Överste

MilitaryRankBox

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imageFinland = FIN-eversti.svg
junior = Överstelöjtnant
senior = Brigadgeneral
junior2 = Everstiluutnantti
usmc = Lieutenant Colonel
official = Colonel
text = Överste ("eversti" in Finnish) is an officer rank in Sweden and Finland, immediately above "överstelöjtnant" ("everstiluutnantti") and below "brigadgeneral" ("prikaatikenraali"). It literally means "the highest" and has traditionally been a rank for regiment commanders. In Finland, brigades are also commanded by holders of this rank. It is the highest rank below general officers.

History and related ranks

1600 - 1700

Commander of a regiment that consisted of 1200 troops split into eight companies held this rank. One of the companies was called lifeguard company and was commanded by the "överste" himself with a "kaptenlöjtnant" as his deputy. However, the command of the lifeguard company was mostly delegated to the "kaptenlöjtnant" during battle. The regiment was split into two battalions during battle where the "överste" was in command of the first battalion. The holder was not paid by his rank but by his line of command. Thus, he received three salaries: salary for being the head of the regiment, the head of a battalion as well as being the head of a company.

Sweden: Before 1983

The holder of the rank who served as a commander of a regiment was also assigned a wartime position as commander of the corresponding brigade. A regiment is a pure training institution and produced about one battalion a year to populate the brigade.

Sweden: Currently

The war organization has drastically been reduced from about 30 brigades to a few battalions (). As a result, there is a major surplus of officers with 147 officers in this rank. Almost all do not command any military battle units; but take up senior tasks related to administration, staff, education, training, planning. [Personnel department of the National Defense at Lidingövägen Stockholm “Bastionen”]

Some holders of the rank are also seen as heads or deputy heads of training centers (called regiment) that employ about 600 military and civilian staff and train about 1200 conscripts.

Finland

Colonels ("eversti") have usually fulfilled roles similar to Brigadier General in other armies. Indeed, the rank of Brigadier General ("prikaatikenraali") has been introduced relatively recently, enabling better compatibility of ranks in peacekeeping operations. In most large military installations such as training brigades, the commander is a Colonel, and several officers of the General Staff, such as inspectors of services, are also Colonels.

Fältöverste

"Fältöverste" ("fält" "field") is an obsolete rank that used to denote the highest commander, equivalent of a general.

See also

* Finnish military ranks
* Military ranks of the Swedish armed forces
* Swedish Armed Forces
* Battalion (Sweden)
* Field artillery (Sweden)
* [http://www.mil.se/article.php?id=1239 Officer Training]