Austrian Armed Forces Ranks: Army and Air Force

Florian Fendt – 2024-12-11 17:36:00

Abstract red and dark grey rank levels representing the Austrian Armed Forces rank structure — Abstract motif for the Austrian Armed Forces rank order. Digitally created by Torro.

The Austrian Armed Forces use 21 ranks: one recruit rank, three corporal grades, six NCO grades and eleven officer grades up to General. The Army and Air Force share this national order. The Armed Forces even publish a NATO comparison class for every rank, although Austria is not a NATO member. All of these classes serve only as approximate comparisons.

Key facts

21 ranks in four groups

One recruit rank, three corporal grades, six NCO grades and eleven officer grades form the complete order.
One order for Army and Air Force

The regulation does not divide the rank order by service. Colours and other uniform details show a soldier's area of work.
OR and OF are approximations

Austria is not a NATO member. Its Armed Forces still publish the classes as an approximate aid for comparison with other armies.
Rank does not automatically define function

Rank governs seniority. Duties and authority follow from training and appointment.

What are the Austrian military ranks in order?

The current rank regulation lists all 21 grades in ascending order. The Austrian Armed Forces publish the usual abbreviations, official English renderings and NATO comparison classes.

Group	German rank	Abbreviation	English rendering	NATO comparison class
Recruit	Rekrut	Rekr	Private	OR-1
Corporal grade	Gefreiter	Gfr	Lance Corporal	OR-2
Corporal grade	Korporal	Kpl	Corporal	OR-3
Corporal grade	Zugsführer	Zgf	Master Corporal	OR-4
NCO	Wachtmeister	Wm	Sergeant	OR-5
NCO	Oberwachtmeister	OWm	Master Sergeant	OR-6
NCO	Stabswachtmeister	StWm	Staff Sergeant	OR-7
NCO	Oberstabswachtmeister	OStWm	Warrant Officer III	OR-8
NCO	Offiziersstellvertreter	OStv	Warrant Officer II	OR-9
NCO	Vizeleutnant	Vzlt	Warrant Officer I	OR-9
Officer	Fähnrich	Fhr	Officer Cadet	OF-Student
Officer	Leutnant	Lt	Second Lieutenant	OF-1
Officer	Oberleutnant	Olt	First Lieutenant	OF-1
Officer	Hauptmann	Hptm	Captain	OF-2
Officer	Major	Mjr	Major	OF-3
Officer	Oberstleutnant	Obstlt	Lieutenant Colonel	OF-4
Officer	Oberst	Obst	Colonel	OF-5
Officer	Brigadier	Bgdr	Brigadier (General)	OF-6
Officer	Generalmajor	GenMjr	Major General	OF-7
Officer	Generalleutnant	GenLt	Lieutenant General	OF-8
Officer	General	Gen	General	OF-9

Kommandounteroffizier is not a rank of its own but an appointment held by a Vizeleutnant.

The sequence is not an automatic career ladder. Austrian military law makes promotion subject to the required period of military service and the successful completion of examinations.

How do recruits, corporal grades, NCOs and officers differ?

Austrian military law divides the ranks into four groups. Rekrut is the sole rank for personnel who do not hold a Chargengrad. Gefreiter, Korporal and Zugsführer form the corporal grades. Six NCO grades and eleven officer grades follow.

The Armed Forces state: “Ranks govern seniority among soldiers of the Austrian Armed Forces.” A rank locates a person in the hierarchy. It does not prescribe every practical duty.

The law also divides responsibility for promotion. Commanders of troop units promote corporal grades. The Federal Minister of Defence promotes NCOs, while the Federal President is generally responsible for officers.

Do the Austrian Army and Air Force use the same ranks?

Yes. The rank regulation provides one order for people who serve or have served in the Austrian Armed Forces. It contains no separate ladder for the Army and Air Force. Rekrut, Wachtmeister, Hauptmann and General therefore occupy the same place in both.

The services differ in uniform rather than in rank: branch colour and the design of the insignia identify an area of work or specialisation. Aviation personnel still use the same rank titles as the rest of the Armed Forces.

Austrian Leopard 2A4 with camouflage netting and crew at the Strong Europe Tank Challenge in Grafenwoehr — Austrian Leopard 2A4 at the Strong Europe Tank Challenge 2017 in Grafenwoehr. Photo: Spc. Nathanael Mercado, U.S. Army (public domain), via Wikimedia Commons.

Which NATO comparison classes are shown for Austrian ranks?

The Austrian Armed Forces use classes from OR-1 to OR-9 and from OF-1 to OF-9. In the NATO system, OR stands for Other Ranks (enlisted and NCO grades) and OF for Officers. Fähnrich appears as OF-Student. Offiziersstellvertreter and Vizeleutnant share the class OR-9. Leutnant and Oberleutnant share OF-1.

Graphic comparison of the approximate OR and OF classes in the Austrian military rank system — OR and OF as international orientation for Austrian ranks. Graphic: Torro.

These labels are not formal NATO rank equivalences. Austria is not a NATO member. According to the Armed Forces, no policy for equivalences exists. The published classes remain expressly approximate comparisons.

Matching codes do not guarantee matching functions. An Austrian Wachtmeister and a foreign OR-5 rank may have different training and duties. The national title remains decisive within the Austrian order.

How can Austrian rank insignia be identified?

The Austrian Armed Forces show the insignia for every rank on three items: the formal uniform collar, the field uniform and the combination cap. Each example combines stars or other devices with a particular form, colour and background.

Stars and other parts of the rank device show the place in the rank order. Beret and collar colours identify the area of work. On a formal uniform, the coloured background of an insignia can identify a specialisation.

Austrian Armed Forces Zugsführer rank insignia on the field uniform with three white six-pointed stars — Zugsführer rank insignia on the field uniform: three white stars. Graphic: Austrian Armed Forces (public domain), via Wikimedia Commons.

What do dRes and aD mean after an Austrian rank?

The suffix dRes identifies a member of the reserve. Under Austrian military law, reservists may use their rank only with this suffix. Oberleutnant dRes is one example.

The suffix aD stands for außer Dienst. Austrian military law permits a person to use this suffix with the last rank held after military liability ends or after a period of military service. The statutory conditions still apply.

Neither suffix changes the position of the underlying rank. Each describes the legal status of the person who carries it.

Frequently asked questions about Austrian military ranks

How many ranks are there in the Austrian Armed Forces?

The Austrian Armed Forces use 21 ranks. They comprise one recruit rank, three corporal grades, six NCO grades and eleven officer grades.

What is the highest Austrian military rank?

General is the highest rank. The Austrian Armed Forces assign it the approximate comparison class OF-9.

What are Chargen in the Austrian Armed Forces?

Chargen are the three corporal grades between Rekrut and the NCO group. They are Gefreiter, Korporal and Zugsführer.

Do the Austrian Army and Air Force use the same ranks?

Yes. The rank regulation applies to both services. The Austrian Armed Forces publish one shared rank order. Colours and other uniform details identify the area of work but do not create a separate rank ladder.

Does Austria use NATO rank codes?

The Austrian Armed Forces publish OR and OF classes as approximate comparisons. Austria is not a NATO member. No policy for rank equivalence exists.

What do dRes and aD mean after an Austrian rank?

dRes marks a rank held in the reserve. aD stands for außer Dienst and applies to the last rank held after military liability ends or after a period of military service. Austrian military law defines who may use each suffix.

The Bundeswehr and the Swiss Armed Forces use rank titles, groups and orders that differ from the Austrian system.

Official sources for Austrian ranks and insignia

Austrian Armed Forces: Rank Insignias (21 ranks, English renderings, insignia and approximate comparison classes)
Austrian Armed Forces: Dienstgrade und Farben (German titles, abbreviations, groups and uniform details)
RIS: Austrian rank regulation (statutory rank order)
RIS: Austrian Military Act 2001 (groups, promotion, dRes and aD)

Your expert

Florian Fendt

Scale models • Historical vehicles • RC tanks

Florian discovered his passion for modelling as a teenager and quickly developed a talent for precise work and attention to detail. Today, he is an experienced model maker at Torro, specialising in historic vehicles. He shares his knowledge and experience to inspire and support modelling enthusiasts worldwide.

✉ Contact More about Torro