Military ranks of Estonia explained
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.
Estonian Land Forces ranks and insignia
Officer candidates
| Õlakud | | | | | | | | | |
| Auaste | 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 |
| Rank | 3rd year Cadet Sergeant | 2nd year Cadet Sergeant | 3rd year Cadet Junior Sergeant | 2nd year Cadet Junior Sergeant | 1st year Cadet Junior Sergeant | 3rd year Cadet | 2nd year Cadet | 1st year Cadet | 1st semester Junior Cadet |
| NATO | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | No equivalent | |
Aspirants
| Õlakud | | |
| Auaste | Ajateenijate reservrühmaülema kursuse lõpetanu | Ajateenijate reservrühmaülema kursusel õppija |
| Rank | Reserve platoon leader course Graduate | Reserve platoon leader course Student |
| NATO | No equivalent | No equivalent | |
Estonian Navy ranks and insignia
Estonian Air Force ranks and insignia
Historical Estonian Defence League staff positions and insignia
The separate rank system for the Estonian Defence League was officially abolished in 2013, and it now uses ranks and insignia identical to the Land Forces.[2]
| Higher and staff positions | Senior field positions | Junior field positions |
|---|
| NATO Code | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1C | OF-1B | OF-1A | OR-8 | OR-6 | OR-4 | OR-3 |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Estonian: <br />Ametikohad | Estonian: Kaitseliidu ülem | Estonian: Kaitseliidu Peastaabi ülem | Estonian: Kaitseliidu maleva pealik | Estonian: Maleva vaneminstruktor | Estonian: Malevkonna pealik | Estonian: Kompanii pealik | Estonian: Rühma pealik | Estonian: Rühmapealik eriüksustes | Estonian: Rühmapealiku abi | Estonian: Jaopealik | Estonian: Jaopealiku abi |
| English: <br />Positions | Commander | Chief of Staff | Chief of Estonian: Malev | Senior instructor | Chief of Estonian: Malevkond | Chief of Company | Platoon commander | Platoon commander
in special forces | Assistant platoon commander | Section commander | Assistant section commander | |
See also
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Sõnaveeb.
- Web site: Kaitseliidu eraldusmärgid . Riigi Teataja . Estonian.
