Fänrik

MilitaryRankBox

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imageFinland = Vänrikki_kauluslaatta.svg
junior = Sergeant (Sweden)
junior2 = Sotilasmestari
senior = Löjtnant
senior2 = Luutnantti
usmc = sergeant
ba = sergeant
official = Second Lieutenant
comparison =
text = Fänrik ("vänrikki" in Finnish) (from German language "Fähnrich") is a Swedish and Finnish military rank. In Sweden, it is the second lowest Swedish professional military rank, immediately above Sergeant and just below Löjtnant. A typical assignment for a professional Fänrik is as junior instructor of conscripts. In Finland, the rank will gradually cease to exist as a professional rank with the abolishment of the school ("Maanpuolustusopisto") for training them and the introduction of the new 3-year military academy where graduates will be promoted to luutnantti thereby bypassing vänrikki.

Obtaining the rank in Sweden

Professional officer

A minimum of 6 months of basic military training followed by a three year programme at an officer school (Försvarshögskolan). (See Kadett for details)

Conscript officer

Prior 2007 it was possible to obtain the rank through 15 months of compulsory military service training at level 6. Level 6 means that the holder has received basic training to act in platoon leader roles except in the cavalry where Fänrik is a team leader rank (team = 5-8 men). War position for a Fänrik varied through the century as described in the table below.Note that Swedish war positions should not be compared with the USMC as holder of Swedish war positions are assigned more junior roles during international operations and while serving under the NBG.

Obtaining the rank in Finland

Conscipt officer

The rank has been mainly a reserve rank, requiring 2 months of basic conscript training and selected for underofficers training. After 2 months of underofficers training the most suitable are selected for reserve officer training and promoted to officer student. After 3 1/2 months of reserve officers training, candidates are promoted to officer cadets (not cadets, which are career military) and serve the remaining 5 1/2 months practicing as troop commanders as well as training other conscripts. Finally, successful cadets are discharged with the rank of vänrikki in the reserve. In the reserve, "vänrikki" may be promoted up to majuri (Major), although there have been extraordinarily promotions to everstiluutnantti (Lieutenant Colonel).

If mobilization is effected, officers in the reserve are posted to platoon commander or battery commander and vice-commander positions.

Professional officer

One can graduate to this rank from the National Defence College. However, the target is to graduate as luutnantti or yliluutnantti. The rank is the lowest commissioned officer rank.

Formerly a school called "Maanpuolustusopisto" (MpO) had "vänrikki" as the rank given to new graduates. These officers were known as "opistoupseeri", and could be promoted up to "yliluutnantti" (company vice-commander), and later, to "kapteeni" (company commander). The "opisto" level ceased to exist in Finland (other schools were redefined as ammattikorkeakoulu). However, in the military, the MpO was decommissioned. All officers are now trained by the Cadet School (a university-level school), where graduates are promoted to "luutnantti" or "yliluutnantti". Any existing MpO graduates may obtain further training to upgrade their degree to a university degree.

Extraordinary

Simo Häyhä, the deadliest sniper in history, was extraordinarily promoted to "vänrikki", from alikersantti (Corporal), personally by Marshal C.G.E. Mannerheim.

History and related ranks

Origin

The rank literally means Fana and indicates the holder of the company flag. The flag was usually maintained by a soldier "förare" and handed over to the fänrik just before the inception of a battle. His role was to align the company and the flag was an important tool in achieving that. This duty was highly prestigious, and as such, could not be trusted to other than an officer, but required no particularly officer training. The fänrik together with his assistant the förare were responsible for the medical care within the company. The term fänika was used as a battalion sized military unit during the Middle Ages and Renaissance.

Kornett

Corresponding rank in the cavalry.

1835

Fänrik and Kornett were replaced with the rank Underlöjtnant.

1914

Reintroduction of the rank with the same status as Underlöjtnant.

1926

Rank set to be junior in status to Underlöjtnant.

1937

The rank Underlöjtnant was removed.

Reform 1972

Holder of the rank Fänrik were elevated to Löjtnant.

Holders of the following ranks were elevated to Fänrik
*Fanjunkare (with less than 3 years of servcie)
* Sergeant (with less than 3 years of servcie)

Reform 1983

The meaning of the term officer broadened to include all professional and reserve military personnel. Fänrik was subsequently set to be the lowest rank for professional and reserve military personnel. To be employed as an officer in the Armed Forces, the candidate was required to complete two years of officers school (OHS) and successfully graduate as Fänrik. Cadets of the officers school (OHS) received only basic training in commanding troops as the focus was set to train and instruct conscripts.

Reform 2008 two career path system

The objective of the reform is to produce officers who are specialized at commanding troops at platoon, company and higher level as well as providing officers academic status. See officer training how to optain the rank through the new system.

ee also

* Finnish military ranks
* Military ranks of the Swedish armed forces
* Swedish Armed Forces
* [http://www.mil.se/article.php?id=1239 Officer Training]
* http://www.mhsk.mil.se/attachments/school_system_2006--.pdf

[http://www.mil.se/article.php?id=432 The Swedish Armed Forces official website - military ranks] (accessed on July 13, 2007) (in Swedish)] http://www.goarmy.com/about/ranks_and_insignia.jsp USA enlisted ranks ] http://www.goarmy.com/about/ranks_insignia_officer.jsp USA comissioned officers ranks]

References