Oberwachtmeister


Oberwachtmeister is in Austria and Switzerland a military rank of non-commissioned officers. Besides Austria and Switzerland today, the rank was also used for example in Germany and Russia.

Austria

Oberwachtmeister is in the Austrian Bundesheer the second lowest NCO-rank. The Oberwachtmeister will be normally deployed as leader of a squad.
During United Nations missions and in NATO Partnership for Peace the rank Oberwachtmeister will be designated in English with Staff Sergeant and is equivalent to NATO-Rang code OR-6.
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In the Military of Switzerland the Oberwachtmeister is a NCO-rank. The rank is higher than the rank Wachtmeister, and lower than Feldweibel.
Until the so-called Army reform XXI the rank was regular assigned to the Zugführer-Stellvertreter.
However, the promotion to Oberwachtmeister might be possible after successfully having finished an additional trainings course. The level of that course succeeds the squad leader level. The Oberwachtmeister grade is in principle a transition rank to the lieutenant promotion.
In United Nations missions and in NATO Partnership for Peace the rank Oberwachtmeister will be designated in English with Sergeant First Class, and is equivalent to NATO-Rang code OR-6.
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⇒ Military ranks of the Swiss Armed Forces

Other countries

Germany

In the German army ground forces the designation of the OR6-Oberfeldwebel rank of Cavalry and Artillery was the «Oberwachtmeister» until 1945.
Junior Rank
Wachtmeister

World War II German Army rank
Oberwachtmeister
Senior Rank
Stabswachtmeister

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In the GDR National People's Army the OR6-rank «Oberwachtmeister» was replaced by the universal rank designation Oberfeldwebel. The equivalent rank of the Volksmarine was the Obermeister of the Volksmarine.
Junior Rank
Wachtmeister

National People's Army rank
Oberwachtmeister
Senior Rank
Stabswachtmeister

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«Oberwachtmeister» was also a German police rank.