Oberfähnrich
Rank in the German Army
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Oberfähnrich (OFähnr or OFR) designates in the Heer of the Bundeswehr a military person or member of the armed forces with the last or highest Officer Aspirant (OA – de: Offizieranwärter) rank. According to the salary class it is equivalent to the Portepeeunteroffizier ranks Hauptfeldwebel of Heer or Luftwaffe, and Hauptbootsmann of Marine.
| Oberfähnrich | |
|---|---|
  Heer and Luftwaffe shoulder insignia | |
| Country |  Germany |
| Service branch |  German Army German Air Force |
| Abbreviation | OFähnr |
| NATO rank code | OR-7 |
| Pay grade | A 8Z |
| Formation | 1957 (current) |
| Next higher rank | Stabsfeldwebel |
| Next lower rank | Oberfeldwebel |
| Equivalent ranks | |
It is also grouped as OR-7 in NATO, equivalent to Sergeant 1st Class, Master Sergeant, or Chief Petty Officer in the US Armed forces, and to Warrant Officer Class 2 in the British Army and Royal Navy.
In navy context NCOs of this rank were formally addressed as Herr Oberfähnrich also informally / short Oberfähnrich.
The sequence of ranks (top-down approach) in that particular group is as follows:
- OR-9: Oberstabsfeldwebel / Oberstabsbootsmann
- OR-8: Stabsfeldwebel / Stabsbootsmann
- OFD: Oberfähnrich and Hauptfeldwebel / Oberfähnrich zur See and Hauptbootsmann
- OR-6: Oberfeldwebel / Oberbootsmann
- OR-6: Fähnrich and Feldwebel / Fähnrich zur See and Bootsmann