Oberwachtmeister

Oberwachtmeister (OWm) (ge: for senior master-sentinel; senior watch-master) is in Austria and Switzerland a military rank of non-commissioned officers (NCO). Besides Austria and Switzerland today, the rank was also used for example in Germany and Russia.

Austria

Oberwachtmeister in Austria
Rank insignia Austrian Bundesheer
Introduction 1965
Rank group NCOs (de: Unteroffiziere)
Army / Air Force Oberwachtmeister
Navy no equivalent
Lower:
Higher:		 Wachtmeister
Stabswachtmeister
NATO
equivalent 		OR-5

Oberwachtmeister is in the Austrian Bundesheer the second lowest NCO-rank (assignment group M BUO 2 / professional NCO; respectively M ZUO 2 / longer-serving volunteer). The Oberwachtmeister will be normally diploid as leader (Austrian: Kommandant) of a squad (8 to 13 soldiers).

During United Nations missions and in NATO Partnership for Peace the rank Oberwachtmeister will be designated in English with Staff Sergeant (SSG) and is equivalent to NATO-Rang code OR-6.

See also

Switzerland

Oberwachtmeister in Switzerland
Rank insignia Swiss army
Introduction
Rank group NCOs (de: Unteroffiziere)
Army / Air Force Oberwachtmeister
Navy no equivalent
Lower:
Higher:		 Wachtmeister
Feldweibel
NATO
equivalent 		OR-6

In the Military of Switzerland the Oberwachtmeister (Obwm, Sergent-chef, Sergente capo) is a NCO-rank (NATO-Code: OR-6). The rank is higher than the rank Wachtmeister, and lower than Feldweibel.

Until the so-called Army reform XXI (with effect from January 1, 2004) the rank was regular assigned to the Zugführer-Stellvertreter (en: deputy platoon leader).

However, the promotion to Oberwachtmeister might be possible after successfully having finished an additional trainings course. The level of that course succeeds the squad leader level. The Oberwachtmeister grade is in principle a transition rank to the lieutenant promotion.

In United Nations missions and in NATO Partnership for Peace the rank Oberwachtmeister will be designated in English with Sergeant First Class (SFC), and is equivalent to NATO-Rang code OR-6.

See also

⇒ Military ranks of the Swiss Armed Forces

Other countries

Germany

In the German army ground forces the designation of the OR6-Oberfeldwebel rank of Cavalry and Artillery was the «Oberwachtmeister» until 1945.

Junior Rank
Wachtmeister
(Feldwebel)
World War II German Army rank
Oberwachtmeister
(Oberfeldwebel)		 Senior Rank
Stabswachtmeister
(Stabsfeldwebel)
See also

Nationale People’s Army

In the GDR National People's Army (NPA) the OR6-rank «Oberwachtmeister» was replaced by the universal rank designation Oberfeldwebel. The equivalent rank of the Volksmarine (en: GDR Navy) was the Obermeister of the Volksmarine.

Junior Rank
Wachtmeister
(Feldwebel)
National People's Army rank
Oberwachtmeister
(Oberfeldwebel)		 Senior Rank
Stabswachtmeister
(Stabsfeldwebel)
See also

«Oberwachtmeister» was also a German police rank.

References