel Nooremveebel Vanemmaat Maat Nooremmaat Vanemmadrus Madrus
 Estonian Air Force[3]
Ülemveebel Staabiveebel Vanemveebel Veebel Nooremveebel Vanemseersant Seersant Nooremseersant Kapral Reamees
NATO code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1

Reserve ranks

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Rank group Reserve
Ajateenijate reservrühmaülema kursuse lõpetanu Ajateenijate reservrühmaülema kursusel õppija

Historical Estonian Defence League insignia

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The separate rank system used for the Estonian Defence League was officially abolished in 2013, and it now uses ranks and insignia identical to the Land Forces.[4]

Rank group Higher and staff positions Senior field positions Junior field positions
Estonian Defence League
Kaitseliidu ülem Kaitseliidu Peastaabi ülem Kaitseliidu maleva pealik Maleva vaneminstruktor Malevkonna pealik Kompanii pealik Rühma pealik Rühmapealik eriüksustes Rühmapealiku abi Jaopealik Jaopealiku abi
Positions Commander Chief of Staff Chief of Malev Senior instructor Chief of Malevkond Chief of Company Platoon commander Platoon commander
in special forces
Assistant platoon commander Section commander Assistant section commander

Historic ranks

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Commissioned officer ranks

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The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
 Estonian Land Forces
(1936–1940)[5]
Kindral Kindralleitnant Kindralmajor Kolonel Kolonelleitnant Major Kapten Leitnant Nooremleitnant Lipnik

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Sümboolika: Maaväe Auastmed". mil.ee (in Estonian). Estonian Defence Forces. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Sümboolika: Mereväe Auastmed". mil.ee (in Estonian). Estonian Defence Forces. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Sümboolika: Õhuväe Auastmed". mil.ee (in Estonian). Estonian Defence Forces. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  4. ^ "Kaitseliidu eraldusmärgid" (in Estonian). Riigi Teataja.
  5. ^ "Estonian Army & Navy Ranks 1936-1940". 25 January 2005. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
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