Charges (military) explained

Charge(s) (de|Charge(n); literal: rank(s)) used to be the generic term to the military ranks^[1] above the rank group of enlisted personnel in German speaking armies. In the today's Austrian Armed Forces (Österreichisches Bundesheer) it is the designation to the rank group OR2^[2] to OR4, which comprises the ranks Gefreiter, Korporal and Zugsführer.

In English speaking armed forces, however, charge characterizes a particular manoeuvre, where soldiers rush towards the enemy to engage in close combat.

Charges in the Austrian Bundesheer:

Designation	Ranks (de: Chargen)
Suit (de: Anzug) 75 / 03
Jacket gorget (Rockkragen)
Corps colour (Waffenfarbe)	Engineers	Skirmishing patrol, Army sports	NBC-Defence
Peaked cap (Tellerkappe)
Rank	Zugsführer (Zgf)	Korporal (Kpl)	Gefreiter (Gfr)
NATO equivalent	Master Corporal	Corporal	Private
rank	OR-4	OR-3	OR-2

The sequence of rank groups (top-down approach) in the Austrian Bundesheer is as follows:

• Personen ohne Chargengrad OR-1 (= Persons without charge grade)

Chargen OR2-OR4 (= Charges)

• Unteroffiziere OR5-OR6 (= NCOs)
• Stabsunteroffiziere OR7-OR9 (= Staff NCOs)
• Offiziere OF1-OF5 (= Officers)
• Generale OF6-OF9 (= General officers)

See also:

See main article: Waffenfarbe (Austria).

External links

• Bundesheer ranks (in German)

Notes and References

1. BROCKHAUS, The encyclopedia in 24 volumes (1796–2001), Volume 4: 3-7653-3664-5, page 411, definition: Charge
2. The abbreviation "OR" stands for "Other Ranks / fr: sous-officiers et militaires du rang / ru:другие ранги, кроме офицероф"