Military ranks and insignia of Norway

The green part represents soldiers and the equivalent of non-commissioned officers. The blue part represents officers. Norway does not have a NCO-system and thus Sergeant and Quartermaster are grouped with the officers under the common designation befal. The officers are divided into three groups: The befal (company officers, ranks Ensign to Captain inclusive), the staff officers (stabsoffiser, ranks Major to Brigader inclusive), and the generals (Major General to General inclusive).

Fenrik (ensign) was previously referred to as Second Lieutenant (Norwegian: Fenrik), while the rank of lieutenant went by First Lieutenant. The rank of Brigadier is not an old tradition in the Norwegian armed forces and was instated as a replacement for Oberst I (First Colonel); what is now Oberst was previously Oberst II (Second Colonel).

As shown, the Cavalry have two ranks which differ from the regular Army: Dragon (Dragoon) instead of Menig (Private), and Rittmester (Master of the Horse) instead of Kaptein (Captain).

The ranks of Grenader and Matros are bestowed upon soldiers who have finished the 12 months compulsory service and have signed one or more three-year contracts to continue serving. The ranks of Korporal/Utskrevet ledende menig (Corporal/Leading Rate) are usually ascribed to soldiers with long and/or outstanding service, though may be bestowed on soldiers with extra responsibilities (e.g. the shift-commander among a group of soldiers on guard-duty). A UB-Korporal/Kvartermesteraspirant (Rate Corporal/Petty Officer-in-training) is a soldier who has finished the UB course (Utskrevet Befalskurs), a course intended to prepare conscripted soldiers for non-commissioned officer duties, but is still under training in "the field". After one year course and service these soldiers are qualified for the rank of Sersjant or Kvartermester.

Norwegian military ranks

Norwegian Army	Royal Norwegian Air Force	Royal Norwegian Navy	NATO
Menig Dragon (Cavalry) Gardist (His Majesty the Kings Guard) Grensejeger (GSV border service) Private	Flysoldat       Airman	Utskrevet menig       Seaman Recruit	OR1
Korporal Corporal	Korporal Corporal	Visekonstabel utskrevet Petty Officer Third Class	OR4
Grenader (Enlisted)	Grenader (Enlisted)	Konstabel første klasse (Enlisted)	OR1
UB-Korporal (In training)	UB-Korporal (In training)	Kvartermesteraspirant (In training)	-
Sersjant Sergeant	Sersjant Sergeant	Kvartermester Petty Officer Second Class	OR5
Fenrik Second Lieutenant	Fenrik Second Lieutenant	Fenrik Ensign	OF1
Løytnant First Lieutenant	Løytnant First Lieutenant	Løytnant Lieutenant, Junior Grade	OF1
Kaptein Rittmester (Cavalry) Captain	Kaptein   Captain	Kapteinløytnant   Lieutenant (Navy)	OF2
Major Major	Major Major	Orlogskaptein Lieutenant Commander	OF3
Oberstløytnant Lieutenant Colonel	Oberstløytnant Lieutenant Colonel	Kommandørkaptein Commander	OF4
Oberst Colonel	Oberst Colonel	Kommandør Captain (Navy)	OF5
Brigader Brigadier	Brigader Brigadier	Flaggkommandør Rear Admiral (Lower half)	OF6
Generalmajor Major General	Generalmajor Major General	Kontreadmiral Rear Admiral (Upper half)	OF7
Generalløytnant Lieutenant General	Generalløytnant Lieutenant General	Viseadmiral Vice Admiral	OF8
General General	General General	Admiral Admiral	OF9

Graphical view of insignia

Army

NATO Code	OF-10	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1		OF(D)	Student Officer
Norway (Edit)	No Equivalent	General	Generalløytnant	Generalmajor	Brigader	Oberst	Oberstløytnant	Major	Kaptein / Rittmester	Løytnant	Fenrik	No Equivalent	No Equivalent

NATO Code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4		OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
Norway[1] edit	No Equivalent								No Equivalent								Sersjant						Korporal		No Equivalent								Menig Grenader

Air force

Navy

Officers

NATO Code	OF-10	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1		OF(D)	Student Officer
Norway (Edit)	No Equivalent	Admiral	Viseadmiral	Kontreadmiral	Flaggkommandør	Kommandør	Kommandørkaptein	Orlogskaptein	Kapteinløytnant	Løytnant	Fenrik	No Equivalent

References

1. ^ www.mil.no

External links

• Norwegian armed forces ranks
• Uniform regulations