Military ranks of the Swedish Armed Forces

Military ranks of the Swedish Armed Forces shows the rank system used in the Swedish Armed Forces today, as well as changes during the 20th century due to changes in the personnel structure.

Current ranks

1 October 2019 a new rank system was introduced in the Swedish Armed Forces. The rank insignia below are as worn on the field uniform. Army, navy and air force rank titles are shown below.[1]

Rank insignia

Equivalent NATO code	OF-10	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1		OF(D) and student officer
Sweden (Edit)	No equivalent
Sweden (Edit)	No equivalent	General	Generallöjtnant	Generalmajor	Brigadgeneral	Överste	Överstelöjtnant	Major	Kapten	Löjtnant	Fänrik	Kadett
Sweden (Edit)	No equivalent
Sweden (Edit)	No equivalent	Amiral	Viceamiral	Konteramiral	Flottiljamiral	Kommendör	Kommendörkapten	Örlogskapten	Kapten	Löjtnant	Fänrik	Kadett
Sweden (Edit)	*No equivalent*
Sweden (Edit)	*No equivalent*	General	Generallöjtnant	Generalmajor	Brigadgeneral	Överste	Överstelöjtnant	Major	Kapten	Löjtnant	Fänrik	Kadett
Equivalent NATO code	OF-10	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1		OF(D) and student officer

Equivalent
NATO code

OR-9

OR-8

OR-7

OR-6

OR-5

OR-4

OR-3

OR-2

OR-1

Sweden
(Edit)


Menig 2	Menig 1	Menig

Vicekorpral

Menig 4

Menig 3

Sweden
(Edit)


Menig 2	Menig 1	Menig

Flottiljförvaltare

Menig 4

Menig 3

Sweden
(Edit)


Menig 2	Menig 1	Menig

Flottiljförvaltare

Vicekorpral

Menig 4

Menig 3

Equivalent
NATO code

OR-9

OR-8

OR-7

OR-6

OR-5

OR-4

OR-3

OR-2

OR-1

Relative rank

OR- level	ARMY AMPHIBIOUS CORPS	NAVY AIR FORCE	OF- level	ARMY AMPHIBIOUS CORPS AIR FORCE	NAVY
OR 1	Menig, Menig 1-2	Menig, Menig 1-2
OR 2	Menig 3-4	Menig 3-4
OR 3	Vicekorpral	Vicekorpral

OR 4	Korpral	Korpral
OR 5	Furir	Furir
OR 5	Överfurir	Överfurir
	Kadett	Kadett

OR 6	Sergeant	Sergeant
OR 6	Översergeant	Översergeant	OF 1	Fänrik	Fänrik
OR 7	Fanjunkare	Fanjunkare	OF 1	Löjtnant	Löjtnant
OR 8	Förvaltare	Förvaltare	OF 2	Kapten	Kapten
			OF 3	Major	Örlogskapten

OR 9	Regementsförvaltare	Flottiljförvaltare	OF 4	Överstelöjtnant	Kommendörkapten
			OF 5	Överste	Kommendör

			OF 6	Brigadgeneral	Flottiljamiral
			OF 7	Generalmajor	Konteramiral
			OF 8	Generallöjtnant	Viceamiral
			OF 9	General	Amiral

Seniority for officers with the same relative rank are determined according to time-in-grade.

Source:[2]

Former ranks

Ranks 2009-2019

Since 2009, there are three categories of ranks, Officerare, Specialistofficerare and GSS- Gruppbefäl, soldater och sjömän

Officerare (Officers)

Officers lead units from platoon and up. They are trained at the Military Academy Karlberg in a three-year academic program(180 ECTS credits) and graduate as fänrik. Cadets with no prior service must complete a 6-9 months preparatory course before they start at the academy.

Specialistofficerare (Senior NCOs, lit. Specialist Officers)

Specialistofficerare are educated at specialist schools and centres for 1,5 years and graduate as Förste Sergeant. Experienced soldiers who have served as corporals and sergeants may take a shortened course. Civilians must complete a preparatory course before the 1,5 year specialist training starts.

GSS - Gruppbefäl, soldater och sjömän (junior NCOs, soldiers and seamen, lit. Squad leaders, soldiers and seamen)

The two highest ranks in this category, korpral and sergeant, form their own sub-category, gruppbefäl. They command squads of approx. 8 men. Ordinary soldiers are given the rank menig 1 klass with different insignia depending on how long they have served.

When the professional NCO corps was reintroduced in 2009 it was decided that some ranks in this category should, like the old underofficerare ranks in 1960-1972, have a relative rank higher than the most junior officers. The current relative ranks are shown in the table below.

OF (Officer Ranks)	Other Ranks (Specialistofficerare)
OF-9 (General, Amiral)
OF-8 (Generallöjtnant, Viceamiral)
OF-7 (Generalmajor, Konteramiral)
OF-6 (Brigadgeneral, Flottiljamiral)
OF-5 (Överste, Kommendör)
OF-4 (Överstelöjtnant, Kommendörkapten)
	OR-9 (Regements-/Flottiljförvaltare)
OF-3 (Major, Örlogskapten)
OF-2 (Kapten)
	OR-8 (Förvaltare)
OF-1 (Löjtnant)
	OR-7 (Fanjunkare)
OF-1 (Fänrik)
	OR-6 (Förste Sergeant)
GSS - Squad leaders, soldiers and seamen
OR-5 (Sergeant)
OR-4 (Korpral)
OR-3 (Vice korpral)
OR-2 (Menig 1kl)
OR-1 (Menig)

Rank insignia

The table below shows ranks according to seniority, with the most senior to the left. OF denotes officers, OR other ranks (as per STANAG 2116). Those ranks were ratified by the supreme commander on October 24, 2008, and became effective as of January 1, 2009.[3] Military ranks of (primarily) Great Britain have been used as a basis for harmonization with NATO.

Army	Gruppbefäl & Soldater						Specialistofficerare				Officerare
	OR-1	OR-2		OR-3	OR-4	OR-5	OR-6	OR-7	OR-8	OR-9	OF-1		OF-2	OF-3	OF-4	OF-5	OF-6	OF-7	OF-8	OF-9

	Branch insignia¹
	Menig	Menig 1kl²		Vicekorpral	Korpral	Sergeant	Förste Sergeant	Fanjunkare	Förvaltare	Regements- förvaltare	Fänrik	Löjtnant	Kapten	Major	Överste- löjtnant	Överste	Brigad- general	General- major	General- löjtnant	General
Navy (Amphibious Corps)	Gruppbefäl & soldater						Specialistofficerare				Officerare
	OR-1	OR-2		OR-3	OR-4	OR-5	OR-6	OR-7	OR-8	OR-9	OF-1		OF-2	OF-3	OF-4	OF-5	OF-6	OF-7	OF-8	OF-9

	Menig	Menig 1kl²		Vicekorpral	Korpral	Sergeant	Förste Sergeant	Fanjunkare	Förvaltare	Regements- förvaltare	Fänrik	Löjtnant	Kapten	Major	Överste- löjtnant	Överste	Brigad- general	General- major	General- löjtnant	General
Navy (The Fleet)	Gruppbefäl & Sjömän						Specialistofficerare				Officerare
	OR-1	OR-2		OR-3	OR-4	OR-5	OR-6	OR-7	OR-8	OR-9	OF-1		OF-2	OF-3	OF-4	OF-5	OF-6	OF-7	OF-8	OF-9

	Sjöman	Sjöman 1kl²		Vicekorpral	Korpral	Sergeant	Förste Sergeant	Fanjunkare	Förvaltare	Flottilj- förvaltare	Fänrik	Löjtnant	Kapten	Örlogs- kapten	Kommendör- kapten	Kommendör	Flottilj- amiral	Konter- amiral	Vice- amiral	Amiral
Air Force	Gruppbefäl & soldater						Specialistofficerare				Officerare
	OR-1	OR-2		OR-3	OR-4	OR-5	OR-6	OR-7	OR-8	OR-9	OF-1		OF-2	OF-3	OF-4	OF-5	OF-6	OF-7	OF-8	OF-9

	Menig	Menig 1kl²		Vicekorpral	Korpral	Sergeant	Förste Sergeant	Fanjunkare	Förvaltare	Flottilj- förvaltare	Fänrik	Löjtnant	Kapten	Major	Överste- löjtnant	Överste	Brigad- general	General- major	General- löjtnant	General
Officer Trainees
				Officer Cadets
			OR-2	OR-3	OR-4	OR-5


			Officer Candidate	First Year	Second Year	Third Year
Home Guard	Home Guard Soldiers
	OR-1	OR-2			OR-4	OR-5	OR-6	OR-7	OR-8		OF-1		OF-2	OF-3


	Menig	Menig 1kl			Korpral	Sergeant	Förste Sergeant	Fanjunkare	Förvaltare		Fänrik	Löjtnant	Kapten	Major

¹ Menig in the Army wear no insignia other than their respective branch insignia (see table below).

² Menig 1kl are given one additional bar/stripe after 3, 5 and 7 years of service; without advancement in rank, seniority and skill level.

Branch insignias
Infantry	Cavalry	Artillery	Armour	Air-Defense	Engineer	Signal	Supply	Army (generic)

Ranks 1983 - 2009

A major change in the personnel structure in 1983 (NBO 1983), merged the three professional corps of platoon officers, company officers, and regimental officers into a one-track career system within a single corps called professional officers (yrkesofficerare). The three messes were also merged to one.

National Servicemen Värnpliktiga						National Service Officers Värnpliktsofficerare
						Professional Officers (one-track officer system) Yrkesofficerare (enhetsbefäl)
Army
Trainee ranks	Menig³ Korpral	Furir Cadet¹	Överfurir⁴	Sergeant Cadet² 1st year	Fanjunkare⁴ Cadet² 2nd year	Fänrik	Löjtnant	Kapten	Major	Överste- löjtnant	Överste	Överste 1gr	Brigad- general	General- major	General- löjtnant	General

(1) Specialist school where aspirants graduate as Sergeant (Specialist Officer) (year 2008)
(2) Military Academy, cadets graduate as Fänrik
(3) Privates wear insignia of branch. In this case the infantry.
(4) No new permanent appointments to these ranks after 1990.

Ranks 1972 - 1983

In 1972 the personnel structure changed, reflecting increased responsibilities of warrant and non-commissioned officers, renaming the underofficerare as kompaniofficerare, giving them the same ranks as company grade officers (fänrik, löjtnant, kapten). Underbefäl was renamed plutonsofficerare and given the rank titles of sergeant and fanjunkare, although their relative ranks were now placed below fänrik. The commissioned officers were renamed regementsofficerare, beginning with löjtnant. The three-track career system was maintained, as well as three separate messes.

National Servicemen (Värnpliktiga)						National Service Officers (Värnpliktsofficerare)
			Platoon Officers (Plutonsofficerare NCO)			Company Officers (Kompaniofficerare Limited Duty Officers)
							Regimental Officers (Regementsofficerare Officers)
Regular ranks
Trainee ranks	Menig Korpral	Furir	Överfurir Kadett1	Sergeant Kadett2-3	Fanjunkare	Fänrik	Löjtnant	Kapten	Major Örlogs- kapten	Överste- löjtnant Kommendör- kapten	Överste Kommendör	Överste 1gr Kommendör 1gr	General- major Konter- amiral	General- löjtnant Viceamiral	General Amiral

Ranks 1957 - 1972

National Servicemen (Värnpliktiga)						National Service W.O. (Värnpliktiga underofficerare)			National Service Officers (Värnpliktiga officerare)
		Underbefäl (NCO)				Underofficerare (Warrant Officers)			Officerare (Commissioned Officers)
Regular ranks
Trainee ranks	Menig Vicekorpral	Korpral	Furir	Överfurir	Rustmästare	Sergeant Kadett1-2	Fanjunkare	Förvaltare	Fänrik	Löjtnant	Kapten	Major Örlogs- kapten	Överste- löjtnant Komendör- kapten	Överste Komendör	General- major Konter- amiral	General- löjtnant Viceamiral	General Amiral

Note that the rank of Fältmarskalk (Field Marshal) was a de jure rank before the reform of 1972, even though it has not been used since 1824.

Field uniform model 1958/1959 - rank structure of 1949

	Officerare
Rank insignia on collar patch
Rank	General	Generallöjtnant	Generalmajor	Överste	Överstelöjtnant	Major	Kapten Ryttmästare	Löjtnant	Fänrik

	Underofficerare			Kadetter		Underbefäl					Meniga
Rank insignia on collar patch
Rank	Förvaltare	Fanjunkare Styckjunkare	Sergeant	Sergeant Senior Year at Karlberg	Sergeant Junior Year at Karlberg	Rustmästare	Överfurir	Furir	Korpral Konstapel	Vicekorpral Vicekonstapel	Menig Infantry

Uniform model 1939 - rank structure of 1949

In 1949 the relative rank of the warrant officers were elevated further so that

i. The lowest warrant officer, sergeant, had relative rank just below the lowest officer rank, fänrik. ii. The second warrant officer rank, fanjunkare, had relative rank between fänrik and löjtnant. iii. The highest warrant officer rank, förvaltare, had relative rank between first lieutenant and captain.

	Officerare
Badge m/46 to field cap
Rank insignia
Rank	General	Generallöjtnant	Generalmajor	Överste	Överstelöjtnant	Major	Kapten Ryttmästare	Löjtnant	Fänrik

	Underofficerare			Kadetter	Underbefäl					Meniga
Badge to field cap	m/46	m/46	m/46		m/46-57	m/46-52	m/46-52	m/46-52	m/46-52
Rank insignia
Rank	Förvaltare	Fanjunkare Styckjunkare	Sergeant	Sergeant Junior Year at Karlberg	Rustmästare 1957	Överfurir	Furir	Korpral Konstapel	Vicekorpral Vicekonstapel	Menig

Uniform model 1939

	Officerare
Badge m/40 to field cap
Rank insignia m/39
Rank	General	Generallöjtnant	Generalmajor	Överste	Överstelöjtnant	Major	Kapten Ryttmästare	Löjtnant	Fänrik

	Underofficerare			Manskap
Badge m/40 to field cap
Rank insignia m/39
Rank	Förvaltare	Fanjunkare Styckjunkare	Sergeant	Överfurir 1942	Furir	Korpral Konstapel	Vicekorpral Vicekonstapel	Menig

Uniform model 1923

In a reform 1926 the relative rank of the then senior warrant officer, fanjunkare, was increased to be equal with the junior officer rank underlöjtnant and above the most junior officer rank fänrik.

	Officerare
Cap m/23
Rank insignia
Rank insignia on greatcoat
Rank	General	Generallöjtnant	Generalmajor	Överste	Överstelöjtnant	Major	Kapten Ryttmästare	Löjtnant	Underlöjtnant Abolished 1937	Fänrik Also a crown in silver on each lower sleeve until 1937.

	Underofficerare			Manskap
Cap m/23
Rank insignia
Rank insignia on greatcoat
Rank	Fanjunkare Styckjunkare with relative rank as Underlöjtnant	Fanjunkare Styckjunkare	Sergeant	Furir	Korpral Konstapel	Vicekorpral	Menig

Uniform model 1910

When an army based on national service (conscription) was introduced in 1901 all commissioned officers had ranks that were senior to the warrant officers (underofficerare) and non-commissioned officers (underbefäl).

	Officerare
Badge m/14 for fur cap
Badge m/10-14 for hat
Rank insignia m/10
Rank	General	Generallöjtnant	Generalmajor	Överste	Överstelöjtnant	Major	Kapten Ryttmästare	Löjtnant	Underlöjtnant Fänrik 1915

	Underofficerare		Manskap
Badge m/14 for fur cap			-
Badge m/10-14 for hat
Rank insignia m/10
Rank	Fanjunkare Styckjunkare	Sergeant	Distinktionskorpral Förste konstapel Furir 1915	Korpral Konstapel	Vicekorpral	Menig

References

"Nya gradbeteckningar införs". Försvarsmakten. 2019-10-01. Retrieved 2019-10-02.
"Försvarsmaktens föreskrifter om personaltjänst. 27 november 2019." Försvarets författningssamling. FFS 2019:6, 2 § 8.
Lieutenant Colonel Landström, Matthias (April 2008). "Utveckling av tvåbefälssystemet i Försvarsmakten 16100:66576": 5. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

Research: Ph.D. thesis in "War and the career system", Dagens Nyheter by Professor Mats Alvesson, researcher of military organization at Lunds University, and Karl Ydén at the University of Göteborg.

External links

Military Ranks of Kingdom of Sweden

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[FMgrader2019-1] "Nya gradbeteckningar införs". Försvarsmakten. 2019-10-01. Retrieved 2019-10-02.

[2] "Försvarsmaktens föreskrifter om personaltjänst. 27 november 2019." Försvarets författningssamling. FFS 2019:6, 2 § 8.

[NyaGrader-3] Lieutenant Colonel Landström, Matthias (April 2008). "Utveckling av tvåbefälssystemet i Försvarsmakten 16100:66576": 5. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)